| Title |
Investigators | Department | Objectives | Approach Keywords | Progress Reports | Impact Statements | Publications | |
Project * COL00608 | |
| Title | Management of Forages in Colorado for Improved Yield and Quality |
| Investigator(s) | Brummer, JE; |
| Department | Soil and Crop Sciences |
| Objectives | 1.) Evaluate yield and quality of forage species and/or cultivars potentially adapted to Colorado's varied environmental conditions and unique management needs. 2.) Evaluate various management practices for improving forage yield and quality. 3.) Evaluate techniques for interseeding grasses and legumes into existing stands of perennial forages to improve yield, forage quality, and/or extend stand life. |
| Approach | Replicated small plot trials will be conducted in various parts of the state to evaluate the yield and quality of different forage species under varying management scenarios. The trials will focus on such aspects as hay production, grazing, and restoration/reclamation of degraded sites. Management factors that will be considered include soil fertility, water use and efficiency, timing of harvest, frequency and intensity of grazing, planting method, and mixed versus single species stands. Variables that will be used for evaluation include stand establishment and persistence, yield, forage quality, and composition of the stand and/or hay. |
| Keywords | Forage yield, Forage quality, Forage management, Hay production, Grasses, Legumes, Alfalfa, Forage mixes, Interseeding, Soil fertility, Irrigation management, Harvest management, lanting methods, Small acreage management, Land restoration |
| Progress Reports | |
| 1996 | Five varieties of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) were successfully interseeded into an irrigated mountain meadow. The introduction of birdsfoot trefoil increased total hay yield by 24 and 31% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Crude protein content of the hay was increased 2.5 percentage points in 1995. Suppression of the existing vegetation prior to interseeding by rototilling or spraying with Roundup improved establishment success of birdsfoot trefoil by 2 and 3 fold, respectively, compared to no suppression. Aeration of two heavy organic soils resulted in yield reductions of up to 23%. Yield reductions were strongly correlated to degree of soil disturbance with proportional decreases occurring with the addition of 112 and 224 kg/ha of nitrogen. Producers with heavy organic soils are being discouraged from using aeration as a management tool because of economic and production losses. Wild caraway (Carum carvi) accounted for 17% of total hay yield. Removal of caraway caused a 26% decrease in total yield, the majority of the reduction being caused by a 23% decrease in grass production. Grass yield was affected because removal of caraway plants reduced shading which led to shorter statured grass plants. Caraway yield doubled with the removal of all associated vegetation. Preliminary results from these studies have been presented at field days and seminars in Colorado and Wyoming over the past 2 years to audiences totaling about 450. |
| 1997 | Lack of adequate fertility, particularly nitrogen, is one of the major factors limiting forage production from mountain meadows. However, many producers are reluctant to apply commercial fertilizers because of cost, need for yearly application, lack of accessible suppliers, and environmental concerns. An alternative that can increase forage production as well as quality is the introduction of legumes into grass dominated meadows. Objectives of this study were to evaluate establishment success of 5 varieties of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) seeded into 3 different seedbeds in a mountain meadow and to determine subsequent contribution of trefoil to total forage yield and quality. `Carroll', `Empire', `Leo', `Norcen', and `Tretana' varieties of birdsfoot trefoil were interseeded into undisturbed, lightly rototilled, or Roundup sprayed plots in May 1994. Yield, quality, and composition data were taken from 1995 to 1997. All 5 varieties successfully established in the 3 seedbeds and have persisted over 4 growing seasons. Averaged across seedbeds and varieties, birdsfoot trefoil increased total hay yield by 20, 37, and 48% in 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively. Of the varieties tested, `Leo' and `Norcen' appear best adapted for use in mountain meadows. Interseeded birdsfoot trefoil increased crude protein content of hay from 7.8 to 9.9%, but decreased digestibility from 68.2 to 64.2% when averaged over seedbeds, varieties, and years. Suppression of existing vegetation by rototilling or spraying improved establishment of all varieties with an average (over years and varieties) contribution to total yield of 22 and 29%, respectively, compared to only 14% where vegetation was not suppressed. Total yield averaged over years and varieties was not different between rototilled and sprayed treatments, but was 21% higher compared to seeded plots without any suppression. Averaged across rototilled and sprayed seedbed treatments, plots seeded with `Norcen' and `Leo' yielded 66 and 68% more hay, respectively, than the unseeded control in 1997. Findings from this study indicate that birdsfoot trefoil can be successfully interseeded into mountain meadows. Chances for successful establishment increase substantially by first suppressing the existing vegetation followed by seeding a vigorous variety such as `Norcen' or `Leo'. Both yield and quality of hay can be increased without environmental risks associated with nitrogen fertilization. The yield increase associated with interseeding `Norcen' birdsfoot trefoil was 1540 kilograms per hectare when averaged over seedbeds and years. If this practice was implemented on 20% of the 170,000 irrigated hay hectares in western Colorado, the value of the increased yield would be over $4.6 million per year given a hay price of $88 per metric ton. The increase in crude protein content of the same hay was equal to 240 kilograms per hectare for a value of over $6.5 million per year given a cost of $.80 per kilogram of protein. The actual value of this practice is far greater than the total of $11 million per year given that birdsfoot trefoil is a long-lived perennial plant. |
| 1998 | Flood irrigated mountain meadows typically develop a dense layer of organic matter (OM) that contains large reserves of nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N). Over 6000 kg of total N/ha has been measured in the top 10 cm of soil. However, this N is unavailable for plant uptake since it is in a fixed organic form and producers must apply commercial fertilizer to obtain acceptable hay yields. Some producers also use aeration as a means of renovating meadows. The objective of this study was to evaluate methods of minimum tillage in conjunction with N fertilization as a means of promoting OM decomposition and N mineralization. Four tillage [control, Aerway aerator (AW), and ripped on 15 (R15) or 30 (R30) cm centers] and 3 N (0, 112, 224 kg/ha) treatments were applied at 2 locations for 1, 2, or 3 consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. After 3 years, tillage disturbances in meadows with soils high in OM did not increase forage yields. Such disturbances actually decreased yields by as much as 38%. The severity of the decrease was directly related to the degree of soil disturbance. Yields from plots that received the AW, R30, and R15 treatments for 3 consecutive years averaged 21, 27, and 32% below the control, respectively. Adding N tended to partially offset the negative effects of the tillage treatments. However, within a N rate, yields were depressed from 2 to 24% compared to the untilled control with the greatest decrease caused by the most severe tillage treatment (R15). Tillage disturbances did not affect crude protein content or digestibility of the hay. However, additional N did cause digestibility of the hay to decrease from 4 to 24% depending on site, year, and rate. The largest decrease occurred with a 224 kg/ha application of N in 1997 at the site dominated by common meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis). Basically, 3 consecutive years of N application eliminated clovers from the composition and stimulated production of the more fibrous grass component. The effect of N application on crude protein content of the forage was variable depending on year, site, and rate. The general trend was for no change compared to the control or a decrease that ranged from 5 to 23%. Based on findings from this study, producers should not aerate or rip meadow soils high in OM because of potential yield losses. Fertilizing with N in conjunction with tillage did not provide any practical additive benefits to yield and had a general negative effect on forage quality. By not aerating or ripping high OM meadow soils, producers stand to gain substantial economic savings. The value of the lost hay based on 3 year averages of yield declines for tillage alone equates to $105, $136, and $164/ha for the AW, R30, and R15 treatments, respectively, assuming a value of $88/metric ton for the hay. The cost of applying the tillage practices averages about $25/ha for a combined savings of $130, $161, and $189/ha for the 3 practices, respectively. Assuming that 5% of the 170,000 irrigated hay hectares in western Colorado have high OM soils and are aerated or ripped, the potential savings to the state's producers would range from $1.1 to $1.6 million per year. |
| 1999 | Agriculture has traditionally been the largest water user in the West, but demands for this scarce resource are intensifying. Such issues as the increasing urban population and the need for minimum in-stream flows to protect endangered fish species point to the need to more accurately document water used for agricultural production. In relationship to these and other factors, water managers in the upper Gunnison River Basin are in need of accurate estimates of consumptive water use by high-elevation meadow plants grown for forage production. The Blaney-Criddle method is most commonly used to estimate consumptive water use because it is based on easily obtainable average temperature data. The method also uses a daylength function and a crop growth stage coefficient which describes changes in water use as plants mature. However, using published crop coefficients often leads to underestimates of consumptive water use in semi-arid, high-elevation environments. Accurate estimates can only be obtained by using locally calibrated coefficients. To measure consumptive water use, compensating lysimeters were installed during the spring of 1999 in eight environmentally and hydrologically diverse sites within the Gunnison Basin. Irrigation requirement and rainfall were measured from June through September 1999. The data were used to derive monthly and seasonal Blaney-Criddle crop coefficients specific to each site. Crop coefficients varied both among sites and across months. The range of variation among sites for June, July, August, and September was 1.68-2.55, 0.87-1.46, 0.54-1.40, and 0.52-2.11, respectively. Crop coefficients averaged 2.14, 1.20, 0.86, and 1.24 across sites for the same months, respectively. The published coefficients for pasture grasses in June, July, August, and September are 0.92, 0.92 , 0.91, and 0.87, respectively. Use of the published coefficients would have consistently underestimated total consumptive use from 30 to 130% in June, July, and September in the Gunnison Basin. Although additional years of data are needed to take environmental variation into account, these preliminary data indicate that published crop coefficients should be replaced by locally calibrated coefficients to ensure more accurate prediction of consumptive irrigation water use. The locally calibrated crop coefficients will allow water managers to more accurately estimate consumptive water use and, therefore, irrigation depletions in the upper Gunnison Basin. This information is critical for designing augmentation plans for junior water right holders in the Basin, for developing a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for 40,000 acre-feet of irrigation water that is subordinate to the Aspinall storage unit, and for defending irrigation water right disputes in court. At the state level, Colorado is currently developing a State Consumptive Use Model which, at present, uses published table values for crop coefficients. By replacing the table values with locally calibrated coefficients, the state will be able to more accurately estimate crop water use on a statewide basis. |
| 2000 | The benefits of early weaning and subsequent grazing of calves on meadow regrowth have been demonstrated in other environments. Results from Nebraska indicate that calves weaned early onto meadow regrowth were equal in weight to calves that continued to nurse for 2 more months. The real advantage was that the cows from the early weaning group gained weight and body condition compared to the cows that were still lactating. This benefit should be even greater at higher elevations because the environmental conditions are harsher. The problem with this approach at high elevations compared to the Nebraska example is that the growing season is much shorter which limits the potential for regrowth. The objective of this study was to investigate methods of obtaining adequate regrowth for fall grazing by manipulating initial harvest date and adding small amounts of nitrogen fertilizer following the initial harvest. Initial harvests were taken on June 1, 15, and 29; July 13 and 27; and August 10 in 1999 and 2000. Following the initial hay harvest, either 0, 34, or 68 kg/ha of nitrogen was applied. Fall harvests were taken on October 1 and 15 and November 1 and 15. Yields from the initial hay harvest increased through the season to a maximum of 4200 and 3200 kg/ha in 1999 and 2000, respectively. However, rate of growth had slowed considerably by late July with no measurable difference in yield detected between the July 27 and August 10 harvest dates in either year. There were no differences in fall yields between the uncut control and June 1 harvest dates in either year with an average of 3735 and 2520 kg/ha in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Regrowth decreased steadily from the initial harvest date of June 1 through the rest of the season and was practically non-existent relative to the August 10 harvest date (150 kg/ha in both years). Obtaining enough regrowth for fall grazing depended on the type of year (wet vs. dry) and whether or not nitrogen was added following the initial harvest. Precipitation was above normal during the growing season of 1999 which led to more regrowth being produced. An average of 730 kg/ha was available for fall grazing without additional nitrogen in 1999 when the initial harvest date was July 13. This compared to only 160 kg/ha being available on the same date in 2000 when precipitation was below average. In 1999, enough regrowth for grazing would have been produced with a delay in initial harvest as late as July 27, but additional nitrogen would have been required. Conversely, only 380 kg/ha of total regrowth was produced with the addition of 68 kg/ha of nitrogen when the initial harvest date was delayed until July 27 in 2000. The initial hay harvest would have had to occur by late June or early July in the dry year to avoid using additional nitrogen to obtain adequate regrowth. The conclusion for producers is that they must generally take the initial harvest at least 2 weeks earlier than normal to avoid inputs of nitrogen. However, the ability to apply additional nitrogen adds management flexibility during dry years and when the initial harvest cannot be taken in a timely manner. |
| 2001 | Hay production for the long winter feeding period is a major cost for high elevation livestock producers and a logical area in which to cut costs. One problem faced by producers during the haying season is the difficulty in putting up high quality hay due to frequent afternoon thundershowers. Not only does forage quality decline under these conditions, but some ranchers are faced with paying large haying crews without the benefit of actually putting up any hay for extended periods. One potential solution to this problem is to put hay up as big round bale silage or baleage. Essentially, putting up hay as baleage takes weather out of the equation because baling can take place at moisture levels up to 70%. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of steers that were fed either baleage only, dry hay only, or a combination of baleage in the morning and dry hay at night. At the time of feeding, baleage bales weighed an average of 580 kg and averaged 34% moisture. The dry bales weighed an average of 498 kg and contained only 8% moisture. Crude protein content of the baleage averaged 9.14% at the time of feeding while the dry hay averaged 8.76%. Dry matter digestibility of the baleage was 66.84% which was 1.28 percentage points lower than the dry hay. The response in crude protein and digestibility between the baleage and dry hay was typical. During the fermentation of baleage, some of the carbohydrates are used up which lowers forage digestibility, but in turn concentrates the protein. Based on this fact, feeding a combination of baleage and dry hay should provide for a more balanced diet and greater weight gains. During this study, steers were fed for 114 days from early December to late March. They were fed free choice hay with no other supplements. Gains over the entire feeding period averaged 0.48, 0.41, and 0.39 kg/head/day for the steers fed a combination of hay, baleage only, and dry hay only, respectively. The real advantage of feeding the combination of baleage and dry hay came during the last period in March when the steers fed the combination of hays gained 0.79 kg/head/day compared to 0.64 and 0.49 kg/head/day for the baleage and dry hay only groups, respectively. The longer, warmer days in March allowed the steers to take advantage of the higher nutrition from the combination of feeds. Crude protein intake over the entire feeding period (12 steers per treatment) was 54 kg higher for the steers fed a combination of feeds compared to those fed only dry hay. The intake of digestible nutrients was even more pronounced with the steers receiving the combination of feeds consuming 250 kg more than the steers fed dry hay only. Based on results to date, it appears that preserving and feeding mountain meadow hay as baleage offers a viable alternative to normal dry hay. There are economic advantages associated with capturing forage quality during the monsoonal rainy period. Even though there is a cost associated with preserving hay as baleage (plastic wrap and additional equipment), part of that cost can be offset by the improved weight gains on calves that are possible from feeding a combination of baleage and dry hay. |
| 2002 | The concept of windrow grazing has gained popularity with some livestock producers in recent years as a means of reducing winter feeding costs. Basically, this method involves only swathing and raking of hay into larger windrows. The baling, hauling, stacking, and feeding of hay that is typical of most operations is eliminated, thus reducing haying costs by up to 75%. Cows are turned into a field of windrowed hay and allowed to graze with access to the feed controlled by a moveable electric fence. Although the economics of windrow grazing are very favorable, ranchers have been slow to adopt this practice. One reason for their reluctance to use windrow grazing is concern over potential declines in forage quality as a result of the windrows being exposed to the elements, often for several months before cows are allowed in to graze. To address this concern, several studies were done to look at forage quality changes of windrowed hay over time. Hay was swathed and raked into windrows in late September at 2 sites north of Gunnison, Colorado. Crude protein content of the hay from one site did not change (8 .9%) between early October and mid December when the cows were turned in to graze. At the second site, crude protein content of the hay declined 1.6 percentage points from 11.3 to 9.7% over the same time period. The second site contained a higher proportion of clover compared to the first site which was primarily grass. Because of basic physiological differences in plant structure, clovers are more susceptible to decomposition compared to grasses which would account for the loss in crude protein at the second site. This result has also been observed when alfalfa was present in the hay composition. In a third study, changes in both crude protein content and digestibility of the windrowed hay were compared between late October and late December. Crude protein content of the hay in that study actually increased by 1.5 percentage points from 7.2 to 8.7% while digestibility decreased 3 percentage points from 52 to 49%. The increase in crude protein is not unusual and is the result of some of the soluable carbohydrates being leached out of the hay as evidenced by the decrease in digestibility. Basically, the protein has been concentrated as a result of the loss in carbohydrates. This can be a positive or negative outcome depending on whether protein or energy is more limiting in the animals diet. Concentration of the protein in the hay is generally a positive outcome since protein is more often limiting than energy. In conclusion, results from these studies indicate that ranchers should not be concerned about declines in forage quality associated with windrowing of hay. The positive economic benefits of windrow grazing far outweigh any small changes in forage quality and should not deter any livestock producer from trying this practice. |
| 2003 | Best management practices (BMPs) allow agricultural producers to balance economic and environmental needs in their operations. Using appropriate BMPs can lessen the cumulative effects of agricultural nonpoint source pollution on adjacent water systems. Previously developed for many agricultural crops, fertilizer application BMPs need to be developed for mountain meadows. Fertilizer is typically applied to these meadows in April as producers prepare fields for the irrigation season that runs from early May to late July, but other options need to be investigated. The objective of this study was to determine how application timing of monoammonium phosphate (MAP, 11-52-0) fertilizer affected irrigation overland flow water quality. Application of 40 kg phosphorus (P) and 19 kg nitrogen (N) per hectare using MAP in the fall significantly reduced concentrations of reactive P and ammonium N in irrigation overland flow compared with early or late spring fertilization. Reactive P loading was 9 to almost 16 times greater when fertilizer was applied in the early or late spring, respectively, compared with in the fall. Ammonium N followed a similar trend with early spring loading more than 18 times greater and late spring loading more than 34 times greater than loads from fall fertilized plots. Losses of 45% of the applied P and more than 17% of the N were measured in runoff when fertilizer was applied in the late spring. These results, coupled with those from previous studies, suggest that mountain meadow hay producers should apply fertilizer in the fall, especially P-based fertilizers, to improve hay yields, avoid economic losses from loss of applied fertilizers, and reduce the potential for impacts to water quality . |
| 2004 | The quantity and quality of forage produced from grass dominated mountain meadows can be improved by interseeding legumes. However, the success of this practice is often limited by the strong competitive effects exerted by the existing vegetation. Suppression of the existing vegetation prior to seeding generally results in significant improvement in seedling establishment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the establishment success of birdsfoot trefoil that was interseeded into a mountain meadow in which the existing vegetation was suppressed by Roundup herbicide using different application methods. Three methods were tested: broadcast spray, band spray, and band wipe, each at 2 application rates. Broadcast and band spray application rates were 1.75 and 3.5 liters per hectare. A 33% mix of Roundup to water was used for the band wipe treatment. Different amounts of total herbicide were applied by running the pump that supplied the pads either on a continuous or intermittent basis. The band applications were applied in 10-cm wide strips centered over the seed row in an effort to suppress half the existing vegetation. Hay yield was taken on July 15 to determine effects of the herbicide on production, and seedling counts were taken on August 29. All 6 method/rate combinations of applying Roundup herbicide improved birdsfoot trefoil establishment compared to the unsprayed control which averaged only 4 plants per square meter. The best establishment , 43 plants per square meter, occurred when all vegetation was suppressed using a broadcast application of herbicide. This was predictable since competition was reduced to its lowest level using this method. There was no significant difference between the 2 application rates. Band application of Roundup resulted in about half (22 plants per square meter) the seedling density compared to broadcast applications. Both band application methods, regardless of rate, resulted in the same seedling density. The effect of the herbicide treatments on hay yield was also measured. This was a highly productive meadow that produced 7170 kg/ha of forage in the untreated control plots. Theoretically, the band application treatments should have reduced hay yields by about half (i.e. herbicide applied to half the area). However, yields were reduced by 67% to only 2240 kg/ha. The reason for this was leaf overhang. Although a plant may not have been rooted in the 10-cm treated strip, it had leaves that lapped over into the zone where herbicide was sprayed or wiped. This effectively suppressed a strip larger than 10 cm, which accounts for the one-third yield decrease. If the goal is to suppress a 10-cm wide strip , then the spray or band width will have to be narrowed accordingly. In summary, we determined that birdsfoot trefoil can be interseeded into a highly productive mountain meadow by first suppressing the existing vegetation. Applying Roundup in bands resulted in half the seedling density compared to broadcast spraying, but the input of herbicide was reduced by half while maintaining about a third of the normal hay crop. |
| 2005 | The South Park area of Colorado is characterized as a high, cold desert. The harsh growing conditions associated with this environment coupled with drought, historic overgrazing, and the transfer/removal of irrigation water have led to many degraded range sites in the Park. Fringed sage is a native plant that has come to dominate many sites throughout the Park. It is particularly troublesome because it is low producing, is unpalatable to livestock, and is very competitive and persistent once established. The objective of this study was to evaluate various methods of controlling or reducing the density of fringed sage followed by reseeding at 3 different times with either a native or introduced grass mix. Two sites were chosen for study. The 63 Ranch was a low lying site that was formerly irrigated while the Ranch of the Rockies was a dry, upland site that was suffering the effects of drought and historic overgrazing. Treatments at the 63 Ranch site consisted of 2,4-D, Tordon plus 2,4-D, Cimarron Xtra plus 2,4-D, Curtail, and rototilling. Only the 4 herbicide treatments were applied at the Ranch of the Rockies site. Treatments were applied at both sites in early June of 2005. The first seeding was in early July with a dormant seeding applied in early November of 2005. Another summer seeding will be established in 2006. Density of fringed sage was measured in mid August of 2005. At the 63 Ranch site, Cimarron Xtra and 2,4-D alone reduced the density of fringed sage to 2.6 and 5.2 plants per square meter, respectively, compared to the control which had 23.9 plants per square meter. The tillage treatment was not included in the analysis since it effectively reduced the density of fringed sage to zero. At the Ranch of the Rockies site, Tordon and 2,4-D alone were most effective, reducing the density of fringed sage to 5.4 and 8.5 plants per square meter, respectively, compared to the control which had 25.5 plants per square meter. Based on this preliminary evaluation, it appears that 2,4-D alone would be the most cost effective method of reducing the density of fringed sage. At the rates used, 2,4-D alone was $8.98 per acre compared to Tordon at $17.11, Cimarron Xtra at $19 .98, and Curtail at $35.63 per acre. Grasses in both the native and introduced seed mixes appeared to be well established by November as evidenced by the degree of tillering. Numerous small rains in August and September were the key to successful germination and establishment of the grasses from the summer seeding at both sites. As would be expected, the introduced grasses were more vigorous than the native. Although it appeared that most of the grasses were well established, they still must survive the harsh winter conditions of South Park. Data will be taken in the spring of 2006 to determine the density of seeded grasses. The final results of both the control and seeding treatments will not be known for several years. |
| 2006 | The fringed sage control project being conducted in the South Park area of Colorado was continued in 2006. The objective of this study was to evaluate various methods of reducing the density of fringed sage followed by reseeding at 3 different times with either a native or introduced grass mix. The study was conducted at 2 sites within the Park: the 63 Ranch and Ranch of the Rockies (ROR). Initial results from 2005 were based on density counts of fringed sage and indicated that Cimarron Xtra and 2,4-D alone worked well at the 63 Ranch while Tordon and 2,4-D alone were the treatments of choice at the ROR. Additional data was collected in 2006 which altered these initial conclusions. Fringed sage biomass averaged 1735 and 895 kg/ha in the untreated control plots at the 63 Ranch and ROR, respectively. Although 2,4-D appeared to reduce density of fringed sage in 2005, a number of plants had recovered sufficiently by the 2006 growing season to the point where biomass was reduced by only 45% at both sites. This compares to biomass reductions of 93, 99, and 92% for Cimarron, Curtail, and Tordon, respectively, at the 63 Ranch. Tillage was no better than 2,4-D at the 63 Ranch site with only a 45% reduction in fringed sage biomass. The disturbance and lack of competition created by the tillage treatment allowed fringed sage to quickly reestablish from the seedbank. Control was not as good at the ROR with reductions in fringed sage biomass of 70, 73, and 81% for Cimarron, Curtail, and Tordon, respectively. Grass biomass averaged 392 and 246 kg/ha in the controls at the 63 Ranch and ROR, respectively. Except for the tillage treatment at the 63 Ranch, grass biomass responded positively in all treatments. At the 63 Ranch, grass biomass averaged 1235 and 1472 kg/ha for Cimarron and Curtail, respectively, but only 734 kg/ha for Tordon. Baltic rush (included in grass category) was present at the 63 Ranch and Tordon appeared to have detrimental effects on this plant which accounted for most of the reduced grass response in this treatment. At the ROR, grass response was highest for Tordon with an average of 1082 kg/ha. Grass response for 2,4-D, Cimarron, and Curtail averaged 594, 820, and 742 kg/ha, respectively, at this site. Cover values mimicked those for biomass. Seeding success was evaluated by ranking each plot from 0 (no seeded plants) to 5 (all drill rows well defined by seeded plants). Establishment was generally minimal at the 63 Ranch, regardless of seed mix or time of seeding. The best establishment at this site was in the tillage treatment (2.4) due to reduced competition and seeding into a prepared seedbed. Establishment was better in both summer plantings (average of 1.4) compared to the fall (1.0) with the native seed mix doing slightly better (1.6) compared to the introduced mix (1.3) at this site. At the ROR, establishment was also generally low with rankings of 1.9, 1.7, 1.5, and 1.2 for Tordon, Curtail, Cimarron, and 2,4-D, respectively. The fall and summer 2006 plantings ranked less than 1.0 for both native and introduced seed mixes while the summer 2005 planting ranked at 3.7 and 2.9 for the introduced and native mixes, respectively. |
| Impact | |
| 1999 | Locally calibrated crop coefficients will allow water managers to more accurately estimate consumptive water use and, therefore, irrigation depletions in the upper Gunnison Basin. This information is critical for designing augmentation plans for junior water right holders in the Basin, for developing a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation water that is subordinate to the Aspinall unit, and for defending irrigation water right disputes in court. |
| 2000 | Initial harvest date and nitrogen fertilization can be used as management tools to manipulate the amount and quality of meadow regrowth available for fall grazing. Producers can utilize this regrowth to add flexibility to their cow/calf enterprises by taking advantage of the benefits associated with earlier weaning of calves. An economic database of information will be generated based on the results from this study following one more year of data collection. |
| 2001 | Forage quality of mountain meadow hay can be captured by preserving it as big round bale silage or baleage. This is especially beneficial during the monsoonal rainy period which is typical of many mountain meadow hay producing areas. Feeding a combination of baleage and dry hay provides for a more balanced diet and improved performance of livestock which helps to offset the additional costs associated with making baleage. |
| 2002 | Grazing of windrowed forages in the field can significantly reduce winter feeding costs by eliminating the baling, hauling, stacking, and feeding of hay that is typical of most livestock operations. Changes in forage quality of windrowed forages are small compared to the potential economic benefits. Ranchers should seriously consider adopting this management practice as a means of lowering their input costs and improving their bottom line. |
| 2003 | Fertilization of mountain meadows with phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers is a common practice to improve hay yields. Applying fertilizer in the late spring just prior to flood irrigation resulted in losses of 45% of the applied phosphorus and more than 17% of the nitrogen. Mountain meadow hay producers should consider applying fertilizer in the fall, especially phosphorus based fertilizers, to minimize losses of applied fertilizer thereby avoiding economic losses and reducing potential impacts to water quality. |
| 2004 | Birdsfoot trefoil can be successfully interseeded into mountain meadows by first suppressing the existing vegetation with Roundup herbicide. Applying the herbicide in bands compared to broadcast spraying led to half the number of plants becoming established. However, applying Roundup in bands reduced the amount of herbicide used by half, which has both economic and environmental benefits while achieving acceptable plant establishment and maintaining a partial hay crop. |
| 2005 | The density of fringed sage was reduced by spraying with various herbicides. The herbicide of choice is 2,4-D based on effectiveness and least cost. Preliminary results indicate that reducing the density of fringed sage and seeding in mid summer allows the establishment of both native and introduced grasses. |
| 2006 | Fringed sage can be effectively controlled with several herbicides (Cimarron Xtra, Curtail, and Tordon) thereby allowing established grasses to increase productivity. Although Curtail performed well, it was higher priced at $35.63/acre compared to $17.11 and $19.98/acre for Tordon and Cimarron, respectively. Seeding success is often minimal in high-elevation, harsh environments such as the South Park area of Colorado. Mid-summer plantings appear to be the best approach for improving establishment of seeded grasses in areas that typically receive monsoonal (July and August) precipitation. Performance of the introduced grass mix was not consistently better than the native mix. Although native grasses are slower to establish, they may be the better choice for long-term productivity. There are thousands of acres in the South Park area alone that could benefit from control of fringed sage including over 40,000 acres that have experienced increases in sage due to the sale of irrigation water. |
| Publications | |
| 1996 |
BRUMMER, J. E. 1996. Effect of Wild Caraway on Production of Associated Meadow Species: A Preliminary Evaluation. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 27, 1996, Gunnison, CO. 3p BRUMMER, J. E. 1996. Evaluation of Varieties and Methods of Establishing Birdsfoot Trefoil into Mountain Meadows. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 27, 1996, Gunnison, CO. 5p BRUMMER, J. E., AND RILL, N. D. 1996. Effects of Aeration and Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Mountain Meadow Hay. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 27, 1996, Gunnison, CO. 9p BRUMMER, J.E., and RILL, N.D. 1996. Evaluation of Varieties and Methods of Establishing Birdsfoot Trefoil into Irrigated Mountain Meadows. Lotus Newsletter, Vol. 27 at http://www.psu .missouri.edu/lnl |
| 1997 |
BRUMMER, J.E. 1997. Creeping foxtail. Proceedings of the Southern Rocky Mountain Forage andLivestock Conference, November 19-21, 1997, Monte Vista, CO. 2p BRUMMER, J.E., AND HAUGEN, M. 1997. Windrow grazing at high elevations. Proceedings of the Southern Rocky Mountain Forage and Livestock Conference, November 19-21, 1997, Monte Vista, CO . 4p ENGEL, R.K., NICHOLS, J. T., DODD, J. L., AND BRUMMER, J. E. 1998. Root and shoot responses of sand bluestem to defoliation. J. Range Manage. 51:42-46. PARKER, K.S., LENININGER, W. C., BRUMMER, J. E., AND SMITH, D. H. 1997. Responses of Carex rostrata, Juncus balticus, and Deschampsia cespitosa to four water table depths. Abstracts 50th Annual Soc. for Range Manage. Meeting, Rapid City, SD. p.58 REECE, P.E., NICHOLS, J. T., BRUMMER, J. E., AND ENGEL, R.K. 1997. Field measurement of etiolated growth of rhizomatous grasses. J. Range Manage. 50:175-177 |
| 1998 |
BRUMMER, J.E. 1998. Renovating forage stands: Tips for interseeding. Agronomy News From the Ground Up 18(4):1-3 BRUMMER, J.E., and RILL, N.D. 1998. Evaluation of varieties and methods of establishing birdsfoot trefoil into mountain meadows. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 6 BRUMMER, J.E., CULLAN, A.P., and RILL, N.D. 1998. Effect of drill type on interseeding success of legumes. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 2 BRUMMER, J.E., CULLAN, A.P., RILL, N.D., and COOLEY, A.W. 1998. Establishment of birdsfoot trefoil using Roundup herbicide. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 3 BRUMMER, J.E., RILL, N.D., and COOLEY, A.W. 1998. Effects of different birdsfoot trefoil varieties on yield and quality of mountain meadow hay following interseeding. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 3 BRUMMER, J.E., SMITH, D.H., CULLAN, A.P., RILL, N.D., and MUCKLOW, C.J. 1998. Evaluation of legume establishment following early haying. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 2 BRUMMER,, J.E., SMITH, D.H., CULLAN, A.P., RILL, N.D., and MUCKLOW, C.J. 1998. Effect of overstory removal date on interseeded legume establishment. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 5 PARKER, K.S., BRUMMER, J.E., LEININGER, W.C., and SMITH, D.H. 1997. Responses of three important riparian species to four water table depths, pp. 42-57. In: Managing Colorado Watersheds for Riparian and Wetland Values, Proc. Colorado Riparian Assoc. 9th Annual Conf., Oct. 14-16, 1997, Montrose, CO RILL, N.D., BRUMMER, J.E., and WESTFALL, D.G. 1998. Effects of minimum tillage and nitrogen fertilization on yield and quality of mountain meadow hay. Mountain Meadow Research Center Field Day Report, June 22, 1998, Gunnison, CO. 5 |
| 1999 |
Brummer, J.E. 1999. Fertility management of mountain meadows. In: Intermountain Grass and Legume Forage Production Manual, A.W. Cooley, C.H. Pearson, and J.E. Brummer (eds.), Colorado State Univ. Coop. Ext., Ft. Collins, Colo., pp. 40-45 Brummer, J.E. 1999. Introduction to mountain meadows. In: Intermountain Grass and Legume Forage Production Manual, A.W. Cooley, C.H. Pearson, and J.E. Brummer (eds.), Colorado State Univ. Coop. Ext., Ft. Collins, Colo., pp. 1-2 Brummer, J.E. 1999. Where does birdsfoot trefoil fit in Colorado? Agronomy News From the Ground Up 19(4):1-4 Brummer, J.E., and Rill, N.D. 1999. Evaluation of varieties and methods of interseeding birdsfoot trefoil into mountain meadows. Abstr. Soc. Range Manage. 52nd Annu. Meeting, Omaha, Neb., p. 9 Fisher, K.T. 1999. Revegetation of fluvial tailing deposits on the Arkansas River near Leadville, Colorado. M.S. Thesis, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, Colo Rill, N.D., Brummer, J.E., and Westfall, D.G. 1999. Effects of minimum tillage and nitrogen fertilization on basal cover and species composition of mountain meadow vegetation. Abstr. Soc . Range Manage. 52nd Annu. Meeting, Omaha, Neb., p. 67 |
| 2000 |
Temple, D.G., Smith, D.H., Brummer, J.E., and Cardon, G.E. 2000. Consumptive water use in mountain meadows, upper Gunnison River Basin, CO. In: Brummer, J.E., Pearson, C.H., and Johnson, J.J. (eds.) Colorado Forage Research 1999: Alfalfa, Irrigated Pasture, and Mountain Meadows. Colo. State Univ. Tech. Rep. TR00-6, pp. 127-135. Temple, D.G., Smith, D.H., Brummer, J.E., and Rill, N.D. 2000. Consumptive water use in high-altitude mountain meadows. Agronomy Abstr. A03-080, ASA-CSSA-SSSA 92nd Annu. Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. |
| 2002 |
Brummer, J.E. 2002. Hay outlook. In: Colorado-Mexico Connection Agricultural Trade, Labor and More, Colorado Agri. Outlook Forum. February 19, 2002. Denver, Colo. Brummer, J.E. 2002. Haying alternatives - What are your options?, p. 123-136. In: J.E. Brummer and C.H. Pearson (eds.), Proc. Intermountain Forage Symp. Colo. State Univ. Tech. Bull. LTB 02-1. Brummer, J.E. and C.H. Pearson (Compiled and Edited). 2002. Proceedings of the Intermountain Forage Symposium. Colo. State Univ. Tech. Bull. LTB 02-1. White, S.K. 2002. Mountain meadow management and surface water quality. M.S. Thesis. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins. White, S.K., J.E. Brummer, W.C. Leininger, G.W. Frasier, R.M. Waskom, and T.A. Bauder. 2002. Mountain meadow fertilizer application timing as it affects overland flow water quality. Pp. 61-66. In: Proc. AWRA 2002 Summer Specialty Conference: Ground Water/Surface Water Interactions, July 1-3, 2002. Keystone, CO. |
| 2003 |
Brummer, J.E. 2003. Hay outlook. In: Weathering Tough Times Together, Colorado Agri. Outlook Forum. February 20, 2003. Denver, Colo. Brummer, J.E. and Rill, N.D. 2003. Management of mountain meadows to increase fall regrowth for grazing. Abstr. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 95th Annu. Meeting, Denver, Colo. White, S.K., Brummer, J.E., Leininger, W.C., Frasier, G.W., Waskom, R.M., and Bauder, T.A. 2003. Irrigated mountain meadow fertilizer application timing effects on overland flow water quality. J. Environ. Qual. 32:1802-1808. |
| 2004 |
Berrada, A. and Brummer, J.E. 2004. Evaluation of spring cereals for dual use, p. 101-106. In: J.E. Brummer and C.H. Pearson (eds.), Colorado Forage Research 2003: Alfalfa, Irrigated Pastures, and Mountain Meadows. Colo. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. TB04-01. Fort Collins, Colo. Brummer, J.E. 2004. Mountain meadow management: Potential impacts to surface water quality. Colorado Water 21(3):9-10. Brummer, J.E. and Pearson, C.H. 2004. Colorado forage research 2003: Alfalfa, irrigated pastures, and mountain meadows. Colo. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. TB04-01. Fort Collins, Colo. 113 p. LaShell, B., Zalesky, D., Selzer D., and Brummer, J.E. 2004. Quality comparison of windrow grazing versus traditional haying methods in mountain meadows, p. 111-113. In: J.E. Brummer and C.H. Pearson (eds.), Colorado Forage Research 2003: Alfalfa, Irrigated Pastures, and Mountain Meadows. Colo. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. TB04-01. Fort Collins, Colo. Pearson, C.H. and Brummer, J.E. 2004. Potential for selecting alfalfa varieties based on forage quality, p. 41-61. In: J.E. Brummer and C.H. Pearson (eds.), Colorado Forage Research 2003: Alfalfa, Irrigated Pastures, and Mountain Meadows. Colo. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. TB04-01. Fort Collins, Colo. |
| 2006 |
Putnam, D., Ottman, M., Griggs, T., Drake, D., McWilliams, D., Brummer, J., and Riggs, W. 2006 . Emerging issues with forages in the Southwest, p. 9-20. In: Proc. 2006 Western Alfalfa and Forage Conference, December 11-13, 2006, Reno, Nev. Univ. Calif. Coop. Ext., Agron. Res. and Ext. Center, Plant Sci. Dept., Univ. Calif., Davis. |