Forage mass and botanical composition of four annual forages grown in a loblolly pine silvopasture in the Mid-South USA

Authors: Nieman, Christine; PHILIPP, DIRK - University Of Arkansas; KUBESCH, JONATHAN - Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

Submitted to: Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2025
Publication Date: 11/22/2025
Citation: Nieman, C.C., Philipp, D., Kubesch, J.O. 2025. Forage mass and botanical composition of four annual forages grown in a loblolly pine silvopasture in the Mid-South USA. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70089.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70089

Interpretive Summary: Silvopasture systems include the intentional integration and management of trees, forage, and grazing livestock. Providing shade for grazing cattle is the main motivator for silvopasture adoption among cattle producers. Therefore, establishing forages in an existing pine plantation is of more interest than planting trees into a pasture. However, due to the complexity of silvopasture systems, forage species selection and establishment can be challenging for producers. The objective was to evaluate 4 annual forage species adapted to the mid-south, diploid annual ryegrass, tetraploid annual ryegrass, crimson clover, and arrowleaf clover, in a loblolly pine silvopasture for seasonal forage mass distribution, nutrient composition, and annual cumulative yield. Ryegrass types did not differ and were most productive in April and May and crude protein was above 17%, little regrowth occurred after the May harvest. Neither legume species established well in the pine alleys and dry matter contribution from both legume species was below 22% across months and years. Although soil pH was adequate, legumes likely failed to establish due to intermittent flooding at the research site. Both ryegrasses were productive in April and May, however, ryegrasses may be available for harvest earlier in March, which would improve forage dry matter mass distribution into early spring and, likely, overall yield.

Technical Abstract: Annual forages are commonly planted into open pasture in the mid-south, but there is little information on the productivity and nutritional characteristics of these forages when incorporated into silvopasture. The objective was to evaluate 4 annual forage species adapted to the mid-south, annual ryegrass, tetraploid annual ryegrass, crimson clover, and arrowleaf clover, in a loblolly pine silvopasture for seasonal forage mass distribution, nutrient composition, and annual cumulative yield. Forage species were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, with three harvests per year (Apr, May, and July), for three years (2020-2022). When 3-way interactions for species × month × year were significant, variables were evaluated for species × month effects within each year. Both ryegrass types were productive in April and May, and maintained crude protein values above 17%, regrowth was minimal after the May harvest and July yields were low. Both ryegrass types outperformed the legume species crimson and arrowleaf clovers which largely failed to establish in this environment, contributing only <22% of forage mass across months and years despite adequate soil pH, seed bed preparation, and inoculation. Ryegrass types did not differ in productivity or nutritional composition, but both were greater than the crimson clover and arrowleaf clover, which did not establish, and the total average yield for both ryegrasses was 3320 lb dM acre-1, an early March harvest may have improved overall yield.