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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #72988
Title: FLACCIDGRASS: ITS RESPONSE TO NITROGEN AND DEFOLIATION MANAGEMENT

Author
item Burns, Joseph
item CHAMBLEE, D - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item Belesky, David
item Fisher, Dwight

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Carostan flaccidgrass (Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb.), a C4 perennial grass, has been shown to have relative high quality when grazed or fed as hay. The yield response and nitrogen concentration in forage of flaccidgrass to nitrogen application has not been well established. An experiment using annual applications of 179, 291, and 403 kg of N/ha, applied as ammonium nitrate, was conducted at both Raleigh, NC and Watkinsville, GA. Forage wa defoliated at 25.4 cm back to a 5-cm stubble and at anthesis back to 7.6 cm at 291 kg of N/ha and at 50.8 cm back to 5.0 cm and boot stage back to 7.6 cm for all three nitrogen rates (total of eight treatments). Yields increased linearly (P<0.01) in response to N application averaging 13,390 kg/ha in NC vs. 9,630 in GA. Defoliation at 50.8 cm yielded 11,695 kg/ha in NC vs. 9,204 in GA (P<0.01). Defoliation at boot to 7.6 cm yielded 15,130 kg/ha in NC vs. 10,640 in GA (P<0.01). Highest yields of 19,010 kg/ha in NC and 12,390 in GA resulted from anthesis to 7.6 cm (evaluated at the 291 kg of N/ha only). The nutritive value of the forage will be discussed.