Plsc Final

Front 1

forages definition

Back 1

leaves and stems (non-dried grain) that are consumed by animals

Front 2

Ruminant animals...

Back 2

Ruminant animals have a rumen (part of their digestive system) which contain bacteria capable of partially breaking down cellulose (not lignin)

Front 3

grazing

Back 3

Direct consumption of forages by animals - Most efficient harvesting

Front 4

hay production

Back 4

leaves and stems are cut and dried to < 20% moisture
1. Mowing and conditioning (squeezes forage to reduce moisture)
2. Windrow- long thin rows of cut forage
3. Dried to less than 20% moisture
4. Baling: Small square bales and round bales (store in these)

Front 5

straw

Back 5

Dried stems of small grains used for bedding of animals (no feed value)

Front 6

ensiling

Back 6

production of silage; silage is wet forage that is fermented and stored for later feed

Front 7

corn silage

Back 7

1. Harvest entire plant at physiological maturity & 65% moisture
2. Store in anaerobic conditions
a. upright silo, bunker silo, sausage bags
3. Carbohydrates are converted to organic acids which lowers pH and destroys molds and other microorganisms
4. Silage production usually occurs on dairy farms

Front 8

Forage quality:
cell contents
cell wall components

Back 8

As the plant matures (produces seedheads and flowers) cell contents decline and cell wall components increase (quality declines)

Front 9

Cell contents

Back 9

a. Carbohydrates: 100% digestible
b. Proteins: 100% digestible

Front 10

cell wall components

Back 10

a. Cellulose: 60% digestible by ruminants
b. Lignin: Not digestible

Front 11

hay quality factors

Back 11

1. Physiological maturity- seed heads and flowers indicate lower quality
2. Leaf to stem ratio
3. Color- check for off-color
4. Odor- check for molding
5. Foreign material

Front 12

legumes

Back 12

Legumes are usually higher in protein content than grasses

Front 13

2 grasses

Back 13

bunchgrasses and sod-forming

Front 14

bunchgrasses

Back 14

Bunchgrasses grow in upright clumps and are better suited for hay production than grazing, don’t spread, tiller from crown

Front 15

sod-forming grasses

Back 15

Sod-forming grasses spread out lower to the ground than bunchgrasses. They contain either rhizomes or stolons. They are well suited for grazing (particularly low grazing animals like horses and sheep)

Front 16

Warm-season vs cool-season

Back 16

C4 warm season grasses can be used as a summer pasture, C3 cool season grasses can be used for pasture in fall and spring

Plant cool-season grasses in the fall

Front 17

phosphorus and nitrogen

Back 17

• Phosphorus is most critical nutrient required during planting, frequent watering
• Maintenance after establishment…nitrogen is the most critical nutrient needed, water less frequently but deeper

P most needed at planting, N most needed after turf is established

Front 18

mowing

Back 18

Mowing frequently encourages tillering (new shoots from the crown)

Front 19

tillering/tillage systems

Back 19

development of new shoots from the base of the plant or below ground

soil preparation for planting

Front 20

conventional tillage

Back 20

Plowing the ground to destroy vegetation
1. Concerns: Erosion; compaction, lost time, energy costs
2. Benefits: reduces chemical use, reduces insects and diseases and some weeds
3. DisAdvtg- destroy soil structure, increase erosion, loss of moisture

Front 21

no tillage

Back 21

No-Tillage: Herbicides are used to destroy vegetation
4. Concerns: More pest problems
5. Benefits: less erosion, less H2O loss, less compaction
6. DisAdvtg- more chemicals required, more pest problems

Front 22

corn/pollination

Back 22

Pollination period is the most critical period of growth to determine corn yield
• Corn is most vulnerable to stress during pollination
• Stress during pollination during pollination delays striking
• Longer day hybrids are less susceptible to stress bc of longer pollination period

Front 23

Know the proper method of N fertilization for corn

Back 23

1 lb/A of N (left over soil N + fertilizer N) = 1 bushel/A of corn.
• 1st step: take a soil sample and test for soil nitrogen
• 2 steps of N fertilization
o 1) apply 50lbs N/A at planting
o 2) apply 60 lbs N/A (or the remainder needed) side dressed when corn is 12 inches tall

Front 24

What is a hybrid and what is the advantages and disadvantage of using corn hybrids?

Back 24

Hybrid crops are crops that are produced by cross-pollinating two inbred plants. Most all plants have both male and female parts and therefore fertilize themselves. A hybrid however is produced by taking the pollen from one plant and pollinating a different plant

adv- hybrids can give higher yields than traditional varieties/ stronger plant.

disadvt- Both inbreeding and crossing the lines requires a lot of work, which translates into a much higher seed cost

Front 25

soybeans; Determinant vs. indeterminate, maturity groups (based on length of night)

Back 25

Det- stops growth once flowering starts—southern
o Start flowering at 18-20 nodes
Indet- continue growth after flowering—northern
o Start flowering when soybeans get 6-8 nodes

Front 26

Know the maturity groups grown in Maryland

Back 26

• Mat. Groups determine when they flower
• Avg. soybean plant requires 10 hour of nighttime to trigger flowering

Front 27

double crop soybeans

Back 27

Double crop soybeans: plant after winter wheat followed by no-till soybeans
C. Ability to compensate for stress better than corn

Front 28

Know the relative cold tolerances of small grains

Back 28

• Rye, Wheat, Barley, Oats

Front 29

Winter wheat: Plant after __

Back 29

Plant after Hesian Fly Free Date; requires vernalization

Front 30

Vernalization

Back 30

requirement of an extended period of cold temp to trigger flowering

Front 31

Oats is planted __

Back 31

Oats is planted in Maryland after the last frost in the spring

Front 32

Rye is

Back 32

primary cover crop used in MD: reduces erosion and holds nutrients

Front 33

Know the stages of growth (small grains)

Back 33

Tillering is the stage which plants over-winter
• Seedling- up to 3 leave
• Tillering- new shoots develop from the base of plant
• Jointing- growing point moves through stem
• Boot stage- seedhead starts to emerge from flag leaf
• Reproductive stage

Front 34

flag leaf

Back 34

Feeds carbs to grain; produce a large proportion of the carbsstored in grain

Front 35

conditions for growing lowland rice

Back 35

70 degree F average temps, a fresh water source (3 – 6 inch depth in paddies), and high clay content.

Front 36

Rice production systems

Back 36

1. Irrigated lowland: High production; transplanted

2. Rainfed lowland: Not as productive; transplanted

3. Upland: Not in paddies. Associated with slash & burn agriculture; direct seeded

Front 37

Rice types: Japonica vs. Indica

Back 37

• Japonica- short grained, mostly used for upland rice
• Indica- longer grained

Front 38

Glyphosate Resistance (Roundup Ready):

Back 38

Crops resistant to the herbicide glyphosate; • Glysophate very safe to humans and kills every weed

Front 39

B+ crops

Back 39

Crops producing a natural insecticide; controls insects

Front 40

golden rice

Back 40

Contains higher vitamin A
• Genetically engineered to produce B+ protein that kills insects
• Golden rice genetically engineered to produce high vitamin A content