Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #87024
Title: COMPARISON OF FORAGE SPECIES AND CANOPY HEIGHT ON PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF

Author
item SELF-DAVIS, M. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Moore, Philip
item DANIEL, D. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item NICHOLS, D. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Sauer, Thomas
item EDWARDS, D. - UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Surface runoff from agricultural land continues to be an environmental concern throughout the U.S. Pasture land is particularly prone to nutrient losses in runoff, due to the lack of incorporation of fertilizer. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of five forage species at varying canopy heights (one week v six weeks growth post harvest) to minimize surface runoff from pasture systems where poultry litter is used as the nutrient source. The five forage species evaluated were: Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasia (Trin.) C.E. Hubb.), Greenfield bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), Pete Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.), and Kentucky-31 Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Poultry litter was applied annually at 8.97 Mg ha**-1 . Simulated rain was applied at 50 mm h**-1 and collected for 30 min. The lowest runoff volumes and phosphorus loads occurred in the full canopy tall fescue plots. These results reflect conditions after approximately 14 months of forage growth. Measurements will continue to be taken throughout the continued establishment of these forage species.