Effects of Nitrogen Rate and Cutting Management on Emergency Forages No-Tilled into Winterkilled Alfalfa.

Alfalfa winter injury can cause serious consequences for producers, as well as regional livestock industries in Minnesota. Alternative warm season annual forage crops can be planted in response to winterkill, although the best suited species, cutting frequency, and N rate need to be evaluated. This work assesses the viability and production potential of seven warm-season annual grasses and one clover-grass mixture no-till planted into winter-killed alfalfa at locations in Waseca and Rosemount, MN. Three nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 56, and 112 kg ha^-1) were applied as sub-plot treatments. Harvesting intervals began 30-days after planting across all treatments. Preliminary results indicate BMR sorghum treatments to yield the greatest mean herbage mass (13.8 Mg ha^-1), regardless of cutting frequency. N rate had no effect (P > 0.05) on yield in any treatments.