Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Weather Dictate Nutritive Value of Fall Stockpiled Bermudagrass

• Published in: Forage and grazinglands Vol. 2008
• Main Authors: Guretzky, John A, Ball, Jeff, Cook, Billy J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Plant Management Network 2008
• Subjects: acid detergent fiber; air temperature; application timing; autumn; crude protein; Cynodon dactylon; dry matter accumulation; fertilizer application; fertilizer rates; fiber content; forage grasses; forage quality; neutral detergent fiber; nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient content; nutritive value; precipitation; protein content; summer; Oklahoma
• ISSN: 1547-4631; 1547-4631

Stockpiled bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.'Midland'] as a standing forage may meet nutritional needs of beef cows during winter. Our objective was to evaluate accumulation and nutritive value of fall stockpiled bermudagrass in response to N fertilization rate, N application date, and harvest date. Research was conducted near Burneyville, OK from 2000 to 2003. Fertilization rates included 0, 50, 100, and 150 lb N per acre applied on 15 August, 1 September, 15 September, 1 October, and 15 October. Forage accumulation was measured 10 days after the first killing frost; thereafter, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were assessed biweekly from 6 December to 20 February. An exceptionally hot and dry summer resulted in negligible forage production and unrepresentative forage quality in 2000. Forage accumulated linearly in 2001 and 2002 and quadratically in 2003 with N fertilization rate (P is less than or equal to 0.05). The dry matter averaged 56% TDN and 6.0, 6.9, 7.9, and 8.7% CP when N was applied at 0, 50, 100, and 150 lb/acre, respectively. The fertilized bermudagrass stands would have met CP and TDN requirements of mid-gestation beef cows had they been maintained on this forage.