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M L Marks, M K Stanford, L A Kriese-Anderson, M K Mullenix, 68 Late-Planting of Annual Ryegrass in Northern Alabama., Journal of Animal Science, Volume 96, Issue suppl_1, March 2018, Pages 36–37, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky027.068
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Abstract
The 2016 drought caused unfavorable planting conditions for cool-season annual forages during the fall establishment window in Alabama. Limited information is published on the growth potential of cool-season annual grasses planted outside the recommended window of establishment as an emergency forage option following drought conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of late-planting annual ryegrass on seasonal dry matter production, number of grazing days, and forage nutritive value as part of a beef heifer development program at the Sand Mountain Research Center in Crossville, AL. Two annual ryegrass varieties [Winterhawk (early maturing) or Marshall (late maturing) ryegrass] were planted across three planting dates in winter 2016/2017 (December 15; February 1; March 1) into a prepared seedbed. Each variety × planting date combination was replicated in two 0.81 ha paddocks. Seasonal herbage accumulation, nutritive value and forage utilization were measured across the grazing season. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED (SAS 9.4) for a completely randomized design in which pasture was the experimental unit. Treatment means were separated using the PDIFF option of SAS. A planting date x variety effects were observed for seasonal herbage accumulation (HA; P = 0.045).Total HA was greatest for Marshall (12,679 kg DM/ha) and Winterhawk (14,968 kg DM/ha) ryegrass planted in December. March-planted Marshall (10,222 kg DM/ha) was not different in HA compared to December plantings, while February planting dates [Marshall (7,846 kg DM/ha) and Winterhawk (5,234 kg DM/ha)] and March-planted Winterhawk (5,234 kg DM/ha) had less seasonal yield. Overall, annual ryegrass herbage accumulation ranged from 4,483 to 12,329 kg DM/ha across planting dates. December planting dates provided two to three grazing events for heifers in this project. February and March planting dates only supported one grazing event beginning in May. There were 70 days (March – June) of grazing provided for heifers in this trial. Forage nutritive value was greatest (P = 0.013) at the beginning of the grazing season in March (21.7% CP), and declined rapidly with increasing maturity through June (11.3% CP). Decreasing forage quality corresponds with a rapid increase in forage yield observed in late April through June. During the one-year evaluation, delayed planting of annual ryegrass provided adequate forage dry matter production to support late-spring grazing for growing heifers. The combination of relatively mild climatic conditions and adequate rainfall supported favorable growing conditions for ryegrass. February plantings were most affected by frost causing yield loss.
