Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Extension educators, students, and researchers were the main target audiences for this project Changes/Problems:This project suffered from an unusual string of problems from its outset. These obstacles limited the accomplishments hoped for when this project started. Nonetheless, we did learn some useful information about the potential use of Sericea lespedeza in forage-livestock systems. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kelsey Brennan completed a non-thesis MS degree (2018) in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences using data collected from this study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated at regional and national scientific meetings: Brennan, K. and B. Tracy. 2018. Evaluating the integration of a high-tannin legume (sericea lespedeza) into tall fescue-based pastureland. Abstract # 1275. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting. Baltimore, MD. A peer-reviewed paper summarizing results from this study will be prepared and submitted for publication during winter 2020/21. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Summary of overall accomplishments 1) Forage productivity and stability- Over three growing seasons, lespedeza consistently produced more forage biomass than tall fescue and alfalfa mixtures. The difference in forage productivity was greatest in mid-summer. 2) Nutritive value and tannins - Nutritive value data was collected over two growing seasons. Fiber concentrations (NDF) in forage increased through the growing season as would be expected. We noted a small decline in the NDF of forages sampled both in tall fescue and lespedeza pastures probably due to the presence of white clover, which usually has higher nutritive value. We also noted the NDF concentrations were higher in 2017 (567 g kg -1 ) compared to 2016 (519 g kg -1) probably due to weather and stand age. Lespedeza tannin concentrations ranged from 85 to 212 mg/g dry matter and averaged 138 mg/g. These concentrations were similar to those found in prior studies. 3) Changes in plant species composition under grazing. General trends in species composition indicated that sericea cover increased over time while alfalfa declined to almost zero due to selective grazing. The tall fescue cover remained similar over time. Lespedeza is naturally competitive and was expected to increase over time. The fact that lespedeza swards experienced little grazing pressure due to unpalatability probably hastened this increase in dominance. Weed pressure was highest in alfalfa mixtures 4) Animal performance- Except for the first year of the study, the average daily gain of steers did not differ among lespedeza, alfalfa, and tall fescue mixtures. In 2016, steer weight gain was significantly lower on tall fescue pastures compared with sericea and alfalfa mixtures, but cannot explain why. We concluded that lespedeza could be a useful forage for cattle in Virginia as it is very productive in summer when many forage species are not. Unfortunately, lespedeza appears to be mostly unpalatable to cattle as evidenced by the lack of grazing on swards. Research on how to improve lespedeza palatability for beef cattle would be beneficial. As global warming shows little sign of alleviating, forage-livestock producers could benefit from wider availability of highly stress-tolerant forages like lespedeza.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Manuscript in prep for PLOS One. "Evaluation of a warm-season legume (Sericea lespedeza) integrated into tall fescue grazinglands"
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Researchers were the primary target audience for this reporting period. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kelsey Brennan completed an MS degree (2018) in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences using data collected from this study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated at regional and national scientific meetings and through popular press articles (examples below): Brennan, K. and B. Tracy. 2018. Evaluating the integration of a high-tannin legume (sericea lespedeza) into tall fescue-based pastureland. Abstract # 1275. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting. Baltimore, MD. Tracy, B. 2017. Update on sericea lespedeza research. Virginia Tech Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center McCormick Farm 2017 Field Day Proceedings Aug 2, 2017. Tracy, B. 2017 Update on sericea lespedeza research. Virginia Forager Volume 38 No. 1 p. 10 Tracy, B. 2015. Sericea lespedeza friend or foe? Virginia Forager Vol. 36 Summer 2015 p.6 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The study is largely complete. A peer-reviewed paper summarizing results from this study will be prepared and sumbitted for publication during summer of 2020.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objectives 1 and 2 have been completed, and we have no new information to add for this past year. A peer-reviewed publication summarizing results of this study is in preparation for submittal in summer 2020.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Brennan, K. and B. Tracy. 2018. Evaluating the integration of a high-tannin legume (Sericea lespedeza) into tall fescue-based
pastureland. Abstract # 1275. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Forage-livestock producers in the Mid-atlantic region State ANR Extension Agents State and regional NRCS personnel Changes/Problems:As mentioned last year, plants in the multi-site experiment associated with Objective 2 did not establish well across all sites. As a result, this part of the study was dropped. To substitute, a complementary study evaluating the invasiveness of Sericea lespedeza was initiated in winter 2017 and continued in 2018. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training of graduate students in experimental design, statistics and manuscript preparation How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A poster was presented at the Annual ASA-CSSA-SSSA meeting in Baltimore this November. Target audience - research and extension personnel. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A final report/paper is currently being constructed for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Data collection and field samples were collected over the 2018 growing season to support objective 1. These included data on forage mass, plant species composition, and cattle weights. Data from the 2018 field season is currently being analyzed. As mentioned last year, multi-site field experiments associated with objective 2 did not establish consistently across the three sites in 2016 and this portion of the study was dropped. Instead a field experiment evaluating the invasiveness of sericea lespedeza (the main tannin-containing legume in the project) was initiated in 2017 and data collection to support that experiment was collected in 2018. To support the new experiment, soil samples will be taken from plots to evaluate to soil seed back for germinable lespedeza seeds. The 2018 field season will be the last year of data collection of this study as the experimental area will be needing to be renovated for a future grazing trial.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Evaluating the Integration of a High-Tannin Legume (sericea lespedeza) into Tall Fescue-Based Pastureland. Kelsey Brennan and Benjamin F. Tracy, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. Abstract: Annual ASA-CSSSA-SSSA Meeting Baltimore, Md.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Forage-livestock producers in the Mid-atlantic region State ANR Extension Agents State and regional NRCS personnel Changes/Problems:As mentioned last year, plants in the multi-site experiment associated with Objective 2 did not establish well across all sites. As a result, this part of the study was dropped. To substitute, a complementary study evaluating the invasiveness of Sericea lespedeza was initated in winter 2017 and will continue in 2018. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training of graduate students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Gave a project update at the Annual Shenandoah Valley AREC field day in Steeles Tavern, Va this August. Approximately 200 stakeholders were in attendance. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Data collection will begin again in spring 2018 for the grazing experiment (Objective 1). Data collection will largely follow protocols from 2017. One more year of data from the sericea lespedeza establishment experiment will be collected in 2018.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Data collection and field samples were collected over the 2017 growing season to support objective 1. These included data on forage mass, plant species composition, cattle weights, and forage nutritive value. Samples for forage nutritive value are currently being analyzed. Multi-site field experiments associated with objective 2 did not establish consistently across the three sites in 2016 and the multi-site component of the study will be dropped. Instead a field experiment evaluating the invasiveness of sericea lespedeza (the main tannin-containing legume in the project) was initiated in 2017.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Forage-livestock producers in the Mid-atlantic region State ANR Extension Agents State and regional NRCS personnel Changes/Problems:As mentioned previously, plants in the multi-site experiment associated with Objective 2 did not establish well across all sites. As a result, this part of the study will need to be dropped. To substitute, a complementary study evaluating the invasiveness of Sericea lespedeza will be initated in winter 2017. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Data collection will begin again in spring 2017 for the grazing experiment (Objective 1). Data collection will largely follow protocols from 2016. A complementary study evaluating the invasiveness of Sericea lespedeza will be initated in winter of 2017. Data will be summarized in fall 2017 following completion of the field season.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Data collection and field samples were collected over the 2016 growing season to support objective 1. These included data on forage mass, plant species composition, cattle weights, and forage nutritive value. Samples for forage nutritive value are currently being analyzed. Multi-site field experiments associated with objective 2 did not establish consistently across the three sites. Due to poor establishment, the multi-site component of the study will be dropped.
Publications
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