Earth Sciences Commons^™

Alfalfa As A Grazing Crop: Progress Continues, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This makes the third consecutive year that I have talked about "Alfalfa as a Grazing Crop". At our XIII Kentucky Alfalfa, I, along with five other speakers, discussed several aspects of grazing alfalfa and all agreed that the concept had tremendous potential.

This past year I reviewed some of the discussion of our XIII Conference and shared some of the activities going on in research and educational programs throughout the region. In addition, I announced the date for a National Alfalfa Grazing Conference to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. The Conference was held July 29 and was a big success. …

Control Of Johnsongrass And Other Weedy Grasses In Alfalfa, Jonathan D. Green

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Johnsongrass is considered one of the major weed species that infests alfalfa in Kentucky. Other weedy grasses such as large crabgrass, foxtails, barnyard grass, and fall panicum can also interfere with alfalfa production. Low infestation levels of these grasses may not create significant concern, but high infestation levels can result in reduced yield, alfalfa hay quality, and/or shorten the life of the stand.

Opportunities For No-Till Alfalfa In Kentucky, Jimmy C. Henning, Garry D. Lacefield, Andy Anderson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

There is a rising interest in the use of alfalfa in pastures, especially for dairy cattle, beef stockers and as supplemental summer grazing for cows with calves. Kentucky has the land resource to support 2 million acres of alfalfa without reducing acres in cultivated crops. Acres of alfalfa seeded for pasture use would be in addition to the 350,000 acres presently used primarily for hay. However, these additional acres are rolling and erodible and therefore alfalfa should be established by no-till methods.

Establishing Alfalfa Following Alfalfa: How Long Do We Wait?, Monroe Rasnake

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

It has long been recommended that alfalfa fields be rotated to another crop such as com for at least one growing season before reestablishing alfalfa. One reason for doing this is that insect and disease levels build up in the old alfalfa and this time is needed to allow them to die out. Another reason is that alfalfa plants have been shown to produce compounds that inhibit the germination and growth of new alfalfa seedlings. This is called autotoxicity or allelopathy.

Recently researchers from other states have indicated that it may not be necessary to have a full growing season …

Foreword [1995], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Interpreting Soils Maps, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

A knowledge of the nature andaracteristics of soils on a farm is basic to farm planning so as to properly match crops and soils and minimize the effect of soil variation on crop production and economic return. This information also provides a realistic basis for estimating crop yields on a field-by-field basis, a planning step necessary in estimating anticipated costs and returns. Detailed soils maps which have been prepared by soil scientists identify the various soil series which occur on the landscape, and show the slope of the landscape on which they occur, as well as the amount of topsoil …

Returning Crp Land To Grain Production, Wilbur Frye, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Land that was contracted into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was committed to the program for 10 years. The first contracts expire in September 1995, but USDA has already authorized a one-year extension of those contracts. Unless Congress extends the program in the 1995 Farm Bill the contracts will begin expiring on September 30, 1996, as the 10- year period elapses, and continuing until all of the acres that were set aside in the program are released. In Kentucky, about 440,000 acres were contracted in the program from 1986 to 1992. Most of the land is highly erodible, and farmers …

The Effect Of Organic Matter On Maximum Compactability Of Soil, Grant W. Thomas, Gerald R. Haszler, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

Bulk density is the weight of a given volume of soil expressed by soil scientists as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). The higher the bulk density, the lower the volume of soil occupied by pore space, that volume of soil in which air and water reside. Because of this, there is much interest on the degree to which soil can be compacted.

The Proctor test is a means of determining the maximum bulk density that can be attained in a soil sample. This "maximum compactibility" is widely used on highways and building foundations but has had little use in agricultural …

Potential Agronomic Benefits Of Wood Ash Application On Reclaimed Surface Mined Lands, David C. Ditsch, John H. Grove, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Wood ash is a by-product generated by paper companies, lumber manufacturing plants and utilities that bum wood products, bark and papermill sludge as a means of disposal and/or energy production. Large quantities of wood ash are generated by these industries since wood generally contains 6 to 10% ash. Most of these ashes are landfilled or discarded in lagoons. However, the increasing expense of landfill disposal has led to increased interest in the land application of industry generated wood ash.

Effect Of Subsoiling On Yield Of Burley Tobacco, Kenneth L. Wells, Kim D. Strohmeier

Soil Science News and Views

Compaction of tobacco fields caused by overworking or working soils when they are too wet has become a topic of concern to burley producers in recent years. Despite the viewpoint of some producers that annual subsoiling of tobacco fields is a profitable practice, particularly on soils which percolate water slowly, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture recommends subsoiling only for a defined compaction problem. In such cases, some field studies have shown increased yields of burley to tillage practices that penetrate and shatter the compacted layer. Questions persist, however, about the effectiveness of single shank subsoilers used annually by …

Atrazine And Alachlor Dissipation Rates From Field Experiments, Stephen R. Workman, Andrew D. Ward, Norman R. Fausey, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Chemical transport is being monitored in the root zone of three agricultural management systems at the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area (OMSEA). Atrazine and alachlor concentration data from soil cores taken to a depth of 0.9 m and partitioned into the increments of 0.0 to 0.15, 0.15 to 0.3, 0.45 to 0.6, and 0.75 to 0.9 m show the herbicides remained in the top 0.15 m of the profile during the 1991 and 1992 growing seasons. The slow movement of herbicides was partly due to below normal rainfall during the period. Since the herbicides have not been transported out of …

Bouguer Gravity Map Of Kentucky, G. Randy Keller, Donald C. Adams

Map and Chart--KGS

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Water Sources Related To Major Systems Of Agricultural Land Use In Kentucky, Robert L. Blevins, Gerald R. Haszler, Grant W. Thomas, Kenneth L. Wells, William W. Witt

Soil Science News and Views

Recent years have seen a greater public concern about the quality of the nation's water resources. While initial concerns targeted point source pollution, the emphasis in recent years has shifted to non-point source pollution, including the effect of general practices used by fanners in agricultural production systems. Since there was no reliable data base on such effects for Kentucky, the state's General Assembly passed legislation during its 1990 session directing the University ofKentucky's College of Agriculture (UK.CA) to assess the effect of agricultural practices on quality of the state's waters. As part of the efforts undertaken by the UKCA in …

No Tillage Adoption In Grain Crops In Kentucky Counties In 1994, Gerald R. Haszler, Grant W. Thomas

Soil Science News and Views

The no-tillage system, where soils are neither tilled nor cultivated, has a number of advantages. Studies in Kentucky and in other states show much lower erosion under no tillage as compared with conventional tillage. In addition, fuel, machinery, and time savings are all impressive when the no-tillage system is used. There is also a tendency toward better crop yields due to higher water capture and/or conservation that is associated with the mulch of crop residues that is maintained on the soil surface in no tillage.

Should Burley Tobacco Farmers Be Concerned About High Rates Of Nitrogen Fertilizers?, Robert C. Pearce, Gary K. Palmer

Soil Science News and Views

The use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer for tobacco production is necessary because (1) tobacco takes up sizable amounts of N, and (2) most soils cannot provide adequate amounts of N. Rates of fertilizer N recommended by the University of Kentucky for burley tobacco production vary based on past cropping history, and under certain conditions can be as high as 350 lbs. N/A However, since tobacco is a high value crop, and profit margins are high, farmers often apply more N than is recommended as insurance against crop losses. The perception of widespread over-application of fertilizer N has resulted in increased …

Weed Seed In Poultry Litter: Should Farmers Be Concerned, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

Over the years, I have received many calls from farmers who have had unusual weed problems in their fields. Their first thoughts normally are that weed seeds were brought to the fields in crop seed, hay, manure, etc. Some of the same concern has been expressed in regard to using poultry litter on fields. As poultry litter becomes available to more Kentucky farmers, should they be concerned about the possibility it would contain weed seed? The simple answer to the question is "NO" in most situations.

The Effect Of Rate And Source Of Potassium Fertilizer On Cured Leaf Yield Of Burley Tobacco And Leaf Content And Soil Test Levels Of Potassium And Magnesium, Kenneth L. Wells, James E. Dollarhide, Mark Reese

Soil Science News and Views

In response to questions being asked by tobacco growers about the effectiveness of sulfate of potash magnesia (SPM; 21% K₂O and 11% Mg) as coinpared to sulfate of potash (SP; 50% K₂O), field studies were conducted during 1993-1994 to compare the two potassium (K) sources for use on burley tobacco. Any effect of SPM on yield of tobacco should be due to Mg since the only difference between the two sources in kind of nutrient contained is the presence of magnesium (Mg) in SPM. To compare the two K sources, we selected field sites low enough …

High-Carbonate, Low-Silica, High-Calcium Stone In The High Bridge Group (Upper Ordovician), Mason County, North-Central Kentucky, Warren H. Anderson, Lance S. Barron

Information Circular--KGS

The High Bridge Group (Middle Ordovician) of northeastern Kentucky is a major source of limestone and dolomite for construction, agricultural, and industrial stone. These industries require carbonate rocks of high chemical purity. Chemical analyses of foot-by-foot samples from a Mason County core show that three zones of high-calcium and several thick zones of high-carbonate and low-silica stone are present in the High Bridge at a mineable depth. Mason County is located in northeastern Kentucky, on the Ohio River, and offers river access to transportation to the metropolitan Covington-Cincinnati market and the northern portion of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field for …

Effects Of Longwall Mining On Hydrogeology, Leslie County, Kentucky Part 1: Pre-Mining Conditions, Shelley A. Minns, James A. Kipp, Daniel I. Carey, James S. Dinger, Lyle V. A. Sendlein

Report of Investigations--KGS

An investigation of the hydrologic effects of longwall coal mining is in progress in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. The study area is located in a first-order watershed in southern Leslie County over Shamrock Coal Company's Beech Fork Mine (Edd Fork Basin on the Helton 7.5-minute quadrangle). Longwall panels approximately 700 feet wide are separated by three-entry gateways 200 feet wide. The mine is operating in the Fire Clay coal (Hazard No. 4); overburden thickness ranges from 300 to 1,000 feet. Mining in the watershed began in late summer 1993. Undermining of the instrumented panel (panel 7) is anticipated for …

Preliminary Map Of The Structure Of The Precambrian Surface In Eastern Kentucky, James A. Drahovzal, Martin C. Noger

Map and Chart--KGS

This preliminary interpretation of the Precambrian unconformity surface in eastern Kentucky is based on data available to the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) as of November 1994. In early 1995, additional data became available to the KGS. Subsequent work using the new data should result in a more complete interpretation of the area within the next several years.

The map illustrates the Rome Trough and associated structures of the Precambrian surface, and as such contributes to an understanding of the regional geology, geologic evolution, distribution of energy and mineral resources, and potential geologic hazards. While it cannot be considered a prospecting …

Distribution Of Oil And Gas Wells In Kentucky, Brandon C. Nuttall, Daniel I. Carey

Map and Chart--KGS

This map shows the distribution of more than 109,000 wells for which location information is available in the Kentucky Geological Survey's oil and gas well record database.

Sorption Of Chlorinated Organic Compounds By Sedimentary Rocks, Paul M. Mcginley, S. Kesaraju, Ronald D. Gruzesky

KWRRI Research Reports

The sorption of dichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene on carbonate and shale rocks collected in Kentucky demonstrate that rock organic matter content is a good indicator of sorptive reactivity in rock systems. Although this is similar to soil systems, significant differences between sorption in rock and soil systems exist. Sorption isotherms on these rocks are nonlinear and sorption can be an order of magnitude higher than predicted using correlations from soils and their organic matter content. This sorption reaction could lead to significant concentration tailing during contaminant cleanup. Experimental elution of trichloroethylene from rock filled columns verified that cleanup times might be …

Groundwater Flow And Elastoplastic Stress-Strain Model For Cohesive Soils With Application To Channel Bank Stability, Richard A. Rohlf, Billy J. Barfield, Gary K. Felton

KWRRI Research Reports

A saturated-unsaturated groundwater flow and elastoplastic stress-strain finite element model was developed for simulating the mechanical behavior of rill and gully sized channel banks. The model coupled the two-dimensional saturated-unsaturated groundwater flow equation with a plane strain formulation of the virtual work equation. The constitutive relationship used the modified Cam clay yield function. The model included the effects of seepage force and variation in soil cohesive strength due to changes in water content and void ratio. A staggered solution procedure was used in which the groundwater equation was solved first to determine seepage force and soil cohesive force, and then …

Use Of Riparian Vegetated Filter Strips To Reduce Nitrate And Fecal Contamination In Surface Water, Mark S. Coyne, Robert L. Blevins, Rebecca A. Gilfillen

KWRRI Research Reports

This research assessed fecal bacteria trapping in surface runoff by grass filters and their potential to enhance NO₃^- removal via denitrification. Grass filter strips 9.0 m long trapped over 99% of the soil in surface runoff in 1992. Fecal coliform removal was less than 75%. In 1993, 9.0 and 4.5 m grass filter strips trapped 99 and 95% of the sediment, respectively. Fecal coliform trapping efficiency was 90% in 9.0 m grass filters and 75% in 4.5 m filters. Fecal streptococci trapping efficiency was 77% in 9.0 m grass filters and only 56% in 4.5 m filters. Fecal …

Marketing Quality Alfalfa Hay, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa hay is a potentially marketable-profitable product if--if quality is satisfactory to meet buyer's needs, if it is packaged such that it meets buyer's feeding program and can be transported efficiently, if in sufficient quantity, if storage site is accessible by truck or trailer, and if it is competitively priced. Meeting these minimum criteria only means the hay is potentially marketable; only after it has been sold does it become potentially profitable.

Producing Quality Alfalfa Hay, Jimmy C. Henning, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Hay is one of the most versatile of stored forages in that (1) it can be kept for long periods of time with little loss of nutrients if protected from weather; (2) a large number of crops can be successfully used for hay production; (3) it can be produced and fed in small or large amounts; (4) it can be harvested, stored and fed by hand or the production and feeding can be completely mechanized; and (5) hay can supply most nutrients needed by many classes of livestock. Hay is, therefore, the most commonly used stored feed on most farms. …

Harvesting Hay For High Yield And Quality — More On Bale Ventilators And Other Harvest Aids, Michael Collins

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

In some areas of the country, producers store a substantial portion of their forage for winter feeding as silage or haylage. However, hay remains the most popular storage method for forage. Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage. Mechanical conditioning, which gained acceptance during the 1950's is probably still the greatest single change in hay harvesting and storage technology during this century. However, a number of other noteworthy changes and innovations have occurred in recent years which have helped to reduce the extent of losses during hay harvesting and storage. …

Role In Alfalfa In Livestock Feeding Programs In Kentucky, Donna M. Amaral-Phillips

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa, the "Queen of the Forage Crops", is a highly versatile forage crop which can be grazed directly by livestock or harvested as hay or silage. With the development of new alfalfa varieties, increased pest and weed control, and increased demand from livestock owners, the amount of alfalfa fed to livestock will increase. As with any forage crop, proper harvest and feeding management is necessary to reap the benefits.

Fencing For Optimum Grazing, Larry W. Turner

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Controlled or rotational grazing can result in better utilization of forage resources. By better forage management through controlled grazing, producers may increase profitability of cattle/forage systems. To effectively develop a controlled grazing system, however, fencing must be used to subdivide the pasture into sub-fields or paddocks. The animals may then be rotated among the paddocks to optimize forage and beef or dairy production from the system. Alfalfa grazing can play an important part in such a system.

Planning the "best", or optimum, fencing strategy should be done with the overall goal in mind of improving profitability. Key factors that describe …

Grazing Alfalfa — Momentum Continues, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

In my presentation at our XIII Kentucky Alfalfa Conference held here last year, I stated. that interest in grazing alfalfa was at an all time high. Five other speakers followed me on the program with presentations about alfalfa grazing. Steve Osborne discussed alfalfa grazing trials in Monroe County. Ken Johnson talked about the Do's and Dont's in Alfalfa Grazing. Dr. Roy Burris talked about alfalfa grazing from a state perspective and Mr. Warren Thompson discussed the topic from a national perspective. Professor Joe Bums concluded the grazing portion of the program with grazing alfalfa experiences in Tennessee.

Despite a rather …