Clipping Frequency and Nitrogen Rate Effects On Cool-Season Forages for the U.S. Southern Coastal Plain.

Cool-season forages complement warm-season forages in dairy systems and are a winter mainstay for many southern U.S. beef cattle operations.  Cereal rye is often used for winter beef cattle grazing, while annual ryegrass is often the cool-season forage of choice by dairies. However, forage triticale and oats may offer advantages, such as early or late season planting, with forage quality comparable to ryegrass. Field experiments were initiated in fall of 2009 and 2010 as replicated 6.7 m² plots in a prepared field, following corn. In 2009, three cultivars each of ryegrass, rye, oat, and triticale were tested, while two cultivars each were tested in 2010. Split applications of 56 or 90 kg N ha^-1 were applied in 2009 and 90 or 146 kg N ha^-1 were applied in 2010. Clipping frequencies were one, two or multiple times (3 to 4). Yields from small grain forages typically exceeded ryegrass yields. Ryegrass and oat cultivars tended to yield more with increased N rates, while rye and triticale cultivars tended to yield more when cut only once, regardless of N rate. In comparison, all forages lost yield when subjected to multiple clippings. Forage quality and nutrient efficiencies will be addressed.