Numbered Publications: Plant and Soil Sciences
AGR-209: Mowing Your Kentucky Lawn
Gregg Munshaw | Apr. 15, 2013 (New)
Mowing is a recurring cutting of a portion of a grass shoot. Lawns are mowed to maintain topgrowth within a specific range, to control weed plants that are intolerant to mowing, or to sustain an ornamental turf. Mowing is usually thought of as the most simple of lawn maintenance practices; however, even though we perform it more than any other, it can result in mistakes.
PR-657: Soybean Management Verification Program, 2012
Jim Herbek, Chad Lee, Amanda Martin, Lloyd Murdock | Mar. 29, 2013 (New)
The 2012 Soybean Management Verification Program (SoyMVP) enrolled 19 fields across Western Kentucky, providing ten direct comparisons between University of Kentucky recommendations and producers practices for soybean production. All fields were scouted weekly and recommendations were made on the university portion of the field based on established thresholds and observations from agronomic research. The objective of these comparisons is to validate university research and identify areas for more research.
AGR-208: Weed Control for Kentucky Home Lawns
Mike Barrett, J.D. Green, Gregg Munshaw | Feb. 25, 2013 (New)
The best defense against weed problems in home lawns is a healthy and dense lawn. In thick lawns, weed seeds may not germinate because light may never reach the soil surface. A thick lawn is competitive with weeds, keeping them from growing and reproducing. Developing a healthy and dense lawn comes from using cultural practices such as proper grass species and cultivar selection, proper mowing heights and fertilization, and other good management practices. The need for herbicides to control weeds in home lawns can be greatly reduced if the lawn is well maintained.
HENV-508: Landscaping Septic Systems with Native Plants
Rick Durham, Brad Lee | Feb. 15, 2013 (New)
Septic system components sometimes have unsightly aboveground pipes, risers, ventilation systems, or large mounds. Homeowners can improve the appearance of these functional features through site design and, in particular, plant material selection.
Effect of Tray Type and Tray Covering on Wicking Speed, Germination, and Spiral Rooting of Tobacco: Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report (vol. 1, no. 3, 2012)
Andy Bailey | Jan. 31, 2013 (New)
Poor tray wicking and spiral rooting continue to be recurring concerns in tobacco float systems. The objectives of the research discussed here were to compare media wicking speed in two types of tobacco float trays, and to evaluate the effect of fabric tray covering on tobacco seed germination and spiral rooting.
Tillage and Subsoiling Effects on Soil Compaction and Yield of Burley Tobacco: Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report (vol. 1, no. 2, 2012)
John Grove, Bob Pearce, Edwin Ritchey | Jan. 31, 2013 (New)
Historically, tobacco producers have relied heavily on surface tillage to prepare fields for transplanting. This study was established to determine how soil penetrometer resistance and burley tobacco yields were influenced by surface and subsurface tillage (subsoiling) on soils with no known compaction present.
PR-651: 2012 Cool-Season Grass Grazing Tolerance Report
Joey Clark, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 14, 2012 (New)
Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and orchardgrass are the primary pasture grasses in Kentucky. Other species such as perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairie brome can be used in pasture systems. The purpose of this report is to summarize current research on the grazing tolerance of varieties of tall fescue, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and other species when they are subjected to continuous, heavy grazing pressure by cattle within the grazing season. The main focus will be on plant stand survival.
PR-654: 2012 Long-Term Summary of Kentucky Forage Variety Trials
Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 14, 2012 (New)
Forage crops occupy approximately 7 million acres in Kentucky. Forages provide a majority of the nutrition for beef, dairy, horse, goat, sheep, and wildlife in the state. In addition, forage crops play an environmentally friendly role in soil conservation, water quality, and air quality. There are over 60 forage species adapted to the climate and soil conditions of Kentucky. Only 10 to 12 of these species occupy the majority of the acreage, but within these species there is a tremendous variation in varieties. This publication was developed to provide a user-friendly guide to choosing the best variety for producers based on a summary of forage yield and grazing tolerance trials conducted in Kentucky over the past 10 to 12 years.
PR-652: 2012 Cool-Season Grass Horse Grazing Tolerance Report
Garry Lacefield, Laurie Lawrence, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 14, 2012 (New)
Cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, tall fescue, and orchardgrass are dominant pasture grasses for horses in Kentucky. Variety evaluations for yield have been carried out for many years, but little work has been done to establish the effect of variety on persistence when subjected to close, continuous grazing by horses. The purpose of this report is to summarize current research on the grazing tolerance of varieties of tall fescue, orchardgrass, and other species when subjected to continuous heavy grazing pressure by horses within the grazing season.
PR-650: 2012 Red and White Clover Grazing Tolerance Report
Joey Clark, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 5, 2012 (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, green chop, soil improvement, and wildlife habitat. This species is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Stands of improved varieties are generally productive for two and a half to three years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, high yield, and animal acceptance.