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Overseeding Common Bermudagrass with Cool‐Season Annuals to Increase Yield and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake in a Hay Field Fertilized with Swine Effluent
Author(s) -
McLaughlin M. R.,
Sistani K. R.,
Fairbrother T. E.,
Rowe D. E.
Publication year - 2005
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/agronj2005.0487
Subject(s) - cynodon dactylon , trifolium alexandrinum , agronomy , hay , loam , lolium multiflorum , tifton , forage , biology , phosphorus , chemistry , soil water , ecology , organic chemistry
Haying common bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is commonly used to manage field‐applied manure P in the southeastern USA but is limited to summer. This 3‐yr study was done to examine effects of extending the haying season by spring haying of fall‐overseeded annuals. Berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), crimson clover ( T. incarnatum L.), annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum L.), and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were compared with a nonoverseeded control. Dry matter (DM) yield and N and P uptake were measured in spring and summer hay on a Prentiss sandy loam (coarse‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Glossic Fragiudults, Ultisols) with high soil P following 6 yr of swine ( Sus scrofa domesticus ) effluent fertilization. Fall‐seeded plots were cut twice for spring hay and three times for summer hay. Spring hay of annual ryegrass (3.8–5.3 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ) yielded more DM than crimson clover (2.6–3.4 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ), wheat (2.5–3.3 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ), and the control (2.8–3.4 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ) every year but did not differ from berseem clover (3.1–4.6 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ) in 2 of 3 yr. Phosphorus uptake in spring hay of annual ryegrass and berseem clover (10–16 kg ha −1 ) was higher than crimson clover (8–12 kg ha −1 ), wheat (7–12 kg ha −1 ), and the control (6–11 kg ha −1 ). Nitrogen uptake in spring hay was higher in berseem clover (71–128 kg ha −1 ) than other treatments (43–80 kg ha −1 ), which did not differ. No differences occurred in summer hay (DM = 3.9–7.6 Mg ha −1 , N = 72–191 kg ha −1 , P = 13–21 kg ha −1 ). Overseeding common bermudagrass with berseem clover or annual ryegrass can improve hay yield and P removal.