Decisions Time for Perennial Forages

REGINA - Jan 26/04 - SNS -- Producers who intend to seed perennial forages this year need to consider which the species they will be choosing based on their local conditions, warns rangeland and forage agrologist Lorne Klein of Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (SAFRR) in Weyburn.

"First, they should take into account the landscape and soil quality of the land they intend to seed. They have many choices if the soil is relatively good quality, but often the land being seeded to perennial forage is marginal for annual cropping and this limits the forage selection. Salinity, low fertility, periodic flooding or sandy soil texture, for example, requires forage species that can grow, produce and survive under these conditions.

"Second, they should know their soil zone. If irrigation is to be used, it should be factored in as well. Some species, such as timothy and orchardgrass, are suggested for use only in the Black and Grey Soil Zones or under irrigation."

At this point, says Klein, the producer will have a list of potential grasses and legumes from which to choose. Selection from it can now be based on a number of other considerations, one of which is the yield potential. He suggests producers consult SAFRR's Forage Crop Production Guide, which lists expected yield differences of grass and legume species and varieties for each soil zone.

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here