Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 17, No. 1. March 1985

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNITY ANALYSIS OF THE FOREST VEGETATION IN THE LOWER PLATTE RIVER VALLEY, EASTERN NEBRASKA ▪ S. J. Rothenberger

RECOLONIZATION OF A BURNED PRAIRIE BY MEADOW VOLES (Microtus pennsylvanicus) ▪ P. L. Vacanti and K. N. Geluso

AMERICAN COOT HABITAT IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ H. A. Kantrud

OBSERVATIONS ON PRAIRIE DOG DISPERSAL IN MONTANA ▪ C. J. Knowles

WINTER FOOD HABITS OF THE SWIFT FOX ON THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS ▪ D. M. Zumbaugh and J. R. Choate

BOOK REVIEW

Ground …

Marketing Programs And Strategies, J. Kenneth Evans

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Hay has never been widely perceived as a cash crop, therefore, it has historically accounted for a very small part of the total cash sales by farmers. It has been estimated that more than 90% of all hay baled in the state is retained on the producing farms. Most of that which is sold is transported very short distances and of course if one farmer in a community has a good hay year, all do. Organized marketing efforts have been minimal in both scope and successes. In 1978, efforts were initiated toward a more organized system of marketing Kentucky hay. …

The Economics Of Stand Life In The Production Of Alfalfa, W. Donald Shurley

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is a crop which once established, can provide production of hay for several years thereafter. The productive years of the established crop are often referred to as the stand life. The life of an alfalfa stand is variable depending on many factors including variety grown, soil, weather conditions during the production period, insect and weed pressures, and of course the management skills of the producer in timely harvesting and other production jobs.

Alfalfa In Livestock Feeding Programs, Gary T. Lane

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A magazine article entitled "Bidders Paid More For Quality at Wisconsin Hay Auction" caught my attention. Did they really pay more money for higher quality. I could not help but think of some hay sales which I have witnessed. One dollar per bale, large bales, small round bales, sixty dollars per ton, and $275 per ton are all some quotes I have heard recently in connection with hay purchases. Not much is said about quality. We may hear relative terms such as good, not much grass, cut early, not rained on or others but not much about nutrient content or …

Grazing Alfalfa, Charles T. Dougherty

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa (Medicaao sativa) is a native of an area south of the Black and Caspian seas and it still grows wild in Iran and eastern Anatolia. Alfalfa was the chosen forage for the fighting horses of ancient armies as long ago as 1800 B.C. when the Kassites conquered Babylon. The spread of alfalfa followed the pathway of armies through the Mediterranean, Europe, and the New World. For ages before man used alfalfa to fuel his fighting animals natural selection processes worked on the evolution of alfalfa and its predecessors. A scenario which would account for the morphology and …

Chemical Preservation Of Alfalfa Hay, Dan O. Riddell

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Kentucky farmers harvest about 3 million tons of hay annually. In order to minimize dry matter losses and quality deterioration, hay should be baled with about 20% moisture. Unfortunately, adequate time required to field-dry hay to 20% moisture is often not available due to weather conditions. This is especially true for the first cutting of alfalfa in the spring. Many farmers are forced to choose between letting cut hay get rained on or baling hay wetter than is recommended. Hay baled with more than 20-25% moisture generally becomes moldy and undergoes a heating process which makes part of the protein …

Biological Control Of Alfalfa Insect Pests, Chris M. Christensen

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is a succulent plant that obviously is good feed for large herbivores such as cattle and horses. Therefore, it should not be surprising that a large number of small herbivores such as insects also find this plant delicious. Fortunately, most of these insects are not major pests. However, we do have a couple pest insects that annually attack this valuable crop and often cause economic damage.

Controlling insect pests is expensive and time consuming. However, not controlling them can be disastrous to the profit margin of the alfalfa producer. Entomologists who work on the insect pests of alfalfa have …

Weed Control In Alfalfa — Present & Future, Charles H. Slack

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

To achieve maximum alfalfa production and maintain excellent stands and forage quality for a number of years, producers need to start including weed control in their management program. Unfortunately good stands are not being established because of early weed competition where herbicides are not used. Alfalfa stands tend to play out before achieving their maximum number of years of production unless maintenance herbicides are used. Fortunately there are now herbicides registered to meet most every phase of alfalfa production.

This paper will deal primarily with the herbicides that are currently labeled for use on alfalfa. Several herbicides that are not …

Fertilizing Alfalfa For Optimum Production, Lloyd W. Murdock

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is a high producing crop. Therefore, it only makes sense not to limit its production or longevity by establishing it on unsuitable soil and by the use of unsound fertility practices. It is the aim of this paper to propose practices which will not limit the production of alfalfa, but, also allow it to be done as efficiently as possible with only the necessary inputs.

No-Till Alfalfa — Research And Observations, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

In previous addresses to this Conference, I have suggested four basic goals be included in your alfalfa program: 1) attention to details prior to and during establishment such that you establish a thick, weed-free stand; necessary management to; 2) keep the stand productive for five years; 3) produce five tons per acre per year, and; 4) market your harvest product either as a cash crop or through your livestock program for profit. In the presentations to follow today, information will be presented which, if adapted to your program, will permit you to reach and surpass the above goals.

The topic …

Kentucky's Soils Potential For Alfalfa Production, Kenneth L. Wells

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A description of Kentucky's land base indicates that of nearly 15 million acres suitable for cropland usage, approximately three-fourths has an erosion hazard potential of some degree, relating largely to steepness of slope (1). For this reason, there is a large potential acreage of alfalfa and other perennial forage crops relating to their sod forming growth habit which provides them an inherent value in erosion control.

Foreword [1985], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Effect Of Pasture Spraying On Gall Development., V. Nieman

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Sprays with low rates of desiccant herbicide just after head emergence has been shown to control development of toxicity in the same year. The trial was conducted to compare the effect of herbicides with different modes of action on control of toxicity and seed set. 85KA65.

Capeweed, Radish, Wild Oats, Sarsaparilla, Four O'Clock, Saffron Thistle, Onion Weed, Carnation Weed, J. R. Peirce, B J. Raynor

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

85WH59, Capeweed time of spraying. Demonstration, capeweed, oil additions. 85N080, radish, nozzle angles x volumes. 85N081, radish, nozzle angles x rates. 85N082, wild oats, nozzle angles x volumes. 85N083, wild oats, nozzle angles x Rates. 85ME1, sarsaparilla, chemicals. 85N075, sarsaparilla, chemicals. 85TS26, 85ME48, 85ME104, 85GE29, saffron thistle, control with ear spraying in pasture. 85TS41, 85GE29a, saffron thistle, chemical control of seed set, 85TS27, saffron thistle, grazing trial. 85GE36, onion weed, chemicals in pasture. 85GE35, carnation weed, chemicals in pasture.

Efficiency Of Cinch On Brome Grass Control., J. E. Holmes., R L. Thomas

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

85GE34, 85A11, 85A12,

Serradella Trial Programme., L. Cransberg

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Serradella Line Evaluation - Stage 2 85A155, Serradella Line Evaluation - Stage 3 85A156, Serradella Establishment - Time of Seeding x Seeding Rate 85A157, Serradella Establishment - Pod Undersowing (Variety x Rate) 85A158, Serradella Establishment - Pod Undersowing (Inoculation) 85A159.

Summary Of Rhizobium Experiments., J G. Howieson

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

The screening of 33 isolates of R. meliloti collected in Sardinia in 1984, and isolated on a low pH medium, 84ME33. Assessment of the possibility of establishing an 'Index of Symbiotic Competence' for species of Medicago, 85M57. Assessment of the effectiveness of several strains of R. meliloti on M.littoralis, and their saprophytic competence in an acid soil, 84ME35. The screening of the pre-1984 collection of R.meliloti held at the W.A. Department of Agriculture for acid tolerance, 84M34. Assessment of the survival of the Serena WSM419 symbiosis on a range of soil types, 84ME32, 84WH24, 84N18. Assessment of the acid tolerance …

Pasture Manipulation And Root Diseases Of Cereals., W Macleod

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Rotation for wheat comparing pure clover ley with a pasture ley, 79E15. Pasture renovation techniques and crop production in a 1:2 rotation, 81E35. Pasture manipulation effects on take-all, 85E32

Studies On The Effects Of Nutrition And Tillage Systems On Cereal Root Diseases., R. F. Brennan

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Micronutrients (Cu, Zn) and take-all, 83ES39, 83ES40. Nitrogen and Phosphorus rates and take-all, 83ES41, 83ES42, 83ES43. Split applications of Nitrogen and take-all, 84N1. Take-all and Manganese/Ammonium interaction, 84E1. Split applications of Nitrogen and take-all, 84E2. Cu residual on wheat and take-all, 67E9, 67E8. Take-all and Manganese/Ammonium interaction, 84LG2. Cultivation depths and timing effects on Rhizoctonia, 84E24. Chemical fallow and cultivation effects on Rhizoctonia, 85E33. Effects of cultivation depths and machines on Rhizoctonia and yield, 85E29.

Experimental Summaries Various Trials 1985, R Madin, F Schoonens, A Lindsay

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

85WH55, 85M55. The effect of timing of Roundup and spray.

85NO87, Evaluation of herbicides for control of lupins in cereals.

85NO89, Control of self sown lupins in cereal crops.

85NA59, Grass controI in barley with Isoproturon, Cinch and Metribuzin.

85NO88, Control of wild oats with hoegrass and oil.

85NO86, Tolerance of wheat to hoegrass and oil.

85NO84, Tolerance of lupins to Fusilade plus oil.

85NA63, Ryegrass control in crop with hoegrass plus crop oil.

85A15, Rates of Fusilade for seed set control in grasses.

85A17, Pasture topping herbicides and oils (Silvergrass).

85WH64, Crop oil additives to seed set control herbicides. …

Laser Levelling Land For Flood Irrigation, M D. Green, J. P. Middlemas

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since the introduction of laser levelling to Western Australia's South-West irrigation area five years ago, many farmers have benefited from this new and precise method of land-forming.

The use of lasser controlled earthmoving equipment to redevelop irrigated paddocks has led to improved irrigation efficiency and drainage. Less water is used for each irrigation, water is applied more evenly and less labour is needed. many older, grass-dominated paddocks have been reseeded to improve pasture species.

Eradicating Fruit Fly From Carnarvon, Kingsley Thomas Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Late last year the Mediteranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Weidemann) was eradicated from Canarvon, Western Australia by using an intergrated programme of sterile insect releases and bait spraying.

The eradication marked the end of a four-year study on the use and effectiveness of the Sterile Insect Technique, a biological control technique which uses an insect pest against itself. such a study can be used as a basis for treating other threatening insect pests, such as the serious cattle pest screw-worm fly, should they be found in Asustralia.

Being a biological control method, the Sterile Insect Technique is an exellent …

Water Quality For Irrigation, P R. George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although irrigation and salinity problems are frequently inseperable, there is a range of management methods that can be used to handle marginal quality water. Freuently these methods are simple, but require careful planning.

The wide range in tolerance of crops to salinity can be exploiter to ensure that appropriate crops are selected for the water available.

Because crops vary in their sensitivity to salt uptake in the leaves or the roots, watering methods can be changed to avoid problems. For profitable production enough water should be applied to ensure adequate water is available for plant growth as well as to …

Residual Values Of Australian Rock Phosphates, Michael D A Bolland

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

For years superphosphate has been the cheapest, convenient and most effective way of supplying phosphorus to newly cleared soils in Western Australia's South-West that are acutely deficient in phosphorus. However its effectiveness as a phosphorus source falls markedly after application. Regular applications are needed to maintaine profitable pastures and crops on these soils.

After a big jump in supperphosphate prices in the mid 970s, researchers tested the use of Australian rock phosphates as potentially cheaper alternative phosphorus fertilisers to superphosphate. On the none-leaching sands, as this article shows, none of the rock phosphates was as effective for plant growth as …

Disease Rating System., M Sweetingham

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Lupin hypocotyl rot trials, 85BA29, 85BA30, 85BA31, 85N054. Lupin root rot trials, 85WH31, 85WH32, 85WH52. Lupin root disease survey - Moora District. Common Root Rot studies, 82M26.

Barley Foliage Diseases, Field Pea Diseases., T. N. Khan, K. Brain, M. Judges, K. J. Young, I. Pritchard, T. Sweeny, J. Hamblyn

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

85BA22, 85MT31, 85N053, 85BA24, 85MT32, 85MT32, 85N052, 85N053, 85BA21, 85MT30, 85BA21, 85BA22, 85MT31, 85MT43, 85KA59, 85KA60, 85M29, 85MT44, 85E22, 85ES22, 85ES23, 85N051, 85BA25, 85WH27, 85C65, 85C69, 85C66, 85C67, 8SKA48, 8SMT34, 85KA47, 85MT33, 85M26, 85ME26, 85KA49, 85KA51.

A.General Notes and Highlights

BARLEY FOLIAGE DISEASES

B. Scald: Screening fungicides

c. Scald: Fungicidal control in Northam district

D. Scald: Effect of seeding rate

E. Scald & Mildew Effect of fungicides and rates

F. Scald & Mildew Seed borne infection and seed dressing

G. Scald & Mildew Effect of seed dressing and spraying

H. Scald & Mildew Effect of Erex and Baytan

I. Mildew: …

Root And Foliar Diseases Of Wheat On Sandplain In The Geraldton Region., J. Wilson

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

A project funded by Wheat Industry Research Council and Wheat Industry Research Committee of W.A. Interactions between stubble, rotation, ripping and nitrogen, ECRS, 85C53. The effect of type of cultivation implement, and time of cultivation, ECRS, 85C54. The effect of fumigation, ECRS, 85C91. Residual ripping responses from 1984, 84C15.

The Ecology Of Skeleton Weed In Western Australia, Afghan Thistle Ecology, Reproductive Biology Of Gorteria Personata., J. Dodd

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. The ecology of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea L.) in Western Australia. Seed production and water use in the glasshouse, 84PE18. Seed production and water use by field-grown skeleton weed, 84BA17, 84BA18. Seedling root growth 85PE54 2. Afghan thistle (Solanum hoplpetalm) ecology Winter rosette survival 84N050. Regenerative ability of S. hoplopetalum, 85PE51. 3. Reproductive biology of Gorteria personata. Gorteria personata Floral biology Seed content of burrs

The Ecology Of Skeleton Weed (Chondrilla Juncea) In Western Australia, Demographic Aspects Of Wild Radish (Raphanus Raphanistrum) Populations In Lupin Crops And Identification Of Populations Of Mesquite (Prosopis Spp) From The West Pilbara Region., F. D. Panetta

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

To determine what forms of skeleton weed are present in Western Australia and to map their respective distribution. To determine, on the basis of climatic characteristics, the suitability of various areas within the Western Australian wheatbelt for infestation by skeleton weed. To determine the amounts, viability and dormancy status of seeds produced by field-grown plants during summer and autumn months. To determine the effectiveness of conventional tillage practices in limiting establishment of skeleton weed seedlings. To determine the regularity with which seedling establishment occurs under field conditions and how the probability of establishment is affected by the time of germination. …

Phosphorus Nutrition Of High Rainfall Pastures, Sulphur Nutrition Of Pastures And Sulphur - Low Rainfall., J S. Yeates, D. M. Deeley, M. F. Clarke, R. A. Deyl, G. T.B. Cockerton

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Phosphorus nutrition of high rainfall pastures - Peel Harvey Estuarine System Study and related phosphorus work. (1) Sources, rates, time of application of phosphorous on high rainfall pastures. 81AL5, 81AL6, 82AL10, 82HA32, 83HA26, 83HA27. (2) P sources and rates on sandy soils of the high rainfall areas. 84AL33, 84AL34, 84HA18, 84HA25. (3) Maintenance rate of P on pastures on sandy soils. 84AL32, 84HA17, 84HA24, 84 HA28. Sulphur nutrition of pastures A. Sulphur - high rainfall (2684 EX/4054EX) (1) Sources, rates, time of application of sulphur to pastures. 80AL4, 80AL4B (2) S sources and rates on pastures on sandy soils of …