Montana State University (MSU) Library in Bozeman Montana State University - Home Montana State University Libraries - Home
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   ScholarWorks Home
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
    • Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
    • View Item
    •   ScholarWorks Home
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
    • Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The effects of sheep grazing for Pisum sativum or Melilotus officinalis cover crop termination

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    WestbrookJ0516.pdf (817.3Kb)
    Date
    2016
    Author
    Westbrook, Jasmine Katherine.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Integration of sheep grazing into crop rotation systems has been proposed as an alternative to conventional cover crop management techniques. However, the effectiveness of this approach and its impact on subsequent crops has not been evaluated in Montana. This study assessed the use of sheep (Ovis aries) grazing to terminate field pea (Pisum sativum) and yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) cover crops used in rotation with winter wheat. Cover crops were terminated using either rotational or continuous grazing treatments and their effects on cover crop termination, sheep live weight gains, and winter wheat emergence and yield were quantified. Sheep grazing for cover crop termination was also compared to chemical termination and mechanical tillage. In 2013, yearlings grazed the winter pea cover crop for 32 days. Sheep grazing was an effective termination method (77% dead, 1% live, 22% bare ground). Average daily gains (ADGs) did not differ between grazing treatments with sheep exhibiting ADGs of 0.181 kg day -1 for rotational (230 sheep ha -1)and 0.154 kg day -1 for continuous (57 sheep ha -1) treatments (P = 0.12). Winter wheat seedling emergence post grazing was higher under the continuous grazing treatment (P = 0.017), however winter wheat yield did not differ between treatments (P = 0.91). Results indicated grazing was a viable method for terminating a pea cover crop. In 2014, yearlings grazed the sweetclover cover crop for 40 days. Sheep grazing at stocking densities of 44 and 178 sheep ha -1 did not provide effective termination (40% dead, 34% live, 9% bare groundcover). Average daily gains did not differ between grazing treatments with sheep exhibiting ADGs of 0.177 kg day -1 for rotational and 0.172 kg day -1 for continuous treatments (p = 0.79). Termination was achieved using a second group of sheep at stocking densities of 119 and 477 sheep ha -1. Winter wheat seedling emergence did not differ between grazing treatments (p = 0.95). Winter wheat yield was lower in grazed plots than tilled and chemically terminated plots. Grazing has the potential for effective cover crop termination comparable to tillage or herbicide, but results may vary with cover crop species.
    URI
    https://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/handle/1/9868
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)

    MSU uses DSpace software, copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
     

     

    Browse

    All of ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesDepartmentsItem TypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesDepartmentsItem Type

    My Account

    Login

    Guidelines & Policies

    AllFor authorsWhy to submitHow to submit

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    MSU uses DSpace software, copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback