Lime and Nitrogen Influence on Timothy Yield and Composition
1976
Laughlin, Winston M. | Martin, Paul F. | Smith, Glenn R.
No domestic grass has been successfully grown in the Caribou Hills area on Alaska's lower Kenai Peninsula where another forage has been needed to supplement the native bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis). Timothy (Phleum pratense L.), a highly desirable forage grass in many Alaska agricultural areas, was selected as a grass more adapted to acid conditions than many other grasses. This experiment was specifically designed to determine if lime applications would make possible growth and survival of domestic timothy. A 6-year study with five lime and two N rates was conducted with ‘Engmo’ timothy planted on Kachemak silt loam (Typic Cryandepts) in an area domestic grasses had seldom survived. Lime applications were applied by hand to field plots and worked in with rototiller. Fertilizer applications were topdressed each spring with additional nitrogen applied after the first cutting each year. Each lime increment over 2,240 kg/ha increased soil reaction, forage yield, and N uptake and tended to decrease the N concentration in forage. Increasing N applications from 134 to 269 kg/ha increased yields, N percentages, and N uptake. Native bluejoint gradually replaced the timothy on plots receiving less than 4,480 kg lime/ha, responded to the high N rate, and thrived with two cuttings per growing season. This experiment demonstrates domestic grasses can be grown successfully on Kachemak silt loam with lime application and proper fertilization.
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