Effect of Irrigation Allocation on Perennial Grass Production and Quality

Authors

Gary W. Hergert, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension CenterFollow
Karla H. Jenkins, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
James Margheim Margheim, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center
Alex Pavlista, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension CenterFollow
Rex Nielsen, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension CenterFollow
Murali Darapuneni, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, UNL Extension MP99, pp. 52-55.

Comments

Copyright © 2014 University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Cool-season grass mixtures and warm-season grass mixtures were evaluated in 2010, 2011, and 2012 under varying irrigation levels to determine dry matter yield, CP, and TDN for beef cattle in the Nebraska Panhandle. As a generalization, when seasonal precipitation was average, irrigation levels over 10 inches resulted in no significant increase in either grass production or quality. Cool-season grasses produced more dry matter yield and maintained greater CP and TDN than warm-season grasses. In all three years, a mixture of wheatgrasses had greater forage yield than an orchardgrass monoculture or a mixture dominated by bromegrasses. In 2010 and 2011, treatments containing switchgrass yielded more DM than a big bluestem/indiangrass mixture.