Agricultural Science Commons^™

Could Formononetin Of Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense L.) Be Enhanced By Phosphorus And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Management?, Fernando Ortega-Klose, Andrés Quiroz, L. Bardehle, P. Aguilera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover is a forage legume of importance in the world with limited persistency; in Chile this is due mainly to the root borer (Hylastinus obscurus Marsham) infestation. Our previous studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between the root borer and the formononetin content in roots of the plants; therefore, studying factors that enhance the concentration of formononetin in the plant could help to decrease the negative effect of the root borer. The purpose of this research was to assess the relationship between phosphorus availability (P) in the soil interacting with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) over …

The Influence Of High Density Grazing And Conventional, Rotational Grazing On Soil And Vegetation Parameters In The Semi-Arid And Mesic Grasslands Of South Africa, Jamie Paulse, C. Visser, P. J. Malan, G. N. Smit, F. H. De Witt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In South Africa, multi-camp rotational grazing using ‘conservative stocking rates’ have been the conventional approach to livestock grazing management systems. However, as of late, the high-desnity approach (used interchangeably – depending on the situation – with regenerative grazing, mob grazing, short duration, high pressure grazing, rapid rotation, time controlled, ultra-high density, holistic grazing and holistic resource management) has been adopted by numerous farmers. This approach is considered to be an adaptable one, incorporating the ‘herd effect’ concept, whereby large numbers of animals occupy an area for short periods of time, and allowed an extended rest period. It claims to improve …

Nine-Step Approach Of Smart Agricultural Helps Grain Production Reduce Costs, Increase Yield And Efficiency, Shuqin Gao, Zhaomin Hu, Hongsheng Wang, Xiaobo Zhang, Yucheng Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Food security is a top priority in national governance. Since 1949, high-standard farmland construction, agricultural mechanization development, and agricultural technology promotion have all contributed to the grain production. To ensure grain security, China has drawn a “red line” of 1.8 billion mu (about 120 million hectares) as the official minimum of arable land. At the same time, increasing the investment of capital goods such as fertilizer and pesticides can no longer produce more food. Due to the extensive farming method in the past, the continuous increase in total grain output becomes difficult in the future. With the rapid development of …

Effectiveness Of Mycorrhizae And Vermicompost Seed Inoculation For Germination, Vegetative Growth, Cannabinoid Content, And Cured Flower Weight Of Cbd-Rich Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.), Hannah Boyer, Nicole Wagner, Merritt Drewery

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

Effective germination and vigorous growth of hemp cultivars is paramount to cultivators’ ability to produce high-quality hemp products. Beneficial bacteria and fungi are known symbionts to plants and are used in regenerative agriculture to increase plant health and crop yield. This pilot study investigated the effect of microbial seed inoculation on germination rate, plant height, cured flower weight, and cannabinoid content of cannabidiol (CBD)-rich hemp (Cannabis sativa L). The experiment included a control and the following treatments: 1) seed inoculation of Great White ^â Premium Mycorrhizae (GW), 2) seed inoculation of vermicompost (V), and 3) seed inoculation of Great …

Machine Learning-Based Soybean Yield Prediction And Optimizing Lidar-Mounted Uav Efficiency, Leticia Santos

LSU Master's Theses

The first chapter of this thesis explores the predictive capabilities of random forests algorithm on datasets obtained from field plot experiments on crop management systems in soybean. Furthermore, the chapter presents a complementary analysis of model performance according to dataset sizes and two techniques on how to impute and deal with missing data. Random forests are being compared with standard statistical techniques such as linear regression on a well-structured, information-rich agronomic experiment. The key findings of this chapter includes the best hyperparameters adjustment and the identification of the dataset threshold for optimal algorithms performance. The second chapter has a research …

Soil Carbon And Nitrogen After Eight Years Of Rotational Grazing In The Nebraska Sandhills Meadows, Gandura O. Abagandura, Martha Mamo, W. H. Schacht, Aaron Shropshire, Jerry Volesky

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Grassland provides many ecosystem services; therefore, sustainable management practices of grassland are crucial for maintaining and enhancing its ecosystem health and resilience. Rotational grazing at a high stocking density (a.k.a., ultrahigh stocking density) is purported to sequester greater amounts of carbon (C) in grassland soils than rotational grazing at low stocking densities. This study was conducted in the Nebraska Sandhills meadows for eight years to evaluate how rotational grazing with different stocking densities can affect soil C and total nitrogen (TN) in bulk soils, soil organic matter fractions, and sequestration rate. The grazing management included a high stocking density with …

Genome-Wide Association And Genomic Prediction For Iron And Zinc Concentration And Iron Bioavailability In A Collection Of Yellow Dry Beans, Paulo Izquierdo, Rie Sadohara, Jason Wiesinger, Raymond Glahn, Carlos Urrea, Karen Cichy

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Dry bean is a nutrient-dense food targeted in biofortification programs to increase seed iron and zinc levels. The underlying assumption of breeding for higher mineral content is that enhanced iron and zinc levels will deliver health benefits to the consumers of these biofortified foods. This study characterized a diversity panel of 275 genotypes comprising the Yellow Bean Collection (YBC) for seed Fe and Zn concentration, Fe bioavailability (FeBio), and seed yield across 2 years in two field locations. The genetic architecture of each trait was elucidated via genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the efficacy of genomic prediction (GP) was assessed. …

Soil And Fertiliser Management For Orchards In The Manjimup District, Neil Lantzke, Simon Yeap, Lukasz Kotula, B Goldspink, Valeria Almeida Lima, John Kammann

Horticulture research reports

This publication aims to give orchardists a broad understanding of the soils in the Manjimup district. It provides information on soil and fertiliser management that will assist in the sustainable production of fruit crops. This document was prepared for a Soils Course for horticulturalists, that was held in September 2023 at Manjimup Horticultural Research Centre.

The Manjimup local government area (LGA) is the most important horticultural district in Western Australia, particularly for fruit and in 2020 the total value of horticultural production was valued at $236 million (Figure 1). Avocados and apples were the most valuable horticultural crops, valued at …

Environmental Biology Masters Capstone, Antonio Gonzalez-Pita

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Human wildlife interactions (HWI) pose a complex challenge for wildlife managers. Human encroachment into wildlife habitat and the growing number of outdoor recreationists are increasing the frequency of contact and conflict, especially in regions such as the Front Range of Colorado. Geographic information systems (GIS), which use a combination of remote sensing and environmental survey data, allow for predictive spatial analyses of where human wildlife interactions are likely to occur. I used publicly reported observations of moose to create spatial predictive maps in a species distribution model framework. Slope and elevation were shown to be the strongest predictors of HWI, …

Proceedings Of The 51st Annual Meeting, Southern Soybean Disease Workers (March 6-7, 2024, Pensacola Beach, Florida), Ian Small, Kiersten A. Wise, Travis R. Faske, Danise Beadle, Paul Patrick Price Iii, Tom W. Allen

Southern Soybean Disease Workers: Conference Proceedings

Success in Extension (moderator: Kiersten Wise)

Institutional currency: What is important at your university? Loren Giesler

Success (and challenges) in extension in the Mid-West, Daren Mueller

Success in extension in the Mid-Atlantic, Alyssa Koehler

Success (and failures) in xxtension in the Southeast, Ed Sikora

Success in extension in the Mid-South, Travis Faske

Student Competition (moderator: Ian Small)

Hiding in plain sight: Disentangling the biology of Cercospora species associated with Cercospora leaf blight of soybean, Ernesto da Silva, J. Searight, J. Richards, P. Price, and V. Doyle

Using spore traps to decipher the epidemiology of Cercospora leaf blight in the mid-south, …

Development And Evaluation Of A Retrofittable Variable Rate Applicator Controller, Ahmed Abdalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need to optimize resource utilization while increasing crop productivity is paramount. This research proposes a Low-cost Retrofittable Variable Rate Applicator Controller (VRAC) that aims to leverage the adoption of Variable Rate Technologies. The controller operates via the Raspberry Pi platform, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a stepper motor drive, and an anti-slip wheel encoder. The VRAC allows precise, on-the-fly control of variable-rate application of farming inputs. It utilizes GPS with 10 cm accuracy to pinpoint geographic coordinates in real-time. A wheel encoder measures traveling speed with a slip-resistant wheel design for precise RPM readings. The Raspberry processes the data, …

Competition Between Bradyrhizobium Strains For Soybean Nodulation, Lilia Ernestina Montanez Hernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) has surged as a natural strategy to provide available nitrogen to crops by taking advantage of diazotrophs, microorganisms that can reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Soybean, a major crop, greatly benefits from BNF by forming endosymbiotic relationships with rhizobacteria from the genus Bradyrhizobium, which culminates in the formation of specialized organs called nodules, where nitrogen fixation occurs. This is known as Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF). Inoculation of soybean fields with high nitrogen fixing Bradyrhizobium strains to stimulate SNF is being used as a strategy to increase crop productivity and nitrogen content. However, in North America, SNF …

Assessing Endophyte Frequency Distributions And The Effect Of Epichloë Brachyelytri In The Chemotypic And Genotypic Diversity Of Brachyelytrum Erectum, Rachel Ann Sneed

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Seed-transmissible epichloid fungal endophytes are best known for their roles as defensive mutualists in cool-season grasses. Historically, the discovery of fungal endophytes was driven by investigations of plant toxicity to livestock, followed by extensive study of their alkaloids and protection against insects and nematodes. Epichloae can produce four classes of alkaloids: ergot alkaloids, lolines (saturated aminopyrrolizidines), indole–diterpenes, and peramine. It is increasingly evident that these hereditary symbionts have much more diverse chemical profiles both in individual populations and between them. To this end, differences in chemotypic profiles of these symbionts may translate to different evolutionary and environmental advantages across plant …

The Effect Of Biochar From Plant Materials On Agricultural Acid Sulfate Soil: A Laboratory Incubation, Syazwan Sulaiman, Namasivayam Navaranjan, Guillermo Hernandez-Ramirez, Zohrah Sulaiman, Kathereen Liew

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The scarcity of suitable arable land has led to the development of acid sulfate soil for cultivation. The major problems of acid sulfate soil are the inherent low pH and available phosphorus (P) as well as the mobilization of toxic elements such as aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe), rendering the soil unfavourable for crop production. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of biochar from plant materials on the selected parameters of acid sulfate soil in a laboratory incubation, with unamended control and dolomite treatment soils for comparison. The application of biochar significantly increased (P < 0.05) soil pH by 0.4-0.6 units as well as the soil available P by 13.1 mg kg-1 relative to the control. The soil exchangeable Al was significantly reduced (by 2.4 cmol kg-1 when compared with the control treatment. The dolomite treatment was superior relative to biochar application in increasing soil pH and decreasing Al. The dolomite application, however, was inferior to biochar treatment in increasing soil available P. Moreover, no favourable change was observed in available Fe with the applications of either biochar or lime. These results indicated that biochar has the potential for the amelioration of acid sulfate soil, especially in increasing available P. Further studies should explore the effectiveness of biochar and lime co-application in altering a wider range of soil chemical parameters to inform management options of acid sulfate soil for cultivation.

Research Report: Radicchio Cultivar Performance In New Hampshire, Rebecca G. Sideman, Ella Lukacz, Lilly Hartman

Faculty Publications

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. latifolium) is grown widely throughout Europe, especially northern Italy. In addition to having interesting color and flavor profiles, they are rich in phenolics and other bioactive compounds. While increasingly popular as a niche vegetable in the region, there is little research-based information to guide growers. The New England growing climate is very different from that of major production regions, and it presents unique challenges. There is tremendous phenotypic variation among and within groups and cultivars. The availability of varieties to commercial growers in the U.S. has expanded greatly, but there remains a need for reliable …

A Gis Tool For Optimal Forage Species Selection, David B. Hannaway, Christopher Daly, Michael D. Halbleib, Linda Brewer, Sophie Baur, Chelsea Clark, Emilie Krecklow, Scott Bassett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To determine appropriate forage species for US ecoregions, geographic information technologies (GIS) are being used to create climatic and soil factor maps. Excel spreadsheets and RStudio are used to create response functions of forage species to minimum and maximum temperature, annual precipitation, soil pH, soil salinity, and salinity. National forage data and expert opinion will evaluate quantitative tolerances, seasonal yield profiles, and pollinator suitability. These maps and agronomic and livestock use information will be shared with forage specialists and farmers to provide alternatives for improved perenniality, increased diversity, and system circularity. Future work will include development and evaluation of climate …

Evaluation Of Winter Cereal Cover Crops Across Nitrogen Management Strategies In No-Till Corn Production, Robert Nalley

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is the most popular winter cereal cover crop utilized before corn, but wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) may provide a comparable value due to their similar fibrous root systems. Despite the benefits associated with winter cereal cover crops, drawbacks are possible for the subsequent corn crop. A field study was conducted with three site-years in Kentucky to measure the impact of the three winter cereals across nitrogen (N) management strategies. Wheat produced the most biomass compared with barley or rye cover crops. Wheat and rye needed approximately 100 more …

Identifying Physiological, Morphological, And Genetic Drivers Of Key Intermediary Phenotypic Traits Associated With Stalk Lodging Resistance Within Genetically Diverse Maize Germplasm And Sorghum, Norbert Bokros

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Maize stalk lodging reduces grain yields due to the permanent breakage or deformation of stalk tissue before grain harvest. To reveal new insights into the complex problem of maize stalk lodging, this dissertation will examine three primary objectives. First, the direct, diurnal influence of turgor pressure will be shown to have only marginal effects on stalk bending strength, a key trait associated with stalk lodging resistance. Up to a dozen individual stalks, grown to physiological maturity within the same field, were tested using a DARLING testing device. In parallel, stalk turgor status as measured by leaf water potential and turgor …

The Effect Of Spring And Winter Killed Cover Crops On Soil Physical Properties And Soil Organic Carbon, Danielle Doering

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) and healthy soil physical structure in agroecosystems is crucial to sustainable production. To assess medium term impacts of cover crops on soil health in the top 90 cm, we conducted a field experiment in central Kentucky with varying levels of winter cover: spring and winter kill cover crops, weedy and bare winter fallows. After eight years of cover crop use, some soil physical properties improved: 35% greater mean weight aggregate diameter at 0-30 cm with spring kill covers and 5.2% more C held within large aggregates for both cover crop treatments compared to winter fallow. …

Early Season Biomass And Weather Enable Robust Cereal Rye Cover Crop Biomass Predictions, Alexandra M. Huddell, Brian Needleman, Eugene P. Law, Victoria J. Ackroyd, Muthukumar V. Bagavathiannan, Kevin Bradley, Adam S. Davis, Jeffrey A. Evans, Wesley Jay Everman, Michael Flessner, Nicholas Jordan, Lauren M. Schwartz-Lazaro, Ramon G. Leon, John L. Lindquist, Jason K. Norsworthy, Lovreet S. Shergill, Mark Vangessel, Steven B. Mirsky

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Farmers need accurate estimates of winter cover crop biomass to make informed decisions on termination timing or to estimate potential release of nitrogen from cover crop residues to subsequent cash crops. Utilizing data from an extensive experiment across 11 states from 2016 to 2020, this study explores the most reliable predictors for determining cereal rye cover crop biomass at the time of termination. Our findings demonstrate a strong relationship between early-season and late-season cover crop biomass. Employing a random forest model, we predicted late-season cereal rye biomass with a margin of error of approximately 1,000 kg ha⁻¹ based on …

Integrating Early Season Clover Cover Crops As A Living Mulch In Broccoli And Transitional Organic Winter Squash Production In Eastern South Dakota, Alexis Rose Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Managing weeds, improving soil health, and reducing the use of plastic mulch continue to be priorities for South Dakota vegetable farmers. Farmers have expressed an interest in integrating cover crops into their farm systems. Clover cover crops used as a living mulch within and along cash crop rows may aid in weed suppression, nitrogen fixation, and prevent soil erosion. However, prior research has shown challenges of incorporating living mulch due to yield decreases. Research conducted in 2022 and 2023 in eastern South Dakota investigated the effects of four clover and four in-row soil management treatments on broccoli and organic winter …

Chitin-Enriched Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Biorational Alternative For Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Incognita) Management, James Kisaakye, Dennis Beesigamukama, Solveig Haukeland, Sevgan Subramanian, Paul K. Thiongo, Segenet Kelemu, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pests of most food crops, causing up to 100% yield loss. Nevertheless, commercial nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. While the nematicidal potential of crustacean and synthetic chitin has been demonstrated globally, research on the potential of insect-derived chitin for nematode control has received limited attention. Here, seven chitin-fortified black soldier fly frass fertilizer extracts (chFE) were assessed for their suppressiveness of Meloidogyne incognita and impacts on spinach growth in comparison with a commercial nematicide using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The performance of chFE and control treatments was assessed by …

Comparative Microbiome Diversity In Root-Nodules Of Three Desmodium Species Used In Push-Pull Cropping System, Isack H. Adan, George Ochieng Asudi, Saliou Niassy, Abdul A. Jalloh, Johnstone Mutiso Mutua, Frank Chidawanyika, Fathiya Khamis, Zeyaur Khan, Sevgan Subramanian, Thomas Dubois, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Desmodium species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress Striga species weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which Desmodium species impact the soil microbiome, either through its root exudates, changes in soil nutrition, or shading microbes from its nodules into the rhizosphere, are less understood. Here, we investigated the diversity of root-nodule microbial communities of three Desmodium species- Desmodium uncinatum (SLD), Desmodium intortum (GLD), and Desmodium incanum (AID) which are currently used in smallholder maize push-pull technology (PPT). Methods: Desmodium species root-nodule samples were collected from selected smallholder farms in …

Integrating Vegetables In Push-Pull Technology: Gendered Preferences Of Smallholder Farmers In Western Kenya, F. O. Ouya, J. O. Pittchar, F. Chidawanyika, Z. R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Transformative rural smallholder agriculture addressing biophysical constraints requires farmer-led innovations for increased technology adoption. Following the need to further intensify the cereal push-pull technology (PPT) for pest and weed control through integration with vegetables, we conducted surveys to determine suitable vegetables across three different counties in Kenya namely Homabay, Siaya, and Trans-Nzoia. Farming in these areas is predominantly maize based and introducing vegetables to the system will improve household food and nutritional security, together with income. A systematic random sampling method was used to sample a total of 124 smallholder farmers who were interviewed during field days where farmer awareness …

Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Associated With Maize, And Their Relationship With Soil Properties In Southern And Southwestern Ethiopia, Abebe W. Aseffa, Beira H. Meressa, Tadele Tefera, Kristina K. Green, Peter Anderson, Esayas Mendesil

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Maize is an important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Plant-parasitic nematodes significantly impact maize production. However, research on maize nematodes in SSA is limited. The current study aimed to assess the occurrences and densities of nematodes associated with maize and to assess the correlation of some soil physicochemical properties with nematodes in southern and southwestern Ethiopia. One hundred and eighty-six soil and root samples were collected from 62 maize fields (31 from Hawassa Zuria and 31 from Mana districts). Eleven plant-parasitic nematode genera were identified. The most important genera of plant-parasitic nematodes identified were Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus, followed by …

Characterisation Of ‘Giant’ Cysts Of The Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera Rostochiensis, Present In Potato Fields In Kenya, James A. Price, Kelsey Hunt, Newton Nyagah, Calvince Orage, Onesmus Mwaura, Solveig Haukeland, Danny Coyne, John T. Jones

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Potato production in East Africa is seriously impacted by the potato cyst nematode (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis, where it has been recorded in at least three countries. In Kenya, it is widespread in all major potato-growing regions, often at very high densities. Consecutive cropping of potato on the same land and a sub-tropical climate have influenced PCN biology. For example, unusually large cysts have been regularly recovered. We have analysed the biological properties of these ‘giant cysts’. The giant cysts contained more eggs than those recovered from UK fields. Egg size did not differ from UK populations and there was no …

Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Regenerative Input For Improved Biological Nitrogen Fixation And Sustainable Bush Bean Production, Agnes Chepkorir, Dennis Beesigamukama, Harun I. Gitari, Shaphan Y. Chia, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Birachi Eliud Abucheli, Jean Claude Rubyogo, Theodore Zahariadis, Gina Athanasiou, Aikaterini Zachariadi, Vasileios Zachariadis, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production is undermined by soil degradation and low biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) capacity. This study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) on bush bean growth, yield, nutrient uptake, BNF, and profitability, in comparison with commercial organic fertilizer (Phymyx, Phytomedia International Ltd., Kiambu, Kenya), synthetic fertilizer (NPK), and rhizobia inoculant (Biofix, MEA Fertilizers, Nairobi, Kenya). The organic fertilizers were applied at rates of 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg N ha−1 while the NPK was applied at 40 kg N ha−1, 46 kg P ha−1, and 60 kg K ha−1. The fertilizers …

Bedstraw Eradication Program 2023-24: Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Bedstraw Eradication Program operates under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Industry Funding Scheme (Grains) Regulations 2010.

Approved Plans developed annually for each infested property in consultation with the Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Management Committee (GSHIMC), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the landholders detail management actions, estimated costs and timeframes of agreed actions. DPIRD implements the Program which includes 6 consecutive years of winter spray treatments, followed by a 3-year release protocol and post-eradication monitoring phase. Machinery inspections, quarantining, landholder compliance winter spraying and end of season double-knock herbicide treatments form the key components …

Skeleton Weed Program 2023-24: Annual Report To Grain Growers, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Skeleton weed is a major pest of grain crops and can significantly reduce grain crop yields by competing for moisture and nutrients (mainly nitrogen), due to its deep perennial root system. Skeleton weed is a declared plant in WA under section 22 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act (2007) and is assigned to control category 2 (Eradication) for the whole of the State, except in the Narembeen and Yilgarn Shires, where it is category 3 (Management).

Adding Value To Crop Production Systems By Integrating Forage Cover Crop Grazing, Robert B. Mitchell, Daren D. Redfearn, Kenneth P. Vogel, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson, P. Steven Baenziger, Bruce E. Anderson, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jay Parsons, Steven D. Masterson, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

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, Nebraska, USA. Each pasture (n = 3) was continuously stocked in spring with four yearling steers (380 ± 38 kg) for …