Abstract Detail

Agronomy

Lajeunesse, Julie [1], Papadopoulos, Yousef A. [2], Duynisveld, John L. [3], Bélanger, Gilles [4], Tremblay, Gaëtan F. [5], Lafrenière, Carole [6], Thomas, Bill [7], Fillmore, Sherry A. E. [8].

Productivity of eighteen legume-grass binary mixtures.

Forage species and mixtures differ in their yield potential but few studies have been done to determine which forage species combinations have the greatest potential to improve beef production from forages. Our objective was to determine the best binary mixtures of grass and legume species for forage yield under diverse agronomic conditions in Eastern Canada. The plots were established in 2010 at 3 sites [Nappan (NS), Lévis (QC), and Normandin (QC)]. Timothy (Phleum pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roemer & J.A. Schultes), meadow fescue (Festuca elatior L.), and tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub] were seeded with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or white clover (Trifolium repens L.). In Nappan, plots were grazed with animals whereas in Lévis and Normandin frequent clipping was used to simulate grazing. During the four post-establishment years (2011-2014), legume and grass species significantly affected dry matter (DM) yield. Under frequent clipping, binary mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil showed greatest overall yields whereas those with white clover had the lowest DM yields. Under cattle grazing at Nappan, high yielding binary mixtures included white clover. DM yield among the 18 binary mixtures ranged from 5.4 to 7.6 Mg ha^-1, from 3.8 to 5.7 Mg ha^-1, from 4.2 to 7.3 Mg ha^-1, and from 2.8 to 5.7 Mg ha^-1 in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively. Site and management systems (grazing versus mechanical harvesting) influenced which mixtures give better yield, and also content of specific legumes.

1 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Farm, 1468 Saint-Cyrille St., Normandin, Qc, G8M4B8, Canada
2 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
3 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, Nappan, NS, B0L 1C0, Canada
4 - Agriculture and Agri–Food Canada, Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre, 2560 Hochelaga Blvd, Quebec, Qc, G1V 2J3, Canada
5 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre, 2560 Hochelaga Blvd, Quebec, Qc, G1V 2J3, Canada
6 - Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 79, rue Côté, Notre-Dame-du-Nord , Qc, J0Z 3B0, Canada
7 - Perennia, 199 Dr Bernie MacDonald Drive, Bible Hill, NS, B6L 2H5, Canada
8 - Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, 32 Main Street, Kentville, NS, B4N 1J5, Canada

Keywords:
Forage
binary mixtures.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PAG002
Abstract ID:574
Candidate for Awards:None