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Season Perennial Grass Management (Established
Stands) |
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- The following
information will provide general guidelines on
basic management and production practices of most
established perennial grasses. These guidelines
are general applications and objective. Some practices
may not be applicable to all management situations.
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Weed Control in Established Warm Season Perennial
Pastures
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- The
importance of weed control in improved as well
as native pastures is an essential element in
pasture management. A producer can expect to gain
one pound of desired forage or grasses for every
one pound of weed destroyed. Thus potential yield
increase can be as high as 75% in severely weed
infested fields.
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- Herbicide
applications are the most common means of weed
control. Herbicide should be applied at spring
green up in March through early May depending
on weather conditions and locations. The type
of herbicide and rate of application used will
be determined by the type of weeds, growth stage,
soil type, as well as management objectives. If
clovers are to be managed in the fall, do not
use any chemical with extended residual control.
Products such as Grazon P+D, Amber or Ally should
be used with caution. Products such as 2,4-D,
and Weedmaster have proven their ability to provide
adequate broadleaf weed control without excess
residual effects
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- Depending
on the severity of weed infestation, a second
application of herbicide after the first hay cutting
or graze down may be required.
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- Another
effective and relatively inexpensive means of
weed control is mowing or shredding. This is very
beneficial in controlling annual weeds. This method
of control is best utilized when weeds begin to
flower, but before seed set. Shredding can be
utilized not only to control weeds but also to
enhance forage quality and forage growth, thus
is most beneficial in grazing operations.
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- When
Mowing or shredding, leave at least six inches
of stubble height. Initial shredding should be
done according to weed development, plant growth
and flowering stage of the plant. In severely
infested pastures, early shredding may be beneficial
to reduce weed competition. Thus allowing more
sunlight and space for desirable grass development.
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Fertilizing Established Warm Season Grasses
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- Fertilizing
established perennial warm season grasses will
be determined by management practices and intended
use of pasture or land. Many grasses have the
capability of utilizing different levels of nutrients,
and some grasses respond better to higher levels
of fertilizer than others do.
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- The most commonly
used fertilizer components applied to pastures
are Nitrogen (N), Phosphate, (P205), Potash (K20),
and to a lesser degree lime (Ca). In lower pH
soils, applications of lime (Ca) may need to be
applied. In high pH soils with excessive sodium
or calcium, Gypsum applications may be required.
The application of either lime or gypsum should
be confirmed by a soil test. Most micro nutrients
such as Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg),
as well as other micro nutrients are typically
ignored, however, deficiencies of these nutrients
can retard plant growth and limit utilization
of major nutrients such as N, P, K, and Sulfur.
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Fertilizing for Grazing Purposes
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- It is recommended,
that most Phosphate, Potash, Lime and gypsum should
be applied and incorporated (mixed in the soil)
to receive full utilization and benefit from these
fertilizer components. By incorporating these
elements into the soil, these nutrients are placed
in the root zone, where maximum utilization can
be obtained. Application of these nutrients should
be done every 2 -3 years, during stand renovation
or soil aeration practices. Soil test
on an annual basis to monitor nutrient levels
in the soil.
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- When moisture
is adequate, nitrogen applications, for grazing
management should be applied in two applications
per season. The first topdress application should
be applied at spring green-up between March and
May (depending on location and climate). For most
grasses, 40-50 units of Nitrogen is adequate for
the first application. This will give the desirable
grasses a boost of top growth, reduce weed competition
as well as increase forage quality. A second application
of 40-50 units may be applied after the first
initial graze down or in midsummer. Always apply
nitrogen fertilizer when expected rains persist
to reduce losses due to denitrification and volatilization.
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Fertilizing For Hay Production
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- For hay production,
a more intense fertility program is required.
Since most of the forage is being removed, very
little nutrients are being replaced. One could
say, that hay production is a method of mining
the soil of its minerals and nutrients, therefore
fertility practices are the most important management
objective in obtaining high quality and high yielding
hay.
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- Potash (K2O),
phosphate(P2O5) and micronutrients should be applied
and incorporated to receive full benefit of fertilizer
components. These components will need to be replaced
more readily or in higher amounts than in grazing
pastures and should also be done during stand
renovation or aeration practices.
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Nitrogen applications
should be applied throughout the season. Most
improved grasses respond well to 120-180 units
of nitrogen per season. For native grasses,
80-120 units of nitrogen per season are adequate.
These rates should be split into two to three
separate applications, depending on the number
of cuttings expected per year. The first topdress
application should be applied at spring green
up, the subsequent applications after each hay
cutting. Soil tests your fields on an annual
basis to monitor nutrient needs.
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Over-seeding Cool Season Forages in Perennial
Grasses
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- Warm
Season perennial grasses may be over-seeded with
cool season annuals to obtain year around grazing
and total land utilization. This can be accomplished
by using a no-till drill or an aerator/ soil scarifier
and planter such as the Vaquero.
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