Agronomv and Soils Departmental Series No. 204 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station James E. Marion, Director Auburn Uiniversity Auburn University, Alabama July 1997 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1 996m97 Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1996-97 KATHRYN M. GLASS AND DAVID 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 seven inches apart, using 5x20-foot plots with four replications. Good stands were obtained at the following locations: Sand Mountain Substation in Crossville and E.V. Smith Research Center Plant Breeding Unit in Tallassee. A less than adequate stand was obtained at Gulf Coast Substation in Fairhope. The experiments were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium according to Auburn University soil test recom- mendations. At planting, nitrogen was applied at the rate of 50 pounds per acre, and an additional 50 pounds of N per acre was applied after each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot was harvested to a cutting height of 1.5 to two inches with a flail harvester each time the ryegrass reached six to 10 inches tall. A herbage sample of approximately one pound was taken from each plot at each harvest for determining forage dry matter percentage. In 1995, the tests were planted Sept. 29, Sept. 28, and Oct. 11 at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Cooler than normal temperatures greatly reduced fall and winter growth at all locations. In 1996, the tests were planted Oct. 7, Oct. 17, and Oct. 15 at Crossville, Tallassee, and Fairhope, respectively. Good stands were obtained at Crossville and Tallassee. Less than adequate planting conditions reduced stands and yields at Fairhope. All locations had wet conditions, but normal growth occurred on most varieties. Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-3 pro- vide yield data by harvest for 1996-97 at a given location, while Table 4 shows one-, two-, and three-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total forage dry matter yields by locations are provided in Table 5. 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 three-year average provides a more dependable comparison of ryegrass varieties than do single-year results. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to Mien-Huei Tzeng, Research Data Analysis, for the data processing of this report. Also acknowledged are the contributions of Tony Dawkins and Marvin Ruf, Sand Mountain Substation; Ronnie McDaniel and Malcomb Pegues, Gulf Coast Substation; and Jim Bannon and Stevan Nightengale, E.V. Smith Re- search Center, for growing and harvesting the experiments. Glass is a Research Assistant and Bransby is a Professor in the Auburn University Department of Agronomy and Soils. Information contained in this publication is available to all, regardless of race, gender, or national origin. 2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 1. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 1997 Brand-variety Acre yield by harvest date Season total 1/16 2/17 3/10 3/27 5/01 lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. TAM 90 ........................... 3,100 1,360 1,505 950 2,094 9,009 Passerel .............................. 2,753 1,550 1,566 1,150 1,910 8,929 Hurricane ........................... 2,511 1,228 1,576 1,099 2,318 8,732 NC/FL X1996 LR ............. 2,570 1,539 1,415 1,003 2,122 8,649 FL X1996 LR .................... 2,648 1,535 1,304 860 2,198 8,545 WVPB-AR-90-300 .............. 2,511 1,509 1,412 926 2,090 8,448 BAR USA LM95 ................. 2,841 1,362 1,240 859 2,086 8,388 WVPB-AR-F- 11 .................. 2,309 1,518 1,437 1,025 2,066 8,355 WVPB-AR-93-101 .............. 2.688 1,225 1,330 931 2,118 8,292 Marshall ................................ 2,154 1,544 1,544 1,064 1,949 8,255 WAX ME94 .................. 2,422 1,478 1,521 835 1,971 8,227 FL X1996(G)4N ............... 2,729 1,392 1,350 814 1,941 8,226 RIO ........................................ 2,315 1,598 1,277 909 2,054 8,153 Jackson ...... ............. .. 2,334 1,352 1,422 904 2,128 8,140 WVPB-AR-R-3 ......... 2,295 1,277 1,416 969 2,037 7,994 TXR95-6 .......................... 1,955 1,256 1,338 975 2,448 7,972 OFI A94 ............................. 2,265 1,246 1,281 926 2,236 7,954 OFI FL95 ........................... 2,055 1,512 1,365 871 2,041 7,844 TXRFMR-96 ....................... 2,217 1,127 1,420 833 2,226 7,823 Hercules ...... ............. 2,525 1,115 1,308 897 1,826 7,671 TXR95-2 ............................ 1,669 896 1,600 1,005 2,477 7,647 Gulf (Source A)................... 2,442 891 1,293 817 1,877 7,320 Surrey .................................... 2,084 1,265 1,294 805 1,810 7,258 Big Daddy ............................ 2,064 1,231 1,131 789 1,975 7,190 Blizzard ................................. 2,182 1,136 1,269 822 1,758 7,167 Tetrablend 444T3................. 2,118 999 1,251 806 1,922 7,096 Gulf (Source B) ................... 2,077 988 1,269 842 1,894 7,070 FL X1995(GXS)MR ............ 2,241 1,317 1,225 598 1,645 7,026 Assertive ............................... 2,598 945 1,104 663 1,663 6,973 Gulf (Oregon State) ............. 1,919 1,018 1,234 828 1,956 6,955 OFI PM 1 ............................... 2,070 902 1,159 839 1,871 6,841 Grazer ................................... 2,026 914 1,245 450 1,484 6,119 Test Mean ........................... 2,334 1,257 1,347 877 2,006 7,821 C. V (%) ..................................... 23 17 11 13 13 8 L.S.D. (.10) ............................. 618 245 167 137 306 717 Planted: October 15, 1996. Soil: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1996-97 3 TABLE 2. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, 1997 Brand-variety Acre yield by harvest date Season total 1/13 1/18 3/12 3/27 4/14 5/01 5/22 lb. OFI PM1 .................... 484 WAX ME94 .............. 467 WVPB-AR-90-300 ........ 532 TAM 90...................... 428 TXRFMR-96 ............ 480 RIO ......... 508 Blizzard ........ ............ 571 Surrey .......... .............. 373 FL X1995(GXS)MR ...... 576 Big Daddy ................ 442 Hurricane .................. 326 WVPB-AR-93-101 ........ 444 TXR95-6................... 571 Assertive ................... 433 FL X1996(G) 4N ........... 297 NC/FL X1996 LR .......... 556 Jackson ........ ............. 361 BAR USA LM95 ........... 453 Gulf (Oregon State) ....... 484 OFI FL95..................312 M arshall .......................... 331 Passerel ........................... 345 WVPB-AR-R-3 ............. 311 Gulf (Source A) ............. 626 Tetrablend 444T3........... 533 OFI A94 .......................... 427 FL X 996 LR ................ 440 G razer ............................ 239 Gulf (Source B) ............. 498 H ercules ......................... 492 TXR95-2 ....................... 345 WVPB-AR-F-11 ........... 343 Test Mean ....................... 438 C. V (% ) ........................... 44 L.S.D. (.10) .................. 229 lb. 455 290 304 314 406 302 482 283 446 465 228 342 423 320 316 241 314 431 541 271 233 157 326 565 413 319 346 392 430 343 277 286 352 29 121 lb. 561 473 472 415 524 449 512 471 576 409 477 551 485 414 390 388 527 503 506 439 412 364 460 483 509 465 455 682 426 381 435 356 468 18 98 lb. 777 1,011 908 1,127 788 940 704 903 677 783 989 726 863 821 826 814 928 743 753 856 938 854 887 672 736 784 820 730 759 719 793 645 821 18 174 lb. 508 439 463 437 333 488 422 434 411 396 419 358 402 500 530 454 406 364 355 473 447 523 400 340 396 414 371 484 365 417 405 440 425 17 84 lb. 627 612 627 510 623 557 511 544 471 619 512 539 499 596 657 582 522 538 416 571 599 713 568 433 522 538 501 410 415 551 518 608 547 16 101 lb. lb. 988 4,400 983 4,275 914 4,220 984 4,215 979 4,133 857 4,101 839 4,041 1,015 4,023 862 4,019 899 4,013 1,062 4,013 1,051 4,011 742 3,985 894 3,978 944 3,960 882 3,917 857 3,915 882 3,914 847 3,902 973 3,895 883 3,843 881 3,837 877 3,829 671 3,790 665 3,774 806 3,753 818 3,751 737 3,674 680 3,573 653 3,556 767 3,540 684 3,362 862 3,913 20 12 206 548 Planted: October 17, 1996. Soil: Cababa Fine Sandy Loam. ~IL Lit L)~~7 O -II~ 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 1997 Brand-variety Acre yield by harvest date Season total 3/11 3/27 4/14 5/01 5/19 lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. Marshall...............1,094 820 1,391 893 961 5,159 Passerel.................855 892 1,326 932 934 4,939 FL X1996 LR............620 682 1,441 825 999 4,567 Grazer.................1,236 179 1,745 297 1,057 4,514 WAX ME94......839 631 1,299 791 923 4,483 Jackson............ ..... 889 621 1,371 687 839 4,407 OFI FL95...............774 599 1,398 825 802 4,398 Surrey...................893 410 1,452 714 915 4,384 TXR95-2................627 706 1,306 834 858 4,331 NC/FL X 1996 LR.........691 585 1,280 820 907 4,283 RIO ...................839 561 1,290 727 788 4,205 TXRFMR-96.............648 622 1,287 845 781 4,183 TXR95-6................677 653 1,32.1 786 665 4,102 FL X1996(G) 4N..........810 542 1,21.0 682 648 3,892 Gulf (Source B)..........526 571 1,257 769 758 3,881 OF1 A94................638 475 1,211 713 761 3,798 Hercules........485 560 1,246 798 669 3,758 TAM 90................661 458 1,366 682 565 3,732 BAR USA LM95..........672 372 1,126 616 739 3,525 Gulf (Oregon State)........473 554 1,083 745 657 3,512 Tetrablend 444T3..........444 539 1,198 686 629 3,496 FL X1995(GXS)MR........857 232 1,153 533 713 3,488 OFI PMI.................397 499 1,102 777 638 3,413 Big Daddy...............366 588 1,123 676 585 3,338 Gulf (Source A)...........416 392 1,083 666 535 3,092 Test Mean.................................697 550 1,283 733 773 4,035 C.V (%).................20 15 10 11 20 7 L.S.D. (.10)..............166 99 150 96 179 339 Planted October 7, 1996. Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1996-97 5 TABLE 4. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 1997, AND Two- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES AT GULF COAST SUBSTATION, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, AND SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION Brand-variety Dry matter/acre Brand-variety Dry matter/acre 1997 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. 1997 2-yr. avg. 3-yr. avg. (1996-97) (1995-97) (1996-97) (1995-97) WAX ME94 ............ 8,227 8,612 RIO ....................... 8,153 8,648 M arshall ....................... 8,255 8,992 Jackson ......................... 8,140 8,507 TAM 90 .................. 9,009 8,981 Surrey ...................... 7,258 8,052 Gulf (Source A)............7,320 7,504 Big Daddy .............. 7,190 7,556 Gulf (Oregon State) ..... 6,955 7,416 Gulf (Source B) ............ 7,070 7,336 Tetrablend 444T3 ......... 7,096 7,222 Grazer ........................... 6,119 6,885 Passerel ..................... 8,929 9,347 Hurricane ........ ......... 8,732 9,139 BAR USA LM95 ......... 8,388 8,602 WVPB-AR-F-11 .......... 8,355 8,482 WVPB-AR-90- 300 ...... 8,448 8,364 WVPB-AR-93-101 ...... 8,292 8,324 Hercules ................. 7,671 8,275 WVPB-AR-R-3 ........... 7,994 7,964 NC/FL X1996 LR ........ 8,649 FL X1996 LR ............... 8,545 - FL X1996(G) 4N ......... 8,226 - TXR95-6 ...................... 7,972 OFI A94 .................... 7,954 OFI FL95 ..................... 7,844 - TXRFMR-96 ............... 7,823 - TXR95-2 ..................... 7,647 Blizzard ....................... 7,167 FL X1995(GXS)MR .... 7,026 Assertive ..................... 6,973 OFI PM 1 ..................... 6,841 PLANT BREEDING UNIT Big Daddy .................... 4,013 5,171 Jackson ......................... 3,915 4,284 Surrey ........................... 4,023 4,560 WAX ME94 ................. 4,275 4,502 WVPB-AR-90-300 ...... 4,220 4,469 RIO ............................... 4,101 4,747 Marshall ....................... 3,843 4,191 TAM 90 ........................ 4,215 4,151 WVPB-AR-93-101 ...... 4,011 4,324 WVPB-AR-R-3............3,829 4,154 Grazer ........................... 3,674 3,824 Gulf (Oregon State) ..... 3,902 3,554 Gulf (Source A)............3,790 3,904 9,462 9,038 8,884 8,829 8,815 8,313 7,958 7,855 7,777 7,759 7,654 7,245 4,964 4,798 4,761 4,663 4,564 4,480 4,381 4,233 4,201 4,199 4,123 4,059 4,029 7,9- 7,9- lb. lb. lb. PLANT BREEDING UNIT (continued) Gulf (Source B) ............ 3,573 3,604 3,899 Tetrablend 444T3 ......... 3,774 3,586 Passerel ........................ 3,837 4,288 BAR USA LM95 ......... 3,914 4,243 Hercules ....................... 3,556 4,049 WVPB-AR-F-11 .......... 3,362 3,846 OFI PM1 ...................... 4,400- TXRFMR-96 ............... 4,133 Blizzard ........................ 4,041 FL X1995(GXS)MR .... 4,019 Hurricane...................... 4,013- TXR95-6 ...................... 3,985 Assertive ...................... 3,978 FL X1996(G)4N ......... 3,960 NC/FL X1996 LR ........ 3,917- OFI FL95 ..................... 3,895 OFI A94 ........................ 3,753- FL X1996 LR ....... 3,751 TXR95-2 ...................... 3,540 SAND MOUNTAIN Marshall ................. 5,159 3,788 Jackson ......................... 4,407 3,398 WAX ME94 ................. 4,483 3,389 Surrey ..................... 4,384 3,310 RIO ......................... 4,205 3,393 Grazer ........................... 4,514 3,305 TAM 90 ........................ 3,732 2,983 Gulf (Oregon State) ..... 3,512 2,812 Gulf (Source B)............3,881 2,873 Big Daddy ..................... 3,338 2,732 Gulf (SourceA) ............ 3,092 2,456 Tetrablend 444T3 ......... 3,496 2,635 Passerel ........................ 4,939 3,813 Hercules ...................... 3,758 2,979 BAR USA LM95 ......... 3,525 2,890 FL X1996 LR ............... 4,567- OFI FL95 ..................... 4,398- TXR95-2 ...................... 4,331- NC/FL X1996 LR ........ 4,283 - TXRFMR-96 ................ 4,183- TXR95-6 ...................... 4,102- FL X1996(G) 4N ......... 3,892- OFI A94 ....................... 3,798- FL X 1995(GXS)MR .... 3,488- OFI PM 1 .........I............. 3,413- 3,654 4,077 3,817 3,817 3,765 3,727 3,565 3,503 3,318 3,308 3,260 3,233 3,154 lb. lb. lb. GULF COAST I vr r r u/ v . )V I ~razer...... 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 5. THREE-YEAR AVERAGE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS VARIETY FORAGE PRODUC- TION AT GULF COAST SUBSTATION, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, AND SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION, 1995-97 Brand-variety Seasonal forage yield/acre Fall Early spring Late spring Total lb. lb. lb. lb. GULF COAST SUBSTATION WAX ME943................3789 3,102 2,571 9,462 RIO ................................................. 3,507 2,787 2,744 9,038 Marshall ................................... 3,219 3,118 2,547 8,884 Jackson...................3,443 2,793 2,594 8,829 TAM 90...................3,619 2,747 2,449 8,815 Surrey....................3,225 2,649 2,438 8,313 Gulf (Source A).............3,449 2,153 2,355 7,958 Big Daddy.................3,223 2,095 2,537 7,855 Gulf (Oregon State)..........3,191 2,141 2,446 7,777 Gulf (Source B)..............3.126 2,317 2,315 7,759 Tetrablend 444T3............2,976 2,315 2,363 7,654 Grazer .......................................... 2,958 2,232 2,055 7,245 PLANT BREEDING UNIT Big Daddy...................649 1,491 2,824 4,964 Jackson ............... .............................. 858 1,859 2,082 4,798 Surrey ................................................ 814 1,966 1,981 4,761 WAX ME94....................813 1,736 2,114 4,663 WVPB-AR-90-300............687 1,834 2,043 4,564 R IO .................................................... 517 1,966 1,997 4,480 Marshall....................691 1,641 2,049 4,381 TAM 90....................576 1,803 1,853 4,233 WVPB-AR-93-101............514 1,655 2,032 4,201 WVPB-AR-R-3...............552 1,783 1,864 4,199 G razer ............................................... 617 1,806 1,700 4,123 Gulf (Oregon State)............834 1,552 1,674 4,059 Gulf (Source A)...............899 1,506 1,623 4,029 Gulf (Source B)...............657 1,535 1,707 3,899 Tetrablend 444T3.............630 1,359 1,665 3,654 SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION Marshall....................248 1,957 1,873 4,077 Jackson ............................................. 304 1,828 1,685 3,817 WAX ME94.................257 1,757 1,802 3,817 Surrey ................................................ 257 1,812 1,696 3,765 RIO ....... i............................... 198 1,740 1,788 3,727 Grazer................................... 165 1,992 1,408 3,565 TAM 90................................. 256 1,769 1,478 3,503 Gulf (Oregon State).................. 262 1,623 1,433 3,318 Gulf (Source B)...................... 215 1,684 1,408 3,308 Big Daddy............................. 242 1,607 1,412 3,260 Gulf (Source A) ...................... 342 1,580 1,311 3,233 Tetrablend 444T3..................... 243 1,467 1,443 3,154 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 1996-97 7 SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED Barenbrug USA Tangent, Ore. BAR USA LM95 Hercules FLX 1995(GXS) MR DLF Trifolium Albany, Ore. Blizzard Hurricane Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc. Salem, Ore. RIO OFI-A94 OFI-PM1 OFI FL 95 Oregon State University Corvallis, Ore. Gulf (Oregon State) Pennington Seed Lebanon, Ore. Passerell Piedmont Fertilizer Auburn, Ala. Gulf (Source A) Silverhill Farmer's Association Robertsdale, Ala. Gulf (Source B) Smith Seed Service Halsey, Ore. Big Daddy Surrey Tetrablend 444 Texas A & M University College Station, Texas TAM 90 TXRFMR-96 TXR95-2 TXR95-6 The Wax Company, Inc. Amory, Miss. Jackson Marshall WAX ME94 University of Florida Gainesville, Fla. FL X1996 LR NC/FL X1996 LR FL X1996 (G) 4N U.S. Department of Agriculture Tifton, Ga. Grazer Willamette Valley Plant Breeders, Inc. Brownsville, Ore. WVPB-AR-90-300 WVPB-AR-93-101 WVPB-AR-R-3 WVPB-AR-F-11 Assertive Location of Participating Research Units Ryegrass variety trials were conducted at three AAES substations: Gulf Coast Substation (GCS) in Fairhope. the E.V. Smith Research Center Plant Breeding Unit (EVSRC) in Tallassee, and Sand Mountain Substation (SMS) in Crossville. Without the commitment of the substation personnel, results presented in this report would not have been presented in a timely manner.