Adding Value to Crop Production Systems by Integrating Forage Cover Crop Grazing  

作　　者：Robert B. Mitchell Daren D. Redfearn Kenneth P. Vogel Terry J. Klopfenstein Galen Erickson P. Stephen Baenziger Bruce E. Anderson Mary E. Drewnoski Jay Parsons Steven D. Masterson Marty R. Schmer Virginia L. Jin Robert B. Mitchell;Daren D. Redfearn;Kenneth P. Vogel;Terry J. Klopfenstein;Galen Erickson;P. Stephen Baenziger;Bruce E. Anderson;Mary E. Drewnoski;Jay Parsons;Steven D. Masterson;Marty R. Schmer;Virginia L. Jin(USDA-ARS, Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA;Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA;Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA;Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA;USDA-ARS, Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA)

机构地区：[1]USDA-ARS, Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA [2]Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA [3]Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA [4]Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA [5]USDA-ARS, Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

出　　处：《American Journal of Plant Sciences》2024年第3期180-192,共13页美国植物学期刊（英文）

摘　　要：In addition to their value as cereal grains, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) are important cool-season annual forages and cover crops. Yearling steer (Bos taurus) performance was compared in the spring following autumn establishment as for age cover crops after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grain harvest. Replicated pastures (0.4 ha) were no-till seeded in three consecutive years into soybean stubble in autumn, fertilized, and grazed the following spring near Ithaca, NE, USA. Each pasture (n = 3) was continuously stocked in spring with four yearling steers (380 ± 38 kg) for 17, 32, and 28 d in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. In 2005, average daily gain (ADG) for steers grazing triticale exceeded the ADG for wheat by 0.31 kghd^-1d^-1. In 2006, wheat ADG exceeded that for triticale by 0.12 kghd^-1d^-1. In 2007, steers grazing wheat lost weight, while steers grazing triticale gained 0.20 kghd^-1d^-1. Based on the 3-year average animal gains valued at $1.32 kg^-1, mean net return ($ ha^-1 yr^-1) was $62.15 for triticale and $22.55 for wheat. Since these grazed cover crops provide ecosystem services in addition to forage, grazing could be viewed as a mechanism for recovering costs and adds additional value to the system. Based on this 3-year grazing trial, triticale was superior to wheat and likely will provide the most stable beef yearling performance across years with variable weather for the western Cornbelt USA.In addition to their value as cereal grains, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) are important cool-season annual forages and cover crops. Yearling steer (Bos taurus) performance was compared in the spring following autumn establishment as for age cover crops after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grain harvest. Replicated pastures (0.4 ha) were no-till seeded in three consecutive years into soybean stubble in autumn, fertilized, and grazed the following spring near Ithaca, NE, USA. Each pasture (n = 3) was continuously stocked in spring with four yearling steers (380 ± 38 kg) for 17, 32, and 28 d in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. In 2005, average daily gain (ADG) for steers grazing triticale exceeded the ADG for wheat by 0.31 kghd^-1d^-1. In 2006, wheat ADG exceeded that for triticale by 0.12 kghd^-1d^-1. In 2007, steers grazing wheat lost weight, while steers grazing triticale gained 0.20 kghd^-1d^-1. Based on the 3-year average animal gains valued at $1.32 kg^-1, mean net return ($ ha^-1 yr^-1) was $62.15 for triticale and $22.55 for wheat. Since these grazed cover crops provide ecosystem services in addition to forage, grazing could be viewed as a mechanism for recovering costs and adds additional value to the system. Based on this 3-year grazing trial, triticale was superior to wheat and likely will provide the most stable beef yearling performance across years with variable weather for the western Cornbelt USA.

关 键 词：Cover crops SOYBEAN TRITICALE WHEAT 

分 类 号：S51[农业科学—作物学]