1. 2007 Forage Research Update Jon Repair Extension Agent, Crop and Soil Sciences (540) 463-4734 jrepair@vt.edu

2. For Discussion Orchardgrass Cutting Height Management Forage Fertility and it’s Affect on Yield Phosphorous Application Yellow Crownbeard, Wingstem, Stickweed Control Coral Berry (Devil’s Shoestring) Control Red Cedar Control

3. Orchardgrass Cutting Height Management First Year of Multi-Year Study Mowed with a Diskbine at Three Different Heights Measured Plant Density at Each Cutting and the end of the Growing Season Measured Plant Growth Between Cuttings

5. Measuring Plant Density

7. Phosphorous Fertility 2 ton of Litter/acre Applied in Spring of 2006 Litter Phosphorous Value = 69lbs/ton Total Phosphorous Applied = 138lbs / acre

8. Litter vs Commercial Fertilizer  Five treatments: 1)Split application of litter 60 lbs N/acre, 52 lbs P2O5/acre, 1.5 t/acre spring and ~1 st Aug 2)Inorganic fertilizer at same N and P rate as 1 3)Single application of litter 120 lbs N/acre, 104 lbs P2O5/acre, 3 t/acre all applied in spring 4)Inorganic fertilizer at same N and P rate as 3 5)Unfertilized control  5 treatments x 4 replications = 20 plots

9. Can you see fertilizer effect?

10. Yield - Rockbridge County Treatment 1 st Cut 5/11/07 2 nd Cut 7/5/07 3 rd Cut 8/23/07Total tons/acre Litter Split N 0.860.570.041.47 Fertilizer Split N 1.070.660.061.79 Litter Single N 1.090.760.051.90 Fertilizer Single N 1.261.070.062.39 No fertilizer (Control) 0.810.420.031.26

11. Conclusions  Fertilization with either inorganic or litter nutrients increased yield  Inorganic increased yield slightly more than litter, probably due to drought preventing litter breakdown. Some other research has shown the opposite  Drought decreased the yield response  Applying litter at an N rate increased soil P that will increase yield in future years

12. Coral Berry and Yellow Crownbeard ForeFront R&P @ 2 pts/ac + 0.25% Activator 90 (20 gpa) May 2007 ForeFront R&P Experimental Compounds Not Effective on Coral Berry, excellent control of wingstem

13. Coral Berry and Yellow Crownbeard ForeFront R&P @ 2 pts/ac + 0.25% Activator 90 (20 gpa) May 2007 ForeFront R&P

14. Surmount (picloram + fluroxypyr) @ 5 pts/ac + 0.25% Activator 90 (30gpa) May 2007 Regrowth at end of season

15. End of Season Regrowth

16. Something New Forage Radishes as a Cover Crop Compaction-Natural Sub-Soiler Grazing Crop for Dairy Heifers Forage Quality and Yield

17. Questions Thoughts Ideas

18. PH - Rockbridge TreatmentBefore Application 1 Week1 Month Litter Split N 5.6 5.9 Fertilizer Split N 5.55.8 Litter Single N 5.45.76.0 Fertilizer Single N 5.55.6 No fertilizer (Control) 5.55.75.9