Exam 2 Study Guide - Forage Crop Ecology | CSES 4544, Study notes of Environmental Science

Download Exam 2 Study Guide - Forage Crop Ecology | CSES 4544 and more Study notes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! Forage Crop Ecology Exam 2 Study Guide Plant Identification & Morphology 1. What is the definition of morphology? Give some examples: - The outward appearance of a plant o Size and canopy of roots o Erect or prostrate growth o Stem:Leaf ratio o Kind and depth of root system o Rhizomes/Stolons 2. Draw a grass plant and label the following parts: inflorescence, leaf, culm, internode, node, rhizome, stolon 3. What is a stolon? Rhizome? - Stolon – aboveground growth; originates from the top of the corm - Rhizome – belowground growth; originated from the bottom of the corm 4. The family of grasses, Poaceae , is the world’s single most important source of food. 5. What are some characteristics of grass stems? - Hollow - Cylindrical - Has nodes 6. Leaves originate from the nodes. 7. What is the difference between monocots and dicots? - Monocots o One cotyledon o Parallel leaf veins o Fibrous root system - Dicots o Two cotyledons o Net-like leaf veins o Taproot 8. Name 5 Perennial, cool-season grasses: - Kentucky Bluegrass - Timothy - Orchardgrass - Reed Canarygrass - Tall Fecue 9. Name 5 Perennial, warm-season grasses: - Bermudagrass - Bahiagrass - Johnsongrass - Switchgrass - Bentgrass 10. Name 5 Annual, warm-season grasses: - Pearl Millet - Foxtail Millet - Teff - Crabgrass - Sudangrass 11. Name 5 Annual, cool-season grasses: - Wheat - Oat - Rye - Barley 27. Bunchgrass reproduces vegetatively via corms. These also store carbohydrates. Forage Plant ID & Morphology 1. What is a legume? What is unique about it? - Have pods that unravel on both sides - Most fix nitrogen - Pods vary in size 2. All legumes have which type of emergence? What is the ONE EXCEPTION? Epigeal emergence; exception is Garden Pea 3. What is the main difference among forage legumes? Growth habit 4. What is the difference between a true trifoliate and a legume that is not a true trifoliate? Give some examples of true trifoliates: - True trifoliate – all leaves are touching at same origin - Not true trifoliate – not all leaves are touching, has a petiole 5. How do legumes fix Nitrogen? Discuss: - Symbiotic relationship with rhizobium - Bacteria fix N for the plant and the plant provides carbon for bacterium 6. Most buds in legumes are stored underground and therefore protected from the environment. They are very important for the persistence of most legumes. 7. In Alfalfa, 99% of regrowth is from the crown and some is from axillary buds. 8. Name the 2 Perennial, warm-season legumes: - Sericea lespedeza - Kudzu 9. Name 5 Perennial, cool-season legumes: - Alfalfa - Ladino Clover - Red Clover - Birdsfoot Trefoil - Crown Vetch 10. Name the 2 Annual, warm-season legumes: - Kobe lespedeza - Korean lespedeza 11. Name the 4 Annual, cool-season legumes: - Crimson clover - Hairy vetch - Large Hop Clover - Small Hop Clover 12. Discuss the main aspects of Alfalfa: - Not true trifoliate - Leaves are serrated - Purple flower - Originated from Middle East - Drought tolerant - N-fixer - Taproot - Not tolerant to frequent defoilation - Cut at 1/10 bloom 13. Can you mix tall fescue and alfalfa? Looks good on paper, but it’s not good in the field – they compete with eachother 14. Discuss the main aspects of Red Clover: - True trifoliate - Considered perennial, but acts as biennial - Leaves directly under seedhead (different from all other clover) - Tolerates acidic soil better than alfalfa - Low tolerance to frequent cutting - Can be used with rotational grazing - Very hairy plant - Can cause bloat 15. Discuss the main aspects of White Clover: - True trifoliate - Tolerates close, continuous grazing - Well adapted to grow in all climates - Not very well drought tolerant - Low growing, sod forming legume - No hair on plant - Has stolons - 3 types o Ladino o Intermediate o Small Understanding Plant Growth 1. Define the following terms: - Physiology – chemical and organic functions of a plant - Morphology – outward appearance of a plant 2. Discuss the following parts of the plant cell: - Cell Wall – gives cell structure, encloses organelles - Vacuole – 80% of cell space, maintains turgor pressue - Chloroplast – photosynthesis - Mitochondria – energy storage, respiration 3. What is the equation for Photosynthesis? 12 H2O + 6 O2  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O (light) 4. Photosynthesis occurs in all green tissues, especially in most crop leaves that have…(6) - Large flat external surface - Upper and lower protective surfaces o Moister = savannah 3. What does fire do to a prairie? Suppresses weed growth 4. There are 3 types of grasslands in North America, what are they and where are they found? EAST TO WEST - Tallgrass - Mixed grass - Shortgrass 5. Grassland areas not managed can turn into what? Forest 6. What is the grass also known as “King of Prairie” or “Turkey foot grass”? Describe it: - Big Bluestem o 3 panicles per raceme o Bunchgrass o As it ages, culum dries  Fire rejuvenates this 7. Name 5 bunchgrasses found in tallgrass prairies: - Big bluestem - Little bluestem - Indiangrass - Eastern gammagrass - Switchgrass 8. Name 2 forbs found in tallgrass prairies: - Legumes - Composites 9. Name 4 bunchgrasses found in midgrass prairies: - Little bluestem - Silver bluestem - Sideoats gramma - Wheat grass 10. Name the 5 bunchgrasses found in shortgrass prairies: - Blue gramma - Buffalo grass - Tabosa grass - Galleta grass - Wheat grass 11. Name the 2 forbs found in shortgrass prairies: - Locoweed - Broomweed 12. With soils, where are you more likely to find Mollisols and Alfisols? - Mollisols are in valleys - Alfisols are on hills 13. What is the main difference between Millisols and Alfisols is… Depth & thickness 14. Discuss Mollisols: - Thick, dark, high in Carbon - Incredibly productive without fertilizer - No sand texture 15. What is a cambic horizon? Calcic horizon? - Cambic – weakly developed - Calcic – excess calcium carbonates 16. Discuss Alfisols: - Moderately weathered - ALWAYS need argillic horizon (with clay Bt) - Typically have ochric epipedon - Moderate pH and base saturation 17. What is a Natric horizon? - Salt horizon - Water and root-limiting - Naturally dense soil 18. Forest gives rise to Mollisols and Alfisols arise from grasses in drier areas. 19. Grasses evolved during the cretaceous period. Impact of Winter Hay Feeding on Pasture Soil & Plants 1. Why do people feed hay in a concentrated area? (2) - Limit where animals move - Can keep an eye on animals 2. What are 3 things that cattle can have a lot of effects on growing crops, what are they? - Treading - Defoliation - Excretion 3. What is the definition of Bulk Density? Measure of compaction (higher BD, more compact a soil is) 4. What are the 2 nutrients excreted the most through cattle urine? What about the 3 through feces? - Urine – Nitrogen and potassium - Feces – Phosphorus, calcium, magnesium 5. There are 3 negative aspects of feeding hay in a concentrated animal. What can animals do to the area? - Heavily disturbed - Pollution - Compaction Nutrient Management 1. What are the 4 goals of nutrient management? - Maximize yield - Reduce waste - Recycle nutrients - Reduce nutrient loss 2. Before fertilizing a pasture, what should you know about the soil? The nutrients it is sufficient/deficient in 3. Discuss the importance of the following nutrients: - P – ATP transport, sugar phoshates, DNA, phospholipids, root development - K – turgor, Na/K pump, water balance, drought tolerance/water stress - Ca – cell wall structure, maintenance of flow of xylem and phloem, soil pH (ideal 6-7) - Mg – chlorophyll; not enough Mg, can’t synthesize 4. Micronutrients are involved with coenzymes and electron transfer 5. The micronutrient Boron (B) is important, especially with what crop? Alfalfa…should be >1ppm 6. Why isn’t N shown in a soil test? N is dynamic, always changing in the soil 7. P levels in soil should not exceed 80 lbs/A. 8. What are 4 ways you can manage water quality on grazing systems? - Fencing - Keep animals away from streams - Feed less by-products - Adequate groundcover/buffer 9. If you have too much P in your soil, what can happen? Eutrophication, pollution 10. K levels in soil should not exceed 250 lbs/A. 11. What is grass tetany in cattle? Cool temps affect a grass’s ability to pick up Mg in the soil….when cattle eat it, they don’t get enough Mg. They become sick and could die (IV of Magnesium glyphosphate can treat grass tetany). 12. If your soil pH is too high, what can it affect? Limits nutrient availability in plants 13. Can you describe the critical concentration? Zone where plants have the best amount of nutrients (neither deficient or excessive) 14. In the Mid-Atlantic, what percent of forage land is tested? What percent of hay gets fertilized each year? 21% forage land, 66-67% hay fertilized 15. Are we doing a good job of managing our forage land? NO 16. Describe the difference between haying pasture land vs. grazing pasture land. - Haying o Not a lot of NPK recycled back into land so have to replace it with fertilizer - Grazing o Most NPK consumed by animals is deposited back into land (70-90%) o Can be managed by rotational grazing Forage Establishment 1. Why is establishment so important? (2) - Production of ample and high quality forage - Essential for realization of benefits of every other input 2. Is establishment expensive? Yes 3. What are the 4 goals of establishment? - New grass-legume stand vs. old pasture? - N fertilized grass stand? - Pure legume stand? - Introduce legumes into a grass sod? 4. Forage establishment has 10 important requirements; what are they? - Species matched to soil and management - Adequate soil fertility and pH - Quality seed - Good seed to soil contact - Enough rainfall and good climate - Low weed/insect pressure - Proper timing and intensity of harvests - Match mixture to soil and site management - Select legume to match soil - Adequate fertility and pH provided - Add P205 and K20 based on soil test (seedlings need P) - Adapted to soil conditions - Seasonal distribution - Management requirement - Use high quality seed and good variety 19. What are 2 disadvantages of mixing your stand? - Difficult to maintain botanical composition - No herbicide 20. What are the 8 advantages of mixing your stand? - Reduce N needs - Increase forage quality - Increase yields - Better for summer growth - Easier to cure as hay - Reduce bloat - Reduce nitrate poisoning - Adapted to varying soils 21. When making a mixed stand, what 6 factors should you take into consideration? - Adapeted to region - Simple mixture (1 grass, 1 legume) - Similar maturities - Similar growth habits - Similar palabilities - Similar management 22. During the establishment year, is it important to give all seedlings including legumes some Nitrogen? Why or why not? Use N on all seedlings to kick start their growth 23. What are inoculants? Bacteria that are used to kick start growth 24. Name the 7 inoculants for alfalfa, clover, cowpea, pea/vetch, lupine, birdsfoot trefoil and soybean: - Alfalfa – rhizobium meliloti - Clover – rhizobium trefoil - Cowpea – bradyrhizobium japonicum - Pea/Vetch – rhizobium leguminosarum - Lupine – rhizobium lupine - Birdsfoot Trefoil – rhizobium loti - Soybean – rhizobium japonicium 25. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the only legume that doesn’t cause bloat if grazed in a pure stand because of the tannins it contains. 26. Discuss the aspects of seeding in the following seasons: - Early Spring o Plenty of moisture o Lower soil temperature o More weeds - Late Summer o Limited moisture o High soil temperature o Less weeds 27. Why is seeding oat-alfalfa mix common? - Oats protects alfalfa (groundcover, suppresses weeds) 28. What are 6 methods of seeding? - Cultipacker - Conventional grain drill - Band seeding with press wheel - Broadcast with cultipack - No-till drill - Frost seeding 29. When should you use a conventional seedbed? What are some examples of conventional seeding? - Where erosion hazard is low - Plowing, disking 30. What is the purpose of a conventional seedbed? (2) - Maintain moisture - Allows accurate seed placement 31. Grasses have a hypogeal emergence while legumes have an epigeal emergence. 32. A crusted, cracked seedbed is common in what crop? Cotton 33. Using a no-till seedbed reduces the surface residue. What can this cause? (2). - Poor soil-seed contact - Harbor diseases, insects, slugs 34. Before you seed, should you graze sod intensively or lightly? Intensively 35. (T/F) Using a no-till drill for seeding will give you more consistent results. 36. Should you always calibrate the seed drill before planting? Yes 37. What is the general rule for seeding depth? If you can’t see a little seed along silt, then you’re going too deep 38. No-till may be better than conventional tillage for fall seedings for 2 main reasons? What can be more prevalent with no-till though? - Groundcover for winter - Heaving from freeze/thaw - Pests can be more prevalent 39. (T/F) Moisture is key for planting. - Kudzu o Scientific name – Puerana lobata o Brought to the U.S. by _________________________ because o Positives – o Does it have enemies in U.S.? o Importance of goats and Kudzu 4. What is the difference between wild onion and garlic? 5. Why should we even control weeds (4)? 6. _________ lbs of grass increase for every 1lb of weed control. 7. What are the 7 impacts of weeds? 8. What are 7 weeds that affect milk and meat products: 9. Many weeds have higher or lower water requirements than forages? 10. Weeds typically are more or less competitive on infertile and acidic soils. 11. Weeds are heavy users of the nutrients ______ & ______. 12. If you manage your pastures, weeds aren’t really a problem. What are 4 aspects of good management? 13. Weeds are _________________________ invaders; if they see an opening, they go for it. 14. Weeds can be transported by? (4) 15. (T/F) Some weed seeds can remain dormant in soil for many years. 16. Define the following terms: - Annual – - Biennial – - Perennial – 17. Weed invasion depends on…(3) 18. __________ stocking rates favor broadleaf weeds. 19. ____________________ will not persist under close-grazing or frequent cutting. 20. What are 2 reasons why some “weeds” can be beneficial? 21. Do weeds have nutritional value? What stage of growth do they have the highest nutritive value? Give 2 examples of high nutritive weeds. 22. Why are some “weeds” harmful? What gives them the bad reputation? (4 reasons) 23. The key in weed control in pasture/rangeland is to maintain plant health. How can this be done (5)? What is considered the last resort? 24. What are the 3 keys to success of weed control in pasture/brush? 25. Why is it important to identify the certain weeds before applying herbicides? 26. When working on weed prevention, there are 4 things to keep in mind, what are they? 27. What are 6 weed control methods? 28. Discuss the chemical method of controlling weeds: