INFLUENCE OF HARVEST SYSTEMS AND NITROGEN RATES ON YIELDS, QUALITY AND PERSISTENCE OF CHAMP TIMOTHY IN THE SEEDING AND POSTSEEDING YEARS

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Abstract
The interaction effects of harvest systems and rates of N on yield, quality and persistence of Champ timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were studied in a 4-yr field experiment. In the seeding year, total dry matter (DM) yields were highest (4.41 tons/ha) for the harvest taken 12 wk after seeding. Total DM yields increased with increasing N application up to 148 kg N/ha/yr. During the 3 postseeding yr, timothy was harvested four (system A), three (B) or two (C) times per season. Nitrogen was applied at five rates from 33 to 165 kg/ha; three times for systems A and B and twice per season for system C. Total DM yields showed increases for the full range of N application for systems A and B, but up to 132 kg/ha/application for system C. The tissue N concentrations were increased by increasing rates of fertilizer N while the in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDDM) was not generally changed. Forage with high IVDDM of 68.0 to 72.0% was produced under systems A and B whereas under C, IVDDM ranged from 55.9 to 65.1% during the season. The NO3-N concentrations of tissue frequently exceeded 0.15% levels at N rates above 132 kg/ha/application. High rates of N tended to thin the stand, but weeds were most prevalent where the lowest N rate was used.