* ~~kA-~ I /4 ~ ,~, -~-a~ *~ I ~ 4 ~ *~ '.4 '~ A '~ ~ VV>, ~2* '~ 4 49' ~ A 4 ,;':'~4 ~ ~1 t~* '~ ~ I, 'A ~*. ' ~ ,i,* r* ~ PERFORMANCE OF RYEGR<'ASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA 1986 - 1987 4 Agronomy~ and Soils Departmental S(ns'o 1 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Lowe~ll T. Frobish, Director August 1087 Auburn University Auburn University, Alabama ~ye~ 4~ ~4 ~ ~ ii ~A ~ PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1986-87 D. L. Thurlow and W.C. Johnson 1 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 northern, central, and southern locations to evaluate the varieties and lines under the different environmental conditions in these regions of Alabama. The tests are conducted by Experiment Station personnel and the results are presented in a fair and unbiased manner. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND DISCUSSION Ryegrass entries were seeded at a 20-pound-per-acre rate in rows 7 inches apart, using plots 5 x 20 feet with four replications. A good stand was obtained at all locations: Sand Mountain Substation, Plant Breeding Unit, and Gulf Coast Substation. The tests were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium according to Auburn University soil test recommendations. At planting, nitrogen was applied at the rate of 50 pounds of N per acre, and an additional 50 pounds of N was applied per acre after each cutting to allow the varieties to perform at their maximum yield potential. A 32-inch swath 1 Associate Professor and Professor of Agronomy and Soils. of each plot was harvested with a flail harvester each time the ryegrass reached 6-10 inches. A herbage sample of approximately 1 pound was taken from each plot at each harvest for...... determining forage dry matter percentage. The unusually severe cold weather during late January 1985 and December 1985 and January 1986 virtually eliminated any winter production at the Plant Breeding Unit in 1985 and 1986, at the Gulf Coast Substation in 1985, and at the Sand Mountain Substation in 1986. This severe cold also destroyed the test at the Sand Mountain Substation in 1985. Lower total yields in 1986 were due to below normal rainfall for winter and spring at all locations. The tests at the Plant Breeding Unit and Gulf Coast Substation were planted 2 weeks earlier in 1986 than in 1985 and 1984. However, the test at Sand Mountain was planted two weeks later than in 1985. The early planting dates at the two southern locations resulted in larger harvests in the fall than the previous 2 years. However, there was not an early harvest at Sand Mountain Substation due partly to the late planting and then wet, cold conditions in the fall and winter periods. The latespring yields were also very low at all locations in 1987 due to severe dry weather in April. Marshall continued to be among the highest in total herbage production throughout Alabama for the 3-year period, 1985-87 and is especially outstanding in late winter/early spring production. However, in 1987 a number of new entries yielded more total herbage at the two Southern locations. -4- Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important considerations for livestock producers. Tables 7, 8, and 9 show 3-year average yields for the ryegrass production season. The 3-year average for the Sand Mountain Substation includes, 1984, 1986, and 1987. A 3-year average provides a more dependable comparison of ryegrass varieties than does single-year results. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to W. H. Hearn and Mrs. Sally Bagwell, Research Data Analysis, for the data processing of this report. Also acknowledged are the contributions of J. T. Eason and M. E. Ruf, Sand Mountain Substation, E. L. Carden and N. R. McDaniel, Gulf Coast Substation, and Steve Nightengale, Plant Breeding Unit, for growing and harvesting the experiments. -5- SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED Aubade Billion Bulldog Caramba Cebeca LM 8 Cervus Dalita Deborach Ellire Florida 80 FL-X 1986 LR Gulf HI 124 Magnolia Marshall Minaret Mom LM 455 Mom LM 457 Multimo Nutriblend Pennploid V Polly Tetrablend 444 TX Tetrablend 444 T3 Tetrone Top-one Urbana Ursus Wilo Wilamette Seed & Grain, Shedd, Oregon Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Lofts Seed Inc., Bound Brooks, New Jersey Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon International Seeds, Halsey, Oregon International Seeds, Halsey, Oregon Daehnfeldt, Albany, Oregon Daehnfeldt, Alabany, Oregon International Seeds, Halsey, Oregon Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Local purchase Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Forbes Seed, Junction City, Oregon Funk Seeds Int., Alexandria, Louisiana International Seeds, Halsey, Oregon Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Daehnfeldt, Albany, Oregon Pennington Enterprises, Madison, Georgia Daehnfeldt, Albany, Oregon Northrup King Co., Columbus, Mississippi Northrup King Co., Columbus, Mississippi Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., Albany, Oregon Wilamette Seed & Grain, Shedd, Oregon International Seed, Halsey, Oregon International Seed, Halsey, Oregon Daehnfeldt, Albany, Oregon -6- Table 1. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1987 the Gulf Coast Brand-variety 1214 Lb. Deborach Minaret Tetrablend 444 T3 Urbana HI 124 Mom LM 457 Tetrablend 444 TX Mul timo Tetrone Aubade Mor LM 455 Billion Caramba FL-X 4986 LR Top-one Pennploid V Bull1dog MarshallI Wi 10 Nutribl end Florida 80 Dalita Magnolia Gulf Cebeca LM 8 Polly Ursus 680 1,843 1,472 1,428 1,638 1,9355 1,458 1,223 1,446 1,2811 1,104 1,346 2, 026 1,142 1,564 890 1,070 1,637 1,180 1,182 730 1,456 1,1162 19128 1,1108 1,181 1 ,013 Yield/acre,-by harvest date - -1/13 Lb. 281 501 540 658 369 298 462 362 505 198 479 447 322 507' 398 359 342 258 33 7 228 346 278 225 254 192 364 3/y1-0- Lb 1,701 2,273 2.750 2,670 2,280 2,507 2,414 2,418 2,499 2,376 2,447 2,519 2,142 2,340 1,993 2,491 2,567 2,177 1,922 2,063 2,667 1,841 2,t183 2,241 1,795 1,651 1,755 412 Lb 1,608 1,807 1,421 1,479 1,749 1,877 1,422 1,684 1,534 1,344 1,185 1,505 1,184 1,507 1,519 1,t327 1,376 1,475 1, 976 1,546 916 1,630 1,501 1,422 1,525 1,690 1,550 3,362t 929 1,163 976 1,040 897 1,070 919 953 743 1,052 795 789 1,237 954 1,407 1,107 826 942 946 1,513 759 820 679 807 765 954 *LSD (.05) = 851; C.V.=9%. tThis includes 2,487 pounds harvested June on other varieties. 11; no significant regrowth Planted: October 2, 1986. Soil: Malbis fine sandy loam. -7- 51b LD. Season* total LD. 7,633 7,353 7,346 7,212 7,076 6,935 6,826 6,814 6,794 6,778 6,686 6,644 6,588 6,548 63537 6, 513 62479 6,456 6,278 6,073 6,054 6,032 5,943 5,695 5,489 5,479 5,333 TilhlP 1., Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Rvearass va d6 &m %e ,Y, C C; fl 1 I~C~~1 Table 2. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1987 Brand-variety Yield/acre, by harvest date Season* 12/17 2/19 4/1 5/6 6/3 total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Cervus 1,090 842 1,641 1,873 1,385 6,831 FL-X 1986 LR 1,132 917 1,700 2,080 984 6,813 Wilo 1,340 525 1,405 1,641 1,005 5,916 Bulldog 1,023 730 1,463 1,805 866 5,887 Mom LM 455 849 229 1,299 2,416 1,009 5,803 Tetrablend 444 T3 865 858 1,477 1,538 874 5,612 Urbana 1,006 796 1,128 1,464 1,157 5,552 Gulf 1,126 770 1,155 1,671 768 5,489 Minaret 978 706 968 1,411 1,204 5,266 Marshall 1,478 589 1,081 1,464 633 5,245 Magnolia 1,447 990 1,176 1,273 328 5,214 Tetrablend 444 TX 857 851 1,497 1,309 669 5,183 Pennploid V 545 603 1,575 1,628 790 5,141 Top-one 921 678 1,263 1,235 839 4,935 Florida 80 468 526 1,777 1,355 781 4,907 Caramba 821 735 1,297 1,026 980 4,858 HI 124 915 321 994 1,771 624 4,624 Nutriblend 1,048 697 1,197 1,135 459 4,536 Billion 924 624 1,054 1,016 863 4,481 Aubade 1,098 801 1,146 830 569 4,445 Multimo 778 476 964 1,052 951 4,220 Polly 828 191 804 1,279 838 3,939 Mom LM 457 781 220- 1,031 1,247 418 3,698 Tetrone 798 243 934 1,001 666 3,643 Deborach 467 285 584 1,049 1,299 3,684 Cebeca LM 8 868 335 684 904 632 3,424 Dalita 888 209 663 758 600 3,118 *LSD (.05) = 1690; C.V. = 24%. Planted: September 26, 1986. Soil: Cahaba fine sandy loam. Tabl e 3. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at the Subst'ation, Crossville, Alabama, -1986-87 Sand Mountain Brand-vari ety 3/26 Lb.0 HI 124 Marshall Mom LM 455 Urbana Mul timo Bulldog Aubade Nutriblend Billi on Top-one Mom LM 457 Magnolia 'FL-X 1986 LR Pennploid V Tetrablend 444 T3 Tetrone GuIlf Ellire. Caramba Dalita Minaret Polly Tetrablend 444 TX Florida 80 Cebeca LM 8 Deborach 747 1,490 586 1,186 1,036 1,310 21,028 1,752 1,367 1,.512 502 1,268 631 1,293 994 438 764 453 619 1,021 251 %352 184 657 795 209 45 Yield/ac 4116 .Lb.e 2,320 1,980 2,744 2,227 2,156 13,799 1,1167 1,354 1,561 1,451 1,963 1,t415 1,762 1,351 1,533 2,083 1,534 1,828 1,609 1,t337 1,633 1,553 1,722 1,191 1,182 1,556 815 by harvest date 5/8_ Lb. 1,171 1,t343 1,075 1,118 1,000 1,383 1,036 1,453 1,057 1,163 1,t060 1,9345 1,129 19,328 1 ,177 947 1021 966 935 930 1,035 1,012 957 1 ,157 1,085 870 941 *LSD (.05) 1874; C.V.=25%. Planted: September 25, 1986. Soil: Hartsells fine sandy loam. -9' MMVMMW@FAMWM Season* total Lb. - - Tab~e 3, Seastina? Dry Matter Yiefd of Rvearass Vapiet VI I ICmm 6/1 Lb. 2,486 1,900 2,196 2 ,006 2,295 1,784 1,53-7 1,180 1,752 1,607 2,046 1,t437 1,861 1,343 1,607 1,811 1,741 1,699 1,716 1,493 1,734 1,654 1,443 1,300 1,156 1,446 1 ,512 6,725 6,.715 6,600 6,538 6,487 6,276 5,768 5,740 5,737 5,734 5,571 5,466 5,383 5,314 5,311 5,279 5,060 4,945 4,879 4,780 4,653 4,570 4,307 4,305 4,219 4,081 3,313 r~iurlr I~url nnR T7 C77 1 Table 4. Total Dry Matter and Three-year Averages, Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1987 and Two- Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama Brand-variety 1987 Lb. Dry matter/acre 2-yr. av. (986-87)_ Lb.L 3-yr. av. (1985-87) Lb. Deborach Minaret Tetrablend 444 T3 Urbana HI 124 Mom LM 457 Tetrablend 444 TX Mul timo Tetrone Aubade Mom LM 455 Billion Caramba FL-X 1986 LR Top-one Pennploid V Bulldog Marshall Wi 10 Nutri blend Florida 80 Dalita Magnolia Guilf Cebeca LM 8 Polly Ursus 6,034 60383 5,926 6,141 5,682 6,044 5,749 5,760 7,633 7,353 7,346 7,212 7,076 6,993.5 6,826 6,814 6,794 6,778 6,430 6,644 6,588 6, 548 6,537 6,513 6,479 6,456 6,533 6,073 6,054 6,032 5,943 5,t695 5,489 5,479 59333 6,236 59773 6,136 5,165 5,821 4989-2 5,669 5,504 4,336 6,389 5,703 5,404 5,656 -10- T~hlP a_ Tnt~7 nrv ~~ttPr Vial~ ~f Rvenr~c~ .. Table 5. Total Dry Matter Three-Year Averages, Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1986 and Two- and Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama Dry matter/acre Brand-variety 1987 2-yr. av. 3-yr. av. (1986-87) (1985-87) Lb. Lb. Lb. .aft. w Cervus FL-X 1986 LR Wilo Bulldog Mom LM 455 Tetrablend 444 T3 Urbana Gulf Minaret Marshall Magnol ia Tetrablend 444 TX Pennploid V Top-one Florida 80 Caramba HI 124 Nutriblend Billion Aubade Multimo Polly Mom LM 457 Tetrone Deborach Cebeca LM 8 Dalita 6,831 6,813 5,916 5,887 5,803 5,612 5,552 5,489 5,266 5,245 5,214 5,183 5,141 4,935 4,970 4,858 4,624 4,536 4,481 4,445 4,220 3,939 3,698 3,643 3,614 3,424 3,118 3,858 5,018 4,231 4,661 4,532 4,135 5,525 4,809 4,729 5,317 4,844 3,853 4,396 3,497 3,436 3,267 2,529 3,556 2,839 2,294 3,971 4,451 3,313 -11- I- - Table 6. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1986 and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama Dry matter/acre Brand-variety 1987 2-yr. av. 3-yr. av. (1986,1987) (1984,'86,'87) Lb. Lb. Lb. HI 124 6,725 Marshall 6,715 6,806 6,748 Mom LM 455 6,600 6,690 Urbana 6,538 6,179 6,131 Multimo 6,487 6,222 Bulldog 5,889 FL-X 1986 LR 5,770 Aubade 5,768 Nutriblend 5,740 Billion 5,737 5,231 Top-one 5,734 Mom LM 457 5,571 6,003 Magnolia 5,466 5,351 Pennploid V 5,314 Tetrablend 444 T3 5,311 Tetrone 5,279 5,404 Gulf 5,060 4,863 Wilo 4,945 Ellire 4,879 Caramba 4,780 4,851 Dalita 4,653 5,075 Minaret 4,570 Polly 4,307 4,799 Tetrablend 444 TX 4,305 Florida 80 4,219 4,714 4,988 Cebeca LM 8 4,081 Deborach 3,313 -12- Table 7. 'Three-Year Average Seasonal Distributionof Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1985-87 Brand-variety Seasonal forage yield/acre Early Late Autumn Winterspri ng sprin Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Urbana 476 1,427 3,278 852 Mom LM 457 452 1,411 3,648 872 Mom LM 455 368 2,348 3,127 479 Caramba 675 1,526 2,885 687 Marshall 546 1,687 3,366 791 Florida 80 243 1,397 2,968 1,095 Dalita 485 982 3,075 860 Gulf 376 1,365 3,094 821 Table 8. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production,-Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee,'Alabama, 1985-87 Brand-variety Mom LM 455 Urbana. Gul f Marshall Florida 80 Caramba Multimo Mom LM 457 Dalita Autumn Lb. 283 335 375 493 156 274 259 260 296 Seasonal forage yield/acre Early Winter springi Lb. 1,118 1,370 1,q191 1,437 1,226 1,072 1,061 1,081 647 Lb. 2,580 1,899 2,111 2,208 2,467 1,501 1,606 2,055 1,542 -13- Late spri nc Lb. 1,544 1,205 1,052 1,179 994 1,006 1,044 1,054- 827 r~~ r- - Table 9. Two-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1986, 1987 Seasonal forage yield/acre Brand-variety Early Late Autumn Winter spring soring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Marshall 1,070 1,225 2,780 1,733 Mom LM 455 818 772 3,056 2,045 Urbana 749 880 2,469 2,081 Multimo 838 827 2,310 2,247 Billion 863 742 1,958 1,669 Mom LM 457 749 688 2,682 1,885 Magnolia 864 746 2,459 1,282 Tetrone 744 513 2,393 1,750 Gulf 1,004 406 2,227 1,227 Caramba 887 581 1,768 1,616 Dalita 866 283 2,144 1,783 Polly 807 233 2,094 1,665 Florida 80 879 800 2,118 917 Information contained herein is available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin. -14-