HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Bowman, M. T. Articles by Hubbell, D. S. PubMed Articles by Bowman, M. T. Articles by Hubbell, D. S. Agricola Articles by Bowman, M. T. Articles by Hubbell, D. S. Related Collections Forage Management Dryland Cropping Systems Other Forage Crops Production Agriculture

PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE

Tillage Systems for Production of Small-Grain Pasture

^a Univ. of Arkansas Coop. Ext. Serv., Little Rock, AR 72204
^b Univ. of Arkansas Southwest Res. and Ext. Cent., Hope, AR 71801
^c Univ. of Arkansas Rice Res. and Ext. Cent., Stuttgart, AR 72160
^d Univ. of Arkansas, Dep. of Animal Sci., Fayetteville, AR 72701
^e USDA Southern Plains Range Res. Stn., Woodward, OK 73801
^f Univ. of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Branch Stn., Batesville, AR 72501

^* Corresponding author (pbeck{at}uaex.edu).

The objective of this study was to compare conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-till (NT) establishment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) forage for stocker calves (Bos taurus). Animal performance was analyzed as a completely randomized design using the mixed procedure of SAS. In the 2002–2003 study, grazing-d ha^–1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CT than RT, but NT did not differ (P = 0.08) from CT and RT, while gain ha^–1 was not affected (P 0.42) by tillage treatment. During 2003–2004, grazing-d ha^–1 was identical for all pastures, but gain ha^–1 of NT was greater (P = 0.05) than CT and RT. Grazing-d ha^–1 was greater (P = 0.05) for NT than CT and RT in 2004–2005 and gain ha^–1 tended to be greater (P = 0.10) for NT than CT and RT. During 2005–2006, grazing-d ha^–1 of CT was greater (P = 0.03) than RT, but gain ha^–1 did not differ (P 0.81) among treatments. Establishment of small-grain pasture using NT and RT was as successful as CT when timely fall rains promoted small grain emergence and growth, while NT was superior to CT and RT when fall rains are delayed and soil water profile can be maintained by summer chemical fallow.

Abbreviations: ADF, acid detergent fiber • ADG, average daily gain • BW, body weight • CP, crude protein • CT, conventional tillage • IVOMD, in vitro organic matter disappearance • NDF, neutral detergent fiber • NT, no till • RT, reduced tillage

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Received for publication April 11, 2007.