A number of Fond du Lac County producers utilize reed canarygrass as a supplemental forage source. Its advantages include high quality forage when harvested in a timely fashion, high yields, excellent winterhardiness, and good tolerance to both dry and wet soil conditions. A recent study from the University of Minnesota points to an additional advantage for livestock farmers.

The 3-year study was initiated to determine if forage yield and quality could be improved with split applications of fertilizer compared to a single application prior to spring growth. Nitrogen (N) was broadcast applied at rates of 0 to 600 lb. N per acre. Single rates were applied in April or May. The remainder of the split N applications were made following the first harvest in June. Three harvests were taken each year.

In each year a large yield response to applied N was obtained. Averaged across 3 years, yields were increased 130 percent with the optimum N rate. Depending on the year and rainfall, forage yields were optimized at 200 to 300 lbs. of N per acre. Applying over 300 lb. N/A did not increase yields, although residual nitrate still did not accumulate in the soil profile at the 400 lb. rate. Split applications of N did not increase reed canarygrass yields when applied at the optimum total N rate. When only a total of 100 or 150 lb. N/A was applied, then a slight advantage was gained with split applications.