Forage mass, accumulation, and nutritive value of four perennial forages grown in a loblolly pine silvopasture in the Mid‐South United States

Establishing forage in loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) plantations has the potential to increase grazing acreage for cattle farms in the Mid‐South, but appropriate species selection still requires investigation. The objective was to evaluate forage mass, accumulation, and nutritive value of four perennial forage species, novel‐endophyte tall fescue [ Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] (TF), orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) (OG), white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) (WC), and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) (ALF) cultivated in a loblolly pine silvopasture. Forages were harvested four times per year April (harvest 1 [H1]), May (harvest 2 [H2]), July (harvest 3 [H3]), and October (harvest 4 [H4]), from 202 to 2022. Likely due to waterlogging, ALF did not establish in any plots. In 2020, WC and TF forage mass increased ( p < 0.05) by H2 and H3, while OG forage mass did not increase until 2021. Forages mass was greatest for H1 and H2, while limited precipitation reduced forage mass for H3 and H4 of 2021 and 2022 ( p < 0.05). Forages WC, TF, and OG produced forage of >15% protein and <50% neutral detergent fiber for H1 and H2 in 2021 and 2022. Forage accumulation differed by species and year ( p < 0.05) and ranged from 2522 to 5548 kg dry matter ha −1 . After the establishment year, forage mass across species was greatest in spring and early summer, with little to no regrowth after July. Environmental conditions and establishment rates influenced forage mass per harvest within and among years, though forage accumulation for TF, WC, and OG did not differ by year.