Forage Mass and Nutritive Value of Grain- and Forage-Type Soybean Cultivars Managed under Different Row Spacings and Clipping Heights

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a high value crop that has been used as forage since the early 1900s in southern U.S. (e.g., Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida). Renewed interest increased use of soybean viable economical protein alternative to growers region. The objective this study was determine herbage mass (HM) nutritive managed under two row spacing (36 72 cm) three stubble heights (10, 15, 20 cm). Five cultivars were ‘Stonewall’, ‘Laredo’, ‘Tower Leaves’, Asgrow® ‘AG64X8’, ‘AG79X9’ sown at locations (Shorter Headland, AL). Forage harvested July August during both years HM determined. Crude (CP) fiber fractions determined using near-infrared spectroscopy. Years location did vary, but overall, Stonewall had greatest (p < 0.026) (1706 kg DM ha?1) with (124 g CP kg?1, 449 NDF 372 ADF kg?1). Laredo lowest (1169 ha?1; p 0.025). 10 cm height resulted (1898 0.0001) decreased (149 kg?1; 331 413 = 0.001) compared (179, 282, 375 kg?1 for CP, ADF, NDF, respectively). Row not consistently influence either or values. Due its relatively good HM, should be considered monoculture mixed sward other warm-season annual forages inclusion forage-based livestock diets.