Economic Potential of Substituting Legumes for Synthetic Nitrogen in Warm Season Perennial Grasses used for Stocker Cattle Grazing

Authors

• Maru Kering, Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• John Biermacher, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• Ryan Reuter, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• Twain Butler, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• Job D. Springer, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• James Rogers, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• John Blanton, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• Joe Bouton, The Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK
• John A. Guretzky, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2010

Citation

Copyright 2010 by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.

Comments

Copyright 2010 by M. Kering, J.T. Biermacher, R. Reuter, T. Butler, J. Springer, J. Rogers, J. Blanton, Jr., J. Bouton, and J. Guretzky.

Abstract

Stocker cattle grazing warm season perennial grasses is an important economic activity in the southern Great Plains. Substantial increases in the price of nitrogen fertilizer is negatively affecting forage producers‟ profitability. Two alternative nitrogen management systems that use annual and perennial legumes have been developed for bermudagrass pastures. The goal of the study is to determine if the legumes systems are more profitable than the conventional practice of applying synthetic sources of nitrogen. Results of the two-year grazing study show that the legume systems could not compete economically with the common practice.