Funded by Saddle Hills County
Objective
Terminating and re-establishing unproductive and depleted forage stands is leading livestock producers to look for alternative strategies or rejuvenation methods that are practicable, cost effective and will not take land out of production for more than one or more years. This project aims to investigate practical and cost-effective perennial rejuvenation methods on hay land through reseeding without killing off existing forage stands or broadcasting fertilizer.
Methods
The trial is being conducted at the Saddle Hills County Hayland site which is along Highway 49 west of Spirit River, AB, on predominantly legume-dominated hay land. Site soil information taken in late spring before the implementation of treatments from the surface soil (0-6" soil depth): pH=6.2, organic matter = 4.3, electrical conductivity = 0.1 dS/m. The nutrient analysis of the soil gave N = 3 ppm, P = 8 ppm, K = 171 ppm and S = 2 ppm. Soil base saturation was 70.7% (Ca = 44.5%, Mg = 21.0, Na 1.4%, K = 3.8%). Figure 1 shows the weather (including precipitation along with minimum and maximum air temperatures) from seeding until late fall recorded at the nearest ACIS weather station located at White Mountain. Overall, 2023 was characterized by low spring moisture conditions (average of less than 10" of precipitation).
The following 5 treatments were set out each on 0.3-acre (40 ft x 363 ft) strips replicated thrice (see Figure 2):
Control – T0: implemented on strips 4, 9 and 13 with no seeding or fertilizer application at all.
Stand Suppression + Spring Seeding – T1: Stand Suppression (strips 1, 10 and 11) was done on June 12 with glyphosate at 1.25 L/ac and seeding of a high-legume mixture (Table 5) on June 13 at a seeding rate of 24 lbs/ac with a Haybuster No-Till Drill and at a depth of 1".
Dormant and Frost sSeeding – T2: High legume mixture (Table 6) was seeded on Oct 20 2023 on strips 5, 6 and 12 using Haybuster No-Till Drill at 1⁄2". Pooling of water was observed on most portions of strips 1 – 10 during the frost seeding.
Summer Seeding – T3: This treatment was not implemented because the hay was taken off strips rather late in August.
Broadcast Fertilizer Only – T4: Fertilizer blend was applied June 13 2023 on strips 2, 7 and 15 using a No-Till Drill by placing in the fertilizer at about 1/4". Soil test reports indicate the nutrient requirements for achieving an average forage yield of 3.3 tons per acre, recommending the application of 12 lbs of nitrogen (N), 52 lbs of phosphorus (P), 22 lbs of potassium (K) and 21 lbs of sulfur (S) per acre.
Table 1 outlines the composition of the high- legume mixture employed in the seeding treatments T1, T2 and T3, detailing the specific percentages or weights of each legume species included in the mixtures for comparative analysis.
Baseline data was collected from 3 georeferenced points per strip. Botanical composition was determined from clipped fresh forage material, which was separated into different functional groups (grasses, legumes, forbs, weeds), weighed (and recorded), dried and reweighed for determination of % different functional groups. Baseline forage yield (lbs/ac) and feed quality in a commercial laboratory were also determined. Surface soil water infiltration was measured using the single-ring infiltration method. Surface soil temperature and moisture were determined using the FieldScout TDR 250 probe at 0-6". Soil compaction was measured using the SpotOn Digital Compaction Meter (penetrometer) at 4, 8 and 12".
Baseline Results
Botanical Composition
The botanical composition, forage yield and quality of the strips taken at the beginning of the trial are given in Table 2. The hay land is legume dominated with on average 67% legume (mostly Red Clover), 21% grasses and 13% weeds (mostly Dandelion and Yarrow).
Forage Yield and Quality
Forage yield from the strips ranged between 170 – 2100 lbs/ac and averaged about 1400 lbs/ac (Table 2).The crude protein (CP) contents of forage harvested from strips averaged 15%.
Soil Compaction and Water Infiltration
Results for soil compaction and water infiltration are given in Table 3. Penetrometer readings of the strips ranged between 190 – 620 psi with 8" readings generally above 300 psi, indicating compaction at that level and beyond. Water infiltration was quick, averaging 15 inc/hr.
Plant Emergence
Plant emergence was monitored after seeding and throughout the growing season which was very poor, as very little or no seedlings emerged.
Conclusion
The hay stand is predominantly legume, accounting for the high 15% CP contents but the DM forage yield was less than 1400 lbs/ac. Compaction was observed mostly after the 8" mark. The very low plant emergence observed in strips could be due to the absence of moisture after seeding. Plant emergence/establishment as well other parameters will be monitored early next spring to determine the success of the different hay rejuvenation methods.
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