The Benefit of Legumes in a Pasture

1. The Benefit of Legumes in a Pasture Michael D. Peel USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab. Pasture Workshop May 13, 2005

2. Introduction • Develop legumes primarily for range • Spreading & falcata (yellow flowered) alfalfa

3. Broad deep spreading crowns less likely to suffer injury during grazing traffic Broad spreading crown Rhizome spread as viewed by a worm Ideal plant type

4. Introduction • Develop legumes primarily for range • Spreading & falcata (yellow flowered) alfalfa • Sainfoin • Cicer Milkvetch • Utah Sweetvetch • Globemallow • Small Burnet • Legumes for irrigated pastures • Birdsfoot Trefoil • Kura Clover

5. 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 Legume/Grass Study Nearing Completion • Utilizes a line-source irrigation system

6. Purpose of study • Test multiple types of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and grasses in monocultures and in mixtures. • Do they perform differently at high irrigation down to no irrigation.

7. Materials tested • Alfalfa • Ladak • Spreader III • Amerigraze • P53V08 • Diploid falcata • Empire Birdsfoot Trefoil • Grasses • Cache Meadowbrome • Martin Tallfescue • Perennial Ryegrass

8. Management • Fertility • Sufficient P205 applied to supply legumes • 20lbs/A nitrogen: establishment, fall & after harv. 1 • Average harvest dates: May 19th, June 25th, July 29th, Sept. 5th. • Irrigation • WL1 23.6” • WL2 15.2” • WL3 13.2” • WL4 9.3” • WL5 4.8”

9. Forage Production of meadow brome, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, 2003-2004.

10. Seasonal production of meadow brome, tall fescue and perennial RG, 2003-2004.

12. Forage production of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil at five levels of irrigation, 2003-2004.

13. Seasonal production of birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa at water level one, 2003-2004.

15. Forage production of alfalfa, tall fescue and an alfalfa-tall fescue mixture, 2003-2004.

16. Seasonal production of alfalfa, tall fescue and an alfalfa-tall fescue mixture, 2003-2004.

17. Forage production of alfalfa, meadow brome and an alfalfa-meadow brome mixture, 2003-2004.

18. Seasonal production of alfalfa, meadow brome and an alfalfa-meadow brome mixture, 2003-2004.

21. Forage production of diploid falcata alfalfa, the average of tall fescue/meadow brome and the mean of the two falcata-grass mixtures, 2003-2004.

22. Seasonal production of diploid falcata alfalfa, the average of tall fescue/meadow brome and the mean of the two falcata-grass mixtures, 2003-2004.

23. Meadow brome/Ladak Meadow brome/Diploid falcata Meadow brome/Diploid falcata

24. Forage production of birdsfoot trefoil, meadow brome and a birdsfoot trefoil-meadow brome mixture, 2003-2004.

25. Seasonal production of birdsfoot trefoil, meadow brome and a birdsfoot trefoil-meadow brome mixture, 2003-2004.

26. Forage production of birdsfoot trefoil, tall fescue and a birdsfoot trefoil-tall fescue mixture, 2003-2004.

27. Seasonal production of birdsfoot trefoil, tall fescue and a birdsfoot trefoil-tall fescue mixture, 2003-2004.

29. Summary • The grass/alfalfa mixtures averaged 63 % higher production than the grass monocultures • The grass/falcata mixtures averaged 47 % higher production than the grass monocultures • The grass/trefoil mixtures averaged 33% higher production than the grass monocultures • The largest benefit realized under irrigation • I wouldn’t use perennial ryegrass • The production distribution of trefoil vs alfalfa should be considered

30. Questions?