Performance of
ie rass
varie tes
in Alabama, 1980- 81
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Department of Agronomy and Soils
'gricultural Experiment Station
Gale A. Buchanan, Director
September 1981 Departmental Series No. 66
Auburn University
Auburn University, Alabama
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Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1980-81
C. S. Hoveland, M. W. Alison, Jr., J. T. Eason,
M. L. Ruf, L. L. Walker, H. C. Hoyle, E. Carden,
N. R. McDaniel, and F. B. Selmani
Three ryegrass variety trials were conducted in Alabama 
during the
winter of 1980-81. Ryegrass entries were planted at 20 pounds per acre 
in
rows 6 inches apart, using plots 4 x 20 feet with four 
replicates. The
tests were planted October 2 at the Plant Breeding Unit, 
October 8 at the
Sand Mountain Substation, and November 3 at the Gulf Coast Substation. The
late planting dates were a result of dry, hot weather in September which
continued through October in southern Alabama. Tests were fertilized at
planting with 50 pounds nitrogen per acre and adequate rates 
of phosphorus
and potassium. After each harvest, 50 pounds nitrogen per acre were applied.
Plots were clipped with a flail-type harvester wherever sufficient forage was
available. A sample of green forage from each plot at each harvest was
oven dried for determination of dry matter.
RESULTS
The extremely dry autumn reduced total forage yields. Winter and
early spring rainfall was much lower than normal but adequate for plant
growth. Foliar diseases were not a problem.
Forage yields at Sand Mountain Substation in northern Alabama were low,
table 1. Since this is the first year for this test, with adverse
autumn conditions, it is not possible to make any conclusions on ryegrass
varietal performance in northern Alabama.
"/Respectively, Professor and Research Associate, Department of Agronomy
and Soils; Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation;
Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Plant Breeding Unit; and
Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent,
Gulf Coast Substation.
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Yields were good at the Plant Breeding Unit in central Alabama
although autumn production was reduced by drought, table 2. Marshall
was the top producer, starting rapidly and maintaining production
throughout the season until June. Marshall produced over 3,000 pounds
per acre more than Gulf. Marshall outyielded Gulf and most other varieties
at the December, April, and June harvests. Marshall, along with NAPB-SRA 21,
Meritra, Sunbelt, NAPB 107, Shannon, and NK 78120 maintained leafy forage
later in spring than other entries.
Yields at the Gulf Coast Substation were unusually low because of autumn
drought and late planting, table 3. Marshall was the highest yielding
variety in the test, producing substantially more forage than Gulf ryegrass
at the March, April, and May harvests. Drought in May reduced late season
production.
Selection of a ryegrass variety should be based on more than 1 year's
results. Three-year averages for some varieties at the Plant Bredding Unit
(central Alabama) and the Gulf Coast Substation (southwest Alabama) are
shown in tables 4 and 5. Marshall, Florida Reseeding, and Sunbelt made
more winter production than Meritra or Gulf at the Plant Breeding Unit.
Early Spring prod'uction of Marshall was superior to all others at both
locations.
Late spring production is important where high quality forage is
desired for a long grazing season. Marshall, Sunbelt, and Meritra were
superior to Florida Reseeding and Gulf in late spring.
Total forage yield of Marshall averaged over 3,000 pounds per acre
more than Gulf ryegrass at the Plant Breeding Unit, table 4. At the
Gulf Coast Substation, total yield of all five varieties was similar,
table 5.
Table 1. Forage yield of ryegrass varieties at Send Mountain Subst4tio
Alabaaa, winter 1980-81
Pounds oven-dry forage pera
Entry March 25 April 3 !41
7  
April 28 May 2
Marshall (Miss. State). 445 bcd* 457 ab 1,061 ab 12 a 475
Gulf. .................. 424 cd 476 ab 1,094 a 825 bcd 567
NAPB 107............ 653 abc 540 a 853 d 794 bcd 543
Georgia Reseeding... 881 a 446 ab 939 bcd 614 d 498
Meritra.. ...........380 cd 512 ab 1,032 abc 852 bc 565
Florida Reseeding......0 733 ab 460 ab 893 cd 683 cd 476 a 325a
Sunbelt............ 323 de 394 bc 1,094 a 820 bcd 560 a 311a
NAPB SRB-21...0 0....... 208 de 266 d 911 bcd 970 ab 470 a 285b
NK-78120 .........*..*..00 00 50 e 220 d 918 bcd 879 bc 512a 2,8 c
Shannon...............o0266 de 296 cd 831 d 685 cd 400a 2,7 c
C.V. percent 44.- 20 10 .16 23 1
*Means within a column with the same letter are not significantly dif fer
level.
Planted: Oct. 8, 1980
Soil: lartsell's fine sandy loam
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Table 2. Forage yield of ryegrass Varieties at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama,
winter 1980-81
Pounds oven-dry forage per acre
Entry Dec. 8 March 3 March 25 
April 6 May 1 June 2 Total
Marshall...........1.036 a* 3,333 a 2,328 ab 1,860 a 3,318 a 1,903.a 13,778 a
NAPB-SRG2...........568 b 3,262 a 2,014 cd 1,412 bc 2,978 abc 1,607 ab 11,901 b
Meritra.............380 be 2,901 a 2,290 ab 1,424 bcde 3,192 ab 1,168 c 11,355 b
Sunbelt.... .......... 608 b 2,778 a. 2,266 ab 1,449 bcd 2,734 abcd 1,265 bc 11,100.b
NAPB 107..............418 bc 2,734 a 2,237 abc 1,504 bc 2,402 bcd 1,664 ab 10,959 b
Gulf...................648 b 3,279 a 2,354 a 1,158 ef 3,124 ab 0 d 10,563 bc
Tx-0-R-80-4...........435 bc 3,116 a 2,166 abed 1,182 def 2,548 abcd 0 d 9,447 cd
Shannon...............412 bc 1,772 b 1,971 d 1,527 b 2,071 d 1,624 ab 9,383 cde
TX-0-R-80-5...........300 c 2,894 a 2,092 bcd 934 ef 2,429 bcd 0 d 8,649 de
Florida Reseeding .1 ..0 d 2,681 a 1,644 e 1,222 c de 2,267 cd 203 d 8,011 de
Georgia Reseeding . 171 c 2,737 a 1,396 f 1,413 bcde 2,239 cd 0 d 7.956 e
NK 78120...............0 d 742 c 1,137 e 1,849 a 2,058 d 1,471 bc 7,85.7 e
C. V. percent 32 18 7 12 19 28 9
*Means within a column having the same letter are not signif icantly d If ferent at 5 percent level.
Planted: October 2, 1980
Soil: Cahaba fine sandy loam
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Table 3. Forage yield of ryegrass varieties at Gulf Coast Substation, I
winter 1980-81
Pounds oven-dry forage per acre
EntrFy eb. 20 March 10 .April 2 
May8
Marshall............1,935 bc* 2,576 a 2,264 a 3,255
Shannon.............1,931 bc 2,049 ed 1,912 bc 3,241
NAPB 107............1,750 bcd 2,251 bc 2,033 ab 3,078
TX-0-R-80-4.........1,981 bc 2,373 ab 1,968 abc 2,754
Meritra ........... 1,729 cde 2,355 ab 1,883 be 3,093
Gulf...................2,134 ab 2,126 bed 1,931 bc 2,377
Sunbelt................1,503 de 2,066 cd 1,949 abc 2,986
NAPB SRG-21........... 01,605 cde 2,186 bcd 1,640- cd 3,071 ac 852b
Georgia Reseeding0 2,387 a 1,9928 d 1,671 cd 2,4 86 ,42b
NK 78120.........573 f 1, 937 d 2,151 ab 3,400C ,01c
TX-0-R-80-5......1,809 bed 2,019 cd 1,497 d 2,633de798d
Florida Reseeding 1,352 e 2,036 cd 1,650 ed 2,461e7,9d
C.V. percent 14 8 1196
*Means within a column having the same letter are 
significantly differen at5pretl
Planted: Nov. 3, 1980
Soil: Marlboro fine sandy loam.
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Table 4. Seasonal forage production of ryegrass varieties at
Breeding Unit, 3-year average
Plant
Pounds oven-dry forage per acre
Early Late
Entry Autumn Winter spt-ing spring Total
Marshall...... 1,840 33,890 4,700- 2,730 13,160
Sunbelt.........1p,810 32700 3,850 2,720 12,080
Meritra.......1,640 3,200 4,040 2,v5 10 .11,380
Florida Reseeding.....1,570 3,850 3,560 1,t7 30 10,700
Guf..... . . .1,950 3,340 3,290 1,490 10, 060
Table 5. Seasonal. forage production 
Of ryegrass varieties at Gulf
Coast Substation, 3-year average
Pounds oven-dry forage per acre
Early Late
Entry Autumn 
Wint er spring s pring Total
Marshall............. 640 
3,050 4,520 2,450 
10,660
Sunbelt ...... 800 21,680 
33,790 2,980 10,240
Florida Reseeding, 680 
2,820 3,940 2,710 10,150
Meritra .... 570 
2,760 3,990 2,620 
9940
Gulf . . . . 770 2,1820 
3, 78 0 2 ,3 60- 9,730
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Sources of Ryegrass Seed
Seeds
Sunbelt, Meritra, NAPB 107,
NAPB-SRG 21
Florida Reseeding
Georgia Reseeding
Marshall
Gu lf
NK 78120
Shannon
TX-0-R-80-4, TX-0-R-80-5
Sources
North America Plant Breeders,
Ames, Iowa
Florida Agr. Exp. Sta., Gainesville,
Florida
Georgia Agr. Exp. Sta., Experiment, Georgia
Mississippi Agr. Exp. Sta., Mississippi,
State, Mississippi
Moorer Seed Co., Prattville, Alabama
Northrup King and Co., Minneapolis,
Minnesota
Mommersteeg Int., Vlijmen, Netherlands
Texas Agr. Exp. Sta., Overton, Texas


Information contained herein is available to all persons regardless
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