Forage Yields

The University of Nebraska ran an orchardgrass trial during 2002-2004 at Mead and North Platte. The Mead site was non-irrigated and received 25" of moisture the first year and 27" the second year. A detailed description of their growing conditions is available here. The North Plate site was irrigated and received 17" of rain plus 23.6" of irrigation the first year. The second year, total rainfall was 21.9" plus an additional 20" of irrigation.A detailed description of their growing conditions is available here.

While other varieties out-performed Persist in North Platte, under good irrigation and rainfall, no other variety had a higher yield score for the two years in Mead than Persist. In fact, Persist did so well that it was added to the NRCS's Recommended list for varieties for use across the state, in any soil condition and any location! For sure, Nebraska and Great Plains farmers will need to discover just how well Persist will do for their applications, but the initial results from this trial are very encouraging.

TRIAL DATA:

University of Nebraska Dry Matter Yields 2002-04 Harvest
	Mead, NE			North Platte
Cultivar	2003 Yield	2004 Yield	2-yr Total	2003 Yield	2004 Yield	2-yr Total
Persist	3.92*	2.79*	6.71*	6.86	8.12	14.98
Pizza	4.11	2.15	6.26	7.75	7.93	15.68
Mammoth	3.68	2.54	6.22	7.42	8.07	15.49
Extend	4.11	2.03	6.14	8.19*	8.41	16.60*
Athos	3.90	2.17	6.07	7.45	7.66	15.11
Potomac	3.55	2.43	5.98	6.88	7.90	14.78
Intensive	3.98	1.97	5.95	7.11	7.98	15.09
Satin	4.04	1.89	5.93	8.00	8.54*	16.54
Sparta	3.95	1.95	5.90	7.02	7.32	14.34
Pennlate	3.89	2.01	5.90	7.87	8.44	16.31
Latar	3.91	1.98	5.89	7.42	8.23	15.65
Ambra	3.50	2.27	5.77	6.92	7.66	14.58
Niva	3.72	1.96	5.68	6.33	7.31	13.64
Akaroa	3.74	1.93	5.67	6.79	8.01	14.80
Baridana	3.85	1.68	5.53	7.04	7.62	14.66
Pauite	3.57	1.92	5.49	6.98	8.31	15.29
lsd	0.58	0.37	0.79	1.01	0.80	1.49

*highest score

varieties in bold were statistically equal to the top score

Complete trial data is available by clicking here.