STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANA

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1 STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTA DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANA NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWT DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIV TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIEL MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, D GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBU STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTA DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANA NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, 3 GROWT DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIV TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIEL MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, D GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBU STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTA DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANA NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWT DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIV TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIEL MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, D GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, TALL FESCUE: DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBU NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, STOCKPILING YIELD, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTA STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANA North Crolin Agriculturl Reserch Service NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWT North Crolin Stte University Rleigh, NC 769 DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIV TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, Technicl Bulletin 37 GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIEL ober 00 MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, D GROWTH DISTRIBUTION, YIELD, STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND VALUE NO-TILL ESTABLISHMENT, DEFOLIATION, GROWTH DISTRIBU STOCKPILING MANAGEMENT, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE NO-TILL ESTA

2 Tll Fescue Tll Fescue: No-Till Estblishment, Defolition, Growth Distribution, Yield, Stockpiling Mngement, nd Nutritive Vlue Contributors Six independent reserch studies re reported in this bulletin (for cittion purposes nd uthorship references, refer to the individul studies). J. C. Burns, Professor, Crop Science Deprtment, North Crolin Stte University, nd Plnt Physiologist, U.S. Deprtment of Agriculture-Agriculturl Reserch Service Dougls S. Chmblee, Professor Emeritus, Crop Science Deprtment, North Crolin Stte University Frncis G. Giesbrecht, Professor Emeritus, Sttistics Deprtment, North Crolin Stte University Chrles H. Isley, previously Grdute Reserch Assistnt, Crop Science Deprtment, North Crolin Stte University Front Cover Photos. Photo in of tll fescue growth from ember seeding (left), Mrch seeding (center), nd Februry seeding (right). The stnds hd inches, ½ inches, nd 3 inches of growth, respectively.. Defolition of tll fescue t different frequencies nd stubble heights. 3. A cow prticiptes in the selection process of tll fescue strins.. Photo on ober of tll fescue (left) tht hd been spryed with 0. pound.i. prqut (Grmoxone Extr) on ember.. Tll fescue in lte ober ccumulted from erly ust.

3 Acknowledgements The reserch reported in this publiction ws funded by the North Crolin Agriculturl Reserch Service nd by the United Sttes Deprtment of Agriculture- Agriculturl Reserch Service s prt of joint forge-niml reserch progrm.

4 Tll Fescue Contents Pge Abstrct... Generl Summry... Introduction... 7 No-Till Estblishment of Tll Fescue... 9 Study. Rte nd of Prqut Applictions to Kill Existing Sod. - Dougls S. Chmblee Study. of Seeding With nd Without n Insecticide. - Dougls S. Chmblee... 0 Defolition Mngement of Tll Fescue... Study 3. Influence of Defolition Frequencies on the Morphologicl Development nd Growth of Tll Fescue. - Dougls S. Chmblee nd Chrles H. Isley.... Study. Influence of Defolition Frequencies on Dily Growth Rte nd Associted Nutritive Vlues. - J. C. Burns, Dougls S. Chmblee, nd Frncis G. Giesbrecht... Summer Accumultion for Fll Utiliztion Study. Yields nd Nutritive Vlue of Tll Fescue from Different Periods of Summer Accumultion nd Subsequent Effects on Spring Production. - J. C. Burns nd Dougls S. Chmblee Study 6. Chnges in the Nutritive Vlue of Summer-Accumulted Tll Fescue During the Fll nd Winter. - J. C. Burns nd Dougls S. Chmblee References... Appendix... Study. Tbles showing climtologicl dt, yield, nd qulity constituents for the seson nd for individul hrvests.... Study. Tbles showing climtologicl dt nd dry mtter yields from repeted summer ccumultion on subsequent spring growth Study 6. Tbles showing drying method influences nd fll/winter chnges on the nutritive vlue of ccumulted tll fescue Study. Figures showing the dily growth rtes nd nutritive vlue of tll fescue during the growing seson for ech tretment ech yer

5 Abstrct Tll fescue (Festuc rundince Schreb.) is mjor forge grss grown throughout the north-south trnsition zone. Much of the reserch on tll fescue hs been conducted t elevtions bove 00 feet nd in the western nd northern portions of the trnsition zone. This bulletin provides informtion from the estern portion of the trnsition zone t n elevtion below 00 feet. Specificlly, this informtion covers:. the no-till estblishment of endophyte-free or novel-endophyte tll fescue into endophyteinfected tll fescue stnds tht hve been killed. the influence of vrious degrees of defolition on developmentl growth, including dily growth rte nd ssocited nutritive vlue during the growing seson 3. the yield potentil nd nutritive vlue of lte summer-ccumulted (stockpiled) tll fescue in the southern nd lower elevtions (below 0 feet) of the trnsition zone. Reserch findings show tht tll fescue psture yield nd qulity cn be gretly improved through proper defolition prctices nd tht endophyte-free tll fescue cultivrs cn be no-till estblished into infected pstures. Further, the experiments show tht with judicious plnning nd mngement, producers cn effectively use lte summer-ccumulted tll fescue from ober to Mrch. These results hve pplictions wherever tll fescue is grown in North Crolin nd in other mid-atlntic sttes.

6 Tll Fescue Generl Summry Tll fescue introduced into the United Sttes from Gret Britin is tller, more drought nd cold tolernt, nd denser sod former nd, hence, more competitive with weeds thn medow fescue. In the 800s it ws known s Reed fescue (Festuc eltior L.), tll medow fescue, English bluegrss, Rndoll grss, nd evergreengrss. The initil cultivr releses of Alt from Oregon nd Kentucky 3 from Kentucky spurred its use in the United Sttes. Kentucky 3, cultivr developed from n ecotype found growing in Menifee County, Ky. before 890, is grown widely throughout the north-south trnsition zone nd comprises mjor portion of the crege in the tll fescue belt tody. Tll fescue is the only long-term (> yers) perennil cool-seson grss tht is well-dpted to the Piedmont region, which extends cross the middle south. It is known for its dependbility, which is ttributed to its dpttion to wide rnge of soils nd wide fluctutions in summer nd winter tempertures nd moisture conditions. Further, it is pltble to livestock nd ffords grzing during most of the yer. But niml dily performnce is generlly moderte to poor during the summer. A significnt prctice tht merits wider ppliction is the lte summer ccumultion (stockpiling) of tll fescue for grzing in lte fll nd into Mrch. Tll fescue hs its mjor growth period in the spring, nd the growth termintes with the emergence of seed stlks if left unhrvested. The regrowth, however, is essentilly ll vegettive whether it occurs in summer during periods of cool, moist conditions or in the fll when night time tempertures cool. The stockpile is generlly high in soluble sugrs nd, if topdressed with nitrogen in lte summer with the onset of fll growth, is moderte in crude protein concentrtion. Poor niml weight gin during the summer in the mid-atlntic region hs been ssocited with the presence of fungl endophyte tht produces lkloids. These lkloids fvor tll fescue s persistence but re ntgonistic to the niml, cusing condition known s summer syndrome. Studies in this bulletin ddress the technology needed to estblish improved tll fescue cultivrs (endophytefree or with friendly endophyte) into existing tll fescue stnds tht contin the toxic endophyte. This is prticulrly importnt for sites tht re not esily tilled for reseeding. Informtion is lso presented on defolition mngement during the growing seson nd on the potentil of summer ccumultion of tll fescue for fll nd winter utiliztion. The mjor findings in this bulletin re summrized below. No-Till Estblishment Two pplictions of prqut (Grmoxone Extr) month prt strting ust through ober using 0. pound ctive ingredient (.i.) per cre effectively killed estblished stnds of endophyteinfected tll fescue. A single ppliction of 0.0 pound of prqut.i. per cre killed estblished stnds but ws less effective thn two pplictions of 0. pound.i. per cre pplied month prt. Tll fescue pstures to be reseeded should not be permitted to produce seed t lest yers before reseeding. For fll no-till seeding into killed sod, the best time to seed is bout ober in the piedmont nd costl plin. Erlier dtes usully require n pproved insecticide to control grsshoppers nd crickets. Before no-till seeding in Februry, the old sod should be killed in ober or erly ember.

7 Generl Summry In 3 of the yers evluted, Februry seeding generlly produced less thn hlf of the dry mtter yield obtined from successful seeding the previous fll. Defolition Mngement of Tll Fescue Cutting tll fescue to stubble of inches every time it reched 6 inches ws the most productive defolition type tretment studied, verging 8,30 pounds per cre nd yielding 33% more totl dry mtter thn the 6-inch tretment cut to 3.-inch stubble (6,0 pounds per cre). Sesonl growth rtes verged, 3, nd 9 pounds per cre per dy for yers,, nd 3, respectively, of the study. Under both the 3.- nd -inch stubble systems, more frequent clipping regimes produced mrked increses in the lef re index (LAI) of the stubble. Resting tll fescue from June to ust generlly resulted in incresed sesonl dry mtter production but rnged from 0 to % depending on the tretment. The rest period hd little, if ny, effect on spring growth the following yer. Chnging the defolition intervl nd stubble height fvorbly shifted forge growth rte nd nutritive vlue during stress periods, which my be of more economic vlue thn producing more sesonl forge. Lrge chnges in the dily growth rte (pounds per cre) nd nutritive vlue for ech defolition intensity from yer to yer emphsize the importnce of using vrible stocking mngement for efficient utiliztion in livestock production enterprise. Summer Accumultion for Fll Utiliztion Accumulting tll fescue growth from June resulted in the highest men dry mtter yields by mid-ember (,80 pounds per cre) compred with (3,30 pounds per cre), ust. (,870 pounds per cre), or ember (,80 pounds per cre) ccumultion dtes. In ll cses, 80 pounds of N per cre were pplied on ust. However, the nutritive vlue of the forge, represented by in vitro dry mtter disppernce, ws lowest (6%) for the June ccumultion nd incresed to 6% for, 67% for ust, nd 7% for the ember ccumultion dtes. The IVDMD of the June -ccumulted forge remined lowest during the fll nd winter sesons. It rnged from 7% on ober to 9% by Jnury 8. This compres with 68 nd 6% from the men of the three lter ccumultion tretments on the sme smpling dtes. When ccumultion begn ember, yields were lowest by mid-ember (men =,77 pounds per cre) but nutritive vlue, represented by IVDMD, ws highest when smpled in ober (men = 7%) nd remined highest during the fll nd winter sesons (rnging from 7 to 60%). An ust ccumultion of tll fescue ppers to be good compromise for producing yield nd mintining nutritive vlue of ccumulted forge s yields were nerly double those from ember ccumultion (,870 vs.,80 pounds per cre). But nutritive vlue, represented by IVDMD, ws similr during the fll nd winter periods (rnging from 69 to 7%). Summer-ccumulted forge showed decline in IVDMD, verging 8.9 percentge points during December. The nutritive vlue of the stockpile ws ssocited with the presence of green tissue, which declined in yer from men of 7 to 6% nd in yer 3 from men of 77 to % s the fllwinter seson progressed. Repeted summer ccumultion on the sme tll fescue stnd hd no crryover effects on subsequent spring growth or on subsequent fll ccumultions. 6

8 Tll Fescue Introduction Tll fescue is the most importnt cool-seson perennil grss in North Crolin, occupying lmost million cres. It is semi-erect bunchgrss tht produces short rhizomes, lthough these rhizomes contribute little to its spred. Tll fescue sometimes is grown in mixture with ldino or red clover, but most of the crege is seeded in pure stnds. Tll fescue is most productive during the spring, with growth declining by erly June. Dormncy usully occurs when tempertures exceed 8 o F nd moisture stress develops in lte June through ust. A second growth period begins s night tempertures cool in lte ust nd continues into mid-ember. The fll growth remins vegettive nd cn be ccumulted for winter grzing, prctice tht is not exploited by mny livestock producers. Although growth cn occur during the winter, it is generlly curtiled by tempertures below o F (Burns nd Chmblee, 979). The most widely plnted vriety of tll fescue in North Crolin nd throughout most of the Southestern United Sttes from the 90s through much of the 990s ws Kentucky 3. This vriety is very persistent nd is still widely used in the re. However, Kentucky 3, Alt tll fescue, nd other vrieties hve been found to be ssocited with n endophyte fungus, Neotyphodium coenophilum, tht produces toxic lkloids. There re three defined fescue toxicoses syndromes in cttle: fescue foot, bovine ft necrosis, nd fescue toxicity, lso clled summer slump. Summer slump is by fr the most common syndrome in cttle tht grze endophyte-infected tll fescue. This condition is ssocited with imposed het tolernce cusing reduction in dily dry mtter intke nd hence reduction in dily weight gin. Fescue toxicity lso cuses serious reproductive problems with pregnnt mres. Some specific problems re glcti (little milk production), bortions, prolonged gesttion, nd fol deths. Brood mres should be removed from infected hy or psture 90 dys before foling. Endophyte-free vrieties hve been developed, but they do not pper to be s persistent s the infected ones. In experiments to dte in North Crolin, endophyte-free vrieties hve persisted for 3 to 0 yers. Mny grzing studies hve been conducted in the Southest. A review of this subject is presented by Fribourg et l. (99). Comprisons of endophyte-infected tll fescue with low-endophyte cultivrs hve shown dily weight gin dvntges for low-endophyte cultivrs tht rnge from 0.33 pound in Virgini (Tully et l., 99) to 0.80 pound in Albm (Hovelnd et l., 983). Even lrger differences hve been obtined in other cses. Differences generlly pper to be ssocited with the length of time grzing is extended into June nd (Burns nd Bgley, 996). A smpling of over 00 pstures in 80 North Crolin counties indicted tht 9% of the pstures were infected with the fungus Neotyphodium coenophilum. An verge of 68% of the plnts in ech infected psture contined the fungus. Toxicity problems from infected tll fescue cn be reduced substntilly by overseeding pure stnds with legume such s ldino clover. Also, the problem ssocited with summer slump cn be voided by mking other perennil plnts vilble during the summer, such s bermudgrss, switchgrss, flccidgrss, gmgrss, nd dllisgrss or summer nnuls such s crbgrss, perl millet, or sorghumsudngrss hybrids. Recently, promise hs been shown through new pproch tht involves inserting novel (friendly) endophyte into Georgi nd Jesup tll fescue (designted MxQ). This friendly endophyte is expected to improve stnd survivl of these cultivrs over endophyte-free seed but not depress niml performnce s norml endophyte-infected tll 7

9 Introduction fescue does. Becuse tll fescue is not very productive during midsummer, it should not be relied on s the principl source of feed even when endophytefree or endophyte-friendly strins re seeded. This bulletin presents results from number of experiments tht ddress the replcement of endophyteinfected stnds with superior fescue cultivrs by notill methods. The experiments lso explored spring, summer, nd winter mngement strtegies for improving utiliztion of tll fescue. 8

10 Tll Fescue No-Till Estblishment of Tll Fescue Study. Rte nd of Prqut Applictions to Kill Existing Sod Dougls S. Chmblee Sitution Frmers need mens of shifting from infected tll fescue to either endophyte-free vrieties or improved vrieties infected with friendly endophyte using no-till methods. First, the old sod must be killed, nd then the insects present in the old sod must be controlled. Consequently, the objective of this study ws to determine the best method of killing infected tll fescue stnds without tillge to permit the seeding of different tll fescue. Experimentl Procedures Four identicl experiments were conducted over yers t the Lke Wheeler Rod Field Lbortory on n Appling cly lom (Experiments,, nd ) nd t the Reedy Creek Rod Field Lbortory on Cecil cly lom (Experiment 3) ner Rleigh, N.C. Soil ph for ll sites rnged from 6.0 to 6.3 nd no dditionl limestone ws dded. Both P O nd K O were pplied in the yer of grss kill ccording to soil test requirements for tll fescue. All plots received 0 pounds of nitrogen in Februry nd gin ust before the spry tretments were pplied. The experiments compred different rtes nd dtes of pplying prqut (Grmoxone Extr) onto sod of estblished ( to yers) Kentucky 3 tll fescue (see Tble. for vribles). The existing sod ws grzed or mowed (with the clippings removed) to stubble height of bout inches t weeks nd gin t 3 dys before prqut ws pplied. Plots were 7 feet by feet with 8-foot lleys. The vrious tretments were rrnged in rndomized complete block design with four replictions. Prqut ws brodcst spryed using 0 gllons of wter per cre with CO -pressurized bckpck spryer on the dtes indicted in Tble.. In order to better evlute the effectiveness of the spry, nothing ws seeded into the spryed sod. Two observers checked the stnds periodiclly during the fll nd following spring nd reported their results s percentge ground cover of green tll fescue. Weed encrochment ws checked nd lso recorded but not reported. Results nd Discussion nd Rte Effects Two pplictions of prqut t 0. pound.i. per cre month prt (ust nd ember, ember nd ober, or ober nd ember ) proved effective in killing n existing swrd of infected Kentucky 3 tll fescue. The mximum mount of ground cover of tll fescue remining on 3, the spring following these double pplictions, ws 8.% (Tble., Experiment 3). In the mjority of the experiments, % or less of the fescue survived double pplictions t 0. pound.i. per cre in lte summer nd fll. June nd pplictions were not nerly s effective s those mde in lte summer nd fll. A doubling of the rte from 0. to 0.0 pound.i. per cre proved dvntgeous in severl comprisons. For exmple, n ppliction of 0.0 pound.i. per cre ember resulted in green tll fescue ground cover rnge of 0 to 9.% compred with.7 to 3.7% for the 0. rte. These sites were crefully selected. The Kentucky 3 tll fescue sods were not permitted to mke seed for t lest yers before the trils begn. This ws to void ny volunteer reseeding. Also, the sods were closely defolited (bck to inches) for some weeks before prqut ws spryed. 9

11 No-Till Estblishment of Tll Fescue Tble.. Effect of rte nd dte of prqut pplictions on the kill of estblished Kentucky 3 tll fescue. Ground cover green tll fescue Tretment Exp. Exp. Exp. 3 Exp. No. Rte 9 Dec. 8. Mr.. Jn Feb. 6 il lb.i./cre... %... ) 0. June b ) 0. June 0 & ) 0. June 0, 0, & c ) 0.0 June ) ) 0.. & ) ) ) 0.. & ) ) ) 0.. & ) ) Check LSD (0.0) d Either 0. or 0.0 pound ctive ingredient (.i.) per cre of prqut (Grmoxone Extr) ws pplied to fescue t indicted dtes. In experiment, tretments,, nd were pplied month lter. For exmple, tretment becme b Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. c indictes tht mesurements were not tken. d LSD = lest significnt difference. Weeds Plots of tll fescue receiving prqut in June or quickly becme hevily infested. At lest 0% of the ground ws covered with weeds such s lefy spurge, Psplum species, horsenettle, crbgrss, green foxtil, nd cow itch vine. Those stnds spryed in the fll lso hd some moderte invsion of henbit nd chickweed. If those plots hd been seeded to tll fescue, this invsion would hve been much less. For resons previously explined, fescue ws not seeded. Summry nd Conclusions Estblished stnds of endophyte-infected tll fescue cn be effectively killed with two pplictions of prqut (Grmoxone Extr) month prt either on ust nd ember, ember nd ober, or ober nd ember using 0. pound.i. per cre. Single pplictions of 0.0 pound.i. per cre of prqut re more effective thn single rtes of 0. pound.i. per cre but less effective thn two pplictions of 0. month prt. For Februry seedings of tll fescue, the old sod of fescue first should be killed in ober or erly ember. Infected tll fescue pstures should not be permitted to produce seed for t lest or 3 yers before no-till seeding of noninfected vrieties. Study. of Seeding With nd Without n Insecticide Dougls S. Chmblee Sitution Producers who use no-till methods to shift from infected tll fescue stnds to stnds of either endophyte-free vrieties or improved vrieties infected with friendly endophyte frequently encounter insect pests t the seeding dtes previously considered optimum. The objective of this study ws to determine the best time to estblish endophyte-free 0

12 Tll Fescue tll fescue vrieties into the killed sod with nd without n insecticide s well s the best method for doing so. Experimentl Procedures Four identicl experiments were conducted over yers t the Reedy Creek Rod Field Lbortory on Cecil cly lom (Experiments nd ) nd t the Lke Wheeler Rod Field Lbortory on n Appling cly lom (Experiments 3 nd ) ner Rleigh, N.C. Soil ph for ll sites vried from 6. to 6.3 nd no dditionl limestone ws dded. Both P O nd K O were pplied to the estblished tll fescue stnd in the spring before new stnds of fescue were seeded nd gin the following spring ccording to soil test requirements. Nitrogen pplictions re discussed below. The experimentl vribles were rrnged in rndomized complete block design with four replictes. The experiments compred different dtes of seeding n endophyte-free vriety of tll fescue, Forger, into killed sod of well-estblished stnd ( to yers old) of endophyte-infected Kentucky 3 tll fescue (see Tble. for dtes). Forger ws drill seeded into the killed sod with nd without pplictions of the insecticide crbofurn (in grnulr form) t. pounds.i. per cre. Prqut (Grmoxone Extr) ws brodcst spryed t 0. pound.i. per cre month before fll seedings nd gin dy before seeding. The Kentucky 3 fescue sod hd been cut bck repetedly to inches month before seeding. For winter seedings, the prqut ws pplied ober nd ember t the sme rtes. Previous studies hve shown tht pplictions during December, Jnury, nd Februry re not effective. For the fll nd winter seedings (see Tble.), nitrogen ws pplied t 0 pounds per cre t the time of seeding. An dditionl 0 pounds of nitrogen were pplied on Februry on the fll seedings nd il on the winter seedings. Forger ws drill seeded t 6 pounds per cre into eight rows per plot spced 0 inches prt using Tye Psture Pleser no-till drill. The plots were 7 feet by 0 feet with 0-foot lley. The drill ws djusted to mke furrow bout 0.7 inch deep, which resulted in the seed being covered with bout 0. inch of soil. Tble.. Effect of dte of seeding nd use of the insecticide crbofurn (C) on stnd estblishment of endophyte-free tll fescue seeded into sod of killed endophyte-infected tll fescue. Tretments No. C Exp. Exp. Exp. 3 Exp.... plnts per squre foot b... ). C 0 c 0 d 9 ) No C 7 8 3). C 0 ) No C ). C 8 8 6) No C 8 3 7) Feb. C ) No C ) Mr. C 30 0) No C LSD e (0.0) C denotes tht tll fescue ws no-till drilled into killed sod of tll fescue on ember nd tht. pounds.i. per cre of grnulr crbofurn were drilled simultneously into the rows. b Stnd counts were mde bout 3 weeks fter seeding in the fll nd to 6 weeks fter seeding in the winter. c Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. d Unble to penetrte the soil with no-till drill on this dte due to drought conditions. Complete stnd filure occurred in tretments nd, Experiment 3. e LSD = lest significnt difference. Stnds were evluted by counting res, 0 inches by inches, using portble frme to outline the re in ech plot. These counts were mde bout 3 weeks fter seeding in the fll nd to 6 weeks fter seeding in the winter. Ground cover of seeded tll fescue nd cnopy height were mesured periodiclly. Dry mtter yield estimtes were obtined t some hrvests from strip 30 inches wide cut from the center of the plot to -inch stubble nd dried t o F for 8 hours. In two experiments t two dtes in the fll, insect dmge nd lef necrosis dmge were determined by exmining plnts from six res, ech 6 inches long, from ech plot tken outside the hrvest strip.

13 No-Till Estblishment of Tll Fescue Results nd Discussion Stnds Good stnds of tll fescue were consistently obtined in Februry nd Mrch, nd in most yers from n ober no-till seeding. But ember seedings produced errtic stnds. Insects nd drought contributed to the errtic fll stnds. The use of crbofurn ws effective in producing better stnds t most ember nd ober seedings, but showed little effect t the ober dte due to less insect pressure. The dt show tht without n insecticide the ober dte offers less risk of insect or drought dmge thn the erlier fll dtes (Tble.). Previous studies in North Crolin on no-till procedures for fll estblishment of ldino clover into prtilly killed fescue swrds showed tht insects were gret hzrd to successful ember seedings but exhibited much less dmge to stnds seeded in mid-ober (Rogers et l., 983). Yields Dry mtter yield determintions were not usully mde throughout the growing seson (Tble.). For exmple, in Experiment only one hrvest ws mde the first yer on il, nd in Experiment 3, one hrvest ws mde in the first yer on June. These dt showed tht much higher spring yields were obtined from successful fll seedings thn from winter seedings. For exmple, in Experiment, by il, 3,60 pounds per cre of dry mtter were hrvested from plots seeded with insecticide on ember, wheres the stnds seeded on Februry nd Mrch hd not mde enough growth for hrvest. In ll trils over the yers, there ws sufficient moisture for stnd survivl of winter seedings, but yields in the first growing seson were usully much less thn from successful fll seedings. No yield response to crbofurn ws obtined t the winter Tble.. Effect of dte of seeding nd use of the insecticide crbofurn (C) on dry mtter yield of n endophyte-free tll fescue seeded into sod of killed endophyte-infected tll fescue. Exp. Exp. Exp. 3 Exp. Tretments b st yr nd yr st yr nd yr st yr st yr No. C Mrch il Mrch June il. 9 c... pounds per cre... ). C,60 d,60,0 90 e 3,60,600 ) No C 3,0,0,0,060 e 3,60,0 3). C,70, ,80,60,60 ) No C 3,0,60 0 0,00,760 3,0 ). C,00, ,90,930,790 6) No C 3,0, ,80,80 3,80 7) Feb. C 3,70,0 0 f ,00 8) No C 3,360, ,960 9) Mr. C 3,870, ,00 0) No C 3,960, ,690 LSD g (0.0) Experiments were not hrvested regulrly throughout the growing seson. Experiment yields in the first yer re totls from two hrvests tken il 8 nd June 8. b. C denotes tht tll fescue ws no-till drilled into killed sod of tll fescue on ember nd tht. pounds ctive ingredient (.i.) per cre grnulr crbofurn were drilled simultneously into the rows. c These dt re presented weed-free; however t this ust 9 hrvest, Experiment, crbgrss (weight not included) constituted bout 8 nd % of the totl yields for tretments to 6 nd 7 to 0, respectively. d Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. e Unble to penetrte the soil with no-till drill on this dte due to drought conditions. f 0 denotes insufficient growth to hrvest these tretments. g LSD = lest significnt difference.

14 Tll Fescue Tble.3. Effect of dte of seeding nd use of the insecticide crbofurn (C) on height (Ht) nd ground cover (GC) of n endophyte-free tll fescue seeded into sod of killed endophyte-infected tll fescue. Exp. Exp. Exp. 3 Exp. Tretments GC b Ht GC GC Ht GC No. C June 8.. June. 8 June 0 % in. % % in. % ). C 8 c 9 86 d 9 ) No C 6 6 d 76 3). C ) No C ). C ) No C ) Feb. C ) No C ) Mr. C ) No C LSD e (0.0) C denotes tht tll fescue ws no-till drilled into killed sod of tll fescue on ember nd tht. pounds ctive ingredient (.i.) per cre grnulr crbofurn were drilled simultneously into the rows. b Denotes ground cover of green tll fescue within the row. c Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. d Unble to penetrte the soil with no-till drill on this dte due to drought conditions. e LSD = lest significnt difference. seeding dtes of Februry nd Mrch, wheres some mrked responses were noted in the fll. Ground Cover nd Height The tll fescue ground cover ws better from mny of the tretments receiving crbofurn (C) in the fll, prticulrly the ember nd ober seedings (Tble.3). For exmple, in Experiment the ground cover of fescue for ember, C nd No C, ws 9 nd 6%, respectively, nd for ober ws 30 nd 8%, respectively. No effect of C on ground cover ws noted in the winter seedings. The height mesurements (Tble.3) showed the superiority of successful fll seedings over winter seedings. Fescue seeded the previous ember ws bout inches high in il (Experiment ) nd June (Experiment ) compred with. to 3 inches for the winter-seeded stnds. Insect Dmge nd Lef Necrosis Crbofurn ws effective in controlling insects nd in reducing lef necrosis dmge (Tble.). In Tble.. Effect of dte of seeding nd use of the insecticide crbofurn (C) on insect dmge nd lef necrosis of n endophyte-free tll fescue seeded into sod of killed endophyte-infected tll fescue. Exp. Exp. Tretments Insect b Lef c Insect Lef dm- necro- dm- necro- No. C ge sis ge sis... %... 3). C 9 d e ) No C 6 e ). C ) No C C denotes tht tll fescue ws no-till drilled into killed sod of tll fescue on ober nd tht. pounds ctive ingredient (.i.) per cre grnulr crbofurn were drilled simultneously into the rows. b Denotes leves with obvious insect dmge (biting or chewing). c Denotes leves exhibiting necrosis. d Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. e No mesurements were tken.

15 No-Till Estblishment of Tll Fescue Experiment, pproximtely twice s mny plnts exhibited lef necrosis in the untreted plots compred with the treted plots. Summry nd Conclusion The best time for no-till estblishment of endophyte-free tll fescue, or perhps one of the improved cultivrs with friendly endophyte, into killed sod of endophyte-infected tll fescue without the use of n insecticide is bout ober in the piedmont nd costl plin of North Crolin. Erlier dtes in ober or ember would be successful with the use of n pproved insecticide. Although crbofurn is presently not pproved for use on stnd estblishment of forges, other registered products should be considered. Grsshoppers nd crickets seem to cuse the most dmge. Successful stnds of tll fescue my be obtined in Februry nd Mrch, but the first yer s production of forge ws much lower in 3 of the yers evluted, verging less thn hlf of tht from successful fll seeding. Also, there is more risk of losing winter-seeded stnds to summer drought. In this -yer study, summer moisture ws sufficient to void summer stnd losses frequently encountered from winter seedings.

16 Tll Fescue Defolition Mngement of Tll Fescue Study 3. Influence of Defolition Frequencies on the Morphologicl Development nd Growth of Tll Fescue Dougls S. Chmblee nd Chrles H. Isley Sitution Mtches (979) hs reviewed the pertinent literture relting to frequency of defolition, height of cutting, nd other spects of mngement. Sleper nd Buckner (99) hve presented some pertinent results on grzing mngement of tll fescue, nd Jusk et l. (969) noted tht tll fescue cut to nd inches showed greter tillering thn when cut to 3 inches. Sleper nd Nelson (989) noted tht tillering of tll fescue is stimulted by frequent defolition. Burns (970) found tht pproximtely 6% of the dry mtter ws present below the -inch level in frequent hrvests of tll fescue. The objectives of this study were to:. determine the effects of different defolition intensities on lef re indices, nitrogen concentrtion, nd overll growth of tll fescue nd b. devise mngement systems tht would result in mximum rte of regrowth. Experimentl Procedures This study ws conducted over 3 yers (plus one uniform hrvest in the fourth yer) on Cecil cly lom t the Reedy Creek Field Lbortory ner Rleigh, N.C. Sixteen tretments were rrnged in rndomized complete block design with four replictions. Ech plot ws 6 feet wide by 0 feet long with -foot lley between replictes. The experiment ws seeded to Kentucky 3 tll fescue in ember, nd the vrious defolition tretments, s listed in Tble 3., were initited the following spring. The tll fescue in one-hlf of the plots ws cut periodiclly throughout the growing seson; the other hlf ws given rest period from June to ust. When forge in the plots given summer rest period reched 0 to inches, it ws cut bck uniformly to 3. inches. In the first nd third yers, no hrvests were mde during the summer rest period due to insufficient growth. Two hrvests were mde of ll summer rest plots in the second yer. Individul hrvest dt re not reported Tble 3.. Defolition tretments imposed on tll fescue. Mngement Tretments A. Cut ll seson () Cut when 3 inches bck to. inches (3-.) () Cut when 3 inches bck to inches (3-) (3) Cut when inches bck to inches (-) () Cut when 6 inches bck to inches (6-) () Cut when inches bck to inches (-) (6) Cut when. inches bck to 3. inches (.-3.) (7) Cut when 6 inches bck to 3. inches (6-3.) (8) Cut when inches bck to 3. inches (-3.) B. Summer rest b (rested between June -ust ) The sme cutting tretments outlined under A (-8) were imposed in mngement B, except during June to ust, when the eight tretments were cut bck to 3. inches only when growth reched 0 to inches. For exmple, cut when 3 inches bck to. inches (3-.) denotes tht tll fescue ws cut bck to stubble height of. inches ech time growth reched 3 inches. b Growth mde during the summer rest period ws hrvested t the end of ech rest period nd is included in totl growth for the seson.

17 Defolition Mngement of Tll Fescue in this mnuscript; however, s n exmple, the cut ll seson tretment tht involved cutting from 3 inches to inches included seven cuts between June nd ust in the second yer. The sme tretment on the summer rest period plots involved two cuts. Fertiliztion t seeding included pounds N, pounds P O, pounds K O, nd tons dolomitic limestone per cre. A topdressing of 3 pounds N per cre ws pplied in ober. Annully, 0 pounds N, 7 pounds P O, nd 6 pounds K O per cre were pplied. The N ws pplied Februry, il, nd ember t 00, 60, nd 80 pounds per cre, respectively. The P O nd K O were pplied Februry. These mterils were pplied within week of the bove dtes. Hrvesting for yield ws initited in Mrch of the first yer. With the exception of the -inch- to - inch nd -inch to 3.-inch tretments, the plots were cut with rotry-type mower equipped with detchble bg. The -inch to -inch nd -inch to 3.-inch tretments involved cutting with -inch cutter-br-type mower, nd the smples were rked nd plced in cloth bgs. An re inches wide by 8 feet long ws hrvested from the center of ech plot for yield determintion, nd the smple ws dried in forced ir dryer nd permitted to ir equilibrte to bout % moisture. At ech hrvest dte strip pproximtely inches wide ws hrvested from ech end of the plots nd discrded. After smpling, the borders were cut in mnner similr to the hrvest strip nd the vegettion ws removed from the plots. During the first yer of estblishment, force creted by the rotry-type mower blew soil prticles into the smple bg long with the grss clippings when clipping the 3-inch to.-inch tretments. The soil prticles were seprted from the grss with sieve tht hd smll-dimeter openings. Once the tll fescue hd formed dense sod, sieving ws not required. Nitrogen concentrtion of the forge ws determined plot by plot ccording to the AOAC (990) method of nlysis. Smples were tken ech spring nd in the fll of the first nd second yers. Becuse the cutting schedule for tretments vried, forge from tretments smpled for nitrogen were not cut on the sme dy but within 6- dy period. In the third yer, smples of fresh forge were seprted by hnd into four frctions. These were green bldes, stems with sheths, ded bldes, nd duff. The green bldes nd ded bldes were removed t the collr, but the sheths remined with the stems. The duff mteril consisted of weeds, soil, orgnic mteril, nd other extrneous mtter. The duff ws discrded. Smples used for botnicl seprtions nd lef determintion were collected rndomly within the plots but outside the hrvest strip utilized for yield. Two smples, one from the north position nd one from the south position (the long xis of plots ws oriented north nd south) were tken before nd fter hrvesting for yield. The smples used for botnicl seprtions nd lef re determintion were hrvested to soil level from n re 6 inches wide by inches long. Smpling ws done in the spring nd fll of the second yer. Due to tretment vribles, it ws not possible to hrvest ll the smples for botnicl seprtions on the sme dy; the hrvests were mde over period of 0 to dys t ech smpling period. All mterils from the hrvested re were plced in plstic bgs immeditely, plced in Styrofom cooler contining ice to prevent wilting, nd stored in room t 0 o F. Pst experience hd shown tht seprtions nd mesurements, prticulrly for lef re index (LAI), could best be mde in n irconditioned room. At ordinry room temperture, the bldes rolled, mking mesurements of LAI impossible. Subsmples, consisting of pproximtely 30 grms of totl height mteril nd grms of stubble height mteril, were seprted into green bldes, stems with sheths, ded bldes, nd duff. The reminder of the subsmple ws used for lef re determintion. All components were plced in pper bgs nd dried in forced-ir oven t 0 o F for hours. After drying, the smples were removed nd stored t room temperture until weighed. Fifty green bldes tken t rndom from the reminder of the smple were used for LAI determintions. The drying, storing, nd weighing procedures were the sme s for botnicl nlysis. A combined nlysis over yers s well s for the individul smpling periods ws performed on the percentges of green bldes, stems with sheths, ded bldes, nd lef re index. A combined 6

18 Tll Fescue nlysis ws conducted on totl yields. Individul nlyses were mde for ech nitrogen determintion. Differences showing significnce t the 0.0 level will be noted s differences unless otherwise indicted. Results nd Discussion Totl Dry Mtter Production In this study, stnds tht were hrvested t height of 6 inches or less will be referred to s grzingtype, nd those permitted to rech height of inches will be referred to s hy-type. Most produced more totl dry mtter in the second yer Tble 3.. Totl dry mtter produced by tll fescue s influenced by height nd frequency of defolition. Yer Tretments st nd 3rd Avg. inches... lb/cre... Cut ll seson 3-. 6,30 b 7,660 7,00 7,00 3-7,00 8,370 7,00 7,60-6,860 8,60 7,600 7, ,80 9,80 8,00 8,30-8,0 0,70 8,90 9, ,780 6,0,80 6, ,890 6,0,700 6,0-3. 8,880 9,0 8,00 8,690 Summer rest period c 3-. 7,980 9,00 7,70 8,00 3-8,390 8,60 7,90 8,00-7,990 8,990 7,0 8, ,870 9,0 8,80 8,90-9,80 0,980 8,70 9, ,700 7,70 6,0 7, ,70 6,70,60 6, ,760 8,930 8,70 8,60 LSD d (0.0) , for exmple, denotes tht tll fescue ws cut bck to stubble of. inches ech time growth reched 3 inches. b Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. c See Tble 3.. d LSD = lest significnt difference. thn in the first or third (Tble 3.). A severe summer drought in the third yer decresed yield. The monthly precipittion from June through ember in the third yer ws.7,.0,.3, nd.0 inches, respectively, compred with the long-term normls of.,.,.3, nd 3.70 inches. When verged for the experiment, ll summer rest tretments, except the -inch to 3.-inch tretment, produced n verge of more totl dry mtter thn tretments hrvested ll seson. The lrgest increse in totl dry mtter production for the -month summer rest period ws %, which ws obtined from the 3-inch to.-inch tretment. Although the hy-type tretments produced more totl dry mtter thn the grzing-type tretments, it is generlly more economicl to grze tll fescue thn to hrvest it three to four times yer s hy. In compring the grzing-type tretments (< 6 inches), mrked increses were noted in totl dry mtter production when tll fescue ws defolited bck to -inch stubble s compred with 3.- nd.-inch stubble (Tble 3.). For exmple, when cut ll seson, the 6-inch to -inch tretment yielded,070 more pounds per cre nnully thn the 6-inch to 3.-inch tretment. Further, the 6-inch to -inch tretment produced bout,060 pounds per cre more thn the.- inch to 3.-inch tretment. The lest desirble stubble height for production ws 3. inches. On the verge, the 6-inch to -inch tretment proved to be the most productive grzing mngement intensity in this study. The most severely defolited tretment, 3-inch to.-inch, yielded less thn those grzing-type tretments tht were hrvested ll seson bck to inches. But when summer rest period ws imposed, the 3-inch to.- inch tretment produced s much or more totl forge s ny of the grzing-type tretments with the exception of the 6-inch to -inch tretment (Tble 3.). Hrt et l. (97) hve shown tht tll fescue cut weekly fter flowering to heights of,, or 8 inches produced more yield in the second nd third yers t the lower stubble height. Their studies did not include defolition before flowering. In North Crolin the period before flowering is the period of gretest sesonl growth. Others (Dobson et l., 97; 978) lso report more forge production my be obtined t the lower grzing heights, 7

19 Defolition Mngement of Tll Fescue Tble 3.3. Dry mtter produced by tll fescue in lte summer nd fll s influenced by summer rest period under vrious heights nd frequencies of defolition. Yield fter. Yield fter nd yer. 9 3rd yer Summer Summer Cut ll rest Cut ll rest Tretments seson period seson period inches... lb/cre ,380 b,30,0,00 3-,660,80,330, ,30, , ,0,90, , for exmple, denotes tht tll fescue ws cut bck to stubble of. inches ech time growth reched 3 inches. b Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. Lest significnt difference (0.0) between cut ll seson nd summer rest period for the bove comprisons ws not significnt. nd Burns nd Goode (97) obtined excellent niml performnce by overseeing grzing to stubble heights of to 3 inches. As expected, the gretest totl dry mtter production in this study ws obtined from the -inch hy tretments. Considering both mngement strtegies, the -inch to - inch tretment produced 93 pounds per cre more dry mtter per yer over 3 yers thn the -inch to 3.-inch tretment. Sesonl Dry Mtter Production The effect of summer rest on fll nd spring growth of tll fescue is illustrted in Tbles 3.3 nd 3.. At the first hrvest in the spring, the cut ll seson nd the summer rest period were cut t the sme time for ny given height of cut tretment such s 6 inches to 3. inches. Consequently, one cn determine the effect of summer rest on spring vigor by exmining the dt from the first hrvest (Tble 3.). Dt from individul hrvests in fll nd spring showed essentilly no difference between smples collected from rested nd nonrested tretments either in the fll or the following spring fter the summer rest growth hd been removed (Tbles 3.3 nd 3.). The yield dvntges obtined from the summer rest tretments were lrgely relized during the rest period itself or immeditely therefter. During summer of high rinfll (second yer), tll fescue showed more disese prevlence in plots subjected to rest period. The rection of tll fescue to summer defolition in North Crolin in this tril differed from the rection found in Albm. Berry nd Hovelnd (969) reported tht summer resting of tll fescue ppered necessry for mximum fll-winter production in the lower southestern United Sttes. Tble 3.. Dry mtter production of tll fescue t the first spring hrvest s influenced by summer rest period under vrious heights nd frequencies of defolition. Spring nd Spring 3rd Spring th yer yer yer Sum- Sum- Sum- Cut mer Cut mer Cut mer Tret- ll rest ll rest ll rest ments seson period seson period seson period inches... lb/cre b ,30, ,880,930 3,770,060,870, ,60, ,70,60 3,770 3,880,860, , for exmple, denotes tht tll fescue ws cut bck to stubble of. inches ech time growth reched 3 inches. The first spring hrvest for ech cutting height tretment ws cut ccording to the prescribed tretment, nd consequently, occurred t different dtes; for exmple, in the second yer the first spring hrvest for the.-inch to 3.-inch tretment ws mde on Mrch compred with il for the -inch to 3.-inch tretment. For ny cutting height, for exmple inches to inches, the cut ll seson nd summer rest period tretments were cut t the sme time for the first hrvest. b Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. Lest significnt difference (0.0) between cut ll seson nd summer rest period for the bove comprisons ws not significnt. 8

20 Tll Fescue They concluded tht summer defolition my stimulte tiller growth nd deplete plnt crbohydrte reserves needed for fll growth. The yield dt for ll of the individul hrvests re not reported; however, n exmintion of these dt showed tht, in generl, tll fescue responded similrly to defolition before nd fter June. Some differences in mgnitude were noted between tretments before nd fter June, but these differences were not lrge. On the verge, more dry mtter ws produced before June thn fter June. Sesonl production of dry mtter vried considerbly mong yers. For exmple, the production for the grzing-type tretments before June verged pproximtely 60, 0, nd 70% for the first, second, nd third yers, respectively. Fescue usully grows more rpidly in the spring, producing more dry mtter t tht time thn in the fll. Nitrogen Percentge The more frequently defolited tretments resulted in higher nitrogen percentge in the tll fescue thn the tretments permitted to rech inches (Tble 3.). Tble 3.. Averge percentge of nitrogen in stems nd leves of tll fescue from spring nd fll hrvests for the second nd third yers. Spring Fll Summer Summer Tret Cut ll rest Cut ll rest ments seson period seson period inches... % b LSD c (0.0) , for exmple, denotes tht tll fescue ws cut bck to stubble of. inches ech time growth reched 3 inches. b Ech vlue is the men of four replictes. c LSD = lest significnt difference. The grzing-type defolition tretments tht involved cutting ll seson produced nitrogen redings rnging from 3.0 to 3.39% in the spring nd from 3. to 3.90% in the fll. The 3-inch to - inch defolition tretments produced forge tht hd greter nitrogen percentge thn the 6-inch to -inch system (verge summer nd fll). In generl, the percentge of nitrogen in stems nd leves ws not gretly different in fll or spring. The forge from the 6-inch to -inch tretment contined slightly lower percentge of crude protein (nitrogen x 6.) thn the forge from the 6- inch to 3.-inch tretment (Tble 3.). The grzingtype tretments (cut ll seson) produced, on the verge, from 9.% crude protein (6-inch to -inch tretment) to.% crude protein (.-inch to 3.- inch tretment). Lef Are Index The highest lef re index (LAI) of the totl plnt of tll fescue ws obtined from the lest severe tretments ( inches to 3. inches nd inches to inches) (Tble 3.6). On the verge, there ws no difference mong the remining tretments s the severity of defolition ws incresed. An exception ws the 3-inch to.-inch tretment, which hd the lowest LAI (3.7). Incresing the severity of defolition by cutting from 3 inches to. inches decresed the LAI by 6.% compred with the lest severe defolited tretment, inches to 3. inches (Tble 3.6). Broughm (98) found the following lef re indices t which 9% of the incident light ws intercepted bout middy in summer: perennil ryegrss 7., short rottion ryegrss 7., white clover 3., nd mixed stnd.. Tll fescue is similr morphologiclly to ryegrss, nd one might expect n LAI of pproximtely 7 to be dequte for interception of 9% of the incident light. Assuming 7 s n dequte LAI, in these experiments only the hy-type tretments would provide sufficient cover to intercept 9% of the incident light. This is consistent with the hy-type tretments producing the highest yields of forge. Tble 3.6 lists lef re indices for the stubble tht remined fter ech tretment ws hrvested for yield. The lowest LAI (.) ws obtined from the stubble of the -inch to -inch tretment. The.-inch to 3.-inch nd 6-inch to 3.-inch tretments contined the highest lef re 9