NRAES-172 Table of Contents

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Plant Morphology and Its Effects on Management

Morphological Characteristics Affect Forage Management
Morphological Characteristics of Grass and Legume Plants
    Vegetative Growth
    Reproductive Growth
        Influence of Day Length on Flowering
        Managing the Regrowth of Jointing Grasses
        Location of Growing Points Affects Defoliation Decisions
Tiller Management to Increase Forage Production
    Pure Stand
    Mixed Stand (Plus Legumes)
The Role of Shading in the Survival of Developing Tillers
    Managing Forage for Acceptable Leaf Area Index
    Vertical Versus Horizontal Growth
Root Systems
Summary

Chapter 2: Ecology of Plant Communities in Forage-Livestock Systems

Definition and Scope
Using Interactions to Create Manageable Assets
Plant Functional Traits
    Legumes
    Rhizomatous, Dense Sod-Forming, Cool-Season Perennial Grasses
    Rhizomatous, Open Sod-Forming, Cool-Season Perennial Grasses
    Bunch-Type, Cool-Season Perennial Grasses
    Warm-Season Annuals
    Warm-Season Perennials
    Annual or Perennial Forbs
    Species Productive on Imperfectly Drained Soils
Sources of Environmental Variability in Managed Grasslands
    Topography
        Case 1
        Case 2
    Soil Texture
    Sidebar: Weeds
    Grazing Systems
        Defoliation
        Selective Grazing
        Herd Impact Effects
    Shifting Sward Composition
Summary

Chapter 3: Soils, Soil Fertility, and Fertilizers

Introduction
Soils
The Realistic Yield Expectation of a Crop on a Soil
Soil Fertility
Philosophies of Soil Testing
How to Take a Soil Sample
    How Deep to Sample
    When to Sample
    Handling the Soil Sample
    Soil Test Information Sheets
    How Often to Soil Test
The Soil Testing Laboratory Report
Plant Response to Soil Fertility and pH
Plant Response to Added Fertilizer and Lime
Nitrogen Fertilizer
Liming Rates
Crop Response to Added Nutrients
Value of Fertilizer Nutrients
Value of Crop Response
Summary

Chapter 4: Nutrient Management in Forage-Livestock Systems

Nutrient Flow On and Off the Farm
Impact of Livestock Excrement on Pasture Production
Spatial Distribution of Nutrients on Pastures
Grazing Management for Nutrient Management
Applying Animal Wastes and Biosolids to Pastures
Summary

Chapter 5: Environmental Impacts of Grazing

Introduction
Soil Compaction
Nutrient Impacts
    Nitrogen
    Phosphorus
Pathogens
Soil Carbon Dynamics
Riparian Areas in Grazing Systems
    Fencing to Exclude Livestock from Streams and Riparian Buffers
Sidebar: Controlling Environmental Risks from Pastures
Summary

Chapter 6: Invertebrate Pests, Weeds, And Diseases Of Forage-Livestock Systems

Composition of the Invertebrate Population
Factors Regulating the Richness and Evenness of Grassland Invertebrates
Legume Pests
Grass Pests
Pests of Turf Grasses Are Not as Important in Permanent Pastures
Managing Grasslands to Control Grassland Invertebrates
Grassland Renovation
Livestock Pests Important in Pastures
Cattle Dung in Pastures -- A Valuable Resource
    Role of Dung Beetles
Impact of Pesticides on Beneficial Pasture Insects
Plant Disease Management in Pastures
    Disease Development
    Sidebar: Plant Disease Resistance
    Plant Diseases and Pasture Establishment
    Sidebar: Soybean/Alfalfa Rotation
    Plant Diseases in Established Pastures
    Tools for Disease Management
Weed Management in Pastures
    Competition
    Sidebar: Key Points about Weed Competition in Forages
    Weed Quality
    Poisonous Plants
    Sidebar: Key Points about Weed Forage Quality and Poisonous Plants
    Problem Weeds
    Weed Management
    Cultural Weed Management
    Sidebar: Key Points about Cultural Weed Management
    Mowing and Hand Removal
    Sidebar: Key Points about Mowing and Hand Removal
    Herbicides
    Sidebar: Key Points about Using Herbicides in Forages
    Biological Control
    Sidebar: Key Points about Biological Control and the Use of Grazing Animals
    Weeds and Grazing Animals
        Cattle
        Sheep
        Goats
    Integration
Recommendations and Summary
    Preparation of Site for Pasture Establishment
    Pasture Establishment
    Maintaining Established Pastures
    The Future for Grazing Management and Pasture Pests

Chapter 7: Establishing Forage Stands

Planning for New Seedings
Controlling Existing Perennial Broadleaf Weeds
Liming and Fertilizing
Grazing or Clipping Close
Matching Plants to Soil and Site Characteristics
Matching Plants to the Grazing System Goals and Objectives
Establishing New Stands
    Tilled Seedbed Seedings
    No-Till Seedings
No-Till Pasture Renovation
    Suppressing Competition from Existing Vegetation
    Band Application of Contact Herbicide for Late Winter Seeding
    Broadcast Application of Herbicide for Late Summer Seeding
    Late Winter Frost-Seedings
No-Till Seeding Equipment
When to Seed
Sidebar: Advantages of Late Summer Seedings
Seeding Depth
Seeding Rates
Inoculation of Legume Seeds
Management during Establishment
Summary -- Manage, Manage, Manage

Appendices

A. Identification of major forage species
B. Common and scientific names for common northeastern pasture plants
C. Common and scientific names for common northeastern pasture insects
D. Common and scientific names for common northeastern pasture pathogens

Abbreviations

Conversion Tables

Glossary

References

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