Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, Dec 1, 1991
ABSTRACT Limited information is available which describes the response of established alfalfa (Me... more ABSTRACT Limited information is available which describes the response of established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to topdressing applications of K fertilizer in the Southeastern United States. Field experiments were conducted for three years to determine alfalfa response to rates and time of K application. The experiments were established in two‐year old stands of alfalfa on a Decatur silty clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Paleudults) and a Hartsells fine sandy loam (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Hapludults) located in northern Alabama. Potassium as KCl was broadcast in the spring prior to regrowth. For split application treatments, the K was applied in early spring and after the second cutting. Annual total K rates ranged from 56 to 596 kg/ha. Potassium fertilization maintained alfalfa stand density on both soils, but the experiment on the Decatur soil was discontinued after two years due to severe stand loss when the lowest rate of added K was used. Alfalfa yields were increased by the application of K and maximum yields occurred when K was applied according to soil test recommendations made by the Auburn University soil testing laboratory. Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled. The split application of K did not consistently increase forage production. There was little movement of K below 25 cm in either soil when K rates of 56 to 596 kg/ha/yr were repeated yearly for up to three years.
Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viabil... more Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability were evaluated. Twenty-two mature pregnant mares were randomly chosen to graze either Kentucky-31 tall fescue that was free from A coenophialum (endophyte-free, EF) or tall fescue infected with A coenophialum (endophyte-present, EP) after the first 90 days of pregnancy through parturition. Concentrations of pyrrolizidine and ergopeptine alkaloids were significantly greater in EP grass, compared with EF pasture. Ten of 11 mares grazing EP pasture had obvious dystocia. Mean duration of gestation was significantly greater for the EP group, compared with the EF group. Foal survivability was severely reduced among mares grazing EP fescue with only 1 foal surviving the natal period. Udder development and lactation were low in mares grazing EP grass. The absence of clinical problems in mares grazing EF grass implicated the endophyte as the causative agent of reproductive problems and perinatal foal mortality in pregnant mares grazing endophyte-infected fescue grass. Caution should be exercised in allowing pregnant mares to graze pastures infected with the endophyte A coenophialum.
Alfalfa has long been recognized as a superb forage crop, which is why it is widely grown for dai... more Alfalfa has long been recognized as a superb forage crop, which is why it is widely grown for dairy cattle, horses, sheep, and many other types of domesticated forage-consuming animals. Reasons for its popularity include wide adaptation, excellent nutritive value, good yield potential, perennial growth habit, a long growing season, and the fact that (in association with Rhizobium bacteria) it is a nitrogen-fixing legume that does not require periodic applications of nitrogen fertilizer.
Recently a number of livestock producers have asked about making a spring (actually winter) plant... more Recently a number of livestock producers have asked about making a spring (actually winter) planting of winter annuals for forage. University recommendations are to plant winter annuals in autumn. However, in late winter, many hay barns may be nearly empty, hay cost may be too high (if available to buy), winter annual acreage may be less than it would have been if the autumn planting period had been better, or the cost of alternative feeds may be high. Consequently, the idea of planting winter annuals to get even a modest forage yield may be appealing to many producers. Extension workers should not want to be perceived as “recommending” the planting of winter annuals in late winter, but if producers express interest in doing this, it makes sense to attempt to give them as much helpful information as possible.
Tall fescue is native to Europe and was rarely planted in the United States until after the first... more Tall fescue is native to Europe and was rarely planted in the United States until after the first four decades of the 20 century. However, since the release of the variety ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1943, this versatile cool season perennial grass has been widely planted for forage, turf, and conservation purposes, with most of the acreage planted consisting of this variety. “Fescue” has many attributes including wide adaptation, easy establishment, a long growing season, good forage and seed yield, and tolerance of a wide range of management conditions.
We live in a society in which many people don’t understand or appreciate agriculture as much as t... more We live in a society in which many people don’t understand or appreciate agriculture as much as they really should. After all, only about 2% of the population of the United States is involved in agriculture, so most people don’t know much about it. Furthermore, most don’t spend much time thinking about it. Forage crops, including alfalfa, are especially under-appreciated because forage is not consumed directly by humans (alfalfa sprouts being a minor exception).
Tall fescue is native to Europe, but became popular in the United States after the release of the... more Tall fescue is native to Europe, but became popular in the United States after the release of the variety ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1943 (Buckner et al., 1979). This versatile cool season perennial grass has many attributes including wide adaptation, easy establishment, a long growing season, good forage and seed yield, and tolerance of a wide range of management conditions (Ball et al., 2002). Consequently “fescue” has been widely planted for forage, turf, and conservation purposes, and is now the most widely grown introduced grass in the USA.
However, a twentieth-year state commodity conference is a milestone that deserves some special co... more However, a twentieth-year state commodity conference is a milestone that deserves some special consideration, and which should justify inclusion of one or more unique topics on the program. This line of thinking led to idea that for this presentation it might be interesting to discuss some facts about alfalfa that are not frequently mentioned and that are therefore not known to many people, perhaps including to a number of participants in the 2000 Kentucky Alfalfa Conference.
Release of the cultivar 'Kentucky 31' in 1943 led to widespread planting of tall fescue i... more Release of the cultivar 'Kentucky 31' in 1943 led to widespread planting of tall fescue in the USA. An endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) usually present in this grass produces compounds that enhance competitiveness and survival of tall fescue in many environments, but it also produces ergot alkaloids implicated in the cause of animal disorders. Screening of hundreds of fungus strains identified some that do not produce high levels of ergot alkaloids. A "novel" endophyte strain was inserted into University of Georgia-developed cultivars 'Georgia 5' and 'Jesup' and became commercially available under the name MaxQTM in 1999. It is estimated that at present there are some 121,000 hectares of novel endophyte tall fescue in at least 35 USA states. Persistence has been good and animal performance has been excellent. It is expected that novel endophyte tall fescue area will continue to increase in the USA in the future. Keywords: novel endophyt...
Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, Dec 1, 1991
ABSTRACT Limited information is available which describes the response of established alfalfa (Me... more ABSTRACT Limited information is available which describes the response of established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to topdressing applications of K fertilizer in the Southeastern United States. Field experiments were conducted for three years to determine alfalfa response to rates and time of K application. The experiments were established in two‐year old stands of alfalfa on a Decatur silty clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Paleudults) and a Hartsells fine sandy loam (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Hapludults) located in northern Alabama. Potassium as KCl was broadcast in the spring prior to regrowth. For split application treatments, the K was applied in early spring and after the second cutting. Annual total K rates ranged from 56 to 596 kg/ha. Potassium fertilization maintained alfalfa stand density on both soils, but the experiment on the Decatur soil was discontinued after two years due to severe stand loss when the lowest rate of added K was used. Alfalfa yields were increased by the application of K and maximum yields occurred when K was applied according to soil test recommendations made by the Auburn University soil testing laboratory. Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled. The split application of K did not consistently increase forage production. There was little movement of K below 25 cm in either soil when K rates of 56 to 596 kg/ha/yr were repeated yearly for up to three years.
Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viabil... more Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability were evaluated. Twenty-two mature pregnant mares were randomly chosen to graze either Kentucky-31 tall fescue that was free from A coenophialum (endophyte-free, EF) or tall fescue infected with A coenophialum (endophyte-present, EP) after the first 90 days of pregnancy through parturition. Concentrations of pyrrolizidine and ergopeptine alkaloids were significantly greater in EP grass, compared with EF pasture. Ten of 11 mares grazing EP pasture had obvious dystocia. Mean duration of gestation was significantly greater for the EP group, compared with the EF group. Foal survivability was severely reduced among mares grazing EP fescue with only 1 foal surviving the natal period. Udder development and lactation were low in mares grazing EP grass. The absence of clinical problems in mares grazing EF grass implicated the endophyte as the causative agent of reproductive problems and perinatal foal mortality in pregnant mares grazing endophyte-infected fescue grass. Caution should be exercised in allowing pregnant mares to graze pastures infected with the endophyte A coenophialum.
Alfalfa has long been recognized as a superb forage crop, which is why it is widely grown for dai... more Alfalfa has long been recognized as a superb forage crop, which is why it is widely grown for dairy cattle, horses, sheep, and many other types of domesticated forage-consuming animals. Reasons for its popularity include wide adaptation, excellent nutritive value, good yield potential, perennial growth habit, a long growing season, and the fact that (in association with Rhizobium bacteria) it is a nitrogen-fixing legume that does not require periodic applications of nitrogen fertilizer.
Recently a number of livestock producers have asked about making a spring (actually winter) plant... more Recently a number of livestock producers have asked about making a spring (actually winter) planting of winter annuals for forage. University recommendations are to plant winter annuals in autumn. However, in late winter, many hay barns may be nearly empty, hay cost may be too high (if available to buy), winter annual acreage may be less than it would have been if the autumn planting period had been better, or the cost of alternative feeds may be high. Consequently, the idea of planting winter annuals to get even a modest forage yield may be appealing to many producers. Extension workers should not want to be perceived as “recommending” the planting of winter annuals in late winter, but if producers express interest in doing this, it makes sense to attempt to give them as much helpful information as possible.
Tall fescue is native to Europe and was rarely planted in the United States until after the first... more Tall fescue is native to Europe and was rarely planted in the United States until after the first four decades of the 20 century. However, since the release of the variety ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1943, this versatile cool season perennial grass has been widely planted for forage, turf, and conservation purposes, with most of the acreage planted consisting of this variety. “Fescue” has many attributes including wide adaptation, easy establishment, a long growing season, good forage and seed yield, and tolerance of a wide range of management conditions.
We live in a society in which many people don’t understand or appreciate agriculture as much as t... more We live in a society in which many people don’t understand or appreciate agriculture as much as they really should. After all, only about 2% of the population of the United States is involved in agriculture, so most people don’t know much about it. Furthermore, most don’t spend much time thinking about it. Forage crops, including alfalfa, are especially under-appreciated because forage is not consumed directly by humans (alfalfa sprouts being a minor exception).
Tall fescue is native to Europe, but became popular in the United States after the release of the... more Tall fescue is native to Europe, but became popular in the United States after the release of the variety ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1943 (Buckner et al., 1979). This versatile cool season perennial grass has many attributes including wide adaptation, easy establishment, a long growing season, good forage and seed yield, and tolerance of a wide range of management conditions (Ball et al., 2002). Consequently “fescue” has been widely planted for forage, turf, and conservation purposes, and is now the most widely grown introduced grass in the USA.
However, a twentieth-year state commodity conference is a milestone that deserves some special co... more However, a twentieth-year state commodity conference is a milestone that deserves some special consideration, and which should justify inclusion of one or more unique topics on the program. This line of thinking led to idea that for this presentation it might be interesting to discuss some facts about alfalfa that are not frequently mentioned and that are therefore not known to many people, perhaps including to a number of participants in the 2000 Kentucky Alfalfa Conference.
Release of the cultivar 'Kentucky 31' in 1943 led to widespread planting of tall fescue i... more Release of the cultivar 'Kentucky 31' in 1943 led to widespread planting of tall fescue in the USA. An endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) usually present in this grass produces compounds that enhance competitiveness and survival of tall fescue in many environments, but it also produces ergot alkaloids implicated in the cause of animal disorders. Screening of hundreds of fungus strains identified some that do not produce high levels of ergot alkaloids. A "novel" endophyte strain was inserted into University of Georgia-developed cultivars 'Georgia 5' and 'Jesup' and became commercially available under the name MaxQTM in 1999. It is estimated that at present there are some 121,000 hectares of novel endophyte tall fescue in at least 35 USA states. Persistence has been good and animal performance has been excellent. It is expected that novel endophyte tall fescue area will continue to increase in the USA in the future. Keywords: novel endophyt...
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