PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1998-99 1 2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1998-99 3 Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1998-99 K. M. Glass 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. Moderate stands were obtained at the following locations: Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center, Crossville; E.V. Smith Research Center (Plant Breeding Unit), Tallassee; Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland; and Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, 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 per acre was applied after each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot was harvested to a cutting height of 1½ to 2 inches with a flail harvester each time the ryegrass reached a height of 6 to 10 inches. A herbage sample of approximately 1 pound was taken from each plot at each harvest for determining forage dry matter percentage. In 1997, the tests were planted October 6, October 8, and October 23 at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Good stands were obtained at all locations. All locations had wet conditions, and in some cases harvest was delayed somewhat due to the wetness. In 1998, tests were planted November 10, October 12, October 13, and October 16 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland, and Fairhope, respectively. Crossville experienced drought conditions in the fall, which delayed planting. Also, April and May were dry, which stopped production early. These factors together have created lower than normal yields at Crossville. All test locations had variable stands in the early growth stages. Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-4 provide yield data by harvest for 1998-99 at a given location, while table 5 shows one-, two-, and three-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total forage dry matter yields by locations are provided in table 6. The three seasonal periods are fall—forage production through February; early spring—March and early April production; and late spring—production after April 20. A three-year average provides a more dependable comparison of ryegrass varieties than do single-year results. Please note that Headland will not have a two- or three-year average because 1999 is the first year for a full ryegrass trial to be conducted at this location. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to Mien-Huei Tzeng, Research Data Analysis, for the data processing of this report. Also acknowledged are the contributions of R.A. Dawkins, Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center; L.N. Wells and B.E. Gamble, Wiregrass Research and Extension Center; N.R. McDaniel and M.D. Pegues, Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center; and J.S. Bannon and S.P. Nightengale, E.V. Smith Research Center, for growing and harvesting the experiments. Glass is an Agricultural Program Associate in the Auburn University Department of Agronomy and Soils. Information contained herein is available to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, or national origin. 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 1. SEASONAL DRY MATTER Y IELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT GULF C OAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, FAIRHOPE , ALABAMA, 1999 Acre yield by harvest date Brand-Variety 12/02 lb. Passerel RIO Jeanne Passerel Plus Surrey Jackson FL X1998(SII) LR Marshall TAM 90 WVPB AR-F-11 WVPB AR-93-101 WAX ME94 OFI A94 Zarastro FL X1998(New) LR Gulf (Source B) Hercules Andy FL X1998(New)4N Stampede TXR97-3 Sirloin Gulf (Source A) FL X1997(G) 4N Big Daddy WVPB AR-R-3 Gulf (Oregon State) Best One Tetragold Ribeye TXR96-3 Grazer L-LWT 355 Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 680 1,000 523 251 891 650 465 567 683 463 654 479 616 524 607 1,000 673 748 676 381 453 307 763 233 632 511 585 630 257 119 295 410 469 551 41 263 12/17 lb. 419 568 516 370 605 437 421 512 422 316 418 462 501 487 395 482 403 356 347 355 396 393 463 188 426 367 443 326 283 190 249 259 274 395 29 135 1/26 lb. 1,375 1,275 1,461 1,660 1,320 1,283 1,426 1,423 1,373 1,274 1,192 1,200 1,221 1,152 1,285 1,196 1,358 1,277 1,276 1,260 1,299 1,347 1,192 1,360 1,193 1,346 974 1,451 1,274 1,149 947 1,141 905 1,269 15 223 2/16 lb. 2,013 1,965 1,919 1,724 1,671 1,769 1,727 1,630 1,737 1,735 1,813 1,800 1,763 1,622 1,715 1,520 1,692 1,594 1,374 1,622 1,435 1,673 1,614 1,699 1,627 1,528 1,482 1,512 1,511 1,582 1,657 1,685 1,572 1,666 13 261 3/04 lb. 933 966 1,012 870 861 875 875 896 846 889 799 870 833 911 862 781 863 893 977 775 847 784 776 848 899 771 779 833 855 744 689 738 773 846 9 90 3/22 lb. 1,333 1,313 1,257 1,283 1,314 1,399 1,263 1,309 1,433 1,234 1,189 1,365 1,193 1,471 1,173 1,140 1,262 1,263 1,130 1,122 1,239 1,258 1,177 1,160 1,106 1,192 1,262 1,199 1,222 1,331 1,247 1,249 1,117 1,249 14 209 4/06 lb. 2,031 1,787 1,835 1,764 1,808 1,756 1,757 2,042 1,789 1,813 1,974 1,783 1,895 1,820 1,695 1,920 1,642 1,531 1,415 1,717 1,864 1,823 1,674 1,477 1,612 1,751 1,921 1,623 1,700 1,740 1,766 1,637 1,411 1,751 10 207 5/27 lb. 1,622 1,530 1,505 1,820 1,224 1,505 1,613 1,159 1,222 1,749 1,335 1,311 1,154 1,105 1,325 965 1,099 1,257 1,718 1,632 1,235 1,080 1,006 1,624 1,066 1,081 1,007 743 1,190 1,211 958 614 943 1,261 15 228 lb. 10,406 10,404 10,028 9,742 9,694 9,674 9,547 9,538 9,505 9,473 9,374 9,270 9,176 9,092 9,057 9,004 8,992 8,919 8,913 8,864 8,768 8,665 8,665 8,589 8,561 8,547 8,453 8,317 8,292 8,066 7,808 7,733 7,464 8,988 7 742 Season total Planted: October 16, 1998. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1998-99 5 TABLE 2. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF R YEGRASS VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE , A LABAMA, 1999 Acre yield by harvest date Brand-Variety 12/07 lb. Gulf (Source B) Sirloin FL X1998(New) LR FL X1997(G) 4N Big Daddy TXR97-3 Stampede Passerel Plus WVPB AR-R-3 Jackson RIO WAX ME94 Passerel Tetragold FL X1998(New) 4N Surrey WVPB AR-93-101 Grazer Gulf (Source A) FL X1998(SII) LR Gulf (Oregon State) OFI A94 WVPB AR-F-11 Ribeye Marshall TAM 90 Andy Best One Hercules L-LWT 355 TXR96-3 Zarastro Jeanne Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 1,886 1,668 1,436 1,362 1,231 1,443 1,457 1,234 1,223 1,325 1,043 1,061 1,443 1,173 836 856 972 1,218 1,004 1,010 1,053 863 1,422 944 1,174 843 1,528 1,231 1,094 1,021 633 1,123 765 1,169 49 677 2/15 lb. 1,507 1,474 1,172 936 1,232 1,063 992 1,288 1,127 897 1,137 1,000 881 1,168 1,145 1,242 928 957 1,331 950 977 951 844 1,018 726 1,081 929 859 902 943 763 715 746 1,027 26 313 3/18 lb. 971 920 939 818 932 935 797 520 915 881 852 611 484 858 951 882 1,181 1,133 957 791 913 841 544 785 461 596 678 714 612 681 675 557 443 783 32 292 4/09 lb. 1,233 1,197 1,198 1,217 1,032 1,322 1,203 870 1,082 1,076 998 1,092 913 918 869 1,083 1,011 959 1,086 1,061 1,114 1,102 777 1,037 1,119 1,059 648 842 803 651 1,039 646 585 995 24 284 5/11 lb. 1,121 1,328 1,504 1,881 1,742 1,314 1,537 1,982 1,512 1,533 1,677 1,879 1,907 1,481 1,692 1,266 1,197 956 816 1,334 1,057 1,278 1,377 1,178 1,437 1,307 1,023 1,122 1,180 983 1,092 828 1,102 1,352 23 358 lb. 6,718 6,587 6,249 6,214 6,169 6,077 5,986 5,894 5,859 5,712 5,707 5,643 5,628 5,598 5,493 5,329 5,289 5,223 5,194 5,146 5,114 5,035 4,964 4,962 4,917 4,886 4,806 4,768 4,591 4,279 4,202 3,869 3,641 5,326 22 1,368 Season total Planted: October 12, 1998. Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam. 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION T ABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER Y IELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT SAND M OUNTAIN R ESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1999 Acre yield by harvest date Brand-Variety 4/02 lb. Stampede FL X1998(SII) LR TAM 901,348 Gulf (Source A) Grazer OFI A94 Jackson Marshall Big Daddy Sirloin Passerel Plus Surrey FL X1998(New) 4N Gulf (Oregon State) Hercules Ribeye FL X1997(G) 4N TXR97-3 Passerel RIO WAX ME94 WVPB AR-93-101 Tetragold TXR96-3 WVPB AR-R-3 Best One L-LWT 355 FL X1998(New) LR Gulf (Source B) Andy Jeanne Zarastro WVPB AR-F-11 Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 1,726 1,439 1,040 1,477 1,430 1,313 1,107 900 1,298 1,249 1,082 1,373 1,032 1,132 1,076 1,058 1,329 856 681 1,063 828 1,056 1,223 839 835 1,252 1,211 841 925 872 632 580 568 1,080 32 401 4/14 lb. 863 764 919 655 468 792 918 1,027 616 817 933 594 708 780 783 807 608 868 881 772 904 699 613 841 802 561 521 779 734 676 833 752 706 761 18 163 5/07 lb. 997 1,128 3,307 1,062 1,282 1,035 1,109 1,185 1,157 1,004 1,044 1,019 1,210 1,033 1,002 983 888 1,095 1,250 976 1,005 954 847 973 1,012 798 864 927 883 983 1,036 1,124 1,084 1,026 16 190 lb. 3,586 3,331 3,194 3,180 3,140 3,134 3,112 3,071 3,070 3,059 2,986 2,950 2,945 2,861 2,848 2,825 2,819 2,812 2,811 2,737 2,709 2,683 2,653 2,649 2,611 2,596 2,547 2,542 2,531 2,501 2,456 2,358 2,867 13 443 Season total Planted: November 10, 1998. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1998-99 7 TABLE 4. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT WIREGRASS R ESEARCH AND EXTENSION C ENTER, H EADLAND, ALABAMA, 1999 Acre yield by harvest date Brand-Variety 12/11 lb. WAX ME94 Best One Marshall FL X1998(New) 4N L-LWT 355 WVPB AR-R-3 Big Daddy Surrey OFI A94 FL X1998(SII) LR Jackson WVPB AR-93-101 RIO Hercules FL X1998(New) LR Sirloin Andy FL X1997(G) 4N Grazer WVPB AR-F-11 Stampede Tetragold Passerel TAM 90 Gulf (Source B) TXR97-3 Gulf (Oregon State) Jeanne Passerel Plus Gulf (Source A) TXR96-3 Ribeye Zarastro Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 1,251 1,402 1,427 1,126 2,037 1,273 1,042 1,376 1,199 1,024 1,359 1,621 1,114 1,245 979 383 1,625 573 903 1,278 408 942 1,438 1,877 1,357 744 1,655 1,000 577 1,307 923 570 943 1,151 43 579 1/12 lb. 2,266 2,200 1,960 1,855 1,790 2,254 2,265 1,921 2,248 2,038 1,985 1,786 1,757 1,683 1,820 1,593 1,736 1,482 1,702 1,486 1,504 1,530 1,485 1,348 1,793 1,467 1,510 1,729 1,581 1,823 1,332 1,177 1,245 1,738 22 450 2/08 lb. 2,127 2,302 2,058 2,031 2,345 2,410 2,088 2,126 2,105 2,061 2,009 2,130 2,039 2,127 2,237 2,430 1,955 1,855 2,417 1,906 2,006 2,192 1,843 1,899 2,238 2,043 1,828 1,677 1,644 1,984 1,710 1,917 1,554 2,039 13 306 3/16 lb. 3,541 3,094 3,208 3,300 2,763 3,220 2,997 3,319 3,257 3,460 3,307 3,221 3,173 3,000 3,253 3,654 2,897 3,508 3,760 2,821 3,606 2,910 2,648 2,811 2,945 3,572 2,919 2,822 2,974 2,919 3,776 3,389 2,398 3,165 11 422 4/19 lb. 1,184 1,110 1,263 1,338 895 1,018 1,457 1,040 1,009 966 985 989 1,166 1,031 1,045 983 745 1,241 865 879 1,191 982 1,066 922 930 913 1,031 741 1,119 825 1,053 895 441 1,010 24 283 5/13 lb. 1,276 1,514 1,378 1,351 1,115 697 985 917 873 1,123 1,023 913 1,218 1,345 1,059 1,156 1,181 1,408 389 1,639 1,240 1,388 1,421 952 492 945 653 1,552 1,545 471 478 1,022 1,199 1,088 16 208 lb. 11,645 11,622 11,294 11,001 10,945 10,872 10,834 10,699 10,691 10,672 10,668 10,660 10,467 10,431 10,393 10,199 10,139 10,067 10,036 10,009 9,955 9,944 9,901 9,809 9,755 9,684 9,596 9,521 9,440 9,329 9,272 8,970 7,780 10,191 8 964 Season total Planted: October 13, 1998. Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam. 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 5. TOTAL DRY M ATTER Y IELD OF RYEGRASS V ARIETIES, 1999, AND T WO- AND T HREE-YEAR AVERAGES AT GULF C OAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT , AND SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION C ENTER Dry matter/acre Brand-Variety 1999 lb. 2-yr. avg. (1998-99) lb. 3-yr. avg. (1997-99) lb. Hercules Tetragold Sirloin FL X1998(New) LR TXR97-3 Stampede Passerel Plus Passerel FL X1998(New) 4N FL X1998(SII) LR Andy Best One L-LWT 355 TXR96-3 Zarastro Jeanne Dry matter/acre Brand-Variety 1999 lb. 4,591 5,598 6,587 6,249 6,077 5,986 5,894 5,628 5,493 5,146 4,806 4,768 4,279 4,202 3,869 3,641 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1998-99) (1997-99) lb. 4,280 5,334 - lb. 4,038 - GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER Marshall RIO WVPB AR-F-11 TAM 90 WAX ME94 WVPB AR-93-101 Hercules Jackson Surrey OFI A94 FL X1997(G) 4N WVPB AR-R-3 Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Ribeye Gulf (Oregon State) Grazer Tetragold Passerel Jeanne Passerel Plus FL X1998(SII) LR Zarastro FL X1998(New) LR Andy FL X1998(New) 4N Stampede TXR97-3 Sirloin Best One TXR96-3 9,538 10,404 9,473 9,505 9,270 9,374 8,992 9,674 9,694 9,176 8,589 8,547 9,004 8,665 8,561 8,066 8,453 7,733 8,292 10,406 10,028 9,742 9,547 9,092 9,057 8,919 8,913 8,864 8,768 8,665 8,317 7,808 8,678 8,684 8,378 7,939 8,237 7,982 8,234 7,894 8,230 7,847 7,331 7,428 7,628 7,503 7,431 6,745 7,205 6,753 7,467 8,537 8,507 8,370 8,295 8,234 8,085 8,046 7,976 7,906 7,882 7,629 7,617 7,442 7,442 7,351 7,293 7,122 6,542 - PLANT BREEDING UNIT (continued) SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER Marshall WAX ME94 RIO Jackson Surrey TAM 90 OFI A94 Grazer Gulf (Source B) FL X1997(G) 4N Ribeye Gulf (Source A) Gulf (Oregon State) Big Daddy Hercules WVPB AR-R-3 WVPB AR-93-101 WVPB AR-F-11 Tetragold Stampede FL X1998(SII) LR Sirloin Passerel Plus FL X1998(New) 4N TXR97-3 Passerel TXR96-3 Best One L-LWT 355 FL X1998(New) LR Andy Jeanne Zarastro 3,112 2,737 2,811 3,134 2,986 3,307 3,140 3,180 2,542 2,825 2,848 3,194 2,945 3,071 2,861 2,649 2,709 2,358 2,683 3,586 3,331 3,070 3,059 2,950 2,819 2,812 2,653 2,611 2,596 2,547 2,531 2,501 2,456 3,509 3,514 3,635 3,526 3,515 3,718 3,631 3,135 3,331 3,251 3,338 3,535 3,308 3,361 3,110 3,450 3,323 3,252 3,074 4,059 3,837 3,825 3,820 3,805 3,723 3,686 3,594 3,514 3,464 3,400 3,387 3,376 3,353 3,326 - L-LWT 355 WAX ME94 Ribeye Big Daddy RIO Gulf (Source B) WVPB AR-R-3 Jackson FL X1997(G) 4N Surrey Gulf (Source A) TAM 90 Grazer WVPB AR-93-101 OFI A94 Gulf (Oregon State) Marshall WVPB AR-F-11 7,464 5,643 4,962 6,169 5,707 6,718 5,859 5,712 6,214 5,329 5,194 4,886 5,223 5,289 5,035 5,114 4,917 4,964 6,431 6,219 6,120 5,990 6,122 5,983 5,905 5,870 5,731 5,714 5,401 5,656 5,439 5,485 5,335 5,170 5,311 5,712 5,451 5,418 5,360 5,272 5,265 5,242 5,233 5,162 5,073 5,005 4,995 4,963 4,908 4,857 4,728 4,661 PLANT BREEDING UNIT PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1998-99 9 TABLE 6. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF R YEGRASS V ARIETY PRODUCTION AT GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER , PLANT BREEDING UNIT , AND SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, 1997-99 Seasonal forage yield/acre Brand-Variety Fall lb. Marshall WAX ME94 Marshall RIO WVPB AR-F-11 TAM 90 WAX ME94 WVPB AR-93-101 Hercules Jackson Surrey OFI A94 FL X1997(G) 4N WVPB AR-R-3 Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Ribeye Gulf (Oregon State) Grazer WAX ME94 Ribeye Big Daddy RIO Gulf (Source B) WVPB AR-R-3 Jackson FL X1997(G) 4N Surrey Gulf (Source A) TAM 90 Grazer WVPB AR-93-101 OFI A94 Gulf (Oregon State) Marshall WVPB AR-F-11 Hercules Marshall WAX ME94 RIO Jackson Surrey TAM 90 OFI A94 Grazer Gulf (Source B) FL X1997(G) 4N Ribeye Gulf (Source A) Gulf (Oregon State) Big Daddy Hercules 3,083 3,137 3,865 4,177 3,808 4,022 3,882 3,840 3,926 3,798 3,904 3,694 3,758 3,585 3,596 3,610 3,590 3,409 3,187 3,284 1,168 1,240 1,388 1,245 1,717 1,188 1,176 1,122 1,205 1,400 1,169 1,132 1,129 1,064 1,227 946 1,073 1,157 Early spring lb. 3,175 2,844 3,209 2,775 2,907 2,833 2,870 2,718 2,738 2,648 2,666 2,677 2,381 2,650 2,561 2,557 2,495 2,451 2,623 2,323 Late spring lb. 2,342 2,162 1,462 1,555 1,655 1,440 1,482 1,528 1,381 1,530 1,336 1,511 1,490 1,382 1,284 1,275 1,266 1,432 1,311 935 2,557 2,304 2,214 2,208 1,714 2,129 2,131 2,319 2,014 1,831 1,985 1,724 1,920 1,927 1,839 2,115 2,044 1,501 Total lb. 8,600 8,143 8,537 8,507 8,370 8,295 8,234 8,085 8,046 7,976 7,906 7,882 7,629 7,617 7,442 7,442 7,351 7,293 7,122 6,542 5,712 5,451 5,418 5,360 5,272 5,265 5,242 5,233 5,162 5,073 5,005 4,995 4,963 4,908 4,857 4,728 4,661 4,038 4,059 3,837 3,825 3,820 3,805 3,723 3,686 3,594 3,514 3,464 3,400 3,387 3,376 3,353 3,326 GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER PLANT BREEDING UNIT 1,987 1,907 1,816 1,907 1,842 1,948 1,935 1,792 1,942 1,842 1,851 2,139 1,914 1,917 1,791 1,667 1,544 1,381 SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER 2,251 1,808 2,101 1,736 2,115 1,710 2,196 1,623 2,164 1,640 2,245 1,477 2,077 1,610 2,219 1,375 2,046 1,468 2,016 1,448 1,960 1,440 1,904 1,484 1,834 1,542 1,858 1,495 1,847 1,479 10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Sources of Ryegrass Seed Hercules Ribeye Sirloin Tetragold Andy Jeanne L-LWT 355 Zarastro Gulf (Source B) OFI-A94 RIO Stampede Gulf (Oregon State) Best One Passerel Passerel Plus Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Surrey TAM 90 TXR96-3 Jackson Marshall WAX ME94 FL X1997 (G) 4N FL X1998 (New) LR FL X1998 (New) 4N FL X1997 (SII) LR Grazer WVPB-AR-93-101 WVPB-AR-R-3 WVPB-AR-F-11 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississippi Barenbrug USA, Tangent, Oregon DLF Trifolium, USA, Corvallis, Oregon Elberta Farmer’s Coop. Elberta, Alabama Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., Salem, Oregon Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Pennington Seed, Inc., Lebanon, Oregon Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Texas A & M University, College Station, TXR97-3 Texas USDA, Tifton,Georgia Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Oregon