Take Your Alfalfa Out to Pasture

A cow grazing birdsfoot trefoil — Birdsfoot trefoil (K2610-10)

Beef producers in the western United States have been searching for alternatives to nitrogen-rich fertilizers while also placing an increased emphasis on environmental stewardship. One possible answer to both concerns is to integrate alfalfa and other legumes into their high-productivity, irrigated pastures.

ARS researchers in Logan, UT, measured herbage mass, nutritive value, steer growth performance, and economics of tall fescue pastures mixed with alfalfa or birdsfoot trefoil compared to fescue-only pastures with nitrogen fertilizer. The grass-legume mixed pastures had slightly less herbage, but nutrition and steer growth performance improved compared to fertilized grass pastures. Without the added cost of fertilizer, economic returns for the grass-legume pastures were 2.4 (trefoil) and 1.7 (alfalfa) times greater than the fertilized grass pastures. In addition, grass-legume mixtures can help reduce dependence on petroleum-based commercial fertilizer.

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Adaptive Nutrient Management

ARS researchers in Temple, TX, employed adaptive nutrient management to determine preferred balances on farms.

Scientist monitoring real-time measurements of soil carbon, captured by the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering scanning system.

Carbon Mapping on the Go

ARS researchers have developed a unique mobile system that assesses and maps out soil carbon to a depth of 30 centimeters (the plow layer) – all in real time.

Two gloved hands holding a beaker of biofuel

Developing Biofuel Opportunities

ARS scientists are investigating ways to ensure agriculture can produce renewable fuels that will help diminish our carbon footprint.

Energy cane growing in a research plot in Georgia.

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Scientists conducted research on how farm management practices could maximize elephant grass’s utility as a bioethanol feedstock.

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To Save More Water, Plant Corn Later

A team of researchers and their partners have found another way to conserve water: late planted corn.

Wrangling for Resiliency

ARS researchers and the USDA Southwest Climate Hub developed a new set of tools aiming at helping farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders plan for serious environmental challenges.

Topic

Natural Resources & Sustainable Agricultural Systems