Data from: Production, quality, and weed ecology of native and introduced perennial forage strips

Authors: Scott, Drew; Petermann, Billi; Hendrickson, John; Christensen, Rachael; Degreef, Michael

Submitted to: Ag Data Commons
Publication Type: Database / Dataset
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2026
Publication Date: 6/26/2026
Citation: Scott, D.A., Petermann, B.J., Hendrickson, J.R., Christensen, R., Degreef, M.G. 2026. Data from: Production, quality, and weed ecology of native and introduced perennial forage strips. Ag Data Commons. 1. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/32273622.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/32273622

Interpretive Summary: The study compared perennial forage strips planted with native species to strips planted with introduced species over three years near Mandan, North Dakota. The introduced species established more quickly in the first year and continued to outperform the native mix, producing greater biomass and higher forage quality by the third year. In contrast, the native strips struggled because the dominant grass, Canada wild rye, developed a fungal disease and the native legumes produced very little, which reduced overall production. Weed communities differed between the two treatments, and although the introduced strips were better at suppressing weeds by the third year, barley foxtail remained the dominant volunteer species in every treatment. This consistent presence of barley foxtail suggests that planting perennial forage strips shifts the weed community toward more perennial species. Additional work is needed to improve perennial seed mixes, possibly by blending native and introduced species to achieve better establishment and performance.

Technical Abstract: Perennial forage strips are a way to add ecosystem services to annual grain rotations while also earning a second revenue stream as livestock feed. We compared forage strips planted with native species (Canada wild rye, green needle grass, white prairie clover) to forage strips planted with improved introduced species (intermediate wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, alfalfa) near Mandan, North Dakota. In the first year, introduced species established at higher density than native species, especially the legume component in the mix. By the third year, introduced forage strips produced greater total biomass and legume yield, and their forage had higher crude protein and relative feed value than native strips. Native forage strips suffered from fungal disease on the dominant grass (Canada wild rye) and had low legume biomass yield, resulting in lower overall production than introduced strips. Volunteer weed communities differed between treatments; introduced strips suppressed most volunteers in the third year. All perennial strip treatment by year combinations had barley foxtail as the dominant volunteer, suggesting that introducing perennials shifted the weed community to have more perennial species. Additional work is needed to optimize perennial forage species seed mixes, which might involve mixing native and introduced species.