Numbered Publications: Plant and Soil Sciences
PR-787: 2020 Alfalfa Grazing Tolerance Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 23, 2020 (New)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the highest-yielding, highest-quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It forms the basis of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets. Recent emphasis on its use as a grazing crop and the release of grazing-tolerant varieties have raised the following question: Do varieties differ in tolerance to grazing? We have chosen to use the standard tolerance test recommended by the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. This test uses continuous heavy grazing to sort out differences in grazing tolerance in a relatively short period of time. This report summarizes research on the grazing tolerance of alfalfa varieties when subjected to continuous heavy grazing pressure during the grazing season.
PR-788: 2020 Red and White Clover Grazing Tolerance Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 23, 2020 (New)
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived perennial legume that is used in mixed or pure stands for pasture, hay, silage, soil improvement, and wildlife habitat. This species is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a low-growing, perennial pasture legume with white flowers. It differs from red clover in that the stems (stolons) grow along the surface of the soil and can form adventitious roots that may lead to the development of new plants.
PR-785: 2020 Timothy and Kentucky Bluegrass Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 20, 2020 (New)
Timothy (Phleum pratense) is the fourth most widely sown cool-season perennial grass used in Kentucky for forage--after tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. It is a late-maturing bunchgrass that is primarily harvested as hay, particularly for horses. It also can be used for grazing or wildlife habitat. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is a high-quality, highly palatable, long-lived pasture plant with limited use for hay. It tolerates close, frequent grazing better than most grasses. It has low yields and low summer production and becomes dormant and brown during hot, dry summers. Kentucky bluegrass is slow to establish.
PR-793: Kentucky Corn Silage Hybrid Performance Report, 2020
Ricky Arnett, Cam Kenimer, Chad Lee, Nick Roy, Phillip Shine | Nov. 20, 2020 (New)
The objective of the Silage Corn Hybrid Performance Test is to provide unbiased forage yield and quality data for corn hybrids commonly grown for silage in Kentucky. Corn hybrids were evaluated for silage performance on cooperating farms. Representatives from seed companies submitted hybrids of their choosing. Most companies submitted only two (2) hybrids. One company supplies a third hybrid that serves as a check.
PR-786: 2020 Annual and Perennial Ryegrass and Festulolium Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 20, 2020 (New)
Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) are high-quality, productive, cool-season grasses used in Kentucky. Both have exceptionally high seedling vigor and are highly palatable to livestock. Perennial ryegrass can be used as a short-lived hay or pasture plant and has growth characteristics similar to tall fescue. Festuloliums are hybrids between various fescues and ryegrasses with higher quality than tall fescue and improved stand survival over perennial ryegrass.
PR-780: 2020 Kentucky Hybrid Corn Performance Test
Cam Kenimer, Chad Lee, Phillip Shine | Nov. 16, 2020 (New)
The objective of the Kentucky Hybrid Corn Performance Test is to provide relative performance estimates of hybrid seed corn sold in Kentucky. The test attempts to treat every hybrid similarly in an unbiased manner. Agronomic practices that meet or exceed university guidelines are implemented at each location.
PR-781: 2020 Alfalfa Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 16, 2020 (New)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has historically been the highest-yielding, highest-quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It is an important part of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets. Choosing a good variety is a key step in establishing a stand of alfalfa. The choice of variety can impact yield, thickness of stand, and persistence. This report provides yield data on alfalfa varieties included in current yield trials in Kentucky as well as guidelines for selecting alfalfa varieties.
PR-782: 2020 Red and White Clover Report
Jimmy Henning, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Nov. 16, 2020 (New)
This report provides current yield and persistence data on red and white clover varieties included in yield trials in Kentucky as well as guidelines for selecting clover varieties. Tables 14 and 15 show a summary of all clover varieties tested in Kentucky for the past 15 years. The UK Forage Extension website at forages.ca.uky.edu contains electronic versions of all forage variety testing reports from Kentucky and surrounding states and a large number of other forage publications.
AGR-261: Double Crop Soybean Production in Kentucky
Carrie Knott | Oct. 20, 2020 (New)
The double crop soybean system was pioneered in Kentucky. Traditionally, double crop soybean are planted in June following harvest of a small grain: wheat, barley, and in some cases cereal rye. Since the early 2000's, about 25% of the total soybean production in Kentucky has been double crop soybean. Many agronomic management strategies are similar between double crop soybean and full season soybean: soybean planted in the spring following corn from the previous year. However, there are certain management strategies that are important for double crop soybean, which not only increase yield potential but also offer opportunities to increase profitability.
AGR-256: Identification of Palmer Amaranth, Waterhemp and Other Pigweed Species
Travis Legleiter | Oct. 16, 2020 (New)
Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) are two species of the Amaranthus family that have enveloped the corn and soybean growing landscape of the United State over the past decade. Herbicide resistant Palmer amaranth first began infesting western Kentucky along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in the early 2000's and has spread along the rivers and into the uplands over the last two decades. The introduction and spread of waterhemp had not been as widespread in Kentucky, although a rapid spread of waterhemp over the last 5 to 10 years has been noted especially in central Kentucky. Both Amaranthus species can be very difficult to control in soybean and corn due to herbicide resistance. The first step in effectively managing or controlling both species is to properly identify them when they first invade your fields. Early management decisions when Palmer amaranth and waterhemp first invade is key to long-term control.