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Planting Date Affects Production and Quality of Grass Pea Forage
Author(s) -
Rao Srinivas C.,
Northup Brian K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2007.11.0622
Subject(s) - sowing , forage , biology , agronomy , hectare , biomass (ecology) , dry matter , zoology , agriculture , ecology
The rising cost of commercial nitrogen fertilizers indicates that additional research is needed concerning agronomic practices required to integrate legumes into cereal‐based cropping systems. This study examined how planting date affects the productivity of grass pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) in central Oklahoma. Experimental plots (3 by 20 m, n = 3) were disked and fertilized with 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 , and inoculum‐treated ( Rhizobium leguminosarum) seeds (‘AC‐Greenfix’) were planted at 60 kg ha −1 on 15 March, 1 April, and 15 April in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Biomass, N concentration, N accumulation per hectare, and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) of grass pea forage were determined on samples collected at 7 d of the year (DOY) after planting. Significant ( P < 0.05) interactions occurred in response of biomass (DOY × year), N concentration, and IVDDM (DOY × year × planting date), and accumulated N (DOY × year; DOY × planting date). Peak biomass in 2004, 2005, and 2006 was 3900, 5800, and 3500 kg ha −1 , respectively. Maximum accumulated N related to years was 115 to 157 kg ha −1 between DOY 165 and DOY 195. Peak N accumulation of 125 to 153 kg ha −1 occurred between DOY 180 and DOY 210. Grass pea is flexible in response to spring planting dates, indicating that it can be sown as a green manure or forage crop during a 30‐d period in the southern Great Plains and still maximize biomass and N accumulation.