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NEW BERMUDAGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA
C. S. Hoveland and R. F. McCormick, Jr., Agronomy & Soils Department
W. B. Anthony, Animal and Dairy Sciences Department
W. B. Webster and V. Calvert, Tennessee Valley Substation
J. T. Eason and M. L. Ruf, Sand Mountain Substation
W. A. Griffey, Piedmont Substation
H. E. Burgess and H. C. Hoyle, Plant Breeding Unit
L. A. Smith and H. W. Grimes, Jr., Black Belt Substation
J. A. Little and G. V. Grenade, Lower Coastal Plain Substation
J. G. Starling, Wiregrass Substation
E. L. Carden, N. R. McDaniel, and F. B. Selman, Gulf Coast Substation
Coastal bermudagrass, grown on an estimated 419,000 acres in the State,
is more disease-resistant than common bermudagrass and much higher yielding
when adequately fertilized. However, dry matter digestibility of Coastal
bermudagrass is relatively low and weight gains of growing steers rarely
exceed 1.0 lb per day for the season. Coastcross-1, a more digestible
bermudagrass variety with the potential for higher daily gains, is not cold
hardy and may be winterkilled even in southern Alabama. Cold-hardy bermuda-
grass varieties with higher digestibility are needed.
Several new bermudagrass varieties and potential varieties were planted
at eight locations in the State to evaluate their yield potential, persistence,
and digestibility.
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Bermudagrass entries in these tests were as follows:
(1) Coastal -- a hybrid between Tift bermuda and a tall-growing introduction
from South Africa developed by Dr. G. W. Burton, USDA-SEA, Tifton, Georgia.
(2) Tifton 44 -- A hybrid between a high-quality selection from Kenya, East
Africa and a cold-hardy plant from Berlin, Germany developed by Dr. G. W.
Burton, USDA-SEA, Tifton, Georgia.
(3) Tifton 68 -- A hybrid of high-quality giant or stargrass (giant bermuda-
grass) introductions from Kenya developed by Dr. G. W. Burton, USDA-SEA,
Tifton, Georgia.
(4) Callie -- Selection from giant or stargrass (giant bermudagrass) introduc-
tions from northeastern Africa by Dr. V. H. Watson, Mississippi State Uni-
versity.
(5) Alicia -- South Texas selection by C. Greer of a bermudagrass introduction
from southern Africa.
Plantings were made at seven locations in 1976 and at the Black Belt Substation
in 1977. Sprigs of each variety were planted during April, 1976 in 4 x 20 foot
plots, replicated 4 times, with 4 feet between each plot to prevent mixing of
the varieties. Mineral fertilizers were applied according to soil test and 50
lb. N per acre was applied at planting followed by 50 lb. per acre 1 month
later and 100 lb. per acre after each harvest. In subsequent years, 100 lb. N
was applied in April with 100 lb. N per acre after each harvest. Plots were
harvested with a flail harvester at 4- to 8-week intervals, depending on growth.
Bermudagrass ground cover was estimated in each plot during spring to determine
winter survival.
In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of hand-harvested forage from
each plot at each harvest was determined throughout the season at the Plant
Breeding Unit. Determinations were made the first year by Dr. W. G. Monson,
USDA-ARS, Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia and in sub-
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sequent years at the Animal and Dairy Sciences Department, Auburn University.
RESULTS
Establishment
Good stands were obtained on all varieties at all locations. Both Callie
and Tifton 68 spread rapidly by stolons (horizontal above-ground stems) 
and
generally outgrew other varieties except at the Tennessee Valley Substation
where Alicia made more rapid early growth. Tifton 44 formed a complete 
ground
cover more slowly than other varieties in the tests.
Winter Survival
The cold winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78 resulted in severe stand losses 
of
several bermudagrass varieties, Tables 1-8. Tifton 68, an unreleased experi-
mental bermudagrass, was killed at all locations except in extreme southern
Alabama. Surprisingly, there was some survival of Tifton 68 at the Piedmont
Substation and the Lower Coastal Plain Substation in 1977 but after the second
winter it was completely eliminated. Tifton 68 failed to survive the second
winter at the Gulf Coast Substation but at the Wiregrass Substation 
it recovered
to make good yields both years.
Callie bermudagrass was winter killed at both the Tennessee Valley and
Sand Mountain Substations the first winter. Callie suffered severe loss of
stand at other locations and by the third year was eliminated except at the
Wiregrass Substation. Stand persistence at this location was probably a
result of heavier thatch or residue which protected the stolons and roots.
Alicia stands were badly damaged in northern Alabama and to a lesser degree
in the central part of the State. Coastal bermudagrass stands were damaged
only in northern Alabama and complete recovery was attained by early summer
at these sites. Tifton 44 was outstanding in winter survival. Stands of this
variety had little or no injury at any test location.
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Forage Yield
The slower establishment of Tifton 44 resulted in somewhat lower first
year production than that of other varieties, tables 1-8. 
However, in subse-
quent years it was the highest yielding variety in northern Alabama. At other
locations, Tifton 44 was generally equal to Coastal and Alicia. Alicia yields
were low in northern Alabama the second year and failed completely the third
year. Elsewhere, Alicia was one of the top yielding varieties. Callie stands
were generally eliminated by the third year, resulting in little or no produc-
tion. At the Wiregrass Substation, Callie was one of the top yielding varieties.
At this location, first-harvest yields were lower than Alicia or Coastal but
rapid recovery of stands resulted in similar total yields for the year. As men-
tioned earlier, survival of Callie at this location was probably a result of
heavy residue which protected the stands. Under close autumn grazing or cut-
ting, it is likely that Callie production would have been similar to that at
the Gulf Coast Substation.
Second and third year production of Tifton 44, throughout the State ranged
from 4 to 9 tons of oven dry forage. Highest yields were obtained at the Wire-
grass Substation with Coastal, Alicia, and Callie.
Forage Quality
Highest dry matter digestibility values at the Plant Breeding Unit were
obtained for the non-cold hardy varieties, Tifton 68 and Callie, table 9.
Tifton 44 forage was consistently more digestible than Coastal or Alicia.
Alicia forage had dry matter digestibility lower than other varieties in each
year of the test. Generally, digestibility of Alicia declined more than
Tifton 44 in late summer and autumn. The in-vitro dry matter digestibility
values obtained in the laboratory may not be the same as that obtained in
animal feeding trials. However, the relative ranking of varieties in respect
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todigestibility will be similar to that in animal feeding trials. From these
results it is apparent that Tifton 44 is somewhat higher in digestibility than
Coastal or Alicia bermudagrass and should result in higher animal performance.
Grazing results with Tifton 44 in Georgia over 2 years show a 20% increase
in daily gain as compared with Coastal bermudagrass.
SUMMARY
Bermudagrass variety trials were conducted at seven locations for 3
years and one location for 2 years. Results of these trials show that Tifton
44 had the best winter survival, dry matter digestibility higher than Coastal
or Alicia, and forage yield generally equal or superior to that of other bermuda-
grass varieties. Callie, although having higher digestibility than Coastal or
Tifton 44, was not sufficiently cold hardy to be a dependable full season forage
producer in Alabama. Alicia was not cold hardy in northern Alabama and had no
advantage over Tifton 44 or Coastal in central and southern Alabama. Tifton 44,
with greater cold hardiness, was higher yielding 
than Coastal in northern
Alabama and is the obvious choice for planting in that area.
Tifton 44 bermudagrass sprigs for planting are available from certified
growers. Consult your County Extension Chairman for names of certified growers.
Table 1. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Tennessee Valley Sub-
Station, Belle Mina, Alabama. Planted April 8, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-19-77 05-31-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Tifton 44 76 96 3.0 bc* 5.8 a 6.5 a 5.1
Coastal 21 76 2.2 c 5.0 b 3.9 b 3.7
Alicia 0 0 4.3 a 3.2 c 0 -
Callie 0 0 3.4 b 0 0 -
Tifton 68 0 0 3.0 bc 0 0 -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 2. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Sand Mountain Substation,
Crossville, Alabama. Planted April 8, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-15-77 06-20-77 04-18-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Tifton 44 98 100 100 3.2 a* 7.5 a 7.5 a 6.1
Coastal 10 42 62 3.4 a 5.2 b 3.9 b 4.2
Alicia 5 20 3 3.3 a 3.7 c 0.7 c 2.6
Callie 0 0 0 3.4a 0 0 -
Tifton 68 0 0 0 3.6 a 0 0 -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 3. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Piedmont Substation,
Hill, Alabama. Planted April 21, 1976
Camp
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-08-77 05-04-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Tifton 44 70 90 1.3 c* 5.0 ab 5.0 a 3.8
Coastal 36 72 1.4 c 4.9 ab 5.0 a 3.8
Alicia 39 42 1.5 bc 5.5 a 4.0 b 3.7
Callie 10 0 1.8 b 4.4 bc 0 -
Tifton 68 14 0 2.4 a 3.8 c 0
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 4. Forage yield of bermudagrass
Tallassee, Alabama. Planted
varieties at Plant Breeding Unit,
April 22, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-08-77 05-04-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Coastal 89 80 4.0 b* 10.5 a 5.8 b 6.8
Alicia 58 85 3.5. bc 9.8 a 6.5 a 6.6
Tifton 44 98 90 3.0 c 9.5 a 5.2 c 5.9
Callie 5 0 5.8 a 6.4 b 0 -
Tifton 68 0 0 5.3 a 0 0 -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 5. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Black Belt Substation,
Marion Junction, Alabama. Planted May 31, 1977
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-18-78 1977 1978 Average
Alicia 81 3.9 b* 7.7 a 5.8
Coastal 70 3.4 b 7.8 a 5.6
Tifton 44 97 2.4 c 8.1 a 5.2
Callie 0 5.4 a 0 -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 6. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Lower Coastal Plain Sub-
station, Camden, Alabama. Planted April 12, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-12-77 1976 1977 1978 Average
Coastal 74 4.2 c* 9.1 a 7.0 a 6.8
Tifton 44 95 4.8 bc 8.0 ab 7.0 a 6.6
Alicia 64 4.4 bc 8.5 a 7.0 a 6.6
Callie 3 6.8 a 7.2 b 1.6 b 5.2
Tifton 68 0 5.7 ab 2.6 c 0.7 c -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table7. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Wiregrass Substation,
Headland, Alabama. Planted March 31, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 03-30-77 07-08-77 04-25-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Callie 50 94 75 6.9 a* 9.9 a 9.4 a 8.7
Alicia 50 98 90 4.5 b 10.2 a 9.6 a 8.1
Coastal 100 100 90 5.1 b 10.0 a 8.8 ab 8.0
Tifton 68 22 92 20 6.3 a 7.6 b 7.6 b 7.2
Tifton 44 100 100 90 3.8 c 8.5 b 7.2 b 6.5
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 8. Forage yield of bermudagrass varieties at Gulf Coast Substation,
Fairhope, Alabama. Planted April 10, 1976
Percent ground cover Tons per acre oven dry forage
Variety 04-05-77 05-23-77 04-20-78 1976 1977 1978 Average
Tifton 44 95 98 98 3.2 a* 6.4 a 8.5 a 6.0
Alicia 92 100 91 2.5 a 6.9 a 8.4 a 5.9
Coastal 100 100 90 3.5 a 6.2 a 7.3 a 5.7
Callie 6 30 2 3.8 a 2.4 b 3.4 b 3.2
Tifton 68 0 10 0 2.9 a 0.4 c 0 -
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.
Table 9. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of bermudagrass varieties
at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 3-year average
Percentage IVDMD of forage
Variety 1976 1977 1978 Average
Tifton 68 66 a* - - -
Callie 61 b 56 a - -
Tifton 44 59 c 54 b 48 a 54 a
Coastal 57 d 52 c 44 b 51 b
Alicia 54 e 52 c 43 b 50 b
*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not signifi-
cantly different at 5% level.