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Bahiagrass Response to Lime and Nitrogen under Pines 1
Author(s) -
Teare I. D.,
Wright D. L.,
Stanley R. L.,
Kidd B. T.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1987.00021962007900010001x
Subject(s) - lime , paspalum notatum , agronomy , ultisol , loam , forage , slash pine , soil ph , soil water , environmental science , zoology , biology , botany , ecology , pinus <genus> , paleontology
The fertilization of slash pine trees ( Pinus eliotti Engelm), a practice initiated in the sixties, stimulates bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flügge ) production, providing under‐canopy forage for the beef cattle industry of the Southeast on sandy, acid soils. Little research has been conducted to determine the production potential of limed and N fertilized bahiagrass growing under pine. The objectives of this research were to measure bahiagrass forage production under slash pine, comparing lime (2.24 Mg ha −1 ) vs. no lime, four N rates (28, 56, 112, 224, kg ha −1 ), and to observe changes in extractable soil P, K, and pH on a Norfolk sandy loam (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Paleudult). During the 4yr period, application of 2.24 Mg ha −1 lime empirically decreased bahiagrass forage yield under pines when averaged across N levels. Liming at 2.24 Mg ha −1 yr −1 for 4 yr did change the soil pH from 5.0 to 6.1. Nitrogen rates did not affect bahiagrass forage production the first year, but without lime, we found a quadratic response to N rates each year thereafter. The highest yields of bahiagrass forage with lime were obtained with 56 kg ha −1 N. Economic analysis shows the greatest net return ($441 over 4 yr) for no lime at 112 kg ha −1 N and with lime ($211) at 56 kg ha −1 N.