i l X, R i E:':'-: AGRONOMY AND SOILS DEPARTMENTAL SERIES NO. 187 AUGUST 1995 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION LOWELL T. FROBISH, DIRECTOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1994-95 K.M. Glass and D.I. Bransby 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 which 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. Good stands were obtained at the following locations: Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville; E.V. Smith Research Center, Tallassee 2 ; and Gulf Coast Substation, 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 was applied per acre after each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot was harvested to a cutting height of 11/2 to 2 inches with a flail harvester each time the ryegrass reached 6-10 inches tall. A herbage sample of 1 Research Assistant and Professor of Agronomy and Soils. 2 Research conducted at the Plant Breeding Unit in Tallassee, which is a part of the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter. approximately 1 pound was taken from each plot at each harvest for determining forage dry matter percentage. In 1994, the tests were planted September 30, September 22, and October 19 at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Wet, cloudy conditions reduced fall growth at Crossville. Adequate rainfall in October and November produced good fall growth at Tallassee. At Fairhope, rainfall was slightly below normal during winter, but did not seem to effect yield. Winter temperatures were mild for all locations allowing good forage production throughout the rest of the growing season. In 1993, the tests were planted on October 8, October 5, and October 26, at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-3 provide yield data by harvest for 1994-95 at a given location, while tables 4-6 show 1, 2, and 3-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total forage dry matter yields by locations are provided in tables 7-9. 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. -2- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to Mien-Huei Tzeng, 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; and S.P. Nightengale, E.V. Smith Research Center, for growing and harvesting the experiments. Information contained herein is available to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, or national origin. -3- LM 601 Florida Rustmaster WVPB-AR-90-1 Southern Star RIO Gulf (Oregon State) Gulf (Source A) Gulf (Source B) Arme Tetrablend 444 TAM 90 TA5 TXR93-8 Jackson Marshall WAX ME94 FL/OR X 1994 LR Florida 80 Surrey Grazer Andrea Columbus Comet Magnum Max WVPB-AR-90-300 WVPB-AR-93-101 WVPB-AR-R-3 WVPB-AR-92-401 WVPB-AR-93-A-9 WVPB-AR-ETCO 8-88 SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED Barenburg USA, Tangent, Oregon DLF Trifolium, Albany, Oregon Forbes Seed & Grain, Junction City, Oregon Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., Salem, Oregon Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.- Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama Silverhill Farmer's Assn., Robertsdale, Alabama Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Texas A & M University, College Station, TXR91- Texas The Wax Company, Inc., Amory, Mississipi University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USDA, Tifton, Georgia Willamette Seed Company, Albany, Oregon Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Oregon -4- TABLE 1. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 1995 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 2/20 1/18 2/14 3/3 3/22 4/25 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. WAX ME94 .......... ......... RIO ................. ................................ Andrea .......................................... Jackson .................................... Southern Star ..... .... ........................ FL/OR X 1994 LR ............. Gulf (Source A) ...................... LM 601 .............................................. WVPB-AR-90-1 .............. ... Surrey ..................... ......... Florida 80 ........... ...... ............... Rustmaster .......................... .......... Columbus ....................................... M arshall............................. .............. Florida ................... .................... .... Gulf (Source B)................................. M A X ............... 0 . ............................ Tetrablend 444T3 ............................. Magnum .................. ........................ Gulf (Oregon State)............................ TA M 90 .............................. ............. Arm .......................................... TX R93-8......................................... Grazer .............................................. TX R91-TA5 ................... ................. Com et ........................ .................. 2,745 2,236 2,460 2,214 1,877 1,502 2,393 2,706 1,506 1,829 2,028 1,661 1,788 2,064 2,016 1,640 1,896 1,818 1,912 1,761 1,623 1,933 1,711 1,814 1,301 2,100 1,585 1,422 1,318 1,383 1,394 1,321 1,344 1,315 1,185 1,276 1,222 1,397 1,302 1,222 1,236 1,403 1,250 1,304 1,325 1,295 1,252 1,335 1,375 1,282 1,132 1,179 1,432 1,544 1,073 1,375 1,167 1,237 1,280 1,227 1,201 1,156 1,096 1,444 1,035 962 1,047 1,123 1,075 1,441 1,108 1,320 1,074 1,052 1,108 1,385 1,175 1,184 889 1,221 1,157 1,123 1,070 1,174 1,129 1,204 998 1,174 1,164 1,081 1,069 1,034 1,165 1,268 1,126 1,007 1,050 1,312 1,121 1,160 1,106 1,267 1,110 1,020 1,463 2,393 11,162 1,319 2,394 9,819 1,334 2,005 9,521 1,219 2,150 9,473 1,296 2,285 9,209 1,411 2,281 9,055 1,062 2,069 8,865 1,048 1,616 8,855 1,460 2,185 8,852 1,203 2,099 8,835 1,109 2,306 8,791 1,287 1,902 8,740 1,242 1,984 8,675 1,379 1,894 8,669 965 2,162 8,659 1,174 2,143 8,604 1,247 1,798 8,524 1,225 1,998 8,517 1,147 1,879 8,508 1,147 2,193 8,499 1,171 2,005 8,484 1,150 1,903 8,454 1,214 1,648 8,310 979 1,610 7,966 1,249 1,797 7,852 974 1,415 7,798 Test Mean ....................................... 1,944 1,310 1,116 1,211 1,211 2,004 8,796 C.V. (%) ................................... 23 11 12 12 8 11 8 L.S.D. (.10)............................... 520 164 162 168 118 266 798 Planted: October 19, 1994. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam. -5- TABLE 2. SEASONAL DRY MATrER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, 1995 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 11/17 12/14 3/2 3/20 3/21 4/25 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Jackson ................... ............... Surrey ....... .............................. Gulf (Oregon State).......................... WAX ME94 ....................... ... Florida 80 ........... ......... G razer. ............................................. M arshall ...................... .......... .......... Magnum .......................... ............. WVPB-AR-93-A-9 ...................... .. WVPB-AR-90-300........................ Gulf (Source B)......... Arme ...... ..... ............................. Southern Star ............ ......................... WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88 ................ WVPB-AR-R-3 ....... TAM 90 ................. ................ WVPB-AR-90-1 .................... Gulf (Source A)................................. Andrea .............................................. C om et .............................................. WVPB-AR-92-401........................... FL/OR X 1994 LR ........................... TX R93-8.......................................... L M 601 .............................................. Columbus .......................................... Florida ........................ ..................... WVPB-AR-93-101......................... RIO .................................................. Tetrablend 444T3 ............................ Rustm aster ............................. ...... ......... MAX ................................................ TX R91-TA 5 .............. ......... .......... 1,277 622 1,148 638 868 608 1,064 619 966 663 558 663 931 578 777 576 501 539 610 614 448 595 465 574 645 584 493 511 432 588 424 563 646 453 870 637 744 547 847 635 347 508 460 496 545 469 872 565 610 562 479 488 287 469 326 415 422 521 450 447 675 568 335 402 722 590 878 555 861 581 581 478 907 420 1,049 488 543 409 859 579 817 468 776 360 843 399 783 530 746 458 805 502 762 530 754 498 485 260 731 500 664 427 735 401 753 519 563 345 580 434 634 358 621 409 1,025 422 558 510 617 458 578 364 591 448 499 353 536 502 620 499 461 496 473 384 582 515 510 485 383 529 474 726 482 537 638 443 506 284 517 540 539 491 434 300 429 511 467 522 421 450 1,837 5,668 1,296 5,014 1,496 4,875 1,554 4,792 1,290 4,719 1,488 4,630 1,517 4,560 1,214 4,520 1,594 4,429 1,514 4,359 1,644 4,312 1,427 4,308 1,357 4,264 1,152 4,189 1,346 4,140 1,344 4,120 1,613 4,095 889 4,070 1,171 4,059 1,100 4,002 1,278 3,922 1,512 3,916 1,328 3,895 970 3,890 1,227 3,863 1,106 3,820 1,486 3,739 1,385 3,712 1,313 3,665 1,177 3,635 891 3,407 1,166 3,391 Test Mean .................................... 641 554 714 455 489 1,334 4,187 C.V. (%) ......................... ...... ... .. 37 18 22 25 24 23 12 L.S.D. (.10)...................................... 276 116 186 132 138 355 612 Planted: September 22, 1994. Soil: Cababa Fine Sandy Loam. -6- TABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1995 Acre Yield by Harvest Date Season Brand-variety 12/2 3/15 3/28 4/18 5/2 5/19 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. FL/OR X 1994 LR ...................... .. 634 535 Gulf (Source A)..................... 1,026 863 WVPB-AR-90-1 .............................. 643 389 Surrey ........................ ................... 772 612 WAX ME94 ..................................... 772 419 Jackson ......................................... 913 380 Marshall ........... .............. 743 459 Andrea .......................... 880 348 TAM 90 ........................................ 769 673 RIO ........................... ... ... ......... 595 388 Gulf (Oregon State) ............................ 786 766 Arme ..................... ................ 725 471 Rustmaster ................................. 601 504 Tetrablend 444T3 ............................. 730 352 Gulf (Source B)................................. 646 653 Southern Star................................... 702 498 Florida 80 ............................. ............. 623 555 Grazer ................................. ............. 496 800 Columbus .................... ............ 644 307 M agnum ................................ ............ 627 464 TX R93-8......................................... 555 317 LM 601............................... ............. 910 400 Florida ................................ ............. 656 630 TX R91-TA5 .................................... 260 554 M AX .................................. ............. 638 152 Com et ................................ .............. 708 261 943 1,003 815 725 868 1,060 809 856 876 958 895 923 823 1,146 710 1,137 843 873 780 910 704 803 721 975 814 861 710 827 777 811 650 847 723 901 568 1,016 762 778 607 949 850 808 468 809 577 838 744 799 595 847 564 759 641 380 646 513 461 478 513 536 411 561 361 389 432 517 331 454 319 270 698 358 373 554 234 450 612 449 1,171 4,927 978 4,787 1,107 4,713 1,115 4;677 1,186 4,672 1,067 4,656 972 4,656 949 4,560 975 4,544 1,161 4,395 909 4,329 1,035 4,316 1,005 4,217 1,055 4,191 960 4,178 991 4,142 1,007 4,128 936 4,086 843 4,032 928 3,933 987 3,890 746 3,887 855 3,790 974 3,781 665 3,509 654 3,395 Test Mean ............. ....................... 694 490 738 893 459 970 4,246 C.V. (%).................... ............... 23 33 16 15 17 13 9 L.S.D. (.10) ..... .................. 184 190 142 155 90 144 464 Planted: September 30, 1994. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam. -7- TABLE 4. TOTAL DRY MATER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 1995, AND Two- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1995 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1994-1995) (1993-1995) Lb. Lb. Lb. Jackson ..... 9,473 9,196 9,542 RIO ..... ....... ..................... 9,819 9,109 9,513 Rustmaster ............................................ 8,740 9,111 9,500 Florida 80 ............................................. 8,791 9,030 9,273 Gulf (Source B) ..................................... 8,604 8,900 9,090 Gulf (Source A) ..................................... 8,865 8,680 9,082 Surrey ................................................... 8,835 8,395 9,053 Gulf (Oregon State) ............................... 8,499 8,793 9,007 TAM 90 ................................................ 8,484 8,626 8,994 Southern Star ........................................ 9,209 9,066 M arshall ................................................ 8,669 8,691 FL/OR X 1994 LR ................................ 9,055 8,598 A rm e ..................................................... 8,454 8,524 WAX ME94 .......................................... 11,162 Andrea ................................................ 9,521 LM 601 ................................................. 8,855 WVPB-AR-90-1 ................................... 8,852 Colum bus ............................................. 8,675 Florida .................................................. 8,659 M A X .................................................... 8,524 Tetrablend 444T3 .................................. 8,517 M agnum ............................................... 8,508 TX R93-8 .............................................. 8,310 G razer................................................... 7,966 TX R91-TA5 ......................................... 7,852 C om et ................................................... 7,798 -8- TABLE 5. TOTAL DRY MAIR YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 1995, AND Two- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, ALABAMA Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1995 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1994-1995) (1993-1995) Lb. Lb. Lb. Surrey ................................................... 5,014 4,916 5,691 Marshall ................................................ 4,560 4,883 5,649 Gulf (Source B) ..................................... .4,312 4,232 5,480 Gulf (Oregon State) ............................... 4,875 4,379 5,479 Florida 80 ............................................. 4,719 4,504 5,426 Gulf (Source A) ..................................... 4,070 4,373 5,409 Rustmaster ............................................ 3,635 4,087 5,374 RIO ....................................................... 3,712 4,455 5,184 WVPB-AR-90-300 ................................ 4,359 4,470 5,176 WVPB-AR-90-1 ................................... 4,095 4,485 5,144 TAM 90 ................................................ 4,120 4,133 5,117 Jackson ................................................. 5,668 5,433 Southern Star. ....................................... 4,264 4,700 A rm e ..................................................... 4,308 - 4,641 WVPB-AR-93-101 ................................ 3,739 4,459 FL/OR X 1994 LR ................................ 3,916 4,365 WAX ME94 .......................................... 4,792 - - G razer ................................................... 4,630 - - M agnum ............................................... 4,520 - - WVPB-AR-93-A-9 ............................... 4,429 - - WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88 ........................ 4,189 - - WVPB-AR-R-3 ..................................... 4,140 - - Andrea ............................................... 4,059 - - Com et ................................................... 4,002 WVPB-AR-92-401 ................................ 3,922 TX R93-8 .............................................. 3,895 L M 601 ................................................. 3,890 Columbus ........................................... 3,863- Florida .................................................. 3,820 - - Tetrablend 444T3 .................................. 3,665 - - M A X .................................................... 3,407 - - TX R91-TA5 ......................................... 3,391 - - -9- TABLE 6. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIEs, 1995, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1995 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1994-1995) (1993-1995) Lb. Lb. Lb. Marshall.................................................... 4,656 4,596 5,051 Surrey ........................................................ 4,677 4,268 4,763 Gulf (Source A)......................................... 4,787 4,282 4,555 RIO ...... ............... ...................................... 4,395 4,130 4,554 TAM 90 ..................................................... 4,544 4,293 4,455 Rustmaster................................................. 4,217 3,966 4,320 Gulf (Oregon State) ................................... 4,329 4,045 4,295 Florida 80 ....................... .............. 4,128 3,941 4,273 Gulf (Source B) ............................. 4,178 3,901 4,266 FL/OR X 1994 LR .................................. 4,927 4,535- Jackson ........................................... 4,656 4,421 Southern Star ................. ............. ....... 4,142 4,065- Arme ....................................................... 4,316 3,694M WVPB-AR-90-1 ...................................... 4,713 - - WAX ME94........ ........................... ....... 4,672 - - Andrea .................................................. 4,560 . - - Tetrablend 444T3 .................................. 4,191 - - Grazer ...... .......................... .......... 4,086 - - Columbus ................................ ......... 4,032 Magnum ......................... ......... 3,933 - - TX R93-8........ .............. .... .... .......... . 3,890 - - LM 601........................... .......... 3,887- Florida ........................................... 3,790 - - TX R91-TA5 ........................ .... ....... 3,781 - - M A X ....................................................... 3,509 - - C om et ............................................... 3,395 - - TABLE 7. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 1993-1995 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Jackson ........................................... 3,739 4,333 1,470 9,542 RIO...................... 3,544 4,281 1,688 9,513 Rustmaster ...................................... 3,521 4,531 1,449 9,500 Florida 80 ....................................... 3,607 4,172 1,494 9,273 Gulf (Source B) .............................. 3,849 3,855 1,386 9,090 Gulf (Source A) ................................. 3,741 3,901 1,441 9,082 Surrey ............................................. 3,322 4,261 1,470 9,053 Gulf (Oregon State) ........................ 3,780 3,836 1,390 9,007 TAM 90 ............................................. 3,433 4,139 1,421 8,994 -10- TABLE 8. THREE-YE.AR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGLRASS VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, PLANT BREEDING UNIT,TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, 1993-1995 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Surrey ............................................ 767 2,761 2,163 5,691 Marshall................................ 747 2,634 2,268 5,649 Gulf (Source B)............................. 704 2,616 2,160 5,480 Gulf (Oregon State) ....................... 793 2,681 2,005 5,479 Florida 80 ...................................... 754 2,639 2,033 5,426 Gulf (Source A)............................. 805 2,846 1,758 5,409 Rustmaster ..................................... 523 2,776 2,075 5,374 RIO ..................................... ........... 401 2,605 2,178 5,184 WVPB-AR-90-300 ........................ 535 2,548 2,092 5,176 WVPB-AR-90-1 ........................... 491 2,546 2,107 5,144 TAM 90 ............................. ........... 533 2,669 1,914 5,117 TABLE 9. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS VARIETY FORAGE PRODUCTION, SANTD MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1993-1995 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. M arshall ......................................... 384 2,720 1,947 5,051 Surrey .............................. 366 2,459 1,938 4,763 Gulf (Source A) ............................. 522 2,302 1,732 4,555 RIO ................................................ 321 2,338 1,894 4,554 TAM 90 ......................................... 407 2,391 1,657 4,455 Rustmaster. ........................ ........... 294 2,340 1,686 4,320 Gulf (Oregon State)....................... 447 2,260 1,589 4,295 Florida 80 ...................................... 335 2,217 1,721 4,273 Gulf (Source B) ............................. 458 2,263 1,545 4,266 -11-