Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses

Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses

Chapter 18


• Unit 8 Objectives:– Describe the practices for growing oats– Understand necessary methods of forage

grasses, selection– Knowledge of fertilizer needs


• Growing Small Grains– Used as cash crop and livestock feed– Well-adapted to most soils and for cool-

season growing conditions– May be used as a companion crop– Seed development

• Contain carbos, fat, protein, vits, minerals• Can be harvested at 13-15% moisture

– May be stored ~2 yrs at <13% w/ little spoilage


• 3 parts of the seed– Seed coat (pericarp)– Embryo– Endosperm

– Germination & Early Growth• Germinates and anchors quickly under proper

conditions• Roots

– May be 3-6’ deep– 3-4’ horizontal

• Very susceptible to weather problems early in development


• Growing point remains below the soil until the first visible node appears above the soil line

– Plant has produced several additional shoot (tillers)– Growth of the main stem– Can withstand very cold temps early in life

– Growth Stages• Seedling• Tillering

– Side shoots appear from the crown• Jointing

– Nodes begin to separate and can be felt on the lower parts of the plant


• Boot– Head can be felt inside upper leaf sheath– Flag leaf has developed

• Heading– Head spikes emerge– Fertilization and kernel development

– Seedbed Preparation• Provide proper amount of tillage to promote

adequate moisture, firm seedbed• Must have good seed/soil contact

– Dry, loose soil is unsatisfactory


– Selecting a Variety• High quality seed is essential• Selection factors

– Yield– Maturity– Disease resistance– Straw strength– Shatter resistance– Plant height – Grain quality


• Quality Factors– Protein content– Milling qualities– Plumpness– Test wt.– Straw strength?

• Disease Resistance– Leaf rust, smut, tan spot, scab– Winter hardiness

• Planting– Seed ASAP after frost is out in the spring

» Germination begins at 24-36º» Best soil temp is 40º


– Early planting leads to higher yields» Temps >90 will reduce pollination and yields» Want to complete development before hot weather» Seed from late April to early May for spring seeding» Seed early enough for good development before

winter weather in fall (late August to September)– Plant ~2” deep, depending on soil moisture and temp– Grain drill may be best tool for seeding

• Fertility Needs– Adequate amounts of N, P, K must be available (though

not as much as corn, etc.)– Major portion of nutrients taken in between tillering and

heading


– Most N & P is removed w/ the grain– Apply P & N at planting– N application in the spring for winter varieties

• Weeds– Many weeds can cause problems– Vigorous stand will compete effectively w/ weeds– Weeds to watch:

» Foxtail, quack grass, wild oats, mustard, pigweed, lambsquarter, wild buckwheat

– May need control w/ herbicides– Broadleaves may outgrow the crop, and must be

controlled w/ herbicide


• Diseases– Fungi, bacteria, viruses– Most spread by spores– Fungal diseases can overwinter on dead plant material,

seed, soil» May attack leaves, developing heads

– Leaf rust, septoria leaf blotch, smuts» Can be carried over to the next crop

– Most can be controlled w/ seed treatment or resistant varieties


• Oats– Can be removed early for forage– Used mostly in livestock feed, can be used in

high-protein cereals– Grow on a wide range of soil types

• Less sensitive to soil conditions than wheat• Grows better on medium to fine textured soils

– Requires more water for development than any other small grain


– More susceptible to higher temps, and limited moisture

– N management is key to good yields– Spring oats should be seeded early (Mar 1-

Apr 15)– Seeding rate & depth

• 75-100 lbs/ac• No more than 1”

– Little crop residue is best


• Sorghum– Usually cannot compete economically w/ corn– New varieties have higher yield potential– Grain can replace corn in animal rations– Good cash markets are limited– Hybrids

• Bird-resistant varieties have been developed– Bitter taste to birds


– Cultural Practices• Use bird-resistant varieties, if birds are a problem• Plant one wk later than corn• 30” rows or slightly less• 8-12 lbs/ac seeding rate• Fertilize according to needs• Control weeds effectively• Harvest at <26% moisture

– Plan to dry the grain in most years

• Market crop before planting to ensure profitability


• Forage Grasses– Kentucky Bluegrass

• Predominant pasture grass• Can survive severe droughts• Optimum temp for growth = 60-90º

– Injury will occur at temps >100• Produces a dense sod• Relatively unproductive in midsummer

– Can be increased or sustained» Favorable moisture» N fertilization


• More energy/lb than smooth bromegrass• Extremely palatable• Carrying capacity can be increased w/ weed

control, addition of legumes, fertilization• Don’t graze to <2-3”

– Overgrazing will increase weed pressure– Reduces growth rate and vigor– Poor root & rhizome development

• Controlling Pasture Weeds– Can be annual, biennial, or perennial

» Ragweed, fleabane, sunflower can come back each year from seed


» Dock, ironweed, etc. – common perennial problems– Mowing/clipping may help reduce weed stands– Early bud stage is best for mowing of perennials,

annuals should be mowed before seed production• Bluegrass & Other Forages

– Improves production and lengthens growing season– Bird’s-foot trefoil, ladino clover, red clover, alfalfa may be

seeded w/ bluegrass» Trefoil may be best companion crop – produces

heavily during summer• Fertilizing Bluegrass

– Pure bluegrass – fertilize annually w/ 60-20-20» May be able to omit potash if levels are high enough


– If legumes are included in the pasture – omit N, use higher levels of P, K

– Seeding rate» Pure – 10 lbs/ac» Mixed w/ forages – 2-4 lbs/ac

– Canada Bluegrass• More tolerant of acid soils• Can be found in KBG pastures• Bluer foliage than KBG• Matures later, less productive, slow recovery after

grazing


• If present, good sign to soil test– Orchard Grass

• Versatile, perennial bunch grass– Establishes rapidly– Good for hay, silage, or pasture

• Rapid regrowth• Produces well under intensive cutting or grazing• More summer growth than other cool-season

grasses– Tolerates drought better

• Grows best in deep, well-drained soils


• Especially suited for mixtures w/ alfalfa, red clover• Rapidly declines in palatability as it matures

– Timely harvest mgmt is essential

– Perennial Ryegrass• Bunch grass suitable for hay, silage, or pasture• Excellent quality, palatable forage• Vigorous• Long growing season• High yield

– Moisture not lacking– Good fertility


• Best seeded on combination w/ other grasses– Less winter hardy

• Less competitive w/ legumes• Matures later than orchard grass• Sturdy• Hard to cut, slow to dry

– Reed Canary Grass• Tall, leafy, coarse, high yielding• Hay, silage, pasture• Poorly palatable, low forage quality


• New varieties making it more acceptable• Drought tolerant, grows well in various soils• Resistant to leaf diseases, persistent, responds to

high fertility, tolerates flooding, low pH• Forms a dense sod• Establishes slowly• Quality declines rapidly after heading

– Smooth Bromegrass• Leafy, sod-forming• Best suited for: hay, silage, early spring pasture


• Spreads through underground rhizomes and seed dispersal

• Good companion w/ cool-season legumes• Matures somewhat later than orchard grass w/ less

summer growth• Winter hardy

– Deep rooted– Drought tolerant

• Excellent quality forage– Especially if harvested early– Harvest for hay in early heading stage


• Grazing or cutting during jointing will decrease production

– Tall Fescue• Deep-rooted, long living, sod-forming• Spreads by short rhizomes• Suitable for:

– Hay– Silage– Pasture (beef, sheep)

• Highly adaptable• Highly tolerant


• Best grass for heavy livestock or machinery traffic• May contain a fungus (endophyte)

– Reduces palatability– Animal performance– Severe health problems– Breeding problems– Endophyte-free varieties should be selected

– Timothy• Hardy, perennial bunchgrass• Grows best in cool climates• Not suitable for drought conditions

– Shallow root system


• Most yield comes in the first crop• Summer regrowth is limited• Horse hay• Adversely affected by cutting or grazing during

jointing– Perennial Warm-Season Grasses

• Can produce good hay during warm, dry midsummer months

• Initiate growth in April and early May– 65-75% of growth mid-June to mid-August– Compliment cool-season grasses well


• Bermuda Grass– Grown extensively in southern U.S.– Aggressive

» Spreads quickly by: seeds, stolons, rhizomes– Used for:

» Hay, pasture, lawns, turf– Best in fertile clays soil, warm full sun

• Managing Forages– Seeding Year Management

• Establish a good stand• Select varieties adapted to the target soils


• Crop rotation will improve productivity– Reduces disease

» Can fail an entire crop» Rotate out at least 1 yr

– Insect problems

– Fertilization & Liming• Essential for optimum production• Soil test

– Pay close attention to soil pH and the preferences of the crop


– Seed Quality• Use only high quality seed

– Certified seed is best– Free from weed seed, or other crop seed

– Weed Management• Establish and maintain a vigorous crop• Competition will contain most weeds in well

maintained forage crops– Proper fertilization– Control insects– Proper harvesting


• Weeds can reduce yields, quality, palatability• Control weeds w/ herbicides prior to planting, when

needed– Check labels when used postemergence herbicides

Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses

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