Managing Grazed Wheat

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Managing Grazed Wheat

• Kent Martin
• Southwest Research Extension Center
• Kansas State University

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What Cattle Remove

• It takes approximately 1,000 lbs forage to
  produce 100 lb beef.
• May vary depending on efficiency of pasture and
  livestock
• Nitrogen needs
• It takes roughly 30 lbs to produce 1,000 lbs
  forage or 100 lb beef

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What Cattle Remove

• Phosphorus
• There is about .8 P2O5 in wheat forage
• Removal 8 lb P2O5
• Potassium
• There is about 4.8 K2O in wheat forage
• Removal 48 lb K2O

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Nutrient Recommendations

• Add 30 lb per 100 lb beef removed
• No P or K needed unless soil tests indicate a
  deficiency

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Fate of Nutrients in Manure

• Nitrogen
• 30 liquid manure is available first year
• 25 solid manure is available first year
• Phosphorus
• 50 available
• Potassium
• 80-90 available

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• Redistribution of nutrients

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What is FHS

• Wheat developmental stage when jointing first
  begins (GS 5)
• Research has shown this is the optimal time to
  remove cattle from wheat pasture
• Several factors influence when FHS occurs

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How to Check for FHS

• FHS can be identified below the soil surface, but
  above the crown
• Must check for FHS in nongrazed wheat of same
  variety and planting date

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First Hollow Stem
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Select a large stem and cut off just above the
root
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Cut vertically through center of the stem
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What to look for
Growing point
Nodes
Node
5/8or 1.5 cm
Hollow stem
14
1.5 cm
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First Hollow Stem and Yield
50
40
30
Grain yield (bu/ac)
20
10
0
-56
-42
-28
-14
0
14
28
Days from first hollow stem
16
First Hollow Stem and
60
40
20
0
Net returns (/ac.)
-20
-40
-60
-80
-56
-42
-28
-14
0
14
28
Days from first hollow stem
17
First Hollow Stem and
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First Hollow Stem (day of year)
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What Determines FHS

• Variety
• Location
• Planting date
• Temperature (fall and spring)
• Moisture
• Grazing

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Summary

• 5/8 or 1.5 cm of hollow stem FHS
• Check in an nongrazed area of same variety and
  planting date
• 1.25 bu/ac/day loss for grazing past FHS
• Added beef lbs. do not make up for lost yield