~I3P ~'CAr;
CIRCULAR 58 APRIL 
1931
EXPERIMENTS WITH HAY
CROPS IN ALABAMA
B '
I). GJ. STURIKIE AND) R. Y. BAILEY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
M. J. FUNCHESS. Director
AUBURN
CONTENTS
Page
CROP MIXTURES -FOR HAY ----------------- 3
Cowpeas, Soybeans, Sorghum, or Sudan Grass Alone
or in Mixtures-------------------------------3
Vetch, Austrian Winter Peas, or Oats Alone or in
Mixtures-------------------------------------4
Crimson Clover or Hairy Vetch Alone or in Mixtures
With Oats-----------------------------------5
VARIETIES OF SOYBEANS FOR HAY AND SEED---------6
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH HAY CROPS----------7
Influence of Lime and Phosphate on Yields-----------7
Influence of Soil Acidity on the Growth of Forage
Crops ------------------------------------------------ *---------- 
9
Effect of Rate and Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda
on the Yield and Protein Content of Sudan Grass --- 11
Effect of Fertilizer and Crop Treatment on the Yield
of Johnson Grass ------------------------------------------ 12
Influence of Fertilizers on the Yields of Oats, Austrian
Winter Peas, and Sudan Grass------------------------ 13
INFLUENCE OF TIME OF CUTTING ON THE YIELD OF
JOHNSON GRASS HAY AND ROOTSTOCKS ------------- 15
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS--------------------- 17
SUMMARY ------------------------------------------------------------ 18
Experiments With Hay Crops
In Alabama
By
D. G. STURKIE, Assistant Agronomist
and
R. Y. BAILEY, Assistant Agronomist
pROVIDING feed for work animals and other livestock is one
of the big problems facing Alabama farmers. If it must be
bought, the cost materially increases the expense of farm opera-
tion. If produced economically, it would result in a large sav-
ing to the farmers of the state. With increasing interest in feed
and forage production, information is needed that will enable
farmers to produce these at a lower cost. The purpose of this
circular is to present results of experiments with hay and feed
crops at the Alabama Experiment Station. The results of these
experiments should be of some value to those farmers who are
not producing enough feed, as well as to those who must reduce
the cost of producing it.
All of the results herein reported were obtained on poor land
which would not produce more than 10 to 15 bushels of corn per
acre without fertilizer. Larger yields than those reported could
be produced on most farms in Alabama if similar methods were
used.
CROP MIXTURES FOR HAY
Cowpeas, Soybeans, Sorghum, or Sudan Grass Alone or in
Mixtures.-In an experiment at Auburn cowpeas, soybeans, sorg-
hum, or Sudan grass were planted separately and in mixtures for
hay during the nine-year period, 1922-1930, inclusive. These
crops were planted in drills or broadcast. No fertilizer was ap-
plied to any plot in the experiment. The details of the experi-
ment and the average yields are presented in Table 1.
The results in Table 1 show that cowpeas made more hay
than soybeans in both drilled and broadcast plantings; the yields
of both crops were larger when broadcast. However, the hay
on the broadcast plot of soybeans usually contained a high per-
centage of weeds, and, therefore, the yield of soybeans was less
than on the drilled plot. The grasses produced more hay when
drilled. Mixtures of cowpeas or soybeans with sorghum or Su-
dan grass produced more hay than either cowpeas or soybeans
alone.
The crops in this experiment were usually planted after oats,
which was too late for maximum yields, especially of soybeans.
The crops used, as well as the method and time of planting, are
similar to those generally used in Alabama. The yields of hay
Table 1.-Yields Produced by Cowpeas, Soybeans, Sorghum,
or Sudan Grass Alone or in Mixtures.
Pounds of 
9-year av-
Plot No. Crop 
seed per Method of seeding 
erage yield
acre of 
hay
1922-1930
Lbs. per
acre
1 Cowpeas 60 Broadcast 1,602
2 Cowpeas 60
Sudan grass 20 Broadcast 1,919
3 Sudan grass 20 Broadcast 1,271
4 Soybeans 60 Broadcast 1,201
5 Soybeans 60
Sudan grass 20 Broadcast 
1,442
6 Cowpeas 60
Sorghum 20 Broadcast 1,952
7 Sorghum 20 Broadcast 1,565
8 Cowpeas 30 Drilled 1.482
9 Soybeans 30 Drilled 1,120
10 Sudan grass 10 Drilled 1,304
11 Sorghum 10 Drilled 2,087
were low, varying from 1100 pounds to one ton per acre. These
yields are too low to be profitable. Such results are discourag-
ing to a farmer who is attempting to produce hay by this method,
as it requires too much land to produce enough hay for the farm
needs. Methods of producing larger yields will be discussed in
later paragraphs.
Vetch, Austrian Winter Peas, or Oats Alone or in Mixtures.
-In another experiment two varieties of vetch, Austrian winter
peas, or oats, alone or in mixtures, were planted broadcast or in
drills for hay. Planting was usually done about October 15.
Each plot in the experiment received 400 pounds of superphos-
phate and 50 pounds of muriate of potash per acre at planting.
Table 2 shows the average results of this experiment.
Table 2.-Yields Produced by Vetch, Austrian Winter Peas, or
Oats, Alone or in Mixtures.
Pounds of 2-year average
Plot Crop seed per 
Method of yield of hay
No. acre seeding 1927 and 1929
Lbs. per acre
1 Oats 64 Broadcast 1,043
2 Oats 64
Hairy vetch 20 Broadcast 1,883
3 Hairy vetch 20 Broadcast 1,516
4 Oats 64
Monantha vetch 20 Broadcast 2,653
5 Monantha vetch 20 Broadcast 1,578
6 Oats 64
Austrian winter peas 60 Broadcast 2,613
7 Austrian winter peas 60 Broadcast 3,499
8 Oats 64
Hairy vetch 20 Drilled 2,055
9 Oats 64
Monantha vetch 20 Drilled 1,810
10 Oats 64
Austrian winter peas 60 Drilled 3,237
The results in Table 2 show that the largest yields were made
by mixtures of oats with Austrian winter peas, monantha vetch,
or hairy vetch, in the order named. They yielded in the same
order when planted alone. Plots which were drilled produced
more hay than those which were broadcast, except in the case
of monantha vetch.
Crimson Clover or Hairy Vetch Alone or in Mixtures With
Oats.-Crimson clover or hairy vetch were planted alone or in
mixtures with oats during the five-year period, 1921 to 1925, in-
clusive. The crops in this experiment were planted about Octo-
ber 15. The fertilizer treatment varied, but an average of 264
pounds of superphosphate and 60 pounds of kainit per acre was
used. The results of this experiment are shown in Table 3.
It may be seen from Table 3 that crimson clover produced
a larger yield of hay than hairy vetch, both alone or in a mixture
with oats. Oats planted with either of these crops increased the
yield of hay.
The use of crimson clover was discontinued because it was
difficult to obtain a stand. The young plants are seriously in-
jured by hot, dry weather in the fall. Crimson clover is also
Table 3.-Yields of Crimson Clover or Hairy Vetch Alone or in
Mixtures With Oats.
5-year average
Plot Crop 
yield of hay
No. 1921-1925
Lbs. per acre
1 Oats and crimson clover 2,796
2 Crimson clover 2,313
3 Hairy vetch 2,267
4 Oats and hairy vetch 2,378
undesirable because if it is not cut by the time the plants are in
full bloom it may form hair balls in the stomachs of animals.
VARIETIES OF SOYBEANS FOR HAY AND SEED
Table 4 gives the average yields of hay and seed produced by
different varieties of soybeans in the variety test during the sev-
en-year period, 1923-1929, inclusive. The table also shows the
number of days between the dates of planting and cutting for
hay. The beans were cut for hay when the pods were filled.
This is about the stage at which hogs are usually turned into the
field if beans are to be hogged down.
Table 4.-Yields of Hay and Seed in Variety
Test of Soybeans.
7-year average yield
1923-1929
Variety Days 
from
planting to
time to cut Hay Seed
for hay
Lbs. per acre Bus. per acre
Virginia 84 1,432 6.8
Arlington 93 1,833 8.0
Otootan 121 2,519 5.4
Biloxi 125 2,564 6.5
Laredo 107 1,979 6.5
Mammoth Yellow 104 2,371 6.3
Tarheel Black 110 2,368 7.1
Southern Prolific 88 1,748 5.7
Dixie 88 1,611* 9.0*
Wilson 87 1,526* 6.1*
*5-Year average.
The results presented in Table 4 show that Biloxi, Otootan,
Mammoth Yellow, Tarheel Black, and Laredo, in the order nam-
ed, produced the largest yields of hay. Of these varieties Bi-
loxi and Mammoth Yellow are coarse-stemmed and are not rec-
ommended for hay. Otootan, and Laredo are;fine-stemmed and
7
make hay of excellent quality with a low percentage of waste
in feeding.
The Virginia, Dixie, and Arlington varieties made moderate
yields of both hay and seed. These varieties mature early and,
consequently, are suitable for early grazing; Mammoth Yellow
and Biloxi may be used for later grazing. If these varieties are
planted early in the spring they will supply grazing from about
July 15 until frost.
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH HAY CROPS
Influence of Lime and Phosphate on Yields.-In an experi-
ment on Cecil sandy loam soil, lime and phosphate were applied
at different rates in 1926; no fertilizers have been used since.
Oats and Austrian winter peas were planted broadcast in this
experiment each fall, and Otootan soybeans were planted in 30-
inch rows each spring after the fall-planted crop was harvested.
All crops were harvested for hay. The fertilizer treatments,
annual yields, and four-year average yields are given in Table 5.
Table 5.-Influence of Lime and Phosphate on Yields of Oats,
Austrian Winter Peas, and Soybeans.
Treatment* Yields of hay
4-year average
1927-1930
o Material 
w 1927 1928 
1929 1930
1 None None 4,273 5,380 3,115 2,892 2,096 1,819 3,915
Superphosphate 1,100
2 Lime 3,500 7,756 6,642 4,244 2,401 2,723 2,568 5,292
3 Lime 4,000 6,084 8,045 3,495 2,510 2,557 2,476 5,033
4 Basic slag 2,000 7,454 5,800 3,835 2,845 2,482 2,501 4,983
*All of the fertilizer was applied in 1926.
The data presented in Table 5 show that Plot 2, which receiv-
ed superphosphate and lime, produced 1377 pounds of hay per
acre more than Plot 1, which was unfertilized, 259 pounds more
than Plot 3, which received lime alone, and 309 pounds more
than Plot 4 on which basic slag was used. These results indi-
cate that lime was a more important factor than phosphate in
the growth of the crops used in this experiment. The fact that
basic slag contains both lime and phosphate makes it a valuable
fertilizer for crops which respond to both of these materials.
The yields in 1929 and 1930 were reduced by disease injury
to Austrian winter peas and by drouth which seriously affected
the yield of soybean hay.
S4
produted ,~,440 p)ounds of hay per acre.
F~igure 2.-Otootan soybeans without fertilizer produced
1,425 pounds of hay per acre.
The results of this experiment show the possibilities of hay
pIroduction when intensive methods are employed. By planting
both spring and summer harvested crops 
on well-fertilized land,
more than enough hay was produced on an acre to feed a mule
for one year. If the high production of the first two years had
been maintained, enough hay would have been made on an acre
to feed two mules. By planting two crops per year the annual
yield was applroximately twice as large as it would have been
if only one crop had been grow in.
Influence of Soil Acidity on the Growth of Forage Crops.-
In another experiment on Cecil sandy loam soil the effect of
soil acidity on the growth of a number of different crops was
studied. The area devoted to this experiment included plots
which had been fertilized with nitrate of soda, calcium cynamid,
or ammonium sulfate each year for a period of about 20 years.
The c)rops used in this study were planted in rows across the
fertilized plots so that all crops grew under the various treat-
Figure 3.-Sorghum on moderately acid land. This land was fertilized
with calcium cyanamid over a period of 20 years.
mnents. All hay crops were harvested for hay and corn was
harvestedl for stover, the we-(ight of the entire plant being record-
ed. The fertilizer treatments and three-year ave rage yieldls are
p~resentedl in Table 6.
Table 6.-Influence of Soil Acidity on the Yields of
Various Forage Crops.
TUreat ment*
Nitrate of sodiia
Calc-iu ctt Nantam tid
No trleatmett
a itt ttit mtt sutlfate
I'ounds' of air-dry foraige per acre-a-y ear
averagwe yild(1 927-1929.
1.:518 1,2:8 4,54: 2,10 U .088
79- 1,091 1 GI 1,117 7.;9
444 991 1: 828 17(
ccah lo r evt 
2 2
.i ll po nd of niilov*i o iccre ianiiually. All plti c
**Tjhe tovrel of acidity on the pa .t which reecn, Itiilitotiiiiti slifaitl ryai highest
with the uitreta tedi, nitirite of soda, ald v nictin cyanaidi ltots following ii the
oridir iiamed.
Tfable 6 shows that the yields of all crops used were lower
on Plot 4 than on any of the other llots, including Plot 
3 which
receivedl no nitrogen. lbhis dIecrease in yield was the result 
of
Figure I.- Stirgihumt oni ]and utile N (I acid iN the tie of anitiumiai
sulfate for a per-io oif 20 x ears.
11
the acid condition of the soil on Plot 4 caused by the continued
use of ammonium sulfate. Sudan grass, sorghum and soybeans
suffered more serious injury than other crops. These three crops
also gave more response to calcium cynamid than the other
crops used. Since calcium cyanamid contains a high percentage
of lime, the response of these crops to this fertilizer further em-
phasizes the fact that they are not well adapted to acid soils
and are benefitted by lime.
Effect of Rate and Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda on the
Yield and Protein Content of Sudan Grass.-The influence of
nitrate of soda on the yield and protein content of Sudan grass
hay was studied on sandy soil at Auburn during the five-year
period, 1926-1930, inclusive. Studies on the rate and time of
applying nitrate of soda on yields and protein content were also
made. The results of this experiment are presented in Table 7.
Table 7.-Effect of Rate and Time of Applying Nitrate of Soda
on the Yield and Protein Content of Sudan Grass.
5-year average yields of hay,
Treatment 1926-1930
1st cutting 2nd cutting Total
Stage of growth ?,
Z ' at which applied .' '
-4-a . -
Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs.
1 None 1,312 5.9 432 6.9 
1,744 6.1
2 600 When grass was up 3,060 10.8 1,315 7.6 4,375 9.8
3 400 When grass was up 2,787 9.7 1,021 7.1 3,808 9.0
4 None 1,333 5.7 589 7.2 1,922 6.1
5 200 When grass was up 2,335 6.9 839 6.3 3,174 6.6
6 100 When grass was up 2,080 7.1 731 6.7 2,811 7.0
7 None 1,370 5.7 586 6.9 1,956 6.0
8 100 When grass was up
100 After first cutting 1,971 6.7 860 6.9 2,831 6.8
9 200 When grass was up
200 After first cutting 2,328 7.3 1,035 8.4 3,363 7.6
10 None 1,460 5.0 584 6.4 2,044 5.4
300 When grass was up
11 300 After first cutting 2,625 8.4 1,355 8.1 3,980 8.3
12
The most profitable rate of applying nitrate of soda, based on
the results in Table 7, was 100 to 200 pounds per acre. Al-
though the yields varied widely, due to seasonal conditions, ap-
plications of 100 to 200 pounds were always profitable. The in-
crease in yield produced by 200 pounds of nitrate of soda varied
from 700 to 2300 pounds per acre, with an average increase of
1200 pounds.
Nitrate of soda was more profitable when applied soon after
the grass plants were up than when half was applied when the
grass plants were up and the other half soon after the first cut-
ting.
The results in the table show that the percentage of protein
in Sudan grass hay was materially increased by the use of ni-
trate of soda. An increase in the amount of nitrate of soda was
usually followed by an increase in the percentage of protein in
the hay.
Effect of Fertilizer and Crop Treatments on the Yield of
Johnson Grass.-The effects of fertilizer and crop treatments on
the growth of Johnson grass were studied on sandy land at Au-
burn during the three-year period, 1927-1929, inclusive. This ex-
periment included direct fertilizer treatments, oats and vetch
for hay, vetch and Austrian winter peas turned under to supply
nitrogen for Johnson grass, and small legumes growing among
Johnson grass plants. The details of this experiment are shown
in Table 8.
The results presented in Table 8 show that large annual
yields of hay were made by following a winter hay crop with
Johnson grass, and that Johnson grass must be reseeded each
year on this soil. It is also shown that a crop of winter legumes
should be cut for hay rather than turned for Johnson grass.
Furthermore, small legumes grown in connection with Johnson
grass did not supply enough nitrogen to increase materially the
yield of Johnson grass hay. In addition to the foregoing, it is
shown that Johnson grass responded well to nitrogen and lime,
and that there was no response to phosphorus on this soil.
13
Table 8.-The Effect of Fertilizer and Crop Treatments
on the Yield of Johnson Grass.
0
z
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
P K L Black Medic
P K Austrian peas
plowed in
Treatment
(Applied fall of
1926 except N)
PN
LN
PLN
PKN
PKLN
K L N
N
P K monantha vetch
plowed in**
PK N Oats*
PK Hop clover
0
PKN Oats and
vetch*
PK
0
Yield of hay per acre
1927 1929
S 1928
Lbs. Lbs. Lbs.
4,310 4,310 No 150
6,000 6,000 results. 800
5,710 5,710 Oats 1,550
6,105 6,105 and 1,350
6,380 6,380 vetch 1,850
6,520 6,520 killed 2,850
5,220 5,220 by cold. Killed 550
1,500 1,500 Johnson by 900
6,645
2,290
2,015
7,235
1,765
1,730
3,430
4,245
10,425
2,290
2,015
10,955
1,765
1,730
3,430
4,245
grass
failed
to
come
back
on
some of
the
plots
cold
1,350
2,350
600
1,600
2,950
1,350
2,900
2,000
P = 1000 lbs. superphosphate
K 500 lbs. muriate of potash
L = 4000 lbs. ground limestone
N -= 400 lbs. nitrate of soda
* - Had N to oats and to Johnson grass
** - Made very little growth
***- Reseeded to Johnson grass in the spring. Only one cutting 
made.
Influence of Fertilizers on the Yields of 
Oats, Austrian Win-
ter Peas, and Sudan Grass.-The results of the preceding 
experi-
ment showed that Johnson grass was unsatisfactory 
for this soil,
and that it was possible to make large yields 
of hay by using
both summer and winter crops. Consequently, 
in the fall of
1929, the experiment was changed, substituting 
Sudan grass for
3,780
3,720
Table 9.-The Influence of Different Fertilizer Treatments on the Yields of
Oats, Austrian Winter Peas, and Sudan Grass.
Yield-pounds hay per acre
Treatment
Oats and
________peas
0
PK
PN
PKN
PKN
KN
0
N
Applied spring of 19301
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
* - Sudan grass planted in April on Plots 1-8 and after oats and peas on 9-16.
P - 200 lbs. superphosphate
K - 25 lhs. muriate of potash
L - 2 tons ground limestone each 5 years
N 200 lbs. nitrate of soda.
4,050
3,750
2,300
3,600
3,750
2,600
4,150
4,200
1930 ___3_____0_
Sudan*
grass
800
1,000
3,000
3,600
3,900
3,400
900
3,000
550
1,400
100
1,050
1,700
200
1,700
1,700
Total
800
1,000
3,000
3,600
3,900
3,400
900
3,000
4,600
5,150
2,400
4,650
5,450
2,800
5,850
5,900
Only one cutting made in each case due to dry weather.
Plot No.
N One application to fall crop and one to spring crop
PFK 1IL ) 
) ) ) ) ) ) 
) )
P N)) 
) )) ) 
)) ) )) ) 
)) )
KiL9 K~N )) 
) )) ) )) 
) )) ) ))
I __ _ __ r
15
Johnson grass and growing a winter crop on Plots 9 to 16, in-
clusive. The results for 1930 are presented in Table 9.
The data presented in Table 9 show that the yield of Sudan
grass hay was more than doubled by the application of nitrogen,
but was not influenced much by other fertilizers. These re-
sults further emphasize the fact that large yields of hay may be
obtained by growing both winter and summer hay crops.
INFLUENCE OF TIME OF CUTTING ON THE YIELD OF
JOHNSON GRASS HAY AND ROOT STOCKS
Johnson grass has been considered a pest under some condi-
tions and a valuable forage plant under others. In a test started
in 1927 to study methods of eradicating and managing Johnson
grass, the effect of cutting treatments on hay yields and root-
stock development was studied. The land used in this experi-
ment was a moderately productive Norfolk sandy loam. Each
plot received 2 tons of ground limestone, 1000 pounds of super-
phosphate, 500 pounds of kainit, and 200 pounds of nitrate of
soda per acre before planting. Nitrate of soda at the rate of
200 pounds per acre was added when the plants showed signs
of nitrogen hunger by a paling of the green color. The aver-
age annual application of nitrate of soda was 600 to 800 pounds
per acre. The seed was sown at the rate of 50 pounds per acre.
Plots 4 feet by 5 feet separated by two-foot alleys were used
in this experiment and the plants were harvested by hand, leav-
ing stubble one inch in height. There were 6 plots in each treat-
ment. Three plots in each treatment were dug in the fall of
1927 to determine the amount of rootstock development. The
three remaining plots were left to be cut for hay in 1928. The
rootstocks on these were dug in the fall of 1928.
The experiment was divided into three series. In Series 1 the
cutting treatments were started as soon as the plants reached
the stages indicated in Table 10 and were cut thereafter as often
as they reached these stages. In Series 2 the plants were per-
mitted to mature a crop of seed in the summer of 1927 before
the cutting treatments were started. When the plants reached
maturity in 1927 the tops were harvested; during the remainder
of 1927 and during 1928 the plants were cut as often as they
reached the indicated stages. In Series 3 the plants were per-
mitted to grow during the summer of 1927 without cutting. They
were harvested as often as they reached the proper stage during
the summer of 1928. The cutting treatments and yields of hay
and rootstocks are recorded in Table 10. The yields were larg-
er than could be expected in common farm practice because of
the conditions under which the experiment was conducted.
The results of this experiment show that the largest yield of
hay was produced when the plants were cut when the seed was
in the late milk stage. Cutting as late as this stage did not re-
duce the yield the following year, while cutting prior to this
Table 10.-Effect of Stage of Cutting on the Yield of Hay and Rootstocks
of Johnson Grass.
Stage cut
1 foot high
2 feet high
Booting
Blooming
Seed in late milk
Seed mature
At end of growing season
Dug when seed mature
(August 2, 1927)
Booting until middle of
season (July 5)
Series 1. Cut continuously. Re-
sults lbs. per acre dry weight**
Series 2. Permitted to mature a crop
of seed before starting cutting. Re-
sults lbs. per acre dry weight* *
Series 3. Permit-
ted to grow for
one year before
starting cutting.
Results lbs. per
acre dry weight* *
1927 1928 1927 1928 1928
0 -
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
ci
4,450
7,159
7,492
9,605
10,552
11,071
5,812
'to
619
1,247
1,528
1,942
2,803
3,684
5,616
0 Q)
8
5
4
3
3
2
1
bici
2,051
3,580
6,045
8,606
11,709
9,087
7,987
0 O
48
242
662
876
2,356
3,518
6,0981
0r2
3
o3
2
2
2
2
1
1
ci
9,996
10,191
10,043
9,934
10,886
11,071
5,812
hp
Fto
3,13 2
2,894
2,875
3,675
4,194
3,684
5,616
H-Z
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 I 1lgis I ,rIU OI DVYItO Z I~~
*The yields include the cutting made when the seed reached maturity. This cutting yielded 8,620 pounds.
**AII yields are on an oven-dry hasis.
0 r,
7
5
4
3
3
2
1
ci
2,237
3,903
4,303
7,192
11,405
9,087
7,987
ot
oO
52
357
352
909
1,642
3,518
6,098
ot
0
9
6
4
3
3
2
1
11,248
12,267
16,203
12,614
7,987
5,712
tosO O922
0Q
214
523
1,823
2,280
3,803
3,818
6,098
2,504
8,620 5,022
i
17
stage did. Cutting at this late stage does not produce the best
quality of hay. In order to produce the best quality of hay, and
at the same time not reduce the yield and thin out the stand, it
is necessary either to let the plants develop a system of root-
stocks (which contains the food reserve for the next year's
plants) or reseed the land frequently. The plants will develop
a system of rootstocks if they are not cut the latter half of the
summer, or if cut only every other year.
The results of this experiment show that any cutting treat-
ment reduces the rootstock development, and the more frequent-
ly the cuttings are made the greater is the reduction. Frequent
cutting will greatly assist in eradicating Johnson grass. To be
most effective, cutting should be done during the latter half of
the summer, as Johnson grass can develop a good system of
rootstocks after the middle of the season. For this reason it of-
ten remains as a pest in cultivated fields in spite of attempts to
eradicate it by cultivation early in the season. The main efforts
at eradication should be spent from July until frost.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Results reported show that when cowpeas, soybeans, sorg-
hum, or Sudan grass were planted after oats and were not fer-
tilized, the yields of hay were low. The yields of hay were fre-
quently limited by a lack of rain during the summer. Farmers
who have followed this plan, although they have produced some
satisfactory crops, have made small average yields. This may
explain why hay production in Alabama has been below the
needs of the state. Larger yields must be made if Alabama
farmers are to produce an adequate supply of hay.
It should be remembered that the results herein reported
were obtained on poor land, and, therefore, were lower than the
yields on some of the better soils of Alabama. However, a large
percentage of the land in Alabama is no better than that used in
these experiments. In many cases farmers who have good land
have produced large yields of hay by planting a summer hay
crop after oats. Results of experiments indicate that even those
farmers who produce large yields of hay after oats could double
their annual yields by following the plan outlined below.
Based on the results of experiments reported in this circular,
the following recommendations are made:
1. Plant late in September or early in October a mixture
composed of 2 bushels of oats or 1 bushel of wheat, and either
20 pounds of vetch or 40 pounds of Austrian winter peas.
2. After this crop is harvested plant cowpeas, soybeans, sorg-
hum, or Sudan grass, or a mixture of these on the same land.
3. Fertilize the fall-planted crop with 400 to 600 pounds of
basic slag per acre. Basic slag supplies both lime and phosphate,
which experiments have shown to be essential to the maximum
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growth of these crops. Apply 100 to 200 pounds of nitrate of
soda per acre late in February or early in March.
4. Apply 400 to 600 pounds of basic slag for summer legumes
at planting time. Top dress sorghum or sudan grass with 100
to 200 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre as soon as the plants
are up.
5. Results of experiments show that by following this plan
it is possible to produce two or more tons of hay per acre, as
compared with one-half to one ton when only an unfertilized
summer crop planted after oats is used.
SUMMARY
1. Cowpeas made more hay than soybeans in both drilled
and broadcast plantings.
2. Mixtures of either summer or winter crops usually pro-
duced larger yields than single plantings.
3. A mixture of oats and Austrian winter peas made the
largest yield of any winter crops used.
4. Biloxi, Otootan, Mammoth Yellow, Tarheel Black, and
Laredo in the order named made the largest yields of hay in
soybean variety tests.
5. Otootan and Laredo are fine-stemmed and make hay of
excellent quality.
6. Lime increased the yields of hay from oats, Austrian win-
ter peas, and Otootan soybeans more than did phosphate.
7. Basic slag produced large increases in the yields of these
crops.
8. Sudan grass, sorghum, and soybeans were injured more
by soil acidity than corn or cowpeas.
9. The yield and protein content of Sudan grass hay were
increased by an application of nitrate of soda.
10. The most profitable rate of applying nitrate of soda was
100 to 200 pounds per acre.
11. It was found that nitrate of soda should be applied soon
after the grass was up.
12. Large annual yields of hay were made by following a
winter hay crop with a summer crop.
13. It was necessary to reseed Johnson grass each year on
sandy land.
14. Winter legumes should be cut for hay rather than turned
for Johnson grass.
15. Johnson grass responded remarkably to nitrogen and
lime.
16. The largest yields of Johnson grass hay were made when
the plants were cut when seed were in the late milk stage. Cut-
ting prior to this stage reduced the yields and thinned the stand.
17. Frequent cutting during the latter half of the growing
season will reduce the development of rootstocks and assist in
eradicating Johnson grass.