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MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL IN PASTURES

Applied Research

Theodore Wiseman
Ohio State University
New Lexington

Abstract

Maintaining a quality pastures is an essential part of all forage production systems because unwanted weeds compete for nutrients, water and sunlight needed for optimum growth. Forage growth in Ohio pastures is a critical part of farm production because grazing livestock are present on more than 36 percent of Ohio farms. Weeds can lower forage crop quality and productivity if left uncontrolled. Mechanically mowing pastures is one method producers can use if they do not want to spray herbicides. The purpose of this study is to determine if weed populations in pastured forages could be changed or reduced by varying the timing of mowing throughout the late spring and summer growing period without the use of herbicides. Treatments in this study consist of: (1) Control (no mowing), (2) June only mowing, (3) July only mowing, (4) August only mowing, (5) September only mowing, (6) June and August mowing, (7) July and September mowing, and (8) mown each month; June-July-August-September.  The overall weed dry matter (DM) pounds/acre (lb/ac) shows that mowing in June or June/August were higher than all other treatments except for the July only. The June treatment also yielded the most forages of 8152.0 lbs/ac on a DM basis.  Mowing pastures in June, July, August and September resulted in the lowest quantity of forages of 4878.0 lbs/ac DM.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: T. G. Wiseman, C. Gelley, C.D. Penrose, J.S. McCutcheon, M.A. Landefeld
  1. Wiseman, T. Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43764
  2. Gelley, C. Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43724
  3. Penrose, C. Professor and Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43756
  4. McCutcheon, J. Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Operations, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43724
  5. Landefeld, M. Extension Educator, Emeriti, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43793