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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #407416
Research Project: Improving Sustainability of Dairy and Forage Production Systems for the Upper Midwest

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Strip-planting rhizoma perennial peanut into bahia pastures - how well did it work long-term?

Author
item DUBEUX, JOSE - University Of Florida
item GARCIA, LIZA - University Of Florida
item Jaramillo, David
item QUEIROZ, LUANA - University Of Florida
item SANTOS, ERICK - University Of Florida
item BRETAS, IGOR - University Of Florida
item BERNARDINI, MARLIA - University Of Florida
item PORTUGUEZ, JAVIER - University Of Florida
item RUIZ-MORENO, MARTIN - University Of Florida
item PEREIRA NETO, JOSE - University Of Florida
item TRUMPP, KEVIN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2023
Publication Date: 8/17/2023
Citation: Dubeux, J., Garcia, L., Jaramillo, D.M., Queiroz, L., Santos, E., Bretas, I., Bernardini, M., Portuguez, J., Ruiz-Moreno, M., Pereira Neto, J., Trumpp, K. 2023. Strip-planting rhizoma perennial peanut into bahia pastures - how well did it work long-term?. Extension Publications. Extension Panhandle Ag e-News.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rhizoma perennial peanut (RP) is a warm-season perennial legume that is well adapted to Florida’s environmental conditions. This legume species is also grazing tolerant. Rhizoma peanut has great nutritive value, with 15-18% crude protein concentration and 65-70% digestibility. Establishing rhizoma peanut takes time and greater expense than seeded forages. One approach to reduce the cost is to strip-plant rhizoma peanut into existing bahiagrass pastures. The strips can cover 50% of the area, therefore, establishment costs are greatly reduced. During the establishment period (1-2 yrs.), cattle should not be allowed to graze the pasture since they select rhizoma peanut over bahiagrass and would likely overgraze the rhizoma peanut strips. Once established, the rhizoma peanut will spread laterally and mix with the bahiagrass, creating a binary mixture. There are cost-share options available to further reduce establishment costs. Integrating rhizoma peanut into bahiagrass pastures increases animal performance by 70-80% during the summer, meeting the targets of developing beef heifers. Savings on nitrogen (N) fertilizer and reduction of nitrate leaching is another important aspect of this mixture that must also be considered.