Soil Science Commons^™

Basic Steps In Laying Out A Land Tract To Optimize Forage Production And Intensive Grazing Management, Harold B. Rice, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

Of the four major components of production ... land, labor, capital, and management ... land (soil) is the one which is the most basic. This ls because soil characteristics are largely "fixed" and determine, along with the climatic regime, the crop species which will perform best in a given field. For this reason. It Is basic in planning a cropping system to know root-zone physical and chemical characteristics of soils which occur on the tract being planned. With such information, crops can be matched to sell productivity to "make land as least limiting as possible." A good soils map is …

Control Measures For Manganese Toxicity Of Burley At Transplating Time, Kenneth L. Wells, J. L. Sims

Soil Science News and Views

Manganese (Mn) toxicity of burley tobacco is viewed by tobacco specialists in Kentucky as the greatest single factor which reduces yields. Estimates are that this problem adds 30 to 50 million dollars to the cost of burley production because of the greater acreage (and all associated costs) required by growers to produce their allotment. And, even though the cause and cure of Mn toxicity has been known for about 50 years, many growers are caught each year at transplanting time with no knowledge as to whether Mn toxicity may be a problem in their fields. The solution to Mn toxicity …

Is Row Fertilizer Necessary For No-Till?, Lloyd W. Murdock, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Row fertilizer is an old practice which has been in and out of favor over the years. The use of row fertilizer and its benefits vary with the conditions. The efficiency of applied fertilizer is greatly increased by putting it beside the row and is very helpful on soils with a low soil test. For soils testing medium or high, a sufficient amount of nutrients exist in the soil so that additional fertilizer applied in the row will not increase yields. Regardless of soil test. row fertilizer will usually increase the vigor and early growth of a crop. Most of …

Basic Fertilizer Facts, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

The "foods" used by green plants for growth and life functions are referred to as nutrients or fertilizer elements. There are 16 nutrients required for plant growth and development (See Table l). Although carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are found in plants in the greatest quantities. they are obtained by plants from air (carbon dioxide) and water rather than from fertilizers or the soil. Of the nutrients provided by the soil or from fertilizers. those required in large amounts are called PRIMARY nutrients. Those required in smaller amounts are called SECONDARY nutrients, while those needed in very small amounts are called …

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.

Feeding Alfalfa To South Carolina Dairy Herds, Fred E. Pardue, Terry Sudduth

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The nutritional value of alfalfa hay is important if it is to be used competitively with other feedstuffs in rations being fed to South Carolina Dairy Herds. Excellent quality hay has high nutrient concentration, digestibility and intake. The appearance of good physical characteristics of alfalfa hay as well as other hays and forages along with the knowledge of harvest dates, stages of maturity, and other conditions are not enough and can be deceiving. Therefore, forage testing is crucial and very important.

Marketing Kentucky Hay — An Update, J. Kenneth Evans

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Based on soil capabilities, Kentucky could grow 2-million acres of alfalfa while increasing the acreage of corn and soybeans. Even more than 2-million acres could be grown if Kentucky grown alfalfa should show market demands making it economically competitive with corn and soybeans. Marketing is the key to developing demand which could make hay a $1-billion Kentucky crop.

Many of you have heard or read my comments on marketing hay. In this presentation, I will present a brief review of what I have previously said and then bring you up to date on hay marketing activities since the alfalfa conference …

Evaluating Alfalfa Grazing — Dollars And Cents, Robert N. Barnes

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Returns on many Kentucky farms are declining due to reduced tobacco and feedgrain income. This fact, coupled with traditionally low (or negative) returns from typical cow/calf beef enterprises, has been associated with interest in alternative crop and livestock production systems. Alfalfa produced as a cash crop is increasing and many farmers are realizing substantial returns. In the Central Kentucky Area, many farmers have been stimulated to produce alfalfa since demand for high quality hay by horse farms has been strong. As interest in alfalfa is renewed, other farms have begun to introduce intensive or controlled grazing techniques in order to …

Grazing Options In Alfalfa Utilization, Paul D. Deaton

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Objective

1. The pure alfalfa stand would not be damaged during the grazing period.
2. For steers - animal performance while on the alfalfa was more important than pounds of beef produced per acre.
3. For cow/calf - animal density high enough to remove green leaf area in maximum of 5 days.
4. Initiate the demonstration with a minimal out-of-pocket cost for fence, water system, etc.
5. Minimize the occurrence of bloat where possible.

Comparison Of Electrical Moisture Meters For Baled Alfalfa Hay, W. H. Henson Jr., G. M. Turner, Michael Collins, O. J. Yeoman

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A primary concern in producing quality alfalfa hay is moisture measurement. Some precision in moisture measurement is required since hay can be too wet, leading to dry matter and quality loss through mold; it can be too dry, leading to shatter loss during baling, handling and storage.

Moisture measurement in hay can take many forms. One form of subjective (personal judgment) evaluation is brittleness of leaves and stems in the windrow or bale. Typical objective methods consist of electric meters with calibration curves and oven drying.

Advances In Alfalfa Weed Control, James R. Martin

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The most significant advances in weed control in alfalfa have originated from developments in herbicide technology, This method of weed control began over 20 years ago when such herbicides as EPTC and 2,4-DB were being used by alfalfa farmers. Since then, more than twelve herbicides have been added to the list of products recommended for weed control in alfalfa. (For specific recommendations, see Extension publication "Chemical Control of Weeds in Kentucky Farm Crops", AGR-6).

Influence Of Potato Leafhopper On Alfalfa Yield And Quality, C. M. Christensen

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The potato leafhopper has the distinction of being one of the native insects that can have a very major impact on the production characteristics of alfalfa. This insect is very definitely the second most important pest of this crop, with the alfalfa weevil, an imported insect, holding the distinction of being the most damaging. These tiny insects (full grown potato leafhoppers are 1/8 inch long) have a very definite impact on alfalfa but their damage is very insidious and hard to recognize.

Quality Seed Production And Use, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Quality seed is an important consideration and investment in an efficient alfalfa program. Farmers who depend on alfalfa need to be certain that the seed they purchase is of high quality. High quality seed means it must be free of noxious weeds, have a purity of 99.5 percent, a germination of approximately 90 percent or higher and be seed that is true to the variety stated.

Effects Of Soils And Fertility On Alfalfa Production, Monroe Rasnake

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa can be grown anywhere in Kentucky and on a wide range of soil types. This statement seems to contrast with what we are accustomed to hearing in regard to alfalfa. The usual statement is: "Alfalfa requires a deep, well drained and highly fertile soil . . .". Actually, the two statements are not conflicting. They just represent the plant-soil interactions. The first looks at what is possible while the other is concerned with the ideal situation. In order to understand these different perspectives, we need to consider how soil characteristics affect the alfalfa plant.

Foreword [1987], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Reversible Tile Subsurface Drainage And Irrigation, Monroe Rasnake, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

There are more than 900.000 acres of cl ass IIw land and 800,000 acres of class IIIw land in Kentucky. All of this land is suitable for row crop farming if it can be drained. Most of the problems are with internal drainage, some of which can be improved by installing drainage title.

Acid Rain: A Problem On Agronomic Crops And Soils In Kentucky??, John H. Grove

Soil Science News and Views

Although the general issue of atmospheric pollution is complex, the image of beautiful lakes without aquatic life has focussed public attention on the acidity, or pH, of rainfall. Kentucky does receive acid rain (see map). This discussion will seek to define atmospheric acidity and its deposition and describe reported effects on agronomic crops and soils.

Soil Conservation Provisions Of The 1985 Farm Bill, Monroe Rasnake, Lloyd W. Murdock, Craig Infanger

Soil Science News and Views

The 1985 Farm Bill which was signed into law on December 23, 1985, contains 3 provisions relating to land use which will have a large impact on Kentucky farmers. The purpose of these provisions is to reduce cropland acreage on highly erodible lands and on wetlands. A description of them follows.

Economics Of Legume Cover Crops, Wilbur Frye

Soil Science News and Views

We have compared hairy vetch, big flower vetch, rye, and corn residue as winter cover treatments in no-tillage corn production since 1977. One of the objectives of this research is to determine the economic feasibility of using a legume cover crop to supply a portion of the nitrogen needs of a corn crop. Results reported here are based on corn yields obtained during 1977 through 1981 at Lexington and 1980 through 1985 at Princeton.

Effect Of Soil Water Stress And Irrigation On Growth, Yield And Quality Of Burley Tobacco, Ronald E. Phillips, J. E. Leggett

Soil Science News and Views

An experiment was conducted for a period of three years, 1982, 1983 and 1984, in order to evaluate the effects of soil water stress and irrigation on growth, yield and quality of burley tobacco at Spindletop Farm, Lexington. The variety KY 21 was grown all three years. Three treatments were used in the experiment: (1) check, rainfall only, not irrigated, (2) well watered, rainfall plus supplemental irrigation, and (3) water stressed beginning 50 days after transplanting. The soil of treatment 3 was covered with black plastic to prevent rainfall from entering the soil.

Abatement Of Nitrate Pollution In Groundwater And Surface Runoff From Cropland Using Legume Cover Crops With No-Till Corn, M. Scott Smith, Jac J. Varco

KWRRI Research Reports

Agricultural practices can have a significant impact on water quality. The effects of leguminous winter cover crops on leaching of NO^-₃; from soil have been investigated in this project. Legume cover crops, by fixation of atmospheric N, can reduce the amount of fertilizer N required to produce summer grain crops. The methods initially used to evaluate cover crop effects on No; transport included suction probe lysimeters and measurement of NO^-₃; in soil samples collected to a depth of 90 cm. These measurements demonstrated extreme spatial variability in NO^-₃; distribution and water …

Soil Erosion With Different Tillage And Cropping Systems, Monroe Rasnake, Wilbur Frye, David C. Ditsch, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

Corn and soybeans are produced on approximately three million acres of Kentucky farmland each year. L 1ttle soil loss occurs when these crops are grown on nearly level or gently sloping land. However, much of the grain production is on sloping land that is cultivated every year and often excessive soil erosion occurs. If a field is allowed to erode excessively for several years, the soil usually becomes less productive. Soil removed in runoff may pollute lakes and streams or cover highly productive soil with low quality sediments.

Comparison Of Four Infiltration Models In Characterizing Infiltration Through Surface Mine Profiles, Larry G. Wells, A. D. Ward, I. D. Moore, R. E. Phillips

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A laboratory infiltrometer system was used to evaluate the infiltration process through reconstructed surface mine profiles. Six different profiles were subjected to constant simulated rainfall intensities for selected test conditions. Surface runoff rates were monitored and transient soil moisture contents in the profiles were measured with a gamma density gauge. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity relationships were determined using Campbelfs method and the "zero-flux" procedure. The infiltration process was modeled by the SCS curve number method, a form of Holtan's equation, the Green-Ampt model and Richards' equation. SCS curve numbers were determined by fitting the method to the observed results. Richards' equation …

Ridge-Tillage: Advantages And Disadvantages, David C. Ditsch

Soil Science News and Views

Ridge-Till is a crop production system that has become increasingly popular with grain producers in some areas of the mid-west. This unique tillage system may provide some Kentucky farmers with an alternative method of planting. Limited information on the adaptability of ridge-till on Kentucky soils and climatic conditions make it important that growers investigate the system thoroughly to determine how it would fit into their operation before deciding to change. Ridge-till involves planting on elevated rows that remain undisturbed after establishment. One or more cultivations are then made during the early part of each growing season to improve weed control, …

Timing N-P-K Fertilizer To Burley Tobacco, J. L. Sims

Soil Science News and Views

Recent changes in the Federal tobacco program (causing reduced income to growers} coupled with high fertilizer and other production costs have stimulated interest in fertilization practices that increase efficiency of tobacco production. Practices that increase yields and/or quality of cured leaf without increasing production costs should result in increased profit. Research conducted by Agronomists at the University of Kentucky indicates increased yield is possible through proper timing of fertilizer applications, split applications, and in some cases by banding applications.

Traction Characteristics Of Prepared Traffic Lanes, Eddie C. Burt, James H. Taylor, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Traction characteristics of lugged and smooth tires were compared on prepared traffic lanes and on conventional seedbed conditions. Results indicated that elevated traffic lanes offer important traction advantages over seedbeds in wet soil conditions. In dry soil conditions, traction on elevated traffic lanes was sometimes less than on the seedbed conditions. A timeliness advantage in mobility for the elevated traffic lanes was found to be up to 2 days in extremely wet conditions. A non-elevated traffic lane showed no traction advantage in wet conditions.

Marketing Kentucky Hay, J. Kenneth Evans

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

That more income is needed by Kentucky farmers is a well established and accepted fact. Although, the tobacco program appears to be yet viable, we have long needed to supplement the tobacco income with income from the remainder of the farm. I think this audience is also well aware of the potential· for producing hay in Kentucky, particularly alfalfa. Estimates in the University of Kentucky potential study indicate that we could have in this state two million acres of alfalfa with a projected potential income of a billion dollars a year generated for our farmers.

This potential income should not …

Optimum Utilization Of Alfalfa In Horses, Stephen G. Jackson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

When considering forage utilization in horses one must consider principally two factors; 1) forage quality and 2) the relationship between voluntary intake of a forage and a particular class of horses nutrient needs.

Optimum Utilization Of Alfalfa In Sheep Rations, G. L.M. Chappell

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The unique qualities of alfalfa as a forage afford the progressive sheep producer many opportunities to develop efficient sheep feeding programs. As a grazed sward, as hay or silage, alfalfa can be utilized in a variety of ways. The following points should be considered in developing programs using alfalfa.

Maximizing Alfalfa Hay In Beef Feeding Programs, W. Roy Burris, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Beef cattle comprise the largest group of forage and hay users in Kentucky. Because of their ability to utilize large amounts of low quality roughage, they are sometimes relegated to that role exclusively. There are many instances in beef production when alfalfa hay can be utilized because of its high protein content. The value of alfalfa hay in a beef operation can be estimated by the protein and energy that it furnishes.