~9~i~-~i\01
A
'PERFORMANCE
OF
RYEGRASS
VARIETIES IN
ALABAMA
1990-91
AGRONOMY AND SOILS DEPARTMENTAL SERIES
NO. 154
AUGUST 1991
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
LOWELL T. FROBISH, DIRECTOR
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA
B
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PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES
IN ALABAMA, 1990-91
D.L. Thurlcw, W.C. 
Johnson, and K.M. Glass
1
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 in northern,
central, -and southern locations to -evaluate the varieties and lines under the
different environmental conditions of Alabama. The experiments are conducted
by Experiment Station personnel and the results are presented in a fair and
unbiased manner.
EXPRIUETAL OCEDURES 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. Good stands were
obtained at the following locations: Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville;
Plant Breeding Unit. Tallassee; Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill; and Gulf
Coast Substation, Fairhope.
The experiments were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium according
to Auburn University soil test reco;mme dations. At planting, nitrogen was
applied at the rate of 50 poumnds per acre, and an additional 50 pounds of N
was applied per acre after each cutting. A 32- or 48-inch swath of each plot
was harvested to a cutting height of 1 1/2 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 frcm each plot at each harvest for determining
forage dry matter percentage.
1
Associate Professor, Professor, and Research Technician of Agronomy and
Soils.
Due to dry soil conditions in fall of 1990, experiments at Fairhope,
Tallassee, and Camp Hill were not planted until October 30, 25, and 31,
respectively. The experiment at Crossville was planted September 20, 1990.
Dry conditions at Fairhope in the fall of 1988 resulted in a poor stand for
the first planting, so the experiment was replanted November 30. This late
establishment resulted in no fall production. In 1989, the experiments 
were
all planted by October 13. Above average temperatures recorded at all
locations in 1990-91 caused good fall and winter growth to occur. Strategies
to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock
producers. Tables 1-7 provide yield data by harvest for one or more years at
a given location. Tables 8, 9, and 10 show 3-year average yields for the
ryegrass production season. A 3-year average provides 
a more dependable
carparison of ryegrass varieties than do single-year results.
ACNOWLEDGMENTS
Appreciation is expressed to Mein-Huei Tzeng and Mrs. 
Sally Bagwell,
Research Data Analysis, for the data processing of this report. Also
acknowledged are the contributions of J.T. Eason and M.E. Ruf, Sand Mountain
Substation; E.L. Carden, N.R. McDaniel, and M.D. Pegues, Gulf Coast
Substation; J.T. Owen, Piedmont Substation; and S. P. Nightengale, Plant
Breeding Unit, for growing and harvesting the experiments.
Information contained herein is available to all without regardless
to race, color, sex, or national origin.
-4-
SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED
Beefbuilder
Bulldog
Concord
Dalita
ETOO-9-88
Florida 80
Gulf
HI 124
Jackson
Magnolia
Marshall
Multigrazer II
Multigrazer II A
Nutriblend
OFI-AR-B7T
OFI-AR-42
OFI-LM-AR-42
Rustmaster
surry
Tetrablend 444T3
Tetragold
TX R85-2
WVPB-AR-90-1
WVPB-AR-90-300
WVPB-AR-601
WVPB-IM-AR-2
WVPB-IM-AR-F-41
Forbes Seed, Junction 
City, Oregon
Lofts Seeds, Inc., Bound 
Brook, New Jersey
Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., 
Salem, Oregon
Daehnfeldt, Albany, 
Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant 
Breeders, Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
University of Florida, Gainesville 
Florida
Silverhill Farmer's Ass'n., Robertsdale, Alabama
Van -Der -Have- Oregon, Inc., 
Albany, Oregon
Delta and Pine Land Co., Scott, Mississippi
Forbes Seed, Junction 
City, Oregon
Delta and Pine Land Co., Scott, Mississippi
Van Der Have Oregon, 
Inc., Albany, Oregon
Van Der Have Oregon, Inc., 
Albany, Oregon
Daehnfeldt, Albany, 
Oregon
Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., 
Albany, Oregon
Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., 
Albany, Oregon
Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., 
Albany, Oregon
Daehnfeldt, Albany, Oregon
University of Florida, Gainesville, 
Florida
Smith Seed, Halsey, Oregon
Normarc, Inc., Tangent, 
Oregon
Texas A&M University, Overton, Texas
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, 
Inc.,
Brownsville, Oregon
-5-
SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT THE
GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 1991
BRAND-VARIETY 1/2
ACRE YIELD BY HARVEST DATE
1/23 2/18 3/11 4/10
LB.0 JLB.
SEASON
5/14 TOTAL
Lli~
HI 124
RUSTMASTER
JACKSON
OFI-LM-AR-42
MULTIGRAZER II A
WVPB-LM-AR-2.
BULLDOG
NUTRIBLEND
SURRY
WVPB-LM-AR-F-41
WVPB-AR-9 0-1
WVPB-AR-90-3 00
TETRA-GOLD
MARSHALL
GULF
FLORIDA 80
DALITA
CONCORD
WVPB-AR-60 1
TX R85-2
MULTIGRAZER II
TETRABLEND 444T3
BEEFBUILDER
MAGNOLIA
OFI-AR-4 2
OFI-AR-B7T
ETCO-9 -88
681
899
578
702
592
704-
830
655
674
557
498
513
499
741
598
503
819
619
659
538
526
387
588
516
419
352
586
450
609
525
440
437
478 -
514
671
507
531
436
437
403
459
703
421
500
588
412
527
488
400
383
478
373
364
368
1, 060
1,481
1,362
1,120
1,139
1,346
1,316
1,206
1,244
986
1,392
1,081
1,042
1,435
1,338
1,110
1,143
1,317
1,190
1,264
1,319
1,tv268
1,258
1,035
1,168
1,1163
1,834
1,612
1,607
1,713
1 ,671
1,666
1,583
1,528
1,639
1,540
1,658
1,548
1,545
1,826
1,o438
1, 527
1,457
1,349
1,528
1,545
11,511
1,335
1,333
1,356
1,549
1,466
1,321
2,359
2,306
2,180
2,190
2,465
2,-449
2,144
2,253
2, 151
2,020
2, 511
2,324
1,860
2,229
2,190
2,342
2,189
1,713
1,958
2,222
2,056
2,262
1,tv991
2,139
2,005
2, 199
1,808
2,484
1, 750
2,297
2,353
2,127
2, 022
1, 933
1,780
2,001
2,240
2, 002
1j, 870
2,644
1,686
1,580
1,or673
1,659
2,296
1,783
1,611
1,745
1,845
1,859
1,491
1,707
1,368
1,254
8,868
8,657
8,549
8,518
8,431
8, 425
8,350
8,203
8,jr178
8,1132
8,091
8,084
8,032
7,983
7,944
7,804
7,734
7,708
7,657
7,633
7,590
7,548
7, 422
7,238
7,088
6,917
6,500
TEST MEAN 601 478 1,218 1,544 
2,167 1,891 7,899
cove(%) 32 22 15 9 
9 16 7
L.S.D. (.10) 223 121 1218 163 230 
356 624,
PLANTED: OCTOBER 30, 1990.
SOIL: MALBIS FINE SANDY LOAM.
-6-
TABLE 1.0
SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT THE
PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, 1991
BRAND-VARIETY
-ACRE YIELD BY HARVESTDATE SEASON
1/09 2/28 3/19 4/4- 4/22 5/21 TOTAL
LiL
HI 124
WVPB-AR-601
WVPB-AR-90-3 00
RUSTMASTER
NUTRIBLEND
WVPB-LM-AR-2
OFI-AR-B7T
MARSHALL
OFI-LM-AR-42
DALITA
BULLDOG
SURRY
TETRABLEND 444T3
BEEFBUILDER
JACKSON
WVPB-AR-9 0-1
TX R85-2
GULF
WVPB-LM-AR-F-4 1
OFI-AR-4 2
FLORIDA 80
MULTIGRAZER II
MULTIGRAZER II A
ETCO-9 -88
TETRA-GOLD
MAGNOLIA
CONCORD
715
786
683
742
668
662
702
700
701
736
783
721
563
763
701
782
621
740
537
576
650
526
564
581
407
602
614
895
946
1, 039
1,04 5
853
973.
896
803
822
944
915
933
942
780
921
667
945
1,137
667
652
989
588
474
869
384
934
659
1,297
1,153
1,027
1, 24 1
1,333
1,120
1,029
966
1,122
1,227
1,040
1,116
1,073
939
1, 043
994
1, 276
1,1072
1,226
779
1,p314
915
838
1,157
752
993
937
LaL
1,281
1,142
1,018
1,187
997
10,102.
912
1,103
1,232
1,092
1j, 299
1,067
1,043
961
1 ,082
1,IF059
1,IF066
1,002
1,071
1,029
954
979
1, 047
913
928
1,007
683
LDL
2,314
1,952
1,952
1,671
1,875
1,930
1j, 957
2,290
1,681
1,771
1, 632
1,757
1j, 701
1,763
1,747
1,817
1,395
1, 292
1o,793
1,954
1,426
1j, 872
1,913
1,399
1, 850
1,1110
1,jF387
TEST MEAN 660 840 1,073 1,047 1,748 791 6,159
C.V. (t) 29 19 20 17 25 38 15
L.S.D. (.10) 227 185 -259 212 522 353 1,067
PLAANTED: OCTOBER 25, 1990.
SOIL: CAHABA FINE SANDY LOAM*
-7-
TABLE 2.0
855
838
1,If076
710
853
771
1,027
610
834
615
704
697
892
973
684
831
753
755
697
971
543
891
888
656
976
565
698
7,357
6,jr817
6,795
6,596
6,579
6,558
6,523
6,472
6, 392
6,385
6,373
6,291
6,jr214
6,179
6,178
6,150
6,Ir056
5,998
5,991
5,961
5,876
5,771
5,575
5,297
5,211
4,978
T in
AMIR 
0
TABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT THE
SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1991
ACRE YIELD By HARVEST DATE SEASON
BRAND-VARIETY 1/09 3/11 3/27 4/10 5/02 5/20 TOTAL
LB. LB. LB. L L. LL LB
SURRY 1,380 511 814 623 1,400 648 5,376
HI 124 1,118 440 585 787 1,647 714 5,291
TX R85-2 1,211 616 691 505 1,513 673 5,209
NUTRIBLEND 1,294 510 619 632 1,450 609 5,114
MARSHALL 957 548 712 837 1,414 639 5,107
WVPB-LM-AR-2 917 470 805 589 1,668 585 5,034
FLORIDA 80 1,196 507 791 485 1,346 679 5,004
RUSTMASTER 1,170 570 735 510 1,314 696 4,995
WVPB-AR-601 1,288 330 642 810 1,257 640 4,967
MULTIGRAZER II A 1,277 377 583 613 1,472 625 4,947
MULTIGRAZER II 1,244 267 528 717 1,300 810 4,866
DALITA 1,052 530 638 564 1,271 801 4,856
GULF 1,135 645 636 406 1,357 635 4,814
JACKSON 444 787 864 554 1,407 754 4,810
WVPB-LM-AR-F-41 1,042 343 645 678 1,282 802 4,792
TETRA-GOLD 1,042 237 489 835 1,326 736 4,665
OFI-LM-AR-42 630 652 792 537 1,376 593 4,580
MAGNOLIA 955 399 603 532 1,419 649 4,557
BULLDOG 970 515 676 486 1,333 567 4,547
CONCORD 1,224 298 428 545 1,314 679 4,488
WVPB-AR-90-1 221 683 710 679 1,504 644 4,441
WVPB-AR-90-300 369 672 734 488 1,349 585 4,197
OFI-AR-42 437 551 658 517 1,182 730 
4,075
ETCO-9-88 948 308 604 458 1,075 643 4,036
TETRABLEND 444T3 747 374 625 470 1,148 575 
3,939
BEEFBUILDER 671 270 551 442 1,063 644 3,641
OFI-AR-B7T 257 460 620 466 1,102 633 
3,538
TEST MEAN 933 477 658 584 1,344 666 4,662
C.V. (%) 25 30 13 18 14 17 8
L.S.D. (.10) 270 169 100 122 223 136 
434
PLANTED : SEPTEMBER 20, 1990.
SOIL: HARTSELLS FINE SANDY LOAM.
-8-
TABLE 4. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT THE
PIEDMONT SUBSTATION, CAMP HILL, ALABAMA, 1991
ACRE YIELD BY HARVEST DATE SEASON
BRAND-VARIETY 1/15 2/12 3/22 5/08 TOTAL
LB. LB. LB. LB. LB.
MARSHALL 225 258 1,186 3,873 5,542
BULLDOG 302 437 1,160 3,344 5,243
SURRY 263 454 1,329 3,035 5,081
RUSTMASTER 387 404 1,067 3,199 5,057
JACKSON 221 261 958 3,476 4,916
GULF 342 386 885 3,246 4,859
NUTRIBLEND 293 287 924 3,329 4,833
DALITA 317 290 909 3,173 4,689
TETRABLEND 444T3 263 259 819 2,811 4,152
MAGNOLIA 189 295 869 2,755 4,108
MULTIGRAZER II 216 205 877 2,393 3,691
CONCORD 208 284 872 2,046 3,410
TEST MEAN 269 318 988 3,057 4,632
C.V. (%) 33 32 18 19 13
L.S.D. (.10) 107 121 215 679 731
PLANTED: OCTOBER 31, 1990.
SOIL: CECIL CLAY LOAM.
-9-
TABLE 5. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES,
1991, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, GULF
COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA
DRY MATTER/ACRE
BRAND-VARIETY 1991 2-YR. AV. 3-YR. AV.
(1990-1991) (1989-1991)
LB. LB. LB.
RUSTMASTER 8,456 8,557 7,522
JACKSON 8,130 8,340 7,428
NUTRIBLEND 8,321 8,262 7,252
GULF 7,906 7,925 7,174
SURRY 7,644 7,911 7,129
MARSHALL 8,911 8,447 7,084
MAGNOLIA 7,442 7,340 6,740
DALITA 7,915 7,825 6,480
WVPB-LM-AR-F-41 7,877 8,005
WVPB-LM-AR-2 7,582 8,004
OFI-AR-42 8,744 7,916 -
TETRABLEND 444T3 7,887 7,718
MULTIGRAZER II 7,787 7,689
CONCORD 7,551 7,630 -
WVPB-AR-601 7,268 7,463 -
ETCO-9-88 6,928 6,714 -
MONDORA 8,204 - -
PENNPLOID V 8,032 - -
WVPB-LM-AR-F-44 7,779 - -
MULTIMO 7,654 - -
EQUIPE 7,615 - -
OFI-88-LM-B7T 7,590 - -
TETRAGOLD 7,546 - -
TETRABLEND 10 7,237 - -
MULTIGRAZER I 7,124 - -
LD 2810 6,783 - -
LM 2881 6,701 - -
-10-
TABLE 6. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS 
VARIETIES,
1991, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR 
AVERAGES, PLANT
BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
DRY MATTER/ACRE
BRAND-VARIETY 1991 
2-YR. AV. 3-YR. AV.
(1990-1991) (1989-1991)
LB. LB. LB.
RUSTMASTER 8,782 
7,689 6,658
MARSHALL 8,355 
7,414 6,620
JACKSON 8,551 
7,365 6,509
NUTRIBLEND 7,919 
7,249 6,283
SURRY 8,029 
7,160 6,283
GULF 8,356 
7,177 6,104
MAGNOLIA 7,796 
6,504 5,837
DALITA 6,399 
6,392 5,429
WVPB-LM-AR-2 8,738 
7,648
OFI-AR-42 8,677 
7,319
TETRABLEND 444T3 8,042 
7,128
WVPB-AR-601 7,162 
6,990
WVPB-LM-AR-F-41 7,190 
6,591
MULTIGRAZER II 6,892 
6,332 -
CONCORD 7,183 6,081 
-
ETCO-9-88 6,441 6,008 
-
TETRAGOLD 8,118 -
-
PENNPLOID V 7,969 -
-
WVPB-LM-AR-F- 44 7,694 -
-
MONDORA 7,530 -
-
TETRABLEND 10 7,472 -
-
MULTIMO 6,912 -
-
MULTIGRAZER I 6,720 -
-
OFI-88-LM-B7T 6,391 -
-
LM 2881 6,333 
- -
EQUIPE 6,324 -
-
LD 2810 6,261 -
-
-11-
TABLE 7. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES,
1991, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, SAND
MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA
DRY MATTER/ACRE
BRAND-VARIETY 1991 2-YR. AV. 3-YR. AV.
(1990-1991) (1989-1991)
LB. L. LB.
MARSHALL 4,609 4,858 4,888
NUTRIBLEND 3,745 4,430 4,624
DALITA 3,714 4,285 4,615
SURRY 4,148 4,762 4,583
RUSTMASTER 4,044 4,520 4,428
JACKSON 4,084 4,447 4,400
GULF 3,674 4,244 4,098
MAGNOLIA 3,661 4,109 3,919
WVPB-LM-AR-2 4,060 4,547
MULTIGRAZER II 3,704 4,285
WVPB-AR-601 3,502 4,235
WVPB-LM-AR-F-41 3,410 4,101
OFI-AR-42 4,079 4,077 -
CONCORD 3,459 3,974 -
TETRABLEND 444T3 3,091 3,515 -
ETCO-9-88 2,736 3,386 -
MONDORA 4,257 - -
MULTIMO 3,851 - -
LD 2810 3,765 - -
WVPB-LM-AR-F-44 3,638 - -
LM 2881 3,403 - -
OFI-88-LM-B7T 3,371 - -
TETRAGOLD 3,343 - -
EQUIPE 3,196 - -
MULTIGRAZER I 3,142 - -
PENNPLOID V 3,085 - -
TETRABLEND 10 2,834 - -
-12-
TABLE 8. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS
VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, GULF COAST SUBSTATION,
FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 1989-1991
BRAND-VARIETY
SEASONAL FORAGE YIELD/ACRE
EARLY LATE TOTAL
AUTUMN WINTER SPRING SPRING
LB. LB. LB. LB. L.
RUSTMASTER 600 2,178 3,385 1,359 
7,522
JACKSON 382 2,068 3,317 1,661 7,428
NUTRIBLEND 435 2,120 3,369 1,328 7,252
GULF 463 2,305 3,241 1,165 
7,174
SURRY 537 1,849 3,208 1,535 
7,129
MARSHALL 565 2,077 3,321 1,121 
7,084
MAGNOLIA 507 2,049 3,063 1,121 
6,740
DALITA 446 1,768 3,095 1,170 
6,480
-13-
TABLE 9. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION 
OF RYEGRASS
VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, PLANT 
BREEDING UNIT,
TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, 1989-1991
BRAND-VARIETY
SEASONAL FORAGE YIELD/ACRE
EARLY LATE TOTAL
AUTUMN WINTER SPRING 
SPRING
LB. LB. LBB. L LB.
RUSTMASTER 778 1,311 
3,349 1,220 6,658
MARSHALL 876 
1,046 3,538 1,161 6,620
JACKSON 664. 
1,19L 3,270 1,383 6,509
NUTRIBLEND 694 1,117 
3,286 1,186 6,283
SURRY 743 1,191 
3,123 1,226 6,283
GULF 762 1,368 
2,789 1,186 6,104
MAGNOLIA 777 1,317 
2,566 1,177 5,837
DALITA 572 
814 3,074 968 5,429
-14-
TABLE 10. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS
VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION,
CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1989-1991
----------------------------------------------------------
SEASONAL FORAGE YIELD/ACRE
BRAND-VARIETY EARLY LATE 
TOTAL
AUTUMN WINTER SPRING SPRING
LB. LB LB. LB. LB.
MARSHALL 319 572 2,221 1,776 4,888
NUTRIBLEND 431 505 1,932 1,756 4,624
DALITA 351 241 1,933 2,091 4,615
SURRY .. 460... 564' 1,997 1,562 4,583
RUSTMASTER 390 579 1,919 1,540 4,428
JACKSON 148 637 2,029 1,585 4,400
GULF 378 683 1,661 1,375 4,098
MAGNOLIA 318 498 1,652 1,451 3,919
-15-