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Light Interception by Pasture Canopies as Affected by Height and Botanical Composition
Author(s) -
Rayburn Edward,
Shockey William,
Smith Brad,
Seymour David,
Basden Thomas
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
crop, forage and turfgrass management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.29
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2374-3832
DOI - 10.2134/cftm2016.0013
Subject(s) - interception , pasture , canopy , grazing , environmental science , forage , agronomy , geography , ecology , forestry , biology
Core Ideas Canopy height can be used to predict light interception in pasture canopies. Pasture light interception is impacted by botanical composition as well as canopy height. Pasture light interception varies across the growing season as solar altitude changes. Producers can use pasture ruler height or compressed plate meter height to estimate pasture canopy light interception to optimize pasture management.Light interception (LI) by growing plants is essential for photosynthesis and growth. This translates to animal production when this growth is consumed by grazing livestock. Canopy LI was measured in six pasture systems within three physiographic regions in West Virginia, across two grazing seasons and a range of pasture regrowth to quantify how LI is impacted by pasture height (ruler height [RHt] and falling plate meter compressed height [CHt]), sward composition, and time of year. The relationship between CHt and LI was computed as second‐order and logarithmic regressions. The second‐order regressions gave slightly greater R 2 and lower residual standard deviations about the regression (SD reg ) than did logarithmic regressions. Canopy LI reached 95% of incident light when CHt reached 8 inch (RHt of 13 inch) and was affected by forage density (FD; lb dry matter/acre/inch CHt, a system characteristic), forb and legume content in the stand, and month of the year. Understanding the effect of canopy height on LI and the effect of canopy height and LI on management goals will enable producers to adjust management to better achieve defined animal and plant performance goals.