Research Coordinator: Dr. Akim Omokanye
Location: Fairview Research Farm (NW-5-82-3-W6)
From: Peace Country Beef & Forage Association 2013 Annual Report
Annual forage legume crops can complement annual cereals or perennial forages or they can be utilized as emergency feed. Using annual legumes can provide additional rotational benefits with about 25% of the over-all nitrogen fixed by the legume plant remaining in the soil. Utilizing annual forage legumes in a portion of the forage based cropping systems will also allow the producer to diversify without taking land out of annual crop production. The objective of this trial was to assess the performance of forage type soybean and pea varieties for forage yield and quality for beef cattle production.
Methods
Trial Site: Fairview Research Farm (NW5-82-3W6) on RR #35, MD of Fairview. The site had no crop planted in 2012, but had a canola variety trial in 2011. The site had a pH of 5.4 and 8.8% organic matter. Prior to seeding, a pre-seed weed control was carried out with Credit® after the site had been harrowed.
Crop Variety, Seeding and Crop Management:
Three forage/silage type roundup ready soybean varieties (P001T34R (from Pioneer), Mcleod R2 (from Secan) and Mammoth R2 (from BrettYoung) and two forage type pea varieties (40-10 and CDC Horizon) were used for the trial. The crop varieties were arranged in a random-ized complete block design with two replications in plots measuring 1.4 m in width and 8.5 m in length. Seeding and fertilizer application were done on May 23, 2013 with a Fabro plot drill equipped with double shoot Atom jet openers. Inoculated soybean and peas seeds were used. Fertility was 40 lbs/acre of 11-52-0. Seeding rate was 104 lbs/acre for 40-10 pea, 115 lbs/acre for CDC Horizon pea, 48 lbs/acre for P001T34R soybean, 75 lbs/acre for Mcleod R soybean and 62 lbs for Mammoth R2 soybean. Seeding rate was based on 4 seeds/sq ft for soybeans and 10 seeds/sq ft for peas. In crop weed control in soybeans involved the use of roundup and for peas, Basagran Forte was used. Hand weeding of volunteer canola took place twice in the soybean plots.
Field Notes and Measurements:
Notes were taken on seedling emergence, flowering, lodging and plant height. Crop harvest for forage yield estimation and feed quality test was done on August 18 and August 31 respectively for peas and soybeans.