Tillage Systems for Production of Small‐Grain Pasture

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no‐till (NT) establishment of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and rye ( Secale cereale L.) forage for stocker calves ( Bos taurus ). Animal performance was analyzed as a completely randomized design using the mixed procedure of SAS. In the 2002–2003 study, grazing‐d ha −1 was greater ( P < 0.01) for CT than RT, but NT did not differ ( P = 0.08) from CT and RT, while gain ha −1 was not affected ( P ≥ 0.42) by tillage treatment. During 2003–2004, grazing‐d ha −1 was identical for all pastures, but gain ha −1 of NT was greater ( P = 0.05) than CT and RT. Grazing‐d ha −1 was greater ( P = 0.05) for NT than CT and RT in 2004–2005 and gain ha −1 tended to be greater ( P = 0.10) for NT than CT and RT. During 2005–2006, grazing‐d ha −1 of CT was greater ( P = 0.03) than RT, but gain ha −1 did not differ ( P ≥ 0.81) among treatments. Establishment of small‐grain pasture using NT and RT was as successful as CT when timely fall rains promoted small grain emergence and growth, while NT was superior to CT and RT when fall rains are delayed and soil water profile can be maintained by summer chemical fallow.