Tall fescue management and environmental influences on soil, surface residue, and forage properties

Environmental characteristics within a region often form site-specific agro-ecological responses to management. Using 92 fall-stockpiled tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] field trials in North Carolina and surrounding states, our objective was test the influence of two management factors (forage utilization pasture age) environmental (elevation soil textural gradients) on properties at 0-to-10-cm depth, surface residue carbon (C) nitrogen (N) contents, absolute forage mass nutritive values their N fertilization. Soil organic C fractions (i.e., total, particulate, mineralizable) were greater (a) with improved (rotational stocking) than conventional (haying and/or continuous grazing) utilization, (b) older pastures, (c) higher elevation, (d) finer texture. chemical variably affected by these factors, soil-test P not affected. Surface tended be but any factors. Crude protein dry matter yield response fertilizer lower utilization. Forage elevation. total sequestration rates during 25-yr period 0.75 Mg ha−1 yr−1 75 kg yr−1, respectively. Elevation texture imparted strong controls diversity properties, mostly surface-soil fractions, which helped sustain productivity value input.