Performance, of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama I 1993.1994 July 1994 Agronomy and Soils Departmental Series No. 179 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University Lowell T. Frobish, Director Auburn University t PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1993-94 K.M. Glass and D.L Bransby' The Alabama Ryegrass Variety Evaluation is a continuing study of available varieties and breeding lines from private companies and state agricultural experiment stations. Experiments are planted annually in northern, central, and southern locations to evaluate the varieties and lines under the different environmental conditions of Alabama. Entries in each experiment are determined by the companies or institutes which control each variety, or line, not by experiment station personnel. 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 2 ; 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 1 Research Assistant and Professor of Agronomy and Soils. 2 Research conducted at the Plant Breeding Unit in Tallassee, which is a part of the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter. each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot was harvested to a cutting height of 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 1993, the tests were planted October 5, October 8, and October 26 at Tallassee, Crossville, and Fairhope, respectively. Less than normal rainfall in November and December reduced fall growth at all locations. 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 y hatvest for 1993-94 at a given location, while tables 4-6 show 1, 2, and 3-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total forage dry matter yields by locations are provided 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. At Tallassee, table 2, the first harvest (2/28) is not included because of unexplained excess variation. Because of this, early producing varieties are not truly represented in season total yields. -4- 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. -5- SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED Arme Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Florida 80 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida FL/OR X 1993 LR University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Gulf (Source A) Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama Gulf (Source B) Silverhill Farmer's Ass'n., Robertsdale, Alabama Gulf (Oregon State) Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Jackson The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississippi Marshall The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississippi Passerel Advanta Seeds West, Inc., Albany, Oregon RIO Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., Salem, Oregon Rustmaster DLF Trifolium, Albany, Oregon Southern Star Forbes Seed & Grain, Junction City, Oregon (formerly WVPB-LM-AR-2) Surrey University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida TAM 90 Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas TXR91-A7 Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas TXR91-A8 Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas WVPB-AR-90-1 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Oregon WVPB-AR-90-300 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Oregon WVPB-AR-93-101 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Oregon -6- Table 1. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1994 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 2/3 2/17 3/7 3/24 4/8 Total Lb. Lbk Lb Lb. Lb. Lb. Rustmaster ............. 1,230 1,428 1,496 1,327 4,001 9,482 Passerel................ 720 1,251 1,744 1,681 3,929 9,325 Florida 80 .............. 1,224 1,518 1,283 1,161 4,082 9,268 Gulf (Source B) .......... 2,337 1,148 1,166 1,005 3,540 9,196 Gulf (Oregon State) ....... 2,012 1,340 1,181 1,140 3,413 9,086 TXR 91-A8 ............. 999 1,455 1,412 1,409 3,800 9,075 Southern Star ............ 928 1,256 1,541 1,310 3,888 8,923 Jackson ................ 821 1,548 1,374 1,308 3,867 8,918 TAM90................ 1,276 1,296 1,250 1,291 3,655 8,768 Marshall................ 337 1,249 1,656 1,411 4,059 8,712 Armnne .................. 1,606 1,055 1,114 1,267 3,551 8,593 Gulf (Source A) .......... 1,406 1,283 1,206 1,333 3,266 8,494 RIO ................... 634 1,579 1,407 1,181 3,598 8,399 TXR91-A7 ............. .571 1,468 1,387 1,264 3,649 8,339 FL/OR X 1993 LR ........ 467 1,282 1,381 1,274 3,736 8,140 Surrey ................. 668 1,194 1,301 1,044 3,747 7,954 Test Mean .............. 1,077 1,334 1,369 1,275 3,736 8,792 C.V.(%) ............... 37 13 10 13 8 7 L.S.D.(.10) ............. 475 206 162 192 346 698 Planted: October 26, 1993. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam. -7- Table 2. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 19941 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 3/21 4/8 4/25 5/18 Total Passerel ................... 1,356 1,153 1,502 1,258 5,269 Marshall .................. 1,563 1,088 1,573 981 5,205 Jackson ................... 1,605 1,173 1,428 992 5,198 RIO ..................... 1,535 1,079 1,393 1,190 5,197 WVPB-AR-93-101 .......... 1,486 1,177 1,335 1,180 5,178 Southern Star .............. 1,371 1,087 1,407 1,270 5,135 Arme ..................... 1,297 1,097 1,380 1,200 4,974 WVPB-AR-90-1 ........... 1,390 1,058 1,370 1,057 4,875 TXR91-A7 ................ 1,367 1,144 1,345 1,000 4,856 Surrey .................... 1,560 975 1,381 901 4,817 FL/OR X 1993 LR .......... 1,214 918 1,371 1,311 4,814 Gulf (Source A) ............. 1,524 1,078 1,343 730 4,675 WVPB-AR-90-300 .......... 1,366 1,026 1,245 944 4,581 Rustmaster................1,460 914 1,333 832 4,539 TXR91-A8 ................ 1,500 947 1,297 693 4,437 Florida 80 ................. 1,387 888 1,276 738 4,289 Gulf (Source B) ........... . 1,406 792 1,275 679 4,152 TAM90 .................. 1,566 820 1,140 619 4,145 Gulf (Oregon State) .......... 1,320 798 1,225 539 3,882 TestMean ................. 1,435 1,011 1,348 953 4,748 C.V.(%) .................. 14 15 11 21 9 L.S.D. (.10)................ 239 179 171 242 500 Planted: October 5, 1993. Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam. 'First harvest not included, see Experimental Procedures and Discussion. -8- Table 3. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1994 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 3/14 3/29 4/18 5/2 5/17 Total Lb. Lk~ Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Marshall................ 330 1,147 1,510 745 803 4,535 Passerel ........ ........ .314 1,098 1,426 883 775 4,496 Jackson ................ 516 1,141 1,241 674 613 4,185 FL/OR X 1993 LR ........ 470 942 1,247 832 651 4,142 TAM 90................ 555 965 1,093 905 524 4,042 TXR91-A7 ............. .401 1,027 1,098 807 691 4,024 Southern Star ............ 533 1,038 1,039 828 550 3,988 TXR91-A8 ............. .492 1,029 1,069 878 492 3,960 RIO .................. 569 981 941 830 544 3,865 Surrey ................. 469 900 1,080 847 562 3,858 Gulf(Source A) .......... 485 836 1,053 822 581 3,777 Gulf (Oregon State) ....... .705 842 891 874 448 3,760 Florida 80 .............. 748 611 1,123 665 606 3,753 Rustmaster .............. 499 1,030 924 834 428 3,715 Gulf (Source B) .......... 642 783 900 828 471 3,624 Armnne .................. 342 781 878 579 491 3,071 Test Mean .............. 504 947 1,095 802 577 3,925 C.V.(%) ............... 22 13 14 20 16 8 L.S.D.(.10) ............. 130 145 177 188 110 361 Planted: October 8, 1993. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam. -9- Table 4. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties,1994, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1994 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1993-1994) (1992-1994) LW. LW. Lb. Rustmaster .................. 9,482 9,881 10,597 Jackson .................... 8,918 9,577 10,343 RIO ........................ 8,399 9,360 10,296 Florida 80 ................... 9,268 9,515 10,128 TAM 90 .................... 8,768 9,249 10,099 Surrey ...................... 7,954 9,162 9,982 Gulf(Source A)............... 8,494 9,191 9,874 Gulf (Oregon State) ............ 9,086 9,261 9,786 Gulf(Source B)............... 9,196 9,333 9,666 Passerel .................. 9,325 - - TXR91-A8 .................. 9,075 - - Southern Star ................ 8,923 - - Marshall .................... 8,712 - - Arme....................... 8,593 - - TXR91-A7 .................. 8,339 - - FL/OR X 1993LR ............ 8,140 - - -10- Brand-variety Table 5. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1994, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Plant Breeding Unit: Tallassee, Alaba Dry MNatter/Acre 1994 2-Yr. Av. (1993-1994 3-Yr. Av. (1992-1994) Marshall.............. Gulf (Source A)........ Rustmaster............... Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Oregon Sta Surrey ........ Florida 80...... TAM9o....... WVPB-AR-90-1 . WPB-AR-90-300 RIO .......... Passerel. ... Jackson ......... WVPB-AR-93-101 southern star .. TXR 9 1-A7 ...... FIJOR X 1993 LR. TXR91-A8 ..... 00 6, 194 6,1078 6,3244 6,0O65 5,781 6,%029 5,0780 5,615 5,1669 5,V585 5,1920 6,138 6,091 6,072 5,974 5,815 5,V775 5,771 5,767 5,596 5,397 5,1205 4,675 4,539 4,152 3,882 4,817 4,289 4,145 4,875 4,581 5,197 5,269 5,198 5,178 5,135 4,974 4,856 4,814 4,437 -11- :Yield ofR ,, ----------- -)--- 0 0 0 a 0 urce A) 0 0 ter.0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 09 eg0 0 0 0 0 0 Brand-variety Table 6. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1994, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama Dry Matter/Acre 1994 2-Yr. Av. (1993-1994 3-Yr. Av. (1992-1994 Marshall a........... Surrey ...... 0.. Rustmaster................ TAM90 ................ Gulf (Source A)............. Florida 80&............... Gulf (Oregon State). .. .. .. .. .. Gulf (Source B) .. . . . . . . . .... RIO ......... ,..0a.00,...00 a0 Passerel .. .. .. . ... . . . . . . Jackson...............0 0 0 FL/OR X 1993 LR .. .. .. .. .. .. TXR 91-A7 .. . . . . . . . . . .... Southern Star .............. 0a 0* 00 TXR 9 1-A8 00..........00 00 00 Anme.................. a0 le0 5,249 4,807 4,372 4,1411 4,439 4,1346 4,0279 4,3 10 4,633 5,354 4,0902 4,593 4,554 4,410 4,408 4,244 4,0222 4,535 3,858 3,715 4,042 3,777 3,753 3,760 3,624 3,865 4,496 4,185 4,142 4,1024 3,988 3,960 3,1071 -12- r Yield ofR: M Table 7. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1992-1994 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring LW. LW. LW. Lb. Rustmaster................... 4,149 5,157 1,290 10,597 Jackson.....................4,117 4,896 1,331 10,343 RIO ......................... 4,007 4,848 1,441 10,296 Florida 80 .................... 4,012 4,870 1,246 10,128 TAM90....................4,084 4,783 1,233 10,099 Surrey.....................3,679 4,882 1,421 9,982 Gulf(SourceA)...............4,066 4,559 1,249 9,874 Gulf (Oregon State) ............. 4,319 4,377 1,089 9,786 Gulf(Source B) ................ 4,256 4,361 1,048 9,666 -13- Table 8. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1992-1994 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Marshall ..................... 1,200 3,024 1,914 6,138 Gulf(SourceA)................ 1,365 3,108 1,618 6,091 Rustmaster ................ 1,060 3,176 1,836 6,072 Gulf(Source B)............... 1,294 2,883 1,797 5,974 Gulf (Oregon State) ........... .1,288 2,864 1,664 5,815 Surrey .................... 841 3,012 1,923 5,775 Florida 80 ................... 1,132 2,884 1,755 5,771 TAM 90 .................... 1,170 2,954 1,643 5,767 WVPB-AR-90-1 ............ 835 3,008 1,753 5,596 WVPB-AR-90-300 ............. 782 2,854 1,761 5,397 -14- Table 9. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1992-1994 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. ab Lb Marshall ......... Surrey .......... Rustmaster ....... TAM 90 ......... Gulf (Source A) ... Florida 80 ....... Gulf (Oregon State) Gulf (Source B) ... 739 607 691 689 783 726 777 760 2,926 2,639 2,510 2,466 2,176 2,198 2,156 2,167 1,689 1,655 1,392 1,399 1,450 1,484 1,311 1,296 5,354 4,902 4,593 4,554 4,410 4,408 4,244 4,222 -15- 1 1 uri0 0