Department of Agronomy and Soils Departmental 
Series No. 170
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 
Auburn University
Lowell T. Frobish, Director Auburn University
August 1993

PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES
IN ALABAMA, 1992-93
K.M. Glass and D.L Bransby
1
The Alabama Ryegrass Variety Evaluation is a continuing study of available
varieties and breeding lines from private companies and state agricultural experiment
stations. In Alabama, experiments are planted annually in northern, central, 
and southern
locations to evaluate the varieties and lines under the different environmental 
conditions
of the state. Nationwide, entries in each experiment 
are determined by the companies or
institutes which control each variety, or 
line, not by experiment station personnel.
However, the experiments 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. Good 
stands were obtained at the
following locations: Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville; 
E.V. Smith Research Center,
Tallassee; and Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope.
The experiments were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium 
according to
Auburn University soil test recommendations. At planting, nitrogen 
was applied at the
rate of 50 pounds per acre, and an additional 50 pounds 
of N was applied per acre after
each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot 
was harvested to a cutting height of
1
Research Assistant and Professor of Agronomy and Soils.
1 1/2 to 2 inches with a flail harvester each time the ryegrass reached 6-10 inches tall. A
herbage sample of approximately 1 pound was taken from each plot at each harvest for
determining forage dry matter percentage.
In 1992, the tests were planted October 
7 and October 6 at Tallassee and Fairhope,
respectively. The experiment at Crossville 
was planted September 30. Growing 
conditions
were normal for Crossville 
and Fairhope. Excess rainfall 
in November and December
reduced fall growth at Tallassee.
Due to dry soil conditions in 
fall of 1990, experiments at Fairhope 
and Tallassee were
not planted until October 
30 and 25, respectively. 
The experiment at Crossville 
was planted
September 20, 1990. In 
1991, the tests were planted 
on September 20, October 
1, and
October 10, at Crossville, 
Tallassee, and Fairhope, 
respectively. Above average 
temperatures
recorded at all locations 
in 1991-92 resulted in good 
fall and winter growth. 
There was a
severe shortage of moisture 
in late April and all of 
May resulting in very low 
late spring
production.
Strategies to meet seasonal 
forage needs are an important 
consideration for livestock
producers. Tables 1-3 provide 
yield data b harvest for 1992-93 
at a given location, while
tables 4-6 show one-, two-, 
and three-year total yields 
by location. Dry matter forage 
is
recorded for seasonal and total 
yields by locations in tables 
7-9. The three seasonal periods
are: fall- forage produced through 
February; early spring-March 
and early April production;
and late spring-production after 
April 20. A 3-year average provides 
a more dependable
comparison of ryegrass 
varieties than do single-year 
results.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Appreciation is expressed to Mien-Huei Tzeng, 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, 
N.R. McDaniel, and M.D. Pegues,
Gulf Coast Substation; and S.P. Nightengale, 
E.V. Smith Research Center, for growing
and harvesting the experiments.
Information contained herein is available 
to all persons regardless
of race, color, sex, or national origin.
Florida 80
Gulf (Source A)
Gulf (Source B)
Gulf (Oregon State)
Jackson
Marshall
RIO
Rustmaster
Surrey
TAM 90
Tetragrazer 4-4-2
TXR 91-SR6
WVPB-AR-90-1
WVPB-AR-90-300
WVPB-AR-92-401
SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama
Silverhill Farmer's Ass'n., Robertsdale, Alabama
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississippi
The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississippi
Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., Salem, 
Oregon
DLF Trifolium, Albany, Oregon
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Texas A & M University, Overton, 
Texas
Pennington Seed, Inc., Lebanon, Oregon
Texas A & M University, Overton, Texas
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc.
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc
Brownsville, Oregon
Table 1. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Gulf Coast
Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 
1993
Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season
Brand-variety 12/8 1/4 
I/28 3/5 4/1 5/4 total
Surrey.............. 1,304 
1,572 1,015 2,059 2,108 
2,311 10,369
RIO................. 1,338 
1,429 921 1,893 2,070 
2,670 10,321
Rustmaster.......... 1,038 
1,376 1,325 2,101 1,995 
2,444 10,279
Jackson............. 1,265 
1,570 1,137 2,084 
1,920 2,260 10,236
Tetragrazer 4-4-2... 1,170 
1,581 1,118 1,948 1,774 
2,349 9,940
Gulf (Source A)..... 1,323 
1,619 819 2,089 
1,784 2,253 9,887
Florida 80........ 
1,023 1,509 1,222 
2,179 1,651 2,177 
9,761
TXR 91-SR6.......... 
923 1,489 1,263 
2,081 1,873 2,131 
9,760
TAM 90.............. 
1,222 1,530 935 
1,899 1,884 2,259 
9,729
Gulf (Source B)..... 
1,208 1,713 1,027 
1,827 1,680 2,015 
9,470
Gulf (Oregon State). 
1,224 1,693 947 
1,941 1,653 1,977 
9,435
Test Mean........... 
1,185 1,553 1,066 
2,009 1,854 2,259 
9,926
C.V. (%)............ 
14 14 23 
7 6 11 
5
L.S.D. (.10)O........ 
198 266 294 
177 135 300 
559
Planted: October 6, 
1992.
Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy 
Loam.
-7-
Table 2. Seasonal Dry 
Matter Yield of Ryegrass 
Varieties at
E.V. Smith Research Center, Tallassee, Alabama, 1993
Acre Yield by Harvest Date 
Season
Brand-variety 1/04 3/16 4/06 5/07 total
Gulf (Source B)............ 1,070 2,200 1,826 2,881 7,977
Rustmaster.................. 673 2,320 2,073 2,883 7,949
Tetragrazer 4-4-2........... 717 2,090 1,929 3,027 7,763
Gulf (Oregon State)......... 903 2,461 1,560 2,755 7,679
Gulf (Source A)............. 907 2,381 1,880 2,313 7,481
TXR 91-SR6.................. 557 1,923 2,374 2,466 7,320
Florida 80.................. 634 2,336 1,506 2,795 7,271
Surrey...................... 515 2,008 1,807 2,911 7,241
Marshall................... 731 1,829 1,888 2,734 7,182
TAM 90...................... 613 2,087 1,746 2,639 7,085
RIO......................... 463 1,861 1,754 2,565 6,643
WVPB-AR-90-300.............. 382 1,492 2,140 2,574 6,588
WVPB-AR-90-1................ 374 2,567 1,240 2,282 
6,463
WVPB-AR-92-401.............. 382 1,514 1,358 2,385 5,639
Test Mean................... 637 2,076 1,792 2,658 7,163
C.V. (%)................... 28 19 21 12 12
L.S.D. (.10)................ 213 465 455 370 1,012
Planted: October 7, 1992.
Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam.
-8-
Table 3. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at
Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1993
Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season
Brand-variety 1/04 3/25 4/12 4/30 5/18 total
b b. Lb.bLb
Marshall............... 408 1,218 1,527 
1,000 1,809 5,962
Surrey................. 327 1,357 1,294 
1,378 1,399 5,755
RIO.................... 368 1,097 1,349 
1,309 1,278 5,401
Tetragrazer 4-4-2...... 361 1,029 
1,019 1,212 1,499 5,120
Gulf (Source A)........ 539 1,026 1,102 
1,235 1,199 5,101
TXR 91-SR6............. 256 
1,334 1,135 1,025 1,297 
5,047
Rustmaster............. 282 1,113 
1,275 1,391 967 5,028
Gulf (Source B)........ 728 
1,351 873 939 1,105 
4,996
Florida 80............. 382 
1,053 938 1,444 1,122 
4,939
Gulf (Oregon State).... 554 1,064 
1,004 1,078 1,097 4,797
TAM 90................. 451 
1,191 981 1,218 939 
4,780
Test Mean.............. 423 
1,167 1,136 1,203 1,246 
5,175
C.V. (%)............... 
24 20 19 16 
22 9
L.S.D. (.10)........... 
121 285 259 228 
326 536
Planted: September 30, 1992.
Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy 
Loam.
-9-
Table 4. Total Dry Matter Yield of 
Ryegrass Varieties, 1993, and Two- and
Three-Year Averages, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, 
Alabama
Dry Matter/Acre
Brand-variety 1993 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av.
(1992-1993) (1991-1993)
Lb.
RIO ................... 10,321 11,245 
10,336
Rustmaster................. 10,279 
11,154 10,322
Jackson................... 10,236 
11,056 10,220
Surrey.................. 10,369 
10,997 10,057
TAM 90..................... 9,729 
10,765 9,721
Florida 80................. 9,761 
10,558 9,640
Gulf (Source B)............9,470 
9,901 9,249
Tetragrazer 4-4-2...........9,940 
10,667 -
Gulf (Source A)............ 9,887 
10,564 -
Gulf (Oregon State)........ 9,435 
10,136 -
TXR 91-SR6................. 9,760 
- -
Table 5. Total Dry Matter 
Yield of Ryegrass
Three-Year Averages, E.V. Smith 
Research
Varieties, 1993, and Two- 
and
Center, Tallassee, Alabama
Brand-Variety
1993
I LL
Dry Matter/ Acre
2-Yr. Av
(1992-1993)
3-Yr. Av.
(1991-1993
Lb.
Rustmaster.............
Gulf (Source B)..
TAM 90 ......00....
Florida 80..............00
WVPB-AR-90-300............
WVPB-AR-90-1.............
Gulf (SourceA. ....
Gulf (Oregon State)........
Tetragrazer 4-4-2........00
TXR 91-5R6*00.............0
WVP-AR-92-401............
7,949
7,977
7,182
7,085
7,-t271
7,241
6,588
6,463
7,-t481
7,679
7, 763
7,320
6, 643
5,639
6,839
6,885
6,605
6,578
6,512
6,-t255
5,805
5,956
6,t800
6,782
6,550
6,758
6,589
6,560
6,404
6,300
6,267
6,135
6,021
-11-
ICIUI~ J i v ~~ i ur J r ru u rrr ~ .~ ~. .rJ 'J' ""
-- --~ ~~r r r r r r r - - - - - - - - - - -
Table 6. Total 
Dry Matter 
Yield of Ryegrass 
Varieties, 1993, 
and Two- and
Three-Year Averages, 
Sand Mountain 
Substation, Crossville, 
Alabama
Dry Matter/Acre
Brand-variety 
1993 2-Yr. 
Av. 3-Yr. Av.
(1992-1993) 
(1991-1993)
Marshall................... 5,962 
5,763 5,544
Surrey.................... 5,755 
5,424 5,408
Rustmaster.................. 5,028 
5,033 5,020
TAM 90.................... 4,780 
4,810 4,943
Florida 80.................. 4,939 
4,736 4,825
Gulf (Source B).............4,996 
4,522 4,619
Tetragrazer 4-4-2........... 5,120 4,848 
-
Gulf (Source A)............. 5,101 4,726 
-
Gulf (Oregon State)......... 4,797 4,486 
-
RIO................... ..... 5,401 - -
TXR 91-SR6.................. 5,047
-12-
Table 7. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage
Production, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, 
Alabama, 1991-1993
Brand-variety
Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre
Early Late Total
Fall SDrinq Spring
Lb. Lb.
RIOO...... ............ 4,024 4,087 2,225 10,336
Rustmaster.............. 4,260 4,188 1,874 10,322
Jackson................. 4,149 3,975 2,096 10,220
Surrey.................. 3,854 4,114 2,088 10,057
TAM 90.................. 3,978 3,973 1,770 
9,721
Florida 80.............. 3,852 3,984 1,803 9,640
Gulf (Source B)......... 4,007 3,667 1,575 
9,249
-13-
Table 8. Three-Year 
Average Seasonal 
Distribution of Ryegrass 
Variety Forage
Production, 
E.V. Smith Research 
Center, Tallassee, 
Alabama, 1991-1993
Seasonal Forae Yield/Acre
Brand-variety 
Early Late 
Total
Fall Spring 
Spring
Rustmaster............ 1,656 
3,751 1,351 6,758
Gulf (Source B)....... 1,920 
3,272 1,397 6,589
Marshall.............. 1,701 
3,593 1,266 
6,560
TAM 90............... 1,692 
3,405 1,308 6,404
Florida 80............ 1,678 
3,357 1,265 6,300
Surrey................ 1,392 
3,480 1,394 
6,267
WVPB-AR-90-300........ 1,356 
3,389 1,390 
6,135
WVPB-AR-90-1.......... 1,318 
3,482 1,221 6,021
-14-
Table 9. Three-Year Average 
Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass 
Variety Forage
Production, Sand 
Mountain Substation, 
Crossville, Alabama, 
1991-1993
Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre
Brand-variety 
Early Late Total
Fall SDring Spring
Marshall.............. 1,241 2,918 1,386 5,544
Surrey................ 1,238 2,769 1,402 5,408
Rustmaster............ 1,271 2,545 1,204 5,020
TAM 90................ 1,298 2,498 1,147 4,943
Florida 80............ 1,294 2,245 1,286 4,825
Gulf (Source B)....... 1,353 2,191 1,075 4,619
-15-