McGregor field trial measures forage response to pH

By JULIET BRISKIN | Central Texas Edition

Dr. Twain Butler, third from right, discusses his findings at the McGregor forage test plot with participants of the McLennan Co. forage field meeting. Butler impressed upon participants that they should never plant based on one single year's data and that over the next few years the plot should yield valuable results. -Staff photo byBriskin

May 16, 2002 -- Just outside McGregor is a test plot where the Texas Cooperative Extension Service is studying various forages. On Friday, May 10, 2002 the McLennan County Extension office hosted a meeting to discuss the crops in this plot and the results of the current study being conducted by the Extension Service.

Dr. Twain Butler, Extension entomologist, presented the findings thus far but impressed upon participants that they should never plant based on data from a single year.

According to Butler, Caley peas grow very well in Texas no matter the soil pH. He stated that it is an excellent forage but it can be a problem for horses. "One problem with the Caley pea is that the seeds can be toxic," he explained. "I've been planting these for years and have never had a problem. It is an excellent forage, just beware."

The Caley pea has a high percentage of hard seed and Butler feels confident that it will do well over the next couple years. In contrast, he has planted the Austrian winter pea which has a soft seed and so far the results do not look that good.

According to Butler the Austrian winter pea does very well the first year, the next year it begins to fade out and by the third year it completely fades out. "One of the goals of this study is to see how the soft seed varieties persist versus the hard seed varieties," he stated. "Basically we are looking for hard seed varieties that will persist over the years and reseed themselves."

The burr medics in the study have done very well in high pH soil according to Butler. They have a high percentage of hard seed and Butler predicts that they will persist year in and year out.

Butler explained that the medics are short, low growing forages and will only reach only about 10 or 11-inches. "The low-growing species, typically the medics, have an excellent regrowth potential," he said. "The more you graze them the more production you are going to get out of them.'

In addition to the medics and peas the test plot also has clover and sweetclover. The arrowleaf clovers have been very productive but according to Butler that is to be expected from these taller species.

The Rose clover has been a surprise to Butler this year. "It has done very well at all of our sites, whether sandy or clay soil," he said. "It is now the most productive species of all the clovers planted here because of its regrowth potential."

According to Butler when planting in high pH soil there are only two clovers that will persist - berseem and rose. "The rest are out the window," he said.

Crimson clover is the earliest of all the clovers and Butler explained that it is probably the most over-seeded in bermudagrass because of its early maturity. He explained that crimson does not do well in high pH soils and it has done very will in soils with a pH under 7.

Berseem clover, while growing well in high pH soil, is not cold tolerant and does not have good reseeding potential. Currently Butler is watching the reseeding potential of the berseem and will have more data over the next few years. He did say that he was very surprised with the berseem thus far and will continue to keep an eye on this clover. "I think it has potential, but I don't want to say too much until I see how it reseeds," said Butler.

For more information on the McGregor legume test contact the McLennan Co. Extension office at 254-757-5180.