Location: Dairy Forage Research
Project Number: 5090-21500-002-032-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
End Date: Jun 30, 2026
Objective:
The ARS PI and the Cooperator will work collaboratively to:
Objective 1. Determine grain yield and functional characteristics among advanced breeding lines grown across multiple sites.
Objective 2: Differentiate the effects of growing season and stand age on inter-annual changes in intermediate wheatgrass yield and quality.
Objective 3: Compare intermediate wheatgrass dual-use systems with predominant and emerging dairy forage systems with and without cover crops for soil and economic benefits.
Approach:
A replicated field trial with a split-plot arrangement of treatments will be used to measure agronomic and soil characteristics of intermediate wheatgrass breeding lines when established using a staggered-start approach, and compare intermediate wheatgrass with other dairy forage systems. Grain will be harvested annually to determine yield and quality parameters related to brewing quality and nutrition. Straw will be harvested annually to determine yield and forage nutritive value. Vegetative biomass regrowth will be harvested annually to determine yield and forage nutritive value. Soil samples will be collected at various depths to quantify various soil carbon pools, microbial communities, and soil physical characteristics. Soil moisture will be measured throughout the growing season to measure crop water demand and deficit.
