Effects of Poultry Litter and Dairy Manure Applications On Forage Yield and Quality in Conventional and No-till Established Tall Fescue (Scheonourous phoenix [Scop.] Holub) Sward.

An endophyte-free  tall fescue cultivar, ‘Bronson’ was seeded at a rate of 28kg per ha in the fall of 2010.  Two establishment methods were utilized; conventional tillage and no-till establishment.  Treatments included conventional fertilizer, poultry litter, and dairy manure along with an untreated control.  Fertilizer, poultry litter, and dairy manure were applied at a rate to supply 224kg N per ha in the spring of 2011 and again in 2012.  Forage yield and quality data were collected.  Differences among treatments were observed.  Plots receiving the dairy manure application resulted in less forage yield.  Other differences among treatments will also be discussed.