Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 2003-04 Agronomy and Soils Departmental Series No. 259 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station John Jensen, Interim Director Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, July 2004 Printed in cooperation with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 1 A CKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to the following supervisory personnel of the outlying units whose support is gratefully acknowledged: Northern Alabama Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center, Crossville...................................R.A. Dawkins, Supt. Central Alabama Black Belt Research and Extension Center, Marion Junction ................................J.L. Holliman, Supt. E.V. Smith Research Center, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee ................................S.P. Nightengale, Supt. Southern Alabama Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, Fairhope............................................N.R. McDaniel, Supt. M.D. Pegues, Assoc. Supt. Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland............................................L.W. Wells, Supt. B.E. Gamble, Asst. Supt. 2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 K.M. Glass and E. van Santen Agric. Program Associate and Professor, Dept. of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, AL 36849 INTRODUCTION The Alabama Ryegrass Variety Evaluation is a continuing evaluation 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 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station personnel. The experiments are conducted by experiment station personnel and the results are presented in a fair and unbiased manner. PROCEDURE 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. Acceptable 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 1 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 2003, the tests were planted September 30, October 2, October 15, and October 17 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland, and Fairhope, respectively. In 2002, the tests were planted October 23, October 10, October 17, and October 22 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland, and Fairhope, respectively. DISCUSSION Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-5 provide yield data by harvest for 2003-04 at a given location, while Tables 6 and 7 show 1, 2, and 3-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total dry matter yields by locations are provided in Tables 8 and 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. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 3 TABLE 1. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 2004. Yield by harvest date Cultivar Flying A Wax ME-94 Passerel Plus Rio Brigadier Marshall TXR 2001-11 WMN 97 Gulf (Source A) Tam 90 WD- 40 Jackson Ed FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Prine LM 9929D 4X FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS Ducado FL X2003 (New 2)ER Diamond T Shiwasuaba Test Mean C.V. (%) LSD(0.10) Planted: 9/30/2003 Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam Season 12/8 2/3 3/10 3/29 4/15 4/29 5/20 total -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------- 1608 1611 1615 2071 1518 1633 1212 1348 1586 1766 1673 1526 1102 1284 1765 1889 1377 1663 1509 1598 1610 2161 1597 18 289 1742 1296 1435 1640 1457 1127 1232 1053 1610 1504 1495 1251 1396 1062 1359 1431 1177 1595 1390 1724 1306 1145 1383 14 187 2668 2449 2351 2632 2841 2315 2665 2191 2510 2621 2850 2629 2689 2447 2286 2398 2588 2748 2904 2839 2591 2096 2559 14 332 2554 2591 2484 2502 2585 2864 2645 2637 2581 2232 2205 2577 2513 2614 2671 1381 2348 2126 2413 1905 2364 1817 2391 12 255 1603 2018 1960 1447 1476 2025 1836 1988 1381 1469 1379 1654 1441 1716 1608 1477 1620 1072 1336 1025 1290 980 1536 15 215 2041 1872 1906 1631 1871 1748 2040 2092 2291 1865 2012 1907 1873 1678 1430 1632 1423 1407 1199 1714 1496 1779 1768 14 240 2029 2350 2335 2084 2091 1927 2000 2308 1631 2070 1794 1832 1921 1959 1511 2403 1929 1849 1637 1577 1375 1791 1927 23 429 14244 14187 14087 14007 13838 13640 13630 13616 13589 13527 13408 13375 12935 12759 12629 12611 12462 12460 12388 12381 12033 11767 13162 6 809 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 2. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE BLACK BELT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, MARION JUNCTION, 2004. Cultivar 3/15 5/6 † † -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------- Yield by harvest date † † † ----------------------------------------- Season total 7082 6402 6391 6280 6267 6207 6188 6148 5883 5425 6227 7 509 Wax ME-94 2565 Rio 2746 Passerel Plus 1881 Jumbo 1967 Prine 2138 Ed 2609 Jackson 1959 Gulf (Source A) 2221 WMN 97 1875 Marshall 1828 Test Mean 2179 C.V. (%) 9 LSD(0.10) 267 Planted: 10/23/2003 Soil: Houston Clay † only two cuts taken at this location This location added on a trial basis. 4516 3656 4511 4313 4129 3598 4229 3927 4007 3597 4048 11 442 --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 TABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE E.V. SMITH RESEARCH CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, 2004. 5 Cultivar 12/8 3/11 † † -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------- Yield by harvest date 4/5 † † 1154 1074 550 1143 1134 1350 1039 1078 1057 1094 1273 1145 1102 1027 992 1285 1107 1145 975 1127 1048 992 1148 892 1054 647 1063 15 184 ----------------------------------------------------- Season total 3001 2810 2774 2753 2722 2704 2684 2683 2679 2656 2610 2604 2603 2572 2571 2535 2505 2492 2397 2337 2317 2300 2189 2098 2053 1984 2524 14 451 Flying A 889 FL X2003 (New 2)ER 728 Shiwasuaba 755 Brigadier 806 Rio 822 Jackson 678 Tam 90 805 Wax ME-94 847 Ducado 733 Ed 818 Ribeye 505 WD- 40 667 Marshall 867 Prine 761 Diamond T 641 Gulf (Source A) 468 Jumbo 728 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT 666 BAR9TAM 758 FL X2002 (New 3) LRCT 521 FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS 543 4X 578 TXR 2001-11 547 Passerel Plus 633 WMN 97 570 LM 9929D 737 Test Mean 695 C.V. (%) 24 LSD(0.10) 208 Planted: 10/2/2003 Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam † only three cuts taken at this location 958 1007 1469 804 767 676 840 758 889 744 832 791 634 785 939 781 670 681 664 690 725 729 494 573 428 600 766 25 197 ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 4. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, HEADLAND, ALABAMA, 2004. Yield by harvest date Cultivar 1/12 2/19 3/9 4/6 5/5 † † -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------- Season total 8293 8143 8111 7899 7649 7510 7257 7237 7170 7092 7091 7087 7066 6970 6735 6718 6655 6606 6592 6306 6204 4998 7063 6 410 Diamond T 1157 FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS 761 Prine 938 4X 843 Wax ME-94 640 Flying A 910 Ed 776 Gulf (Source A) 472 Shiwasuaba 1265 WD- 40 885 FL X2003 (New 2)ER 561 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT 486 Marshall 738 Brigadier 552 Tam 90 733 Jackson 415 Passerel Plus 639 Ducado 455 TXR 2001-11 351 Rio 539 WMN 97 497 LM 9929D 521 Test Mean 688 C.V. (%) 27 LSD(0.10) 175 Planted: 10/15/2003 Soil: Dothan Fine Sandy Loam † only five cuts taken at this location 1914 2147 1568 1773 1553 1549 1575 1622 2659 1556 2019 1359 1107 1446 1590 1247 1045 1543 1248 1119 870 1130 1529 19 262 2698 2735 2707 2463 2644 2513 2562 2697 1569 2561 2440 2633 2342 2631 2385 2710 2258 2628 2533 2429 2282 1714 2461 8 180 1294 1297 1622 1625 1458 1345 1223 1415 1133 1342 1159 1353 1590 1219 1033 1197 1346 1026 1336 1002 1420 1026 1294 10 123 1230 1203 1275 1195 1354 1194 1122 1031 544 748 912 1255 1289 1122 994 1149 1367 954 1124 1217 1135 606 1092 15 160 --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 TABLE 5. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 2004. 7 Yield by harvest date Cultivar 12/18 1/21 2/23 3/15 4/1 † † -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------- Season total 6702 6584 6560 6442 6434 6404 6377 6375 6328 6282 6146 6146 6144 6110 6100 6087 6067 6007 5978 5908 5896 5834 5828 5825 5769 5613 6152 6 615 Shiwasuaba 1325 LM 9929D 1539 Brigadier 1299 Ducado 1581 BAR9TAM 1184 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT 1324 Diamond T 1330 Marshall 1429 Wax ME-94 1246 Ed 1322 WMN 97 1494 FL X2002 (New 3) LRCT 1259 TXR 2001-11 1260 4X 1258 Prine 1314 Jackson 1450 Jumbo 1237 Passerel Plus 1188 WD- 40 1373 Ribeye 1231 FL X2003 (New 2)ER 1199 Tam 90 1150 Gulf (Source A) 1263 FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS 1301 Flying A 1052 Rio 1238 Test Mean 1302 C.V. (%) 18 LSD(0.10) 257 Planted: 10/17/2003 Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam † only five cuts taken at this location 1348 1247 1228 1224 1291 1165 1246 1168 1448 1171 1180 1174 1190 1100 1289 1145 1031 1214 1142 1191 1254 1097 1097 1037 1128 1251 1195 13 148 1666 1540 1754 1388 1648 1647 1599 1434 1454 1432 1244 1226 1441 1308 1286 1206 1555 1167 1201 1366 1540 1246 1213 1504 1128 1146 1398 20 486 1124 1062 1207 1125 1122 1091 1024 1053 1061 1104 1061 1102 1034 1203 1068 1046 1064 1147 1134 1091 979 1027 1104 1037 1255 1049 1091 13 140 1238 1197 1073 1123 1189 1177 1178 1290 1120 1253 1168 1386 1219 1241 1143 1240 1180 1292 1128 1029 924 1313 1152 946 1207 928 1167 17 177 ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 6. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2004, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES FOR SAND MOUNTAIN REC AND PLANT BREEDING UNIT. Sand Mountain Research and Ext. Ctr. Brand-Variety Wax ME-94 Passerel Plus Brigadier Marshall Jackson WMN 97 TXR 2001-11 Tam 90 Prine Ed Gulf (Source A) WD- 40 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Flying A Rio LM 9929D 4X FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS Ducado FL X2003 (New 2)ER Diamond T Shiwasuaba 2004 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg 2003-04 2002-04 Brand-Variety Plant Breeding Unit 2004 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg 2003-04 2002-04 --------------- lbs per acre -----------14187 10878 9112 Jumbo 14087 13838 13640 13375 13616 13630 13527 12629 12935 13589 13408 12759 14244 14007 12611 12462 12460 12388 12381 12033 11767 10805 10402 10494 10507 10407 10294 10075 9438 10239 10202 10089 9849 † † † † † † † † † 8905 8863 8798 8776 8603 8564 8342 7944 † † † † † † † † † † † † † Jackson Wax ME-94 Ribeye Marshall Brigadier Tam 90 WMN 97 TXR 2001-11 Prine Passerel Plus Ed Gulf (Source A) FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT WD- 40 Flying A FL X2003 (New 2)ER Shiwasuaba Rio Ducado Diamond T BAR9TAM FL X2002 (New 3) LRCT FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS 4X LM 9929D --------------- lbs per acre -----------2505 2993 4071 2704 2683 2610 2603 2753 2684 2053 2189 2572 2098 2656 2535 2492 2604 3001 2810 2774 2722 2679 2571 2397 2337 2317 2300 1984 3190 3066 2987 3089 3040 3072 2894 2949 3156 2764 3172 3040 3001 2969 † † † † † † † † † † † 3938 3896 3880 3871 3861 3787 3750 3691 3613 3549 † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 TABLE 7. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2004, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES FOR WIREGRASS REC AND GULF COAST REC Wiregrass Research and Ext. Ctr. 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg Brand-Variety Prine Tam 90 Brigadier Wax ME-94 Jackson Marshall TXR 2001-11 Passerel Plus WMN 97 Gulf (Source A) Ed WD- 40 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Diamond T FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS 4X Flying A Shiwasuaba FL X2003 (New 2)ER Ducado Rio LM 9929D Gulf Coast Research and Ext. Ctr. 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg 2004 2003-04 2002-04 --------------- lbs per acre -----------6375 6910 7045 6560 5834 6087 6146 6100 6328 6067 6007 6144 5908 6282 5978 6404 5828 6702 6584 6442 6434 6377 6146 6110 5896 5825 5769 5613 6990 6848 6908 6953 7186 6780 6937 6674 6580 6647 6944 6849 6846 6770 † † † † † † † † † † † 6808 6750 6729 6723 6717 6715 6705 6644 6618 6567 † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † 9 2004 2003-04 2002-04 Brand-Variety --------------- lbs per acre -----------8111 6775 7490 Marshall 6735 6970 7649 6718 7066 6592 6655 6204 7237 7257 7092 7087 8293 8143 7899 7510 7170 7091 6606 6306 4998 6139 6181 6323 5864 5985 5875 5772 5533 6558 6159 6104 6044 † † † † † † † † † 7056 6990 6954 6884 6870 6713 6705 6302 † † † † † † † † † † † † † Brigadier Tam 90 Jackson WMN 97 Prine Wax ME-94 Jumbo Passerel Plus TXR 2001-11 Ribeye Ed WD- 40 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Gulf (Source A) Shiwasuaba LM 9929D Ducado BAR9TAM Diamond T FL X2002 (New 3) LRCT 4X FL X2003 (New 2)ER FL X2003 (G)4X LRLS Flying A Rio 10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 8. SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS PRODUCTION AT SAND MOUNTAIN REC AND PLANT BREEDING UNIT BASED ON THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, 2002-2004. Brand-Variety Fall Early spring Late spring 3-yr avg -- lbs per acre -- ------------------ % of 3-yr average ------------------ Sand Mountain Research and Ext. Ctr. Wax ME-94 Passerel Plus Brigadier Marshall Jackson WMN 97 TXR 2001-11 Tam 90 Prine 25.9 24.8 28.6 24.4 25.5 21.3 20.8 28.0 28.0 42.6 42.5 40.3 44.9 44.1 43.5 45.9 41.0 42.8 31.5 32.7 31.1 30.7 30.4 35.3 33.3 31.0 29.2 9112 8905 8863 8798 8776 8603 8564 8342 7944 Plant Breeding Unit Prine Jumbo Jackson Wax ME-94 Ribeye Marshall Brigadier Tam 90 WMN 97 TXR 2001-11 Passerel Plus 22.0 22.3 21.1 20.6 17.6 20.4 22.8 21.6 19.3 18.3 20.5 47.0 44.5 49.0 46.0 52.0 44.9 50.1 49.4 45.8 49.3 43.7 31.0 33.2 29.8 33.4 30.4 34.7 27.0 29.0 34.9 32.4 35.8 4071 3939 3938 3896 3880 3871 3861 3787 3750 3691 3549 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2003-04 TABLE 9. SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS PRODUCTION AT WIREGRASS REC AND GULF COAST REC BASED ON THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, 2002-2004. 11 Brand-Variety Fall Early spring Late spring 3-yr avg -- lbs per acre -- ------------------ % of 3-yr average ------------------ Wiregrass Research and Ext. Ctr. Prine Tam 90 Brigadier Wax ME-94 Jackson Marshall TXR 2001-11 Passerel Plus WMN 97 33.3 34.3 33.4 32.2 31.8 30.8 30.2 31.1 28.2 48.7 49.5 49.9 51.4 51.8 51.9 51.8 49.6 52.5 18.0 16.2 16.7 16.4 16.4 17.3 18.1 19.3 19.3 7490 7056 6990 6954 6884 6870 6713 6705 6302 Gulf Coast Research and Ext. Ctr. Marshall Brigadier Tam 90 Jackson WMN 97 Prine Wax ME-94 Jumbo Passerel Plus TXR 2001-11 Ribeye 38.3 41.3 41.5 41.0 39.9 39.8 41.1 39.2 38.9 37.7 42.8 38.3 37.5 35.7 36.0 35.2 34.7 37.4 35.5 36.1 37.5 34.6 23.4 21.2 22.8 23.0 24.9 25.5 21.4 25.3 25.0 24.8 22.6 7045 6808 6750 6729 6723 6717 6715 6705 6644 6618 6567 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED BAR9TAM Jumbo Ribeye FL X2002 (New 3) LRCT Brigadier Prine Diamond T 4X Flying A WD-40 Gulf (Local Source) Barenbrug USA, Tangent, Oregon East Texas Seed Co., Tyler, Texas OreGro Seeds, Inc., Shedd, Oregon Piedmont Fertilizer Co., Opelika, Alabama Pennington Seed, Inc., Lebanon, Oregon Ducado LM 9929D Passerel Plus Shiwasuaba Rio ProSeeds Marketing, Inc., Jefferson, Oregon Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Ed TAM 90 TXR 2001-11 Jackson Marshall WAX ME-94 WMN 97 FL/NE X2002(New 2) LRCT FL X2003 (New 2) ER FL X2003 (G) 4X LRLS Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas The Wax Company, LLC, Amory, Mississippi University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida