PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1999-00
Agrononmy and Soils Departmental Series No. 226 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Luther Waters, Director Auburn University Auburn, Alabama July 2000

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Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1999-00

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ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1999-00
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 that 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 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 created lower than normal yields at Crossville. All test locations had variable stands in the early growth stages. In 1999, the tests were planted October 15, October 19, and October 21, and October 19 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland, and Fairhope, respectively. It was a mild winter and spring at all locations, but growing conditions were fairly normal. The last cutting at Headland was delayed due to mechanical difficulties; therefore, yields were higher than normal. Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-4 provide yield data by harvest for 1999-00 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 have only a one- and two-year average because 1999 was 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.

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TABLE 1. S EASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT G ULF C OAST RESEARCH AND E XTENSION CENTER, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 2000
Brand-Variety ————————Acre yield by harvest date———————— 1/03 1/21 2/24 3/30 4/17 lb. Marshall Jackson Jumbo WAX ME94 Bar9Lou Stampede Passerel Plus Passerel Big Daddy Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Source A) FL X1999 (GA) LR Tetragold Bar9Tam TAM 90 Sirloin Hercules Gulf (Oregon State) Florlina RIO Ribeye FL X1998 (SII) LR Natchez Lafayette TXR2000–1 TXR2000–T1 Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 1,686 1,717 2,019 1,665 1,598 1,620 1,953 1,937 1,718 1,971 1,917 1,571 1,450 1,469 1,582 1,502 1,537 1,689 1,346 1,322 1,458 1,067 1,376 1,221 983 1,027 1,554 17 311 lb. 1,132 1,064 1,139 1,100 1,173 1,163 1,160 1,123 1,169 1,171 1,163 1,133 1,086 1,032 1,115 1,139 1,085 1,127 1,098 1,025 1,091 915 780 994 943 929 1,079 11 138 lb. 1,548 1,655 1,551 1,527 1,559 1,597 1,362 1,264 1,564 1,591 1,582 1,575 1,521 1,497 1,556 1,619 1,580 1,461 1,531 1,479 1,511 1,441 1,621 1,498 1,540 1,576 1,531 8 142 lb. 2,233 2,274 2,049 2,276 2,281 2,183 2,079 2,073 1,964 1,988 1,997 2,076 2,066 2,173 2,093 2,032 1,940 2,058 2,109 2,096 2,033 2,245 1,961 2,018 2,232 2,167 2,104 7 175 lb. 2,527 2,353 2,262 2,364 2,210 2,255 2,257 2,375 2,280 1,872 1,892 2,195 2,302 2,251 2,019 2,043 2,150 1,947 2,163 2,198 1,960 2,215 2,097 2,097 2,115 1,958 2,168 8 208 Season total lb. 9,126 9,063 9,020 8,932 8,821 8,818 8,811 8,772 8,695 8,593 8,551 8,550 8,425 8,422 8,365 8,335 8,292 8,282 8,247 8,120 8,053 7,883 7,835 7,828 7,813 7,657 8,435 5 492

Planted: October 19, 1999. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam.

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TABLE 2. S EASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT PLANT B REEDING UNIT, T ALLASSEE, ALABAMA , 2000
Brand-Variety —————————Acre yield by harvest date————————— 12/14 2/08 3/02 3/22 4/11 4/27 lb. Tetragold RIO Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Jumbo Gulf (Oregon State) Natchez Passerel Plus Marshall Bar9Lou Bar9Tam FL X1999 (GA) LR TXR2000–1 TAM 90 Ribeye WAX ME94 Florlina Jackson Sirloin FL X1998 (SII) LR Stampede Lafayette Passerel Hercules TXR2000–T1 Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) 780 621 663 689 691 577 733 684 523 535 548 452 558 492 492 661 788 749 539 555 492 508 535 404 530 293 580 34 229 lb. 1,267 963 1,411 1,383 1,292 1,149 1,170 1,146 730 773 905 1,070 838 723 891 736 757 655 828 856 644 604 709 507 710 526 894 35 373 lb. 1,638 1,742 1,552 1,610 1,434 1,490 1,574 1,551 1,699 1,516 1,558 1,363 1,682 1,313 1,528 1,432 1,214 1,426 1,161 1,230 1,240 1,359 1,220 1,283 1,275 1,362 1,440 24 407 lb. 1,211 1,177 1,071 1,214 1,057 1,142 1,153 1,087 1,208 1,314 1,205 1,283 1,066 1,460 1,334 1,080 1,161 1,213 1,215 1,095 1,157 1,096 1,094 1,050 866 1,064 1,157 15 199 lb. 1,472 1,646 1,336 1,088 1,419 1,422 1,176 1,336 1,652 1,630 1,359 1,311 1,319 1,410 1,164 1,486 1,441 1,287 1,366 1,273 1,510 1,401 1,303 1,510 1,327 1,410 1,387 17 274 lb. 650 561 588 575 553 652 568 555 545 496 603 609 624 654 602 596 566 559 574 550 490 540 543 520 520 504 569 21 142 Season total lb. 7,018 6,710 6,621 6,559 6,446 6,432 6,374 6,359 6,357 6,264 6,178 6,088 6,087 6,052 6,011 5,991 5,927 5,889 5,683 5,559 5,533 5,508 5,404 5,274 5,228 5,159 6,028 12 871

Planted: October 19, 1999. Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam.

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TABLE 3. S EASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES S AND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 2000
————————Acre yield by harvest date———————— 3/03 3/23 4/11 5/01 5/23 lb. lb. 1,899 1,372 1,730 1,971 1,407 1,199 1,269 1,218 1,414 1,583 1,155 1,231 1,156 1,525 1,412 1,379 1,106 982 895 1,083 1,234 1,061 1,136 1,121 1,157 1,084 1,299 41 623 lb. 1,197 1,313 1,091 1,086 1,317 1,097 1,217 1,072 994 1,086 988 957 787 1,038 934 752 982 1,301 1,043 858 1,109 899 1,084 928 1,150 842 1,043 20 244 lb. 3,218 3,142 3,232 2,856 2,977 2,997 3,071 2,848 3,097 2,674 2,983 2,936 2,928 2,681 2,751 3,018 2,727 2,359 2,722 2,850 2,629 2,633 2,751 2,759 2,250 2,406 2,827 13 437 lb. 1,259 1,590 1,500 1,570 1,570 1,376 1,546 1,595 1,295 1,184 1,624 1,293 1,044 1,244 1,427 1,253 1,230 1,250 1,312 1,254 1,272 1,208 1,464 1,317 1,360 1,303 1,359 18 293 Season total lb. 8,338 8,302 8,253 8,154 8,013 7,821 7,797 7,674 7,667 7,628 7,614 7,449 7,433 7,411 7,371 7,257 7,161 7,138 7,035 7,003 6,978 6,967 6,870 6,807 6,790 6,709 7,448 10 845

Brand-Variety

Stampede Passerel Plus WAX ME94 Lafayette Marshall RIO Passerel Jackson TAM 90 Bar9Lou Florlina Ribeye Gulf (Source A) FL X1999 (GA) LR Gulf (Oregon State) Jumbo Gulf (Source B) Big Daddy Sirloin Natchez FL X1998 (SII) LR Hercules TXR2000–1 TXR2000–T1 Bar9Tam Tetragold Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10)

765 885 700 671 742 1,152 694 941 867 1,101 864 1,032 1,518 923 847 855 1,116 1,246 1,063 958 734 1,166 435 682 873 1,074 919 30 326

Planted: October 15, 1999. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam.

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TABLE 4. S EASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, HEADLAND, ALABAMA, 2000
———Acre yield by harvest date——— 1/21 3/03 3/31 lb. lb. 2,097 2,335 1,960 2,326 1,914 1,978 1,749 1,660 1,700 1,958 2,181 1,897 1,922 1,619 1,674 1,696 1,611 1,685 1,828 1,855 1,840 1,431 1,567 1,697 1,274 1,503 1,806 21 441 lb. 4,591 3,706 4,102 3,897 3,985 4,001 4,332 4,415 4,265 3,639 3,560 3,706 3,874 4,284 4,193 3,939 4,153 3,838 4,015 3,891 3,832 4,046 4,316 3,722 4,291 3,706 4,012 10 459 Season total lb. 7,411 7,127 7,039 7,034 6,992 6,914 6,908 6,795 6,764 6,702 6,552 6,550 6,526 6,523 6,516 6,488 6,453 6,446 6,433 6,413 6,409 6,312 6,254 6,157 6,085 5,891 6,604 10 748

Brand-Variety

Sirloin Natchez Tetragold Gulf (Source A) RIO Ribeye Marshall TAM 90 Bar9Tam Big Daddy WAX ME94 Gulf (Source B) Stampede Bar9Lou Florlina Passerel Passerel Plus Jackson TXR2000–T1 FL X1999(GA)LR Gulf (Oregon State) Hercules TXR2000–1 Jumbo FL X1998(SII) LR Lafayette Test Mean C.V. (%) L.S.D. (.10) Planted: October 21, 1999. Soil: Dothan Sandy Loam.

723 1,086 977 811 1,093 935 827 720 799 1,105 811 947 730 620 649 853 689 923 590 667 737 835 371 738 520 682 786 23 216

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TABLE 5. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2000, AND TWO- AND T HREE-YEAR AVERAGES AT GULF COAST R ESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, S AND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, AND WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER
Brand-Variety ———Dry matter/acre——— 2000 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1999-00) (1998-00) lb. lb. lb. Gulf (Source B) WAX ME94 RIO Big Daddy Ribeye Jumbo Gulf (Source A) Tetragold Jackson Gulf (Oregon State) TAM 90 Marshall Hercules Passerel Plus Sirloin Stampede Passerel FL X1998(SII) LR Natchez Bar9Lou Bar9Tam FL X1999(GA)LR TXR2000–1 Florlina Lafayette TXR2000–T1 Brand-Variety ———Dry matter/acre——— 2000 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1999-00) (1998-00) lb. lb. lb. 6,288 6,263 6,230 6,229 6,143 6,057 5,996 5,895 5,831 5,681 5,604 5,535 4,596 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ continued

GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER Marshall 9,126 9,332 8,827 RIO 8,120 9,262 8,496 WAX ME94 8,932 9,101 8,469 Jackson 9,063 9,369 8,283 Hercules 8,292 8,642 8,253 TAM 90 8,365 8,935 8,081 Gulf (Source B) 8,593 8,799 7,949 Jumbo 9,020 8,805 7,894 Big Daddy 8,695 8,628 7,852 Gulf (Source A) 8,551 8,608 7,852 Tetragold 8,425 8,359 7,786 Gulf (Oregon State) 8,282 8,368 7,564 Ribeye 8,053 8,060 7,181 Passerel 8,772 9,589 _ Passerel Plus 8,811 9,277 _ Stampede 8,818 8,841 _ FL X1998(SII) LR 7,883 8,715 _ Sirloin 8,335 8,500 _ Bar9Lou 8,821 _ _ FL X1999(GA)LR 8,550 _ _ Bar9Tam 8,422 _ _ Florlina 8,247 _ _ Natchez 7,835 _ _ Lafayette 7,828 _ _ TXR2000–1 7,813 _ _ TXR2000–T1 7,657 _ _

PLANT BREEDING UNIT 6,621 6,670 5,927 5,785 6,710 6,209 6,446 6,308 5,991 5,477 6,432 6,323 6,559 5,877 7,018 6,308 5,683 5,698 6,374 5,744 6,011 5,449 6,264 5,591 5,228 4,910 6,357 6,126 5,559 6,073 5,508 5,747 5,274 5,451 5,533 5,340 6,359 _ 6,178 _ 6,088 _ 6,087 _ 6,052 _ 5,889 _ 5,404 _ 5,159 _

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TABLE 5, CONTINUED . TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2000, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES AT GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, AND WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER
Brand-Variety ———Dry matter/acre——— 2000 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1999-00) (1998-00) lb. lb. lb. Brand-Variety ———Dry matter/acre——— 2000 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1999-00) (1998-00) lb. lb. lb.

SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER WAX ME94 8,253 5,495 5,094 TAM 90 7,667 5,487 5,034 RIO 7,821 5,316 5,030 Marshall 8,013 5,563 5,010 Jackson 7,674 5,404 4,909 Gulf (Source A) 7,433 5,314 4,834 Ribeye 7,449 5,149 4,708 Gulf (Oregon State) 7,371 5,158 4,662 Big Daddy 7,138 5,105 4,620 Gulf (Source B) 7,161 4,852 4,607 Jumbo 7,257 5,041 4,586 Hercules 6,967 4,914 4,395 Tetragold 6,709 4,696 4,285 Stampede 8,338 5,962 _ Passerel Plus 8,302 5,681 _ Passerel 7,797 5,305 _ FL X1998(SII) LR 6,978 5,155 _ Sirloin 7,035 5,053 _ Lafayette 8,154 _ _ Bar9Lou 7,628 _ _ Florlina 7,614 _ _ FL X1999(GA)LR 7,411 _ _ Natchez 7,003 _ _ TXR2000–1 6,870 _ _ TXR2000–T1 6,807 _ _ Bar9Tam 6,790 _ _

WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER WAX ME94 6,552 9,099 _ Marshall 6,908 9,101 _ Big Daddy 6,702 8,768 _ RIO 6,992 8,730 _ Jackson 6,446 8,557 _ Gulf (Oregon State) 6,409 8,003 _ Gulf (Source A) 7,034 8,182 _ Gulf (Source B) 6,550 8,153 _ TAM 90 6,795 8,302 _ Jumbo 6,157 8,112 _ Sirloin 7,411 8,805 _ Tetragold 7,039 8,492 _ FL X1998(SII) LR 6,085 8,379 _ Hercules 6,312 8,372 _ Stampede 6,526 8,241 _ Passerel 6,488 8,195 _ Passerel Plus 6,453 7,947 _ Ribeye 6,914 7,942 _ Natchez 7,127 _ _ Bar9Tam 6,764 _ _ Bar9Lou 6,523 _ _ Florlina 6,516 _ _ TXR2000–T1 6,433 _ _ FL X1999(GA)LR 6,413 _ _ TXR2000–1 6,254 _ _ Lafayette 5,891 _ _

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TABLE 6. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE S EASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS VARIETY PRODUCTION AT GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, AND S AND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, 1998-00
Brand-Variety ——————Seasonal forage yield/acre—————— Fall Early spring Late spring lb. Marshall RIO WAX ME94 Jackson Hercules TAM 90 Gulf (Source B) Jumbo Big Daddy Gulf (Source A Tetragold Gulf (Oregon State) Ribeye Gulf (Source B) WAX ME94 RIO Big Daddy Ribeye Jumbo Gulf (Source A) Tetragold Jackson Gulf (Oregon State) TAM 90 Marshall Hercules WAX ME94 TAM 90 RIO Marshall Jackson Gulf (Source A) Ribeye Gulf (Oregon State) Big Daddy Gulf (Source B) Jumbo Hercules Tetragold lb. lb. Total lb. 8,827 8,496 8,469 8,283 8,253 8,081 7,949 7,894 7,852 7,852 7,786 7,564 7,181 6,288 6,263 6,230 6,229 6,143 6,057 5,996 5,895 5,831 5,681 5,604 5,535 4,596 5,094 5,034 5,030 5,010 4,909 4,834 4,708 4,662 4,620 4,607 4,586 4,395 4,285

GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER 4,088 3,926 813 4,148 3,478 870 4,012 3,631 825 4,048 3,415 820 4,114 3,367 773 3,953 3,385 742 4,152 3,144 653 3,954 3,096 843 3,975 3,270 607 4,053 3,150 649 3,651 3,383 752 3,634 3,271 659 3,362 3,083 737 2,099 1,431 1,503 1,746 1,411 1,493 1,694 1,625 1,407 1,520 1,383 1,194 1,292 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PLANT BREEDING UNIT 2,841 2,807 2,990 2,774 2,902 2,779 2,839 2,738 2,753 2,743 2,734 2,720 2,205 2,352 2,509 2,368 2,305 2,313 2,427 2,310 2,195 2,342 2,329 2,157 2,125 2,144 1,349 2,026 1,737 1,708 1,830 1,786 1,463 1,532 1,671 1,418 1,487 1,621 1,099 2,742 2,526 2,663 2,706 2,596 2,407 2,398 2,467 2,277 2,278 2,429 2,270 2,142

SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

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Sources of Ryegrass Seed
Lafayette Natchez RIO Stampede Hercules Ribeye Sirloin Tetragold BAR9LOU BAR9TAM Gulf (Source B) Gulf (Oregon State) Passerel Passerel Plus Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy TAM 90 TXR2000-T1 TXR2000-1 Jackson Marshall WAX ME94 Jumbo (formerly FL X1997 (G) 4N) FL X1998 (GA) LR FL X1998 (SII) LR AgriBioTech, Inc., Albany, Oregon

Barenbrug USA, Tangent, Oregon

Elberta Farmer’s Coop. Elberta, Alabama Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Pennington Seed, Inc., Lebanon, Oregon

Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama ProSeeds Marketing, Jefferson, Oregon Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas

The Wax Company, LLC, Amory, Mississippi

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida