Overseeding Common Bermudagrass with Cool-Season Annuals to Increase Yield and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake in a Hay Field Fertilized with Swine Effluent

ent management are important steps in increasing uptake of soil-available P and reducing P losses in runoff Haying common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is (Rowe and Fairbrother, 2003; Sharpley and Halvorson, commonly used to manage field-applied manure P in the southeastern 1994). Utilizing this manure resource by replacing comUSA but is limited to summer. This 3-yr study was done to examine effects of extending the haying season by spring haying of fall-overmercial fertilizers with manure nutrients for forage proseeded annuals. Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), crimduction has been the focus of considerable research (Adson clover (T. incarnatum L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), eli et al., 2002; Burns et al., 1990; Sims and Wolf, 1994). and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were compared with a nonoverRecent research comparing hybrid and common berseeded control. Dry matter (DM) yield and N and P uptake were mudagrass has shown the response of common bermumeasured in spring and summer hay on a Prentiss sandy loam (coarsedagrass to swine effluent nutrients to be as good as or loamy, siliceous, thermic Glossic Fragiudults, Ultisols) with high soil better than that of some hybrid cultivars (Brink et al., P following 6 yr of swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) effluent fertilization. 2003; McLaughlin et al., 2004). Fall-seeded plots were cut twice for spring hay and three times for Nutrient uptake is a function of nutrient concentrasummer hay. Spring hay of annual ryegrass (3.8–5.3 Mg ha 1 yr 1) tion and plant biomass, both of which may vary due to yielded more DM than crimson clover (2.6–3.4 Mg ha 1 yr 1), wheat (2.5–3.3 Mg ha 1 yr 1), and the control (2.8–3.4 Mg ha 1 yr 1) every differences in cultivars, weather, soil properties, and manyear but did not differ from berseem clover (3.1–4.6 Mg ha 1 yr 1) agement practices (Adeli et al., 2003; Robinson, 1996; in 2 of 3 yr. Phosphorus uptake in spring hay of annual ryegrass Rowe and Fairbrother, 2003). Brink et al. (2003) found and berseem clover (10–16 kg ha 1) was higher than crimson clover that differences in nutrient concentration produced P (8–12 kg ha 1), wheat (7–12 kg ha 1), and the control (6–11 kg ha 1). uptake (kg ha 1) in common bermudagrass equal to or Nitrogen uptake in spring hay was higher in berseem clover (71–128 kg greater than that of several hybrids, despite lower anha 1) than other treatments (43–80 kg ha 1), which did not differ. No nual DM production by common bermudagrass. Hardifferences occurred in summer hay (DM 3.9–7.6 Mg ha 1, N vesting of all types of bermudagrass hays is restricted to 72–191 kg ha 1, P 13–21 kg ha 1). Overseeding common bermudawarm summer months. Improvements in annual forage grass with berseem clover or annual ryegrass can improve hay yield DM production and nutrient uptake in bermudagrassand P removal. based systems may be made by effectively extending the forage production season. Double-cropping warm-season bermudagrass with cool-season annual forages has B is a warm-season perennial, which been used successfully in grazing systems and could be is widely grown for summer grazing and hay proapplied to swine manure nutrient management systems duction in the southeastern USA (Burton and Hanna, in the southeastern USA. Cool-season annual forages 1985). It may be harvested from early summer until seeded into dormant bermudagrass in the fall can profall and is often used in manure nutrient management vide more winter ground cover and earlier spring growth systems (Adeli and Varco, 2001; Adeli et al., 2003; Brink than bermudagrass alone and have largely unexplored et al., 2003; Burns et al., 1985; King et al., 1985). Many potential in nutrient management hay cropping systems hybrid cultivars respond well to nutrients from swine in the region (McLaughlin et al., 2001; Rowe and Faireffluent (Burns et al., 1990; King et al., 1990). Consebrother, 2003). quently, bermudagrass receives more manure effluent The objectives of the present study were to determine than other forages in the southeastern USA. the effects of overseeding common bermudagrass grown Manure application to agricultural lands and crops is for hay in a swine effluent nutrient management system often regulated according to soil P levels, known as the and to compare DM yield and N and P uptake among P index (Mallarino et al., 2002). Characterizations of overseeding treatments. The goal of the research was to cropping systems for P uptake and long-term soil nutriextend and expand the nutrient uptake capacity of the common bermudagrass-based hay system. USDA-ARS, Crop Sci. Res. Lab., Waste Management and Forage Res. Unit, P.O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Mississippi MATERIALS AND METHODS Agric. and Forestry Exp. Stn. Journal Article no. J10462. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the The study was conducted in a hay field on a private hog purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recomfarm near Pheba in western Clay County, Mississippi, USA mendation or endorsement by the USDA. This article was prepared (33 59 N, 88 99 W). Experimental plots were located on a by USDA employees as part of their official duties, is not copyright Prentiss sandy loam (coarse-loamy, siliceous, thermic Glossic protected by U.S. copyright law, and can be freely reproduced by the Fragiudults, Ultisols) with 2 to 5% slope. The field received anpublic. Received 2 Feb. 2004. *Corresponding author (mmclaughlin@ msa-msstate.ars.usda.gov). aerobic swine lagoon effluent and produced summer hay from a well-established stand of common bermudagrass. The field Published in Agron. J. 97:487–493 (2005). © American Society of Agronomy 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA Abbreviations: DM, dry matter.