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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #394541
Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Sunn hemp as an alternative forage in the Texas High Plains region

Author
item O`Shaughnessy, Susan
item MOSQUEDA, HALEY - North Dakota State University
item Brauer, David

Submitted to: International Grasslands Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2023
Publication Date: 5/16/2023
Citation: O'Shaughnessy, S.A., Mosqueda, H.M., Brauer, D.K. 2023. Sunn hemp as an alternative forage in the Texas High Plains region. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Grasslands Conference, Covington, KY, May 14-18, 2023.

Interpretive Summary: Cattle production in the Texas Panhandle contributes significantly to the regional economy, and forages are an important source of fiber in the diet of cattle. However, in this semi-arid region, water resources are limited. Therefore, production of drought tolerant, quality forages are of interest. In this study conducted at the Conservation and Production Research Laboratory in Bushland, Texas, sunn hemp was grown as a forage by itself and cropped with sorghum to investigate the level of biomass yields and forage quality under deficit irrigation levels. Results showed that sunn hemp can be grown in this semi-arid region as a quality forage under moderate deficit irrigation. However, sunn hemp grown as a single crop could only produce 50% of the biomass produced by sorghum forage, and when intercropped with sorghum forage, it did not increase the nutritive value of the forage. These limitations indicate that sunn hemp is not a practical choice for forage production in this region.

Technical Abstract: Forage production in the Texas High Plains, a semi-arid region, is critical to sustain the local cattle industry. However, the main source of water for irrigation is the highly depleted Ogallala Aquifer, making forage crop water productivity (CWP) of high importance. In this one-year study, three types of forages were cultivated under deficit irrigation treatments of 80% and 50% of full crop water use. The forages were: a non-brown midrib forage sorghum; a legume, sunn hemp; and a sorghum/sunn hemp mix. The experiment was conducted in Bushland, Texas in 2019. Treatment plots were arranged in a split plot design with four replications under a 6-span variable rate irrigation center pivot sprinkler. Above ground biomass samples were taken by hand from a square meter quadrat in each of the 24 plots on Jul 23, Aug 6 for forage analysis, and on Aug 19 to assess biomass yield and CWP. Crude protein was significantly higher at the first and second cuttings in the sunn hemp monocrop, but not significantly different between irrigation levels. The final biomass yields and CWP were similar between the sorghum (23.6 Mg per hectare) and sorghum/sunn hemp (25.1 Mg per hectare) forages, irrespective of irrigation level. The sunn hemp monocrop produced significantly lower biomass (9.75 Mg per hectare), which reduced CWP.