Monday, 6 February 2006 - 9:30 AM

This presentation is part of: Crops--Forages/Grasses

Effects of Diminishing Soil-P Status on Productivity and Quality of Warm Season Grasses.

Martin B. Adjei1, Johan M. Scholberg1, Yoana Newman2, and John Rechcigl1. (1) University of Florida, Range Cattle REC, 3401 Experiment Station, Ona, FL 33865, (2) Texas A&M University, 1229 North US Highway 281, Stephenville, TX 76401

Recent work has demonstrated the potential of using warm season grasses under high N fertilization for reducing excess soil P on dairy manure-impacted sites. The ancillary question arises as to what point of diminished soil-P status does forage production become negatively impacted? This research determined the factorial effects of N (67, 90, and 134 kg ha-1) and P (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 kg ha-1) fertilizer application rates on the yield and nutritive value of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and limpograss (Hemarthria altissima). Bahiagrass seasonal forage dry matter (DM) yield and tissue P concentration (10.6-11.5 Mg ha-1, 1.8-2.2 g P kg-1) were least, and limpograss yield and tissue P (4.2-7.7 Mg ha-1, 0.9-1.7 g P kg-1) were most impacted by changes in P fertilization rate. Increasing N fertilization rate beyond the UF/IFAS standard recommendation of 67 kg N ha-1 had little effect on DM yield, in vitro organic matter digestion or tissue P concentration but increased forage crude protein concentration in all grasses. The data supports our earlier findings that bahiagrass offers the best choice for P phytoremediation whereas Limpograss is the most sensitive to P deficiency.

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