Grasspea - Potential Forage and Grain for the southern Great Plains. (3545)
Authors:
S.C. Rao* - USDA-ARS, El Reno, OK B. Northup - USDA-ARS, El Reno. OK
Abstract:
Grasspea (Latyrus sativa ),a drought-tolerant, cool-season legume from eastern Africa can be adapted to the southern Great Plains. We evaluated forage and grain yields and nutritive values of grasspea grown in Oklahoma, in small plot studies on conventionally tilled soils during 2001 to 2003. Seed of the cultivar AC Greenfix was treated with Cell-Tech C inoculant and seeded at 60 kg ha-1 in 60 cm spaced rows during mid-March. Whole plant samples were collected on five dates from 45 to 95 d after seeding (DAS). Herbage from 75 to 95 DAS was separated into grain and non-grain yields. Samples were analyzed for nitrogen (N) content and
digestible dry matter (DDM). Year and date effects were analyzed by repeated measures (all dates) and split plots in randomized design tested yields. Date
affected dry matter, forage N and DDM. Dry matter showed a cubic increase [6415 (±356)kg ha-1 at 75 DAS], forage N a cubic decrease [26.2 (±0.7)g kg-1 at 75 DAS) and DDM a quadratic decrease [730 (±11) g kg-1 at 75 DAS]. Year x date effects on yields were significant, as were year effects on seed DDM (937 g kg-1 in 2003;
967±7 g kg-1 in 2001 and 2002). Grain yield was higher on 95 than 75 DAS (2023 vs 1903 kg ha-1). Grasspea could supply high quality herbage during the May forage gap in existing wheat-based grazing systems.
Speaker Information: Srinivas Rao, USDA-ARS, El Reno, OK, Grazinglands
Research Laboratory USDA-ARS 7207 W. Cheyenne St, El Reno, OK 73036; Phone:
(405) 262-5291; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Tuesday, November 2, 2004, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Presentation Start: 1:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1556)