August, 1996 Agronomy and Soils Departmental Series No. 195 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Lowell T. Frobish, Director Auburn University, Alabama PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1995-96 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 and Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope. Heavy rains just after planting produced a poor stand in most plots at E.V. Smith Research Center, Tallassee 2 . Please read Important Note attached to Table 2. The experiments were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium according to Auburn University soil test recommendations. At planting, nitrogen was applied at the '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. 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 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 from each plot at each harvest for determining forage dry matter percentage. In 1995, the tests were planted September 29, September 28, and October 11 at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Cooler than normal temperatures greatly reduced fall and winter growth at all locations. 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. Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-3 provide yield data hy harnest for 1995-96 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 M.E. Ruf, Sand Mountain Substation; E.L. Carden, N.R. McDaniel, and M.D. Pegues, Gulf Coast Substation; and J.S. Bannon 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 SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED BAR USA LM95 Hercules Tetragold Rustmaster Hurricane RIO OFI-A9 OFI-PM Gulf (Oregon State) Passerell Gulf (Source A) Gulf (Source B) Big Daddy (was SS33DK) SSEBPZ42 SSEBJS49 Tetrablend 444 TAM 90 TXR93-3 TXR93-1 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-A- 13 WVPB-AR-ETCO 8-88 WVPB-AR-F- 11 WVPB-AR-A-9 Barenbrug USA, Tangent, Oregon DLF Trifolium, Albany, Oregon Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc., Salem, Oregon Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Pennington Seed, Lebanon, Oregon Piedmont Fertilizer, Auburn, Alabama Silverhill Farmer's Assn., Robertsdale, Alabama Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Texas A & M University, College Station, 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 Table 1. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1996 Acre Yield hy t-Hqrvecst 1ate Season Brand-variety 1/16 2/13 2/29 4/2 5/17 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Passerel................................ 1,433 381 1,684 2,521 3,746 9,765 Marshall.............................. 1,378 406 1,592 2,554 3,798 9,728 Hurricane.............................. 1,353 495 1,744 2,307 3,647 9,546 RIO..................................... 1,376 501 1,460 2,022 3,784 9,143 WAX ME94.......................... 1,205 501 1,650 2,292 3,349 8,997 TAM 90................................. 1,812 546 1,365 1,982 3,247 8,952 Columbus.............................. 1,437 662 1,522 1,687 3,608 8,916 Hercules................................ 1,492 542 1,318 1,806 3,720 8,878 Jackson............................ ...... 1,252 513 1,630 1,976 3,503 8,874 Surrey.................................... 1,569 545 1,543 1,783 3,405 8,845 BAR USA LM95................... 1,691 691 1,382 1,787 3,264 8,815 MAX...................................... 1,208 342 1,337 1,953 3,893 8,733 FL/OR X 1994 LR................ 832 341 1,616 2,300 3,528 8,617 WVPB-AR-F-11.................... 1,078 449 1,598 1,812 3,671 8,608 TXR 93-3............................... 1,063 480 1,678 1,836 3,531 8,588 Comet..................................... 1,379 418 1,286 1,631 3,859 8,573 Andrea.................................... 1,307 424 1,401 2,027 3,372 8,531 OFI-A9................................... 1,203 514 1,587 1,715 3,480 8,499 WVPB-AR-A-13................... 979 324 1,564 1,794 3,798 8,459 TXR 93-12.............................. 1,394 766 1,476 1,181 3,614 8,431 WVPB-AR-93-101................ 1,114 510 1,670 1,932 3,129 8,355 WVPB-AR-93-A-9................ 663 264 1,491 1,965 3,961 8,344 Tetragold................................. 1,031 363 1,418 1,740 3,734 8,286 WVPB-AR-90-300 ................ 1,226 401 1,425 2,304 2,923 8,279 Rustmaster.............................. 1,212 554 1,726 1,932 2,802 8,226 WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88......... 1,149 392 1,399 1,192 3,947 8,079 WVPB-AR-R-3...................... 819 406 1,530 1,846 3,332 7,933 Big Daddy........................... 1,462 517 1,116 1,093 3,733 7,921 Florida 80............................... 1,402 518 1,325 1,352 3,317 7,914 Gulf (Oregon State)................ 1,768 742 979 1,200 3,188 7,877 Magnum.................................. 1,542 458 1,226 1,307 3,309 7,842 SSEBPZ42.............................. 1,016 511 1,597 1,528 3,113 7,765 Gulf(Source A)...................... 1,544 699 1,121 1,205 3,119 7,688 Grazer.................................... 1,110 606 1,737 1,126 3,071 7,650 Gulf (Source B)...................... 1,580 621 1,296 1,196 2,909 7,602 WVPB-AR-92-401................ 1,415 532 1,019 1,075 3,463 7,504 S SEBJS49............................. 1,235 542 1,203 924 3,497 7,401 Tetrablend 444T3.......... 1,209 483 1,186 1,302 3,168 7,348 OFI-PM ............................... 1,079 425 1,188 1,244 3,062 6,998 Test Mean............................. 1,282 497 1,438 1,703 3,451 8,372 C.V. (%).................... 25 24 13 13 14 8 L.S.D. (.10)................. 374 138 225 266 571 826 Planted: October 11, 1995. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam. Table 2. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1996 A cre YieJd hy PT4rvep-nt F)t- Season Brand-variety 3/12 4/3 4/25 5/14 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Big Daddy ................................ 444 599 1,382 3,903 6,328 M AX ......................................... 401 624 1,022 3,964 6,011 RIO ........................................... 1,383 1,053 1,723 1,233 5,392 Surrey ....................................... 965 1,193 1,804 1,134 5,096 FL/OR X 1994 LR .................... 1,438 967 1,207 1,229 4,841 TXR 93-12.................1,116 1,027 1,602 1,095 4,840 Passerel ..................................... 615 936 1,714 1,474 4,739 WAX ME94 ......................... 663 1,067 1,634 1,365 4,729 WVPB-AR-90-300 ................... 1,032 1,005 1,499 1,181 4,717 Jackson ...................................... 742 1,041 1,635 1,235 4,653 WVPB-AR-93-101 .................... 821 1,011 1,594 1,211 4,637 BAR USA LM95 ....................... 798 1,160 1,623 991 4,572 Hercules ..................................... 824 941 1,626 1,150 4,541 M arshall ..................................... 679 913 1,619 1,328 4,539 WVPB-AR-R-3 .......................... 773 1,055 1,526 1,125 4,479 WVPB-AR-F- 11 ......................... 756 945 1,356 1,273 4,330 OFI-A9 ........................................ 745 987 1,444 958 4,134 TAM 90 ....................................... 701 941 1,525 919 4,086 SSEBPZ42 ................................... 883 853 1,352 984 4,072 Gulf (Source A) ........................... 559 791 1,692 976 4,018 Grazer .......................................... 662 939 1,571 802 3,974 Andrea ......................................... 887 793 1,270 1,022 3,972 SSEBJS49 ................................... 837 811 1,454 762 3,864 Florida 80 .................................... 599 930 1,336 939 3,804 TXR 93-3 .................................... 360 753 1,482 1,065 3,660 Gulf (Source B) ........................... 595 834 1,302 903 3,634 M agnum ...................................... 456 644 1,413 966 3,479 Columbus .................................... 459 738 1,149 1,066 3,412 Tetrablend 444T3 ........................ 408 618 1,330 1,041 3,397 Tetragold...................375 673 1,292 959 3,299 WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88 .............. 428 643 1,092 1,131 3,294 WVPB-AR-93-A-9 ..................... 409 695 1,059 1,055 3,218 Gulf (Oregon State) ..................... 411 728 1,282 785 3,206 WVPB-AR-92-401 ...................... 440 509 1,164 1,024 3,137 OFI-PM ....................................... 467 449 1,064 1,046 3,026 WVPB-AR-A-13 ......................... 313 495 867 1,263 2,938 Comet .......................................... 459 504 904 1,051 2,918 Test Mean ................... 673 834 1,395 1,233 4,135 C.V. (%)............................. 39 17 19 106* 34 L.S.D. (.10) ......................... 304 164 318 1,537 1,641 Planted: September 28, 1995. Soil: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam. * Important Note: The authors point out that data in this table should be viewed with extreme caution for the following reasons: (1) plots were severely infested with weeds in the spring, which appeared to affect stands and yield for the rest of the season; (2) plots were treated with 2,4-D to control weeds and varieties could respond differently to this herbicide; and (3) variation in the test, as indicated by the CV's and LSD's was extremely high. Table 3. Seasonal Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties at Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1996 Acre Yield by Th4rvecft Date Season Brand-variety 4/3 4/23 5/8 5/23 Total Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. FL/OR X 1994 LR ............... 581 855 773 595 2,804 Passerel................335 943 762 646 2,686 RIO ..................453 815 784 528 2,580 TXR 93-3o...................... 536 722 779 481 2,518 Andrea......... .......... 321 918 639 611 2,489 Hurricane...............305 852 777 554 2,488 Marshall................137 869 801 610 2,417 Jackson .....................404 699 805 480 2,388 Rustmaster ......................... 290 776 768 509 2,343 WAX ME94...... ...........249 754 729 563 2,295 BAR USA LM95 ................. 364 680 663 548 2,255 TXR 93-12..............397 652 682 505 2,236 Surrey ............ ............... 405 604 795 431 2,235 TAM 90 ........................... 434 679 635 486 2,234 Florida 80......................... 456 619 702 457 2,234 Hercules................557 589 601 453 2,200 MAX............... 411 729 590 419 2,149 Big Daddy.......................... 576 537 496 517 2,126 Gulf (Oregon State)..............s486 483 628 515 2,112 Grazer ... ................. 433 582 677 404 2,096 Columbus...............288 657 711 392 2,048 SSEBPZ42............. 420 490 648 472 2,030 OFI-A9................161 644 696 501 2,002 Tetragold ............................ 261 557 577 496 1,891 OFI-PM...........................312 469 572 533 1,886 Comet..... ............. 389 569 526 400 1,884 SSEBJS49........................ 356 590 545 392 1,883 Gulf (Source B) ............... 457 361 633 413 1,864 Gulf (Source A)...........445 368 557 449 1,819 Tetrablend 444T3..........331 420 559 464 1,774 Magnum ...................... 279 461 462 464 1,666 Test Mean..................... 382 643 664 493 2,182 C.V. (%)....................... 57 24 16 14 13 L.S.D. (.10)................... 258 185 124 81 339 Planted: October 11, 1995. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam. Table 4. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1996, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1996 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1995-1996) (1994-1996) Lb. Lb. Lb. RIO ............................................ 9,143 9,481 9,120 Jackson...................8,874 9,174 9,088 Marshall..................9,728 9,199 9,036 Rustmaster.................8,226 8,483 8,816 TAM 90..................8,952 8,718 8,735 Florida 80.................7,914 8,353 8,658 FL/OR X 1994 LR...........8,617 8,836 8,604 Surrey....................8,845 8,840 8,545 Gulf (Oregon State) ................... 7,877 8,188 8,487 Gulf (Source B).............7,602 8,103 8,467 Gulf (Source A).............7,688 8,277 8,349 Big Daddy.................7,921 8,188 8,323 WAX ME94................8,997 10,080 Andrea....................8,531 9,026 Columbus..................8,916 8,796 MAX.....................8,733 8,629 Comet....................8,573 8,186 Magnum...................7,842 8,175 Tetrablend 444..............7,348 7,933 Grazer....................7,650 7,808 Passerel ...................................... 9,765 - - Hurricane ................................... 9,546 Hercules ..................................... 8,878 BAR USA LM95 ....................... 8,815 WVPB-AR-F-11........................ 8,608 TXR 93-3 ................................... 8,588 OFI-A9 ....................................... 8,499 WVPB-AR-A- 13 ........................ 8,459 TXR 93-12 ................................. 8,431 WVPB-AR-93-101 .................... 8,355 WVPB-AR-93-A-9 .................... 8,344 Tetragold .................................... 8,286 WVPB-AR-90-300 ................... 8,279 WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88 ........ 8,079 WVPB-AR-R-3.................. 7,933 SSEBPZ42........................ 7,765 WVPB-AR-92-401 .............. 7,504 SSEBJS49 ........................ 7,401 OFI-PM ........................... 6,998 8 Table 5. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1996, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1996 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1995-1996) (1994-1996) Lb. Lb. Lb. Jackson....................................... 4,653 5,240 5,617 Big Daddy.................................. 6,328 5,439 5,517 Marshall..................................... 4,539 4,650 5,215 Surrey......................................... 5,096 5,131 5,199 RIO............................................ 5,392 4,670 5,000 Florida 80................................... 3,804 4,410 4,854 WVPB-AR-90-300.................... 4,717 4,736 4,828 FL/OR X 1994 LR..................... 4,841 4,477 4,761 TAM 90....... ............ 4,086 4,242 4,680 WVPB-AR-93-101.................... 4,637 4,296 4,669 Gulf (Oregon State)................... 3,206 4,138 4,484 Gulf (Source B)......................... 3,634 4,062 4,475 Gulf (Source A)......................... 4,018 4,149 4,429 WAX ME94............................... 4,729 4,857 MAX.......................................... 6,011 4,830 WVPB-AR-R-3.......................... 4,479 4,385 Grazer......................................... 3,974 4,348 Andrea........................................ 3,972 4,098 Magnum..................................... 3,479 4,094 WVPB-AR-93-A-9.................... 3,218 3,932 WVPB-AR-ETCO-8-88............. 3,294 3,869 Columbus................................... 3,412 3,724 Comet......................................... 2,918 3,662 WVPB-AR-92-401.................... 3,137 3,630 Tetrablend 444T3...................... 3,397 3,594 TXR 93-12................................ 4,840 Passerel..................................... 4,739 BAR USA LM95...................... 4,572 Hercules.................................... 4,541 WVPB-AR-F-11....................... 4,330 OFI-A 9...................................... 4,134 SSEBPZ42................................ 4,072 SSEBJS49................................. 3,864 TXR 93-3................................. 3,660 Tetragold................................. 3,299 OFI-PM ................................... 3,026 WVPB-AR-A- 13........................ 2,93 8 Table 6. Total Dry Matter Yield of Ryegrass Varieties, 1996, and Two- and Three-Year Averages, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama Dry Matter/Acre Brand-variety 1996 2-Yr. Av. 3-Yr. Av. (1995-1996) (1994-1996) Lb. Lb. Lb. FL/OR X 1994 LR ............. 2,804 3,866 3,958 Marshall................................... 2,417 3,537 3,869 Jackson ................................... 2,388 3,522 3,743 RIO.................................. 2,580 3,488 3,613 TAM 90...................... 2,234 3,389 3,607 Surrey...................................... 2,235 3,456 3,590 Gulf (Source A).................... 1,819 3,303 3,461 Rustmaster............................... 2,343 3,280 3,425 Gulf (Oregon State)................. 2,112 3,221 3,400 Florida 80................................ 2,234 3,181 3,372 Gulf (Source B) ...................... 1,864 3,021 3,222 Big Daddy............................... 2,126 3,221 3,171 Andrea..................................... 2,489 3,525 WAX ME94............................. 2,295 3,484 Grazer ..................................... 2,096 3,091 Columbus................................ 2,048 3,040 Tetrablend 444T3....................... 1,774 2,983 MAX.......................................... 2,149 2,829 Magnum..................................... 1,666 2,800 Comet......................................... 1,884 2,640 Passerel..................................... 2,686 - - TXR 93-3.................................. 2,518 Hurricane.................................. 2,488 BAR USA LM95....................... 2,255 TXR 93-12................................ 2,236 Hercules ................................... 2,200 SSEBPZ42................................ 2,030 OFI-A9...................................... 2,002 Tetragold ................................... 1,891 OFI-PM ..................................... 1,886 SSEBJS49................................. 1,883 10 Table 7. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama, 1994-1996 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. RIO .................. 2,940 4,121 2,059 9,120 Jackson................3,004 4,200 1,884 9,088 Marshall................2,515 4,624 1,897 9,036 Rustmaster...........2,863 4,385 1,568 8,816 TAM 90................2,990 3,994 1,751 8,735 Florida 80...............2,995 3,788 1,874 8,658 FL/OR X 1994 LR........2,280 4,387 1,936 8,604 Surrey.................2,730 3,980 1,835 8,545 Gulf (Oregon State)........3,329 3,365 1,794 8,487 Gulf (Source B)...........3,266 3,517 1,684 8,467 Gulf (Source A)...........3,235 3,385 1,729 8,349 Big Daddy..............3,011 3,433 1,879 8,323 11 Table 8. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1994-1996 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Jackson....... ............ 1,024 2,164 2,429 5,617 Big Daddy.................................. 579 1,760 3,178 5,517 Marshal................................. 1,884 1,926 2,406 5,215 Surrey..................................... 769 2,208 2,222 5,199 RIO ............................................ 401 2,212 2,387 5,000 Florida 80................................... 1,027 1,868 1,959 4,854 WVPB-AR-90-300................... 552 2,017 2,259 4,828 FL/OR X 1994 LR.................... 491 1,995 2,275 4,761 TAM 90...................................... 800 1,939 1,942 4,680 WVPB-AR-93-101.................... 331 1,997 2,340 4,669 Gulf (Oregon State)................... 923 1,720 1,841 4,484 Gulf (Source B)........................... 731 1,751 1,993 4,475 Gulf (Source A)......................... 608 1,875 1,946 4,429 12 Table 9. Three-Year Average Seasonal Distribution of Ryegrass Variety Forage Production, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1994-1996 Seasonal Forage Yield/Acre Brand-variety Early Late Total Fall Spring Spring Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. FL/OR X 1994 LR.......211 1,907 1,839 3,958 Marshall...............248 1,851 1,771 3,869 Jackson...............304 1,833 1,605 3,743 RIO .................198 1,674 1,741 3,613 TAM 90...............256 1,812 1,538 3,607 Surrey................257 1,710 1,622 3,590 Gulf (Source A).........342 1,741 1,378 3,461 Rustmaster.............200 1,641 1,584 3,425 Gulf (Oregon State) ........... 262 1,732 1,406 3,400 Florida 80.............208 1,706 1,458 3,372 Gulf (Source B).........215 1,674 1,332 3,222 Big Daddy.............242 1,581 1,348 3,171 13 Alabama's Agricultural Experiment Station System AUBURN UNIVERSITY Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. ISTONE MADION JAS E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter. MARSHALL DE KALB 1. Tennessee Valley Substation, ETOWH 2 Belle Mina. sBouJNT 2. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville. 3. North Alabama Horticulture Substation, JEFFERSON S CLA Cullman. 4. Upper Coastal Plain Substation, TAL EG CLEBJRNE W infield. SHLY 5. Forestry Unit, Fayette County. 6. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton. COOSA A 7. Forestry Unit, Coosa County. 6 8 8. Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill. 9)ELMORE 9. Foresty Unit, Autauga County. 10. Prattville Experiment Field, SAC RJSSELL Prattville. LOWNDES' MONTGOMER 11. Black Belt Substation, uL Marion Junction. DABAR R 12. The Turnipseed-lkenberry Place, BUTLER P1KE Union Springs. 13. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, NROE HENRY Camden. CRNSHA COEE DALE 14. Forestry Unit, Barbour County. S16 15. Monroeville Experiment Field, COVNGMonroeville. HOUSTO 16. Wiregrass Substation, GEN VA Headland. 17. Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton. 18. Ornamental Horticulture Substation, Spring Hill. 19. Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope.