Evaluation of Agronomic Practices and Quality Parameters of Timothy Hay

Determine how important maintenance fertilizer management is to maintain timothy stands and quality. Also whether additions of the micronutrient Cu are beneficial in maintenance of green color in timothy.

IPNI-2002-CAN-SK33

19 Apr 2002

Methodology

    The study involves seven different agronomic projects, two address soil fertility:

    5. Maintenance fertilizer management
    This experiment will be carried out on a nutrient deficient field in the Melfort area, and will be managed by AAFC-Melfort. It will examine the effect of maintenance fertilization (K and S, in addition to N and P) on timothy yield, stands and quality. Harvesting timothy hay removes large quantities of these nutrients. As green color is becoming important quality character that the market is looking for, foliar applications of Cu will be examined to assess its effect on the greenness of timothy. The following fertility treatments will be used:
      1. Annual application of N, P, K and S with Cu or Zn
      2. Annual application of N, P, K and S without Cu or Zn
      3. Annual application of N, P and K with Cu or Zn
      4. Annual application of N, P and K without Cu or Zn
      5. Annual application of N, P and S with Cu or Zn
      6. Annual application of N, P and S without Cu or Zn

    Six treatments will be replicated 4 times as completely randomize block design. At establishment, all plots will be fertilized based on soil test. Maintenance fertilization rate will be based on soil test or plant uptake (nutrient removal). The experiment will seeded in spring 2002, with data collected in 2003 and 2004. Yield, stand densities, presence of leaf and stem spots and color will be determined. It is expected that this experiment will determine how important maintenance fertilizer management is to maintain timothy stands and quality. In addition, it will be determined whether additions of the micronutrient Cu are beneficial in maintenance of green color in timothy.

    6. P requirements for irrigated timothy:
    This experiment will be conducted in production fields in the Outlook area where phosphate deficiency problems have been identified, and will be managed by AAFC, Saskatoon, and the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation. These fields will be planted to common earlier maturing varieties used in the area. The experiments will be carried out from 2002 to 2004.

    Each year, stands in their second and fourth production years will be chosen. Nitrogen will be applied according to the producers fertilizer plan. Phosphate will be applied in the spring at the rate of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha. First and second cut yields, greenness, height and number of heads per unit area will be determined. It is expected that this study will provide irrigated producers with information on the amount of phosphate required to maintain productive timothy stands.