Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 2002-03 Agronomy and Soils Departmental Series No. 252 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station John Jensen, Interim Director Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, August 2003 Printed in cooperation with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 1 A CKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is expressed to the following supervisory personnel of the outlying units whose support is gratefully acknowledged: Northern Alabama Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center, Belle Mina .............................B.E. Norris, Jr., Supt. H.E. Burgess, Assoc. Supt. Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center, Crossville...................................R.A. Dawkins, Supt. Central Alabama Black Belt Research and Extension Center, Marion Junction ................................J.L. Holliman, Supt. Prattville Experiment Field......................................................................................D.P. Moore, Supt. E.V. Smith Research Center, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee ................................S.P. Nightengale, Supt. Southern Alabama Brewton Experiment Field .......................................................................................J.R. Akridge, Supt. Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, Fairhope............................................N.R. McDaniel, Supt. M.D. Pegues, Assoc. Supt. Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland............................................L.W. Wells, Supt. B.E. Gamble, Asst. Supt. 2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 K.M. Glass and E. van Santen Agric. Program Associate and Professor, Dept. of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, AL 36849 INTRODUCTION The Alabama Ryegrass Variety Evaluation is a continuing evaluation 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 that control each variety or line, not by Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station personnel. The experiments are conducted by experiment station personnel and the results are presented in a fair and unbiased manner. PROCEDURE 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. Acceptable stands were obtained at the following locations: Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center, Crossville; E.V. Smith Research Center, Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee; Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, Headland and Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, 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 per acre was applied after each cutting. A 32- or 49-inch swath of each plot was harvested to a cutting height of 1 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 2002, the tests were planted October 23, October 10, October 17, and October 22 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland and Fairhope, respectively. In 2001, the tests were planted September 27, October 18, October 17, and October 31 at Crossville, Tallassee, Headland and Fairhope, respectively. All planting dates were delayed due to lack of soil moisture. Cuttings were limited at Fairhope due to drought conditions. DISCUSSION Strategies to meet seasonal forage needs are an important consideration for livestock producers. Tables 1-4 provide yield data by harvest for 2002-03 at a given location, while Tables 5 and 6 show 1, 2, and 3-year total yields by location. Seasonal and total dry matter yields by locations are provided in Tables 9 and 10. 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. PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 3 TABLE 1. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE SAND MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, CROSSVILLE, ALABAMA, 2003. Yield by harvest date Cultivar Jackson Passerel Plus Wax ME-94 Ed Marshall NCD Enhancer Ribeye WMN 97 SCH-5 FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT Brigadier TXR 2001-11 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Gulf (Source A) WD- 40 Jumbo Ore-Tarx FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Tam 90 Joe-1 BB-Mex-I Prine Big Daddy Test Mean C.V. (%) LSD(0.10) Planted: October 23, 2002 Soil: Hartsells Fine Sandy Loam Season 3/12 3/26 4/12 5/1 5/21 6/10 total -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------ 701 526 603 573 533 494 456 250 638 446 367 398 496 452 752 434 458 467 454 545 816 565 429 361 509 42 244 1668 1437 1508 1376 1407 1169 1454 1160 1431 1310 1249 1418 1116 1282 1290 1205 1315 1047 1200 1377 1140 1166 1107 1220 1294 21 280 1272 1508 1295 1314 1439 1423 1306 1507 1369 1201 1414 1244 1522 1312 973 1307 1146 1594 1124 1184 1071 1262 1179 1190 1298 21 294 1513 1303 1392 1346 1455 1415 1410 1490 1338 1290 1249 1519 1295 1228 1218 1209 1228 1009 1169 1263 1201 1145 1197 1048 1289 14 170 886 1072 1086 1080 1191 1226 1009 1075 900 1237 1260 1094 958 1064 965 1127 1082 944 1043 901 982 914 1005 887 1041 21 284 1599 1778 1686 1855 1425 1627 1662 1747 1543 1645 1517 1293 1571 1602 1616 1489 1508 1624 1682 1351 1365 1427 1329 1257 1550 18 339 7639 7623 7569 7544 7450 7353 7296 7229 7221 7129 7056 6966 6957 6939 6814 6770 6737 6685 6673 6622 6574 6480 6247 5962 6981 10 1016 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 2. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE E.V. SMITH RESEARCH CENTER, PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, 2003. Yield by harvest date Cultivar Season 3/10 3/27 4/16 5/5 † † total -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------ Prine 893 WMN 97 831 TXR 2001-11 849 Ed 1045 Jackson 821 Wax ME-94 933 Ore-Tarx 889 SCH-5 803 Marshall 818 Gulf (Source A) 1189 FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT 750 Jumbo 765 Tam 90 987 Joe-1 801 Passerel Plus 691 Ribeye 786 WD- 40 885 Brigadier 892 FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT 780 FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late 857 BB-Mex-I 638 FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT 683 Big Daddy 820 NCD Enhancer 518 Test Mean 830 C.V. (%) 29 LSD(0.10) 305 Planted: October 10, 2002 Soil type: Cahaba Fine Sandy Loam † only four cuts taken at this location 790 979 994 822 976 896 850 1024 856 748 838 807 808 863 818 920 748 795 840 791 861 841 785 850 854 15 118 1128 1141 1100 1036 1055 1083 1067 990 1114 1039 1117 1124 1036 952 1089 969 985 985 1009 899 995 1009 974 892 1033 16 162 930 784 766 784 825 717 818 791 785 568 805 785 629 826 833 688 716 655 676 747 796 718 656 772 753 19 137 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3741 3735 3708 3688 3676 3629 3624 3608 3574 3544 3510 3480 3460 3442 3431 3363 3334 3327 3306 3294 3290 3251 3235 3031 3470 12 490 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 TABLE 3. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE WIREGRASS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, HEADLAND, ALABAMA, 2003. 5 Yield by harvest date Cultivar 1/29 2/25 3/22 4/29 † † -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------ Season total 5879 5688 5542 5440 5393 5258 5232 5214 5157 5117 5060 5010 5009 5001 4997 4976 4904 4896 4888 4862 4760 4694 4484 3715 5049 9 560 Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Tam 90 Prine Brigadier Ore-Tarx BB-Mex-I SCH-5 TXR 2001-11 WD- 40 Ed Jackson FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Wax ME-94 Ribeye Marshall FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT Passerel Plus WMN 97 Jumbo FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT Joe-1 NCD Enhancer Test Mean C.V. (%) LSD(0.10) Planted: October 17, 2002 Soil type: Dothan Fine Sandy Loam † only four cuts taken at this location 626 408 276 291 299 282 329 272 207 209 327 348 316 242 275 207 321 282 246 179 261 286 312 341 298 24 71 1693 1361 1363 1364 1546 1272 1292 1296 1265 1305 1364 1380 1286 1217 1273 1343 1099 1410 1181 939 1226 1311 1292 969 1294 11 149 2228 1941 2484 2196 2191 2120 2029 2273 2229 2122 2116 2035 1851 2225 2390 2172 2254 2172 2064 2281 1972 1943 1867 1457 2109 13 268 1332 1978 1418 1589 1357 1584 1582 1374 1456 1481 1252 1246 1555 1317 1059 1253 1230 1032 1398 1464 1301 1153 1013 948 1349 17 316 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 4. SEASONAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF ANNUAL RYEGRASS AT THE GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER, FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, 2003. Yield by harvest date Cultivar Season 1/8 2/20 3/12 4/4 5/9 † total -------------------------------------- lbs per acre ------------------------------------------ BB-Mex-I Prine FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT Tam 90 Jumbo NCD Enhancer WMN 97 Jackson WD- 40 Gulf (Source A) Big Daddy Joe-1 Ed SCH-5 FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Ore-Tarx Marshall Brigadier FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT Ribeye Passerel Plus FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Wax ME-94 TXR 2001-11 Test Mean C.V. (%) LSD(0.10) Planted: October 22, 2002 Soil type: Malbis Fine Sandy Loam † only five cuts taken at this location 1906 1717 1119 1643 1617 1893 1661 1540 1595 1684 1671 2088 1804 1540 1472 1424 1451 1570 1346 1614 1438 1497 1623 1092 1584 20 332 1558 1540 1360 1566 1440 1466 1255 1472 1542 1503 1315 1255 1416 1440 1318 1495 1203 1530 1393 1388 1225 1183 1242 1387 1396 15 197 1078 1018 1655 901 931 971 880 972 938 1001 965 975 962 946 899 941 943 941 965 894 891 893 953 855 974 34 300 1948 1932 2016 1938 1776 1811 1955 1913 1863 1819 1907 1623 1591 1877 1894 1798 1893 1699 1903 1745 1794 1752 1737 1719 1829 11 185 1992 2064 1981 1814 2043 1619 2008 1831 1782 1704 1793 1673 1834 1770 1949 1854 1955 1680 1794 1745 1993 1962 1678 1962 1853 8 144 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8482 8272 8131 7862 7807 7761 7759 7728 7719 7711 7650 7614 7607 7573 7531 7512 7445 7419 7400 7386 7340 7287 7232 7015 7635 10 743 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 TABLE 5. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2003, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES FOR SAND MOUNTAIN REC AND PLANT BREEDING UNIT. Sand Mountain Research and Ext. Ctr. 2-yr. Avg Brand-Variety Brigadier Wax ME-94 Jackson Ribeye Marshall Passerel Plus WMN 97 Prine Tam 90 FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Jumbo Big Daddy SCH-5 TXR 2001-11 BB-Mex-I Ed NCD Enhancer FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Gulf (Source A) WD- 40 Ore-Tarx Joe-1 3-yr. Avg 2003 2002-03 2001-03 Brand-Variety ---------------- lbs per acre -------------6966 6834 5807 Jackson 7569 7639 7296 7349 7523 7199 6247 6622 6673 6737 5962 7221 6957 6480 7544 7353 7129 7056 6939 6814 6770 6685 6574 6909 6645 6248 6383 6436 6046 5838 6008 5924 5898 5322 6368 5949 5645 † † † † † † † † † 5793 5767 5532 5469 5345 5082 5068 5049 5010 4957 4770 † † † † † † † † † † † † Brigadier WMN 97 Marshall Big Daddy Prine Tam 90 Jumbo Passerel Plus FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Wax ME-94 Ribeye SCH-5 TXR 2001-11 BB-Mex-I Ed Ore-Tarx Gulf (Source A) FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT Joe-1 WD- 40 FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT NCD Enhancer Plant Breeding Unit 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg 7 2003 2002-03 2001-03 ---------------- lbs per acre -------------3676 4623 5934 3327 3735 3574 3235 3741 3460 3480 3431 3294 3449 3363 3608 3708 3290 3688 3624 3544 3510 3442 3334 3306 3251 3031 4326 4719 4579 4272 4732 4298 4721 4429 4527 4537 4388 4751 4455 4282 † † † † † † † † † 5803 5542 5449 5401 5319 5285 5247 5168 5156 5110 5034 † † † † † † † † † † † † 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 6. TOTAL DRY MATTER YIELD OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES, 2003, AND TWO- AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGES FOR WIREGRASS REC AND GULF COAST REC Wiregrass Research and Ext. Ctr. 2-yr. Avg Brand-Variety Big Daddy Prine Wax ME-94 Brigadier Tam 90 Passerel Plus Jackson Marshall FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Ribeye Jumbo WMN 97 BB-Mex-I SCH-5 TXR 2001-11 Gulf (Source A) Ore-Tarx WD- 40 Ed FL/NE X 2002 (New 2) LRCT FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT Joe-1 NCD Enhancer 3-yr. Avg Gulf Coast Research and Ext. Ctr. 2-yr. Avg 3-yr. Avg 2003 2002-03 2001-03 ---------------- lbs per acre -------------7445 7190 7351 7728 7759 7340 7650 7807 7386 7862 7232 7419 8272 7531 7573 8482 7015 8131 7761 7719 7711 7614 7607 7512 7400 7287 6552 6801 6573 6781 6873 6597 6764 6689 6521 6686 6385 6820 6574 6417 † † † † † † † † † 6863 6814 6804 6789 6760 6719 6711 6573 6540 6535 6439 † † † † † † † † † † † † 2003 2002-03 2001-03 Brand-Variety ---------------- lbs per acre -------------5688 7015 7266 Marshall 5440 4997 5393 5542 4888 5010 4904 5009 4976 4760 4862 5232 5214 5157 5879 5258 5117 5060 5001 4896 4694 4484 3715 6716 6282 6452 6699 6401 6288 6353 6325 6526 6113 6143 6632 6419 6327 † † † † † † † † † 7055 6991 6946 6880 6870 6827 6758 6746 6636 6635 6418 † † † † † † † † † † † † Jackson WMN 97 Passerel Plus Big Daddy Jumbo Ribeye Tam 90 Wax ME-94 Brigadier Prine FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late SCH-5 BB-Mex-I TXR 2001-11 FL X2002 (DRU) LRCT NCD Enhancer WD- 40 Gulf (Source A) Joe-1 Ed Ore-Tarx FL X2002 (LA3) LRCT FL/NE X 2002 (N 2) LRCT PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 TABLE 7. SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS PRODUCTION AT SAND MOUNTAIN REC AND PLANT BREEDING UNIT BASED ON THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, 2001-2003. 9 Brand-Variety Fall Early spring Late spring 3-yr avg - lbs per acre 4796 4781 4628 4625 4572 4557 4382 4258 4202 4179 4061 4060 ------------- % of total annual yield ---------------- Sand Mountain Research and Ext. Ctr. Jackson Ribeye Wax ME-94 Marshall Brigadier Passerel Plus WMN 97 FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Prine Tam 90 Jumbo Big Daddy 13.8 17.7 10.9 13.9 16.9 12.7 11.1 13.4 11.5 14.0 11.6 12.6 47.3 44.6 44.5 42.8 43.7 42.5 40.0 41.1 44.5 46.7 42.7 46.2 48.1 49.5 51.9 52.6 50.7 53.3 56.3 54.4 51.7 48.6 53.4 49.6 Plant Breeding Unit Jackson Brigadier WMN 97 Marshall Big Daddy Tam 90 Prine Wax ME-94 Passerel Plus Jumbo Ribeye FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late 28.5 33.9 22.1 24.9 27.2 25.8 19.4 23.1 26.6 22.5 22.3 22.6 50.1 49.6 51.2 50.3 49.9 53.1 51.3 51.1 48.6 50.2 54.4 51.9 30.9 27.7 34.1 33.1 31.9 29.7 35.7 33.5 33.7 34.8 30.8 33.0 5395 5312 5046 5002 4918 4841 4786 4709 4665 4635 4627 4605 10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 8. SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RYEGRASS PRODUCTION AT WIREGRASS REC AND GULF COAST REC BASED ON THREE-YEAR AVERAGES, 2001-2003. Brand-Variety Fall Early spring Late spring 3-yr avg - lbs per acre 7266 7055 6946 6880 6870 6827 6758 6746 6636 6635 6418 ------------- % of total annual yield ---------------- Wiregrass Research and Ext. Ctr. Big Daddy Prine Brigadier Tam 90 Passerel Plus Jackson Marshall FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late Ribeye Jumbo WMN 97 43.2 43.3 42.9 42.9 41.5 42.4 40.2 41.7 45.9 40.5 37.3 57.5 60.7 54.3 56.8 59.5 56.3 62.8 60.6 57.8 59.9 56.5 55.3 46.3 47.6 49.5 48.9 50.3 50.6 52.4 49.1 46.6 51.5 53.7 28.8 25.9 29.4 26.6 26.1 27.0 24.3 25.1 27.8 26.0 26.8 27.5 15.7 13.6 11.4 12.3 12.3 10.5 11.1 13.8 11.3 11.9 13.6 20.4 20.2 24.5 25.0 21.7 25.1 19.4 21.4 21.7 21.1 25.0 25.9 Gulf Coast Research and Ext. Ctr. Marshall Jackson WMN 97 Passerel Plus Big Daddy Jumbo Ribeye Tam 90 Wax ME-94 Brigadier Prine FL X 2001(New 1) 4X LR Late 7351 6863 6814 6804 6789 6760 6719 6711 6573 6539 6535 6439 PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS VARIETIES IN ALABAMA, 2002-03 11 SOURCES OF RYEGRASS SEED BB-Mex-1 Jumbo Ribeye Brigadier Prine Joe-1 Ore-Trax SCH-5 WD-40 Gulf (Local Source) Barenbrug USA, Tangent, Oregon East Texas Seed Co., Tyler, Texas OreGro Seeds, Inc., Shedd, Oregon Piedmont Fertilizer Co., Opelika, Alabama Pennington Seed, Inc., Lebanon, Oregon FL X2001(New 1)4XLR Late Passerel Plus Big Daddy Ed TAM 90 TXR 2001-11 Jackson Marshall WAX ME-94 WMN 97 FL/NE X2002(New 2) LRCT FL X2002(LA3) LRCT FL X2002(DRU)LRCT Smith Seed Service, Halsey, Oregon Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas The Wax Company, LLC, Amory, Mississippi University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida NCD Enhancer ARC-Range and Forage Institute, Hilton, South Africa