Plots with boundaries mowed. Image Credit: J. Brackenrich, Penn State Extension.

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Different sources and nitrogen rates were applied to mixed cool-season grasses in Washington County to improve yield and quality. Plots were treated with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to achieve optimum soil fertility, then treated with different sources and rates of nitrogen. If you want more details about the treatments and experimental design, read the first update, Western Pennsylvania Nitrogen Trial on Grass Hay.

Test plots comparison from May 3 — **Image Caption:** These images were taken on May 3. The left image is a control plot, while the right is an ESN and urea-treated plot. Notice the color and thickness of the stands. The scale board is approximately 30" tall, with each strip measuring 1.5". **Image Credit:** J. Brackenrich, Penn State Extension.

Notes and Observations:

During May, heights and observations were recorded and outlined in Table 1. Generally, the control plots remained thinner and yellow throughout the month compared to the treated areas. There was also a difference in speciation in control and treated plots. Sweet vernal grass, Kentucky bluegrass, plantain species, and dandelions dominated the control plots. The treated plots had a greater concentration of orchardgrass, tall fescue, and ryegrass. Some perennial weeds were still within the treated plots, but concentrations were much lower.

Table 1. Observations and Measurements during May
Date	Treatment	Observation	Height
May 3	Control	Yellow looking. Thinner stands, with less tillering.	10"
May 3	Single Urea App	More tillering. Darker green.	14"
May 3	Split App Urea	More tillering. Darker green.	15"
May 3	ESN and Urea	Very thick. Lots of tillering and leaf material. Weed concentration is lower than other treatments.	17"
May 13	Control	Bluegrass is heading. The stand is very thin.	20"
May 13	Single Urea App	Fescue is beginning to head. Nice green and dense stand. Some perennial weed pressure.	24"
May 13	Split App Urea	Fescue is beginning to head. Nice green and dense stand. Some perennial weed pressure.	23"
May 13	ESN and Urea	Very tall and dense canopy. Some orchardgrass and fescue are beginning to head. Lodging is occurring.	28"
May 20	Control	Stand is thin compared to other treatments. Dominated by sweet vernal grass and Kentucky bluegrass.	25"
May 20	Single Urea App	Headed orchardgrass and fescue. Good stand color and density. Weed pressure is low.	32"
May 20	Split App Urea	Headed orchardgrass and fescue. Good stand color and density. Weed pressure is low.	34"
May 20	ESN and Urea	Very dense and leafy stands. Headed orchardgrass, fescue, and ryegrass. Some lodging in areas.	34"

Test plots comparison from May 13 — These images were taken on May 13. The left image is a control plot, while the right is an ESN and urea-treated plot. Notice the color and thickness of the stands. The scale board is approximately 30” tall, with each strip measuring 1.5”. **Image Credit:** J. Brackenrich, Penn State Extension

Harvest:

On May 20, samples were harvested from the plots. Samples were taken using a 0.25 m² quadrate and gas hedge trimmer. Two samples were collected per plot to give a total sampling area of 0.5 m². Part of the sample was air-dried, weighed, processed through a Koster Tester, and reweighed for dry matter calculations. A smaller sub-sample was air-dried and sent to Cumberland Valley Analytical Services Lab for forage analysis. The results of the first harvest DM and forage analysis are in Table 2.

Table 2. Results of Dry Matter Calculations and Forage Analysis
Treatment	DM Ton/ Acre (average)	Crude Protein (% on DM Basis)	TDN
No P or K Fertilizer	0.7	8.5	60.4
Control	1.3	9.3	60.5
Single Urea App	1.8	12.0	60.7
Split App Urea	1.9	11.5	60.3
ESN and Urea	2.1	14.4	59.7

As reported in Table 2, yield and CP improved between no additions and control and between control and nitrogen treatments. Final statistics and economics will be reported in the final article once we have collected data from all three cuttings. However, this does show the importance of optimum fertility levels.

Two sample piles, control area and urea-treated — This is a 0.5m2 sample from control (left pile) and single application urea (right pile). These images show a visual difference of the DM difference reported in Table 2. **Image Credit:** J. Brackenrich, Penn State Extension.

What's Next?

After collecting the samples, the farm owner mowed, raked, and baled off the plots. Hay was removed the last weekend of May (around May 25), allowing for the second application of potash and urea (on split-applied treatments) to be made on May 29. Weekly measurements and observations are being taken for second-cutting notes. We have also started working on the economic reports of the trial, i.e., what is the cost per acre to fertilize compared to the price per acre to mow, cut, rake, and bale? This information will be aggregated and reported in our last article once harvest is complete. Until then, check the Field and Forage Crop Facebook for updates, and subscribe to Field Crop News for more articles and events related to forages.

Special thanks to the Washington County Conservation District Staff and their Board. Also, thank you to the Midla's and Flat Stone Lick Farm for hosting the trial.

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