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August 1984
Department of Agronomy and Soils
Departmental Series No. 91
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
Gale A. Buchanan, Director
Auburn University
Auburn University, Alabama

PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES
IN ALABAMA, 1984
W. C. Johnson and Darrell 
Williamso
The Alabama Ryegrass Variety Test is a continuing evaluation of
available varieties and breeding lines from private companies and state
agricultural experiment stations. Tests are planted in three locations,
northern, central, and southern, to evaluate the varieties under the
different environmental conditions of these regions of Alabama. The
tests are conducted by experiment station personnel and the results
presented in a fair and unbiased manner.
Experimental Procedure and Discussion
Ryegrass entries were seeded at a 20-pound-per-acre rate in rows 6
inches apart, using plots 4 x 20 feet with four replications. A good
stand was obtained at each location after the late-September 1983
planting dates. The extremely cold December and January weather
restricted winter growth, but all varieties at all locations survived
and produced well in the spring.
The tests were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium according
to soil test. At planting, nitrogen was applied at the rate of 50 pounds
N per acre. An additional 50 pounds of N was applied per acre after
each cutting to allow the varieties to perform at their maximum yield
1Professor and Research Associate, Department 
of Agronomy and
Soils.
potential. The plots were harvested when the ryegrass reached 6-10
inches with a flail type harvester to a 2-inch stubble. A herbage
sample of approximately I pound was taken from each plot at each 
harvest
for determining forage dry matter percentage, for converting green
weights to dry matter.
The Plant Breeding Unit at Tallassee, despite extremely cold
weather, produced excellent yields of forage. The ryegrass was 
cut nine
times, with the test's average yield of all entries being almost 5 
tons
of dry forage.
Marshall continued to be among the highest in total herbage
production throughout Alabama and is especially outstanding in late
winter/early spring production. Urbana, a variety entered by Van 
Der
Have Seeds of the Netherlands and tested in Alabama for the second year,
shows similiar yield capability to Marshall at all three test locations.
Marshall's and Urbana's consistent high ranking shows their productive
ability under most Alabama conditions.
Planning ways to meet seasonal forage needs is an important
consideration for cattle producers. Tables 7, 8, and 9 show 3-year
average seasonal distribution of forage for the varieties tested.
Autumn yield at the Gulf Coast Substation is often restricted by low
rainfall, but is compensated for by high production during the mild,
moist winter. Little or no forage production can be expected during the
usually severe winter in the Sand Mountain area of northern Alabama.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Appreciation is expressed to W,, H, Heamn and Mrs. Sally Bagwell,
Research Data Analysis,. for the data processing of this report. We also
acknowledge the contributions of E.. L,, Carden, Larry Wells, and N. R.
McDaniel , Gulf Coast Substation, J. T. Eason and M. E. Ruf, Sand
Mountain Substation, and L,,L,, Walker, Plant Breeding Unit, for growing
and harvesting the experiments.
Table 1. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope,
Alabama, 1983-84
Harvest date Season
Brand-variety 12/16 2/14 3/01 3/19 4/04 4/19 5/09 total
Lb./a.. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall 1,818 732 1,138 1,413 1,247 1,034 675 8,057 a
Urbana 1,581 631 1,034 868 1,200 1,168 557 7,040 b
Bison ,899 370 1,032 1,206 1,358 1,236 595 6,696 bc
PS 1005 1,469 340 690 1,086 1,134 1,012 655 6,386 bcd
Pioneer 7F 3M 1,712 751 834 792 686 824 632 6,231 bcde
Ninak 1,249 556 795 769 1,022 1,201 530 6,121 bcdef
Shannon 885 497 845 1,010 995 1,112 487 5,832 cdefg
Florida 80 1,479 811 929 978 445 641 473 5,757 cdefg
Gulf 1,273 427 757 1,045 785 670 672 5,630 defg
Pioneer SM SF 1,056 712 948 981 648 769 501 5,616 defg
Penplold 4 1,217 418 661 924 1,009 648 444 5,321 efg
Vanderhave HI 77 875 618 686 864 717 906 525 5,192 fg
Tetrablend 444 1,024 393 637 810 773 603 664 4,904 g
Mean Yield 1,272 558 845 981 925 910 570 6,060
C.V. (%) 26 29 28 16 22 17 16 10
Yields in this column followed by the same letter are not different, P=.05.
Planted: September 26, 1983
Soil: Marlboro fine sandy loam.
Table 2. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama,
Harvest date
Brand-variety 12/1 12/16 3/1 3/19 3/29 4/11 4/26 5/14 6/7
Lb,/a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb-./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall . 1,864 348 974 1,202 943 1,553 1,678 2,374 402
Ninak 1,665 342 744 1,022 780 1,440 1,619 2,223 525
Urbana 1,761 311 607 859 641 1,511 1,630 2,409 487
Pioneer SMSF 1,336 270 1,082 1,163 459 1,415 1,623 2,100 658
Shannon 1,475 316 637 1,015 645 1,533 1,620 2,342 508
Pioneer 7F3M 1,484 266 1,192 1,163 419 1,281 1,532 1,870 473
Bison 1,107 232 555 886 787 1,681 1,737 2,428 197
Penplold 4 1,745 305 636 899 535 1,051 1,407 2,085 605
PS 1005 1,473 340 363 833 777 1,468 1,591 2,095 322
Gulf 1,162 357 590 1,328 679 1,157 1,606 1,972 405
Tetrablend 444 1,418 288 343 902 624 1,275 1,552 2,227 588
Florida 80 1,795 334 1,143 977 302 1,050 1,426 1,628 365
Vanderhave HI 77 1,436 252 392 677 469 1,079 1,387 2,085 572
Mean yield 1,517 305 712 994 620 1,346 1570 2,141 470
C.V. (%) 17 18 16 13 12 14 8 10 26
Yields in this column followed by the same letter are not different, P=.05.
Planted: September 28, 1983.
1983-84
Season
total
Lb. /a.
11,337 a
10,360 b
10,216 bc
10,106 bc
10,090 bcd
9,681 bcd
9,610 bcd
9,267 cd
9,263 cd
9,255 cd
9,217 cd
9,020 d
8,348 e
9,674
7
Soil: Cahaba fine sandy loam.
Table 3. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the Sand
Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1983-84.
Harvest date Season
Brand-variety 11/21 4/11 5/1 5/16 5/30 total
Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall 908 1,544 2,023 1,156 994 6,626 a
Ninak 1,408 1,069 1,461 1,495 841 6,274 a
Urbana 1,110 1,072 1,304 1,771 779 6,036 ab
Shannon 972 829 1,398 1,589 841 5,629 bc
Pioneer 5MSF 755 1,521 1,166 1,552 588 5,581 bc
Florida 80 852 2,044 918 1,268 452 5,535 bc
Pioneer 7F3M 721 1,980 950 1,208 494 5,353 cd
PS 1005 855 1,113 1,349 1,248 718 5,283 cd
Tetrablend 444 862 1,021 1,443 1,282 633 5,242 cd
Penploid 4 1,111 936 1,378 1,095 632 5,153 cd
Gulf 517 1,473. 1,253 1,176 699 5,119 cd
Bison 526 763 1,336 1,579 846 5,050 cd
Vanderhave HI 77 953 618 1,272 1,336 623 4,802 d
Mean yield 889 1,229 1,327 1,366 703 5,514
C.V. k%) 24 19 12 18 11 8
Yields in this column followed by the same letter are not different,
P=.05.
Planted: September 27, 1983.
Soil: Hartsells fine sandy loam.
Table 4. Two-Year Average Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the
Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama
Brand-variety 1982-83 1983-84 2-year average
Marshall
Urbana
Pioneer 5M5F
Ninak
Penploid-4
Florida 80
Shannon
Lb./a.
6,919
7,667
7,476
6,348
7,110
6,440
6,153
Lb./a.
8,057
7,040
5,616
6,121
5,321
5,757
5,832
Lb./a.
7,488
7,354
6,546
6,235
6,216
6,098
5,992
Table 5. Two-Year Average Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the
Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama
Brand-Variety 1982-83 1983-84 2-year average
Marshall 1
Urbana
Ninak
Pionner 5M5F
Shannon
Penploid-4
Florida 80
Lb./a.
13,645
13,660
13,188
13,003
12,935
12,856
12,033
Lb./a.
11,337
10,216
10,360
10,106
10,090
9,267
9,020
Lb./a.
12,491
11,938
11,774
11,554
11,512
11,062
10,526
mmmmvwuu
_ _
mmwmmwmm
II~
Table 6. Two-Year Average Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the
Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama
Brand-variety 1982-83 1983-84 2-year average
Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Urbana 6,520 6,036 6,278
Ninak 5,962 6,274 6,118
Shannon 6,287 5,629 5,958
Marshall 5,262 6,626 5,944
Pioneer 5M5F 6,082 5,581 5,832
Florida 80 5,684 5,535 5,610
Penploid-4 5,865 5,153 5,509
Table 7. Three-year Average Seasonal Dry Matter Production of Ryegrass
Varieties at .Gulf Coast Substation, 1982-84
Season
Entry Total
.Early Late
Autumn 
Winter 
Early 
Late
spring spring
Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall ---- 2,235 4,639 3,459 10,333
Gulf ---- 
1,950 3,207 3,697 
8,854
Penploid-4 1,929 3,695 2,739 8,363
Florida 80 ---- 1,777 3,534 2,868 8,179
Shannon ---- 1,147 3,298 2,605 7,050
*
Gulf yields are taken from 1981, 1982, and 1984 data.
Table 8. Three-year Average Seasonal Dry Matter Production of Ryegrass
Varieties at Plant Breeding Unit, 1982-84
Season
Entry Total
.Early Late
Autumn 
Winter 
Early 
Late
spring spring
Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall 2,160 465 4,362 3,833 10,820
Shannon 1,870 586 3,580 3,350 9,386
Penploid-4 2,416 596 -2,982 3,371 9,365
Florida 80 2,030 543 3,466 2,761 8,800
Gulf 967 1,093 3,253 3,183 8,496
Gulf yields 
are taken 
from 1981, 
1982, and 
1984 data.
Table 9. Three-year Average Seasonal Dry Matter Production of Ryegrass
Varieties at Sand Mountain Substation, 1982-84
Season
Entry Total
.Early 
Late
Autumn 
Winter 
Early 
Late
spring spring
Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a. Lb./a.
Marshall 303 ---- 2,702 3,186 6,191
Shannon 324 2,240 3,220 5,784
Penploid-4 370 ---- 2,317 2,853 5,540
Florida 80 284 ---- 1,716 2,808 4,808
Gulf 172 ---- 2,486 2,069 4,727
Gulf yields are taken from 1981, 1982,
an 94 aa
Brand-variety
Florida 80
Marshal l
Bison
Gulf
Tetrablend 444
PS 1005
Penploid-4
Shannon
Pioneer SMSF
Pioneer 7F3M
Ninak
Urbana
Vanderhave HI 77
J . L ii ii
Information contained herein is available to all without regard to race,
color, sex, or national origin.
SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED
Sources
Florida Agr. Exp. Sta., Gainesville, Florida
Funk Seeds Int., Alexandria, Louisiana
International Seeds, Inc., Halsey, Oregon
Montgomery Seed Co., Montgomery, Alabama
Northrup King Co., Columbus, Mississippi
Pacific Seed Production Co., Albany, Oregon
Pennington Seed Inc., Madison, Georgia
Pioneer Hi-Bred, Int., Tipton, Indiana
D. J. Van Der Have Seeds, Rilland, Netherlands