Wildlife forage areas and food plots for deer

Last updated: 6/3/200

Long-term accumulation of soil carbon and nitrogen in grazed bermudagrass pastures

Last updated: 10/22/201

Treatment and Seasonal Effects on Alfalfa Crude Protein Content

Last updated: 6/12/200

Guidelines for successful alfalfa establishment on acid soils

Last updated: 6/9/200

Requirements for Successful Alfalfa Establishment on Acid Soils

Last updated: 6/12/200

Boron Fertilization Effects on Nutritive Parameters of Alfalfa

With early pre-plant incorporation of limestone to raise soil pH to 6.8 to 7.0, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) may be grown successfully on acid, Coastal Plain, sandy loam soils. Fertility and forage quality for hay and/or grazing require alternative management of alfalfa on these Coastal Plain soils. A two-year experiment evaluated alfalfa fertilized with three rates of boron to quantify effects on nutritive entities, especially fiber components. On a whole-plant basis in year 1, only crude protein was increased (P \u3c .05) at one of six harvest dates. In year 2, chemical analyses of leaf-stem components indicated consistent increases in crude protein of leaf fractions at each harvest (P \u3c .05), reduction in neutral detergent fiber at three harvest dates (P \u3c .06), and reduced lignin (P \u3c .07) at the final harvest. Stem sections were affected by rate of boron at only the June harvest with an increase in crude protein (P \u3c .05). Rate of boron fertilization had indirect effects on nutritive value (crude protein) by either delaying physiological maturity or enhancing nitrogen fixation in leaves, and had a direct negative effect on certain fiber components

Nutritive Value and Relative Feed Value of 'Alfagraze' Alfalfa During the Summer Hay Harvest Period

Last updated: 6/12/200

Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Leaf and Stem as Affected by Harvest Date and Boron Rate

Last updated: 6/20/201

Sources of Error for Ultrasonic Measurements of Steer Compositional Traits in Grazing Studies

Real-time ultrasound technology has potential use for measuring compositional traits in grazing studies. Sources of error with this application must be identified for designing experiments with adequate precision to determine treatment effects. A study was conducted to evaluate breed type (Angus x Brahman, AB; Simmental x [Angus x Brahman], SAB; Simmental x [Brahman x Hereford], SBH), initial body weight, and initial ultrasonic measures as sources of experimental error in the analyses of external fat (EF) depths and longissimus dorsi (ribeye) areas (LDA). Steers were ultrasonically scanned at the initiation and conclusion of a grazing study that examined stocking rate effects on average daily gain (ADG) and body condition of steers grazing a mixture of rye (Secale cereale L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.). Breed type did not affect (P \u3e 0.10) final or increases in EF, and curvilinear trends of increased EF with increasing ADG (P \u3e 0.10) among the breed types over the range of ADG (0.03 kg d-1 to 1.62 kg d-1). The three breed types showed curvilinear increases in LDA as ADG increased, but the trends were different (P \u3c 0.05) for SBH than for the other two types. Final LDA and magnitude of increases in EF and LDA over the experimental period were influenced (P \u3c 0.05) by initial body weight. Results indicated that allotting cattle to pastures based on a combination of breed type and body weight should improve precision in detecting treatment effects

Lucerne Production and Economics on Stakeholder Ranches on Coastal Plain Acid Soils

Research using small plots determined factors restricting lucerne (Medicago sativa) production on Coastal Plain soils of the southern USA. These acid soils, primarily Ultisols and Alfisols, become deficient in B when limed to pH 6.8 or 7.0 for lucerne. Other production-limiting soil problems include poor drainage and aeration, subsoil acidity, and low natural fertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate stand longevity on hectare-size stakeholder fields when growth-limiting factors were eliminated by site selection and soil treatment