Lynn E Sollenberger

University of Florida | UF · Department of Agronomy

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) cultivars used for forage in the southeastern US are primarily diploids. While producers favor tetraploid traits, e.g., wider leaf blades and fewer inflorescences, compared to diploids, there are barriers to their greater use including apomictic reproduction, lesser frost tolerance, and later initiation of sprin...

Overseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into grass swards increases forage nutritive value and reduces N fertilizer requirement. In warm climates, establishing and maintaining alfalfa in mixtures with vigorous C4 grasses is challenging, which makes adjustment of defoliation management critical. The objective of this 2‐year study was to determine o...

CONTEXT A challenge facing the livestock sector is improving beef production while mitigating negative environmental impacts. Analyzing its past productive and environmental performance may elucidate strategies for improving efficiency of grassland-based systems and identify future research and public policy priorities. OBJECTIVES Describe past an...

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is a warm‐season legume often used as a cover crop; however, there is limited information about nutrient cycling of sunn hemp residue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sunn hemp genotype and residue management on plant characteristics, decomposition, and suppression of Fusarium, Pythium, Scl...

New hybrid grass cultivars may enhance animal performance in forage‐livestock systems if they possess traits that address edaphoclimatic challenges and pest susceptibility. The objective was to assess herbage accumulation, plant‐part composition, nutritive value, and animal performance of ‘Ipyporã’ [Brachiaria ruziziensis Germ. & Evrard × B. brizan...

Integrating warm-climate forage legumes into grass monocultures has received significant research attention during the past 70 years, but widespread adoption by end users has been elusive. The objectives of this review are to provide historical context regarding legume use in warm-climate grasslands; synthesize the current literature addressing con...

Stable isotopes are useful for estimating livestock diet selection. The objective was to compare δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N to estimate diet proportion of C3–C4 forages when steers (Bos spp.) were fed quantities of rhizoma peanut (Arachisglabrata; RP; C3) and bahiagrass (Paspalumnotatum; C4).Treatments were proportions of RP with bahiagrass hay: 100% bahiagrass...

The objective of Trial 1 was to determine the effects of condensed tannins (CT) from sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don] on in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), total gas production (GP), methane (CH4) emission, and ruminal fluid parameters after fermentation. Substrates used in four 48-h in vitro fermentations wer...

The objectives of this study were to determine the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as the isotopic composition of N2O from excreta of beef steers fed ‘AU Grazer’ sericea lespedeza hay [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don]. Fifteen Brahman × Angus crossbred steers were fed one of three experim...

Seasonal and annual changes in stubble characteristics can affect the regrowth of warm‐season perennial grasses. Understanding these changes and their effects on forage accumulation rate (FAR) can improve defoliation management. Our objective was to describe and relate variations in stubble characteristics with FAR during regrowth of four palisadeg...

Overseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into existing bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon L. (Pers.)] swards may reduce N fertilizer inputs and improve seasonal distribution of forage. However, achieving successful alfalfa stands in mixture with bermudagrass is difficult because of competition from the grass. This experiment's objective was to assess s...

Abstract Rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is a perennial legume with ability to persist and spread in mixtures with C4 grasses. Most RP establishment studies focus on its use as a monoculture hay crop, and more information is needed on establishment strategies for RP–grass mixtures. The objectives of this study were to compare technique...

‘Camello’ brachiariagrass (Urochloa spp.) and Spain guineagrass [Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs] are new warm‐season perennial forages with potential for use in subtropical livestock production systems. There are no data in the United States describing their agronomic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the herbage acc...

Inereasing the grazing season and improving distribution of eool-season annual forages would benefit pasture-based dairy systems in North Florida. Six eool-season forage mixtures, rye (Secale cereale L.)-oat (Avena sativa L.), rye-oat-erimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), rye-oat-red clover (T. pratense L.), and eaeh of these plus ryegrass (Lo-...

Roots and rhizomes can play an important role in nutrient cycling, however, few studies have investigated how their decomposition pattern is affected by defoliation and time of the year. This 2-year study evaluated root-rhizome composition and decomposition of a warm-season rhizomatous perennial legume [rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.)]...

Seeding date effects on yield and nutritive value of cool-season annual forage mixtures Abstract Increasing the grazing season and improving distribution of coo-season annual forages would benefit pasture-based dairy systems in North Florida. Six cool-season forage mixtures, rye (Secale cereale L.)-oat (Avena sativa L.), rye-oat-crimson clover (Tri...

Grazing cover crops can improve land‐use efficiency and diversification, making agricultural enterprises more resilient to market fluctuations. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop forage responses and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yield. Cover crops were a mixture of rye (Secale cereale L.)‐oat (Avena sativa L.) mixture m...

Soils under grasslands contribute significantly to terrestrial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, and grassland management practices directly impact pool size through effects on plant biomass. Our objective was to quantify above and belowground plant biomass and soil C and N accumulation for year-round forage systems based on N-fertilized grasses (...

Grasslands cover approximately 30% of the world area and research conducted in pasturelands has been crucial to realize the benefits of grassland contributions to livestock production and ecosystem services. The Forage and Grazing Terminology Task Force has developed a list of recommended nomenclature for grazing lands research and this effort has...

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different proportions of ‘Au Grazer’ sericea lespedeza [SL, Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don], a legume rich in condensed tannins (CT), on nutrient intake and digestibility, and to estimate methane (CH4) emissions and 13C isotopic composition (δ 13CCH4) from beef steers consuming a forage...

Light reduction in silvopastoral systems and self‐shading in tree‐less grasslands can lead to shade‐avoidance responses by tropical grasses. Light environment in association with N supply influence the growth and nutritive value of forage grasses. This study aimed to quantify forage accumulation (FA) and forage nutritive value of tropical grasses d...

Plant litter is an important nutrient pool in grasslands. Most estimates of N return from litter are based on incubation of attached plant material (live or senescent) instead of dead, detached material on the soil surface. Our objective was to quantify mass, chemical composition, and N disappearance from soil-surface litter for year-round forage s...

Grasslands occupy significant land area and account for a large proportion of the global soil carbon stocks, yet the direct effects of grazing and genotypic composition on relationships between shoot and root production are poorly resolved. This lack of understanding hinders the development of models for predicting root production in managed grassl...

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is an important warm‐season grass for livestock in the southern USA. To be productive bermudagrass requires supplementary nitrogen (N). This two‐year study assessed whether N fertilization could be halved by introducing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) into ‘Tifton‐85’ bermudag...

Replacing N fertilizer with forage legumes may increase sustainability of grazing systems. The objectives were to evaluate herbage and animal responses and to quantify the water footprint associated with beef production in N‐fertilized grass or grass‐legume systems during 4 years under continuous stocking. The three year‐round forage systems were:...

Nutrient cycling via livestock excreta is an important grassland ecosystem service. This study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 and determined nutrient excretion from cattle grazing three systems: 1) N‐fertilized bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) overseeded with rye (Secale cereale L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) during winter (Grass+N); 2) unfertil...

Understanding the effects of grazing management on tillering dynamics of forage grasses may help identify management practices that optimize pasture production, stability, and ultimately persistence. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two grazing frequencies (regrowth interrupted when the canopy was 70 cm tall or at 95% c...

Plant litter deposition and decomposition play important roles in grassland nutrient cycling. The objective was to evaluate plant litter responses and estimate the N‐returns via plant litter in contrasting grazing systems, since legume inclusion is hypothesized to result in similar quantities of N return compared to N‐fertilized grass systems. Syst...

Silvopasture is an alternative to open pasture (OP), but the effect of trees on understory grass canopy structure and tiller morphology is not well defined. Our objective was to compare herbage accumulation, canopy structure, and tiller morphology of Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu (palisadegrass) growing in OP or in s...

Rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is an important perennial forage legume in the US Gulf Coast region, but propagation using rhizomes and prolonged establishment periods limit its adoption. Genotypes and management practices that hasten establishment are needed. Our objective was to determine the effects of RP growth habit and nitrogen (...

Because of its adaptability to Florida’s environmental conditions and ability to produce viable seeds, pintoi peanut represents an interesting forage alternative for cow-calf producers in the state. This 5-page document provides current information on pintoi peanut for forage and livestock producers in Florida. Written by Joao M. D. Sanchez, Joao V...

Adoption of rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is limited by slow establishment. Understanding the factors affecting RP biomass partitioning during the shoot emergence period may aid in developing management practices that enhance establishment. A growth chamber study was conducted to determine shoot emergence and overall growth responses...

Diversification of monoculture grass pastures may provide opportunity for increased productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of forage-livestock systems. Our objective was to compare herbage accumulation (HA), nutritive value, and animal performance on a grass monoculture control and two alternative systems, all based on ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass...

Understanding seasonal changes in herbage accumulation (HA) and canopy characteristics of tropical grasses aids management of forage‐livestock systems and optimizes use of novel cultivars in both traditional and integrated systems. The objective of this study was to describe and explain seasonal herbage accumulation and canopy characteristics of th...

Warm‐season grasses predominate in subtropical and tropical climates and are the primary feed source for many livestock. They utilize the C4 carbon fixation pathway, associated with high‐growth rates, high water and N‐use efficiencies, and relatively low‐nutritive value compared with C3 grasses. This chapter deals with warm‐season grasses for humid...

The goal of pasture design is to achieve a livestock distribution that positively affects pasture utilization, plant diversity, watershed function, and control of animal wastes and nutrient flows. This chapter describes plant responses to defoliation and the mechanisms underpinning them. It defines the key grazing management choices and their poten...

Herbivores create and respond to grassland vegetation patterns in dynamic, interactive ways that can be beneficial or detrimental. Interactions among herbivores and grasslands occur in several scales of space and time. This chapter deals with the interactions between plants and grasslands and herbivores, focusing on the nature and complexity and sc...

Microbial inoculants have been used extensively to enhance silage fermentation characteristics; however, there is limited information about the effects of microbial inoculants on warm‐season perennial grass silage. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of commercial inoculants on mycotoxins, fermentation characteristics, and nutrit...

Root morphology and production are important for soil nutrient acquisition and C sequestration, but these traits are poorly understood in the bioenergy crop elephantgrass [Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schum.]. Our objective was to characterize root traits of elephantgrass receiving different nutrient management practices in comparison with bahiagrass...

Rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is an important species for hay production in the US Gulf Coast region; however, frequent summer rains and high humidity often preclude optimal harvest intervals. Extended regrowth periods are common on‐farm, but data are limited assessing their impact on plant responses. The objective was to compare abo...

Off‐site transport of excess soil P from repeated P fertilizer applications constitutes waste of a vital resource and poses an environmental risk. Excess P can be mined by growing crops without P addition until it is exhausted to the point of P deficiency. This study evaluated the utility of the “soil phosphorus storage capacity” (SPSC) as an indic...

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.) is an important crop for rainfed production systems and can play a significant role as a feed source for ruminants owing to its high yield and drought tolerance. It is well-established that the maturity stage can influence the chemical composition as well as the nutritional value of crops traditionally use...

Forage species diversification reduces risk associated with forage‐livestock production. In the Amazon biome, an alternative is needed to ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster] because of Marandu death syndrome. Our objective was to compare herbage accumulation (HA), canopy characteristics, and nutritive val...

Although perennial bioenergy crops provide a potential for soil C sequestration, high fertilizer inputs are required to sustain yields. Land application of bioenergy byproducts can be an effective strategy to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer. This study examined the impacts of elephantgrass [Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schum.] bioenergy croppin...

Stockpiling warm‐season perennial grasses for winter grazing is an important management practice for beef cattle production systems in tropical and subtropical regions. Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb.] has greater digestibility at late maturity than other commonly‐used warm‐season perennial grasses; however, decreased c...

Long‐term stand persistence is a desirable characteristic of sustainable grassland ecosystems, and tillering dynamics is an important determinant of persistence. Grazing intensity and nutrient supply affect tiller density, weight, and survival. Thus, understanding relationships among these factors can aid in optimizing performance of grazed pasture...

Rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata) is an important perennial forage legume, but adoption can be limited by relatively slow establishment. Genotype and temperature following planting of rhizomes likely affect partitioning of stored and new photo‐assimilates, but their impact on establishment rate is not known. To assess these relationships, plant...

New forage cultivars require defoliation studies for recommending proper grazing management. Our objective was to characterize herbage accumulation (HA), plant‐part composition and nutritive value of guineagrass [Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B. K. Simon & S. W. L. Jacobs] rotationally stocked under two grazing intensities. The experimental design wa...

Abstract: Adoption of rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata) is limited by slow establishment rate after planting. Understanding the factors affecting RP biomass partitioning during shoot emergence may aid in developing management practices that enhance establishment. A growth-chamber experiment was conducted to determine shoot emergence and overall...

In forage systems, soil C and N are affected by many factors including above- and belowground biomass, root exudation, defoliation management, and tissue turnover dynamics. There is need to understand the main drivers of soil C and N accumulation under perennial forages, especially those factors associated with differences in growth and canopy char...

https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2019am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/119122 Abstract: Rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is an important perennial forage legume in the southeastern United States, but adoption can be limited by its requirement for vegetative propagation from rhizomes and its characteristic prolonged establishment period. Plant tr...

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is a warm-season legume commonly used as cover crop. Warm-season legumes can fix atmospheric N and provide nutrients to the subsequent crop through nutrient cycling. However, there are limited information about the effects of management practices on sunn hemp nutrient release. The objective of this study was to test...

The ingrowth core method for measuring root accumulation has several advantages over sequential soil cores or mini-rhizotrons. However, current ingrowth core designs are not well suited for use with rhizomatous perennial forage species or when defoliation occurs during the measurement period. Our objective was to develop a modified ingrowth core de...

Perennial bioenergy grasses can potentially replace fossil fuels and offset atmospheric CO2 through soil C sequestration. However, limited information relevant to the impacts of bioenergy cropping on ecosystem services, especially above- and below-ground productivity and soil C sequestration is available for subtropical environments (e.g., southeas...

To meet the global demand for animal protein, sustainable intensification of existing livestock systems may be possible, especially through integration of livestock with crops or forestry. Thus, our objective was to compare forage production and animal performance in grass monoculture and integrated systems in the Brazilian Amazon biome. The four s...

Background: Grasslands occupy significant land area and account for a large proportion of the global soil carbon stock, yet the direct effects of grazing and genotypic composition on relationships between shoot and root production are poorly resolved. This lack of understanding hinders the development of models for predicting root production in man...

Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima [Poir.] Stapf & C.E. Hubb.) is commonly used as stockpiled forage. Variation in forage characteristics during the stockpiling period may affect supplementation strategies. Our objective was to characterize herbage mass (HM) and nutritive value of different canopy layers of stockpiled limpograss under continuous stoc...

Two complementary experiments were conducted to investigate the relationships between the canopy structure of Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyugrass) pastures created by intermittent stocking strategies and daily herbage intake by cattle. The first experiment (Exp. I) evaluated the relationship between different pre-grazing heights (10, 15, 20, and 2...

Perennial grasses offer potential for high lignocellulosic biomass yields on marginal land that can be used for conversion to biofuels. However, fertilizer nutrient inputs are often required to maintain high yields. This study evaluated biochar and fermentation residuals as alternative supplemental nutrient sources for elephantgrass (Pennisetum pur...

Although Brachiaria spp. grasses are important components of sustainable forage–livestock systems in the Amazon biome, cultivar diversification is needed to reduce risk from pests and diseases. Brachiaria hybrid ‘BRS RB331 Ipyporã’ [B. ruziziensis Germ. & Evrard ´ B. brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf] was released in 2017 as an alternative for...

Understanding plant growth may help to identify factors limiting forage production and contribute to the identification of optimal harvest management. The objective of this study was to describe and explain the effect of two harvest intervals (28 and 42 d) on the growth of Convert HD 364 (Dow AgroSciences, São Paulo, Brazil) hybrid brachiariagrass...

Ecosystem services (ES) are the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being. Grassland ecosystems cover >40% of Earth’s ice-free terrestrial surface, and grassland management affects the ES provided. Our objective was to synthesize the existing literature assessing management effects on regulating and supporting ES provided...

Pintoi peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg.) is a warm‐season perennial legume with potential for use in grass–legume mixtures in Florida; however, limited information exists about its establishment in mixtures with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the establishment of bahiagrass cv. “Arg...

Adoption of silvopasture is increasing, but proper design and management of pasture–tree associations is required to sustain pasture productivity. Our objective was to compare agronomic and physiological characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex A.Rich.) Stapf. (palisade grass) cv. Marandu growing in monoculture, or in silvopasture withEu...

Global phosphate reserves are being depleted at an alarming rate even as excess phosphorus (P) application has resulted in surplus (“legacy”) soil P. Legacy P can be recovered by crops if excess fertilizer application is avoided. We conducted a field experiment for a typical regional cropping system at three sites on three different soil types in F...

ASA/CSSA/CSA National Meeting 2018, Baltimore, MD

Plant litter is an important source of nutrients to ecosystems affecting nutrient cycling dynamics and soil organic matter accumulation. In pastures, the choice of defoliation has a large impact on level of nutrient removal or nutrient return in animal excreta. We hypothesized that defoliation by grazing and inclusion of legumes promote faster deca...

In the southeastern US, livestock production systems are based primarily on N-fertilized grasses. Fertilization increases the ecological footprint of agricultural activities and the emission of greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide (N2O). The introduction of legumes into forage production systems is an alternative for more sustainable productio...

Bermudagrass hybrids (Cynodon spp.), such as Tifton 85, are among the most widely used forages for hay production in the southeastern United States, although large N fertilizer inputs are often required for sustained productivity. Grass–legume mixtures can reduce the need for N fertilization. The objective was to assess peanut species (Arachis spp....

Ecosystem Services are the benefits society obtains from ecosystems. These services benefit both people and the environment. Ecosystem services (ES) provided by grasslands include not only products such as beef and milk (provisioning services), but also biological N2-fixation (BNF) and nutrient cycling (supporting ES), carbon sequestration and gree...