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September 1981 ·

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rass rials in Alabama
Department of Agronomy and Soils Departmental Series No. 65 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University Auburn U~iversity, Alabama Gale A. Buchanan, Director

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WARM SEASON PERENNIAL FORAGE GRASS TRIALS IN ALABAMA C. S. Hoveland, M. W. Alison, Jr., R. R. Harris, W. B. Webster, V. H. Calvert II, J. T. Eason, M. L. Ruf, L. L. Walker, H. C. Hoyle, E. L. Carden, N. R. McDaniel, and F. B. Selmanl/

Improved warm season perennial grasses produce high forage yields when adequately fertilized. However, forage digestibility of these
grasse~

is generally low, resulting in poor animal performance. Thus,

warm season perennial grasses with higher digestibility are needed. Several new improved warm season perennial grasses were planted at four locations in Alabama to evaluate their yield potential, persistence, and digestibility. Most of the entries in the tests were bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon), but also included were
limpogr~sses

(Hemarthria altissima) and paspalum (Paspalum sp.} Entries were: (1) Coastal, a hybrid between Tift bermuda and a tall-growing

introduction from South Africa, which was developed by Dr. G. W. Burton, USDA-ARS, Tifton, Georgia. (2) Tifton 44, a hybrid between a high-quality bermudagrass

selection from Kenya, East Africa, and a cold-hardy plant from Germany, which was Georgia. (3) Tifton 26-6, 84, 3408, 35-3, 31-6, 21-6, 40-6, 37-5 x 49-4, and 34-5 are exdeveloped by Dr. G. W. Burton, USDA-ARS, Tifton,

34-5 x 21-6, 34-4, 35-5 x 49-4, and Coastcross-3

perimental bermuda hybrids selected for high digestibility and cold

Respectively, Professor and Research Associate, Department of Agronomy and Soils; Professor, . Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences; Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Tennessee Valley Substation; Superintendent and Associate Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation; Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Plant Breeding Unit; and Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent, Gulf Coast Substation.
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tolerance by Dr. G. W. Burton, USDA-ARS, Tifton, Georgia. Oklahoma 71 x 6-7 and Oklahoma LCB 7-25 bermuda hybrids were

selected for improved nutritive quality, yield, and cold tolerance by Dr. C. M. Taliaferro, Agronomy Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. {5). Paste Rico is a giant, seed-producing bermudagrass selected
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in Arizona and marketed by Northrup, King and Co. (6)

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Redalta, Greenalta, and Bigalta limpograss varieties are

s to 1on i fer o us. gr a s s e s co 11 e c ted by Dr . A. J • 0a ke s , US D ARS , i n Athe eastern Transvaal, . Republic of South Africa, as P.I.'s 299~93, 299994, and 299995. They were cooperatively released as varieties in 1 978 by t ne :Un i v e r s i t y o f Flo r i d a a nd t he So i1 Co ns e r v a t i o n Ser v i c e , USDA. (7) Paspalum spp. P. I.'s 404368 and 404655 from southern Brazil

were selected at Auburn University for leafiness and long growing season. Plantings were made at four locations during April or early May 1978, 1979, and 1980. Vegetative material of all entries except Pasta Rico bermuda and paspalum 404368 and 404655 were planted in 4- x 20-foot plots replicated four times, with 6 feet between plots to prevent mixing of the varieties. Pasta Rico bermuda and the two paspalums were broadcast seeded. Mineral fertilizers were applied according to soil test and 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre applied at planting followed by 50 pounds per acre 1 month later and 50 pounds per acre after. each

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harvest. In subsequent years, 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre was applied in April and after each harvest. Plots were harvested with a flail harvester at 4- to 8-week intervals, depending on growth. Grass ground cover was estimated in each plot during the spring to determine winter survival.
~vitro
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dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of

hand~harvested

forage . from each plot at each harvest was determined throughout the 1980 season at the Plant Breeding Unit. RESULTS Establishment Good stands were obtained initially; however, persistence varied widely. Tifton 34-8 and 21-6 had especially rapid establishment with stolon (horizontal above-ground stems) growth of more than 4 feet just two months after planting.
Limpogra~s

establishment rate

was similar to that for Coastal bermuda. Tifton 44 oermuda formed a
comple~ground

cover slower than other varieties.

Winter Survival In contrast to previous trials where Tifton 44 had superior winter survival as compared to Coastal bermuda, the varieties performed equally well in this respect except in the 1980 planting at the Tennessee Valley Substation where su5stantial winterkill of Coastal occurred, tables 1-7. All three limpograsses were winterkilled in northern Alabama. Redalta limpograss wai severely injured in the central part of the State. At the Gulf Coast Substation, Redalta limpograss survived well and remained . green much of the winter. Two new bermuda hybrids, Oklahoma LCB7-25, and Oklahoma 71 x 6-7, had

excellent cold hardiness in northern Alabama, table 4. Five new
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Tifton -bermuda hybrids had adequate cold hardiness for central Alabama but not for northern Alabama, table 5. Forage Yield In the older tests at three locations, Tifton 44 and Coastal bermuda were the highest yielding entries, tables 1, 2, and 3. At the, Gulf Coast Substation, Redalta limpograss yields were similar to Tifton 44 and Coastal bermuda. Both paspalum introductions were less productive than the tpp bermudagrass or limpograss. In the bermuda-limpograss trials, Tifton 44 bermuda was the most productive grass in northern Alabama, table
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In central Alabama,

Coastal bermuda was most productive the second year, table 5, Several bermuda hybrids equalled the yteld of Coastal and Tifton 44, Pasta Rico production was below Tifton 44 the second year tn northern Alabama and much below other bermudagrasses in the central part . of the State. Some leaf spot was found on Pasta Rico, a problem that might have been severe had there not been a severe drought in 1980. Limpograss yields were low the establishment year and only Redalta limpograss had any production the second year in central Alabama. Establishment year production of new bermuda hybrids was low in 1980 as a result of the drought, tables 6 and 7. However, several showed potential for rapid establishment, growth, and winter survival. Forage Quality Redalta limpograss and Tifton 26-6, 44, and 84 bermudagrasses had consistently higher digestibility than Coastal bermuda, table 8. In another trfal, Tifton 44 again was superior to Coastal in digestibility, table 9. Most remarkable in thts test were digestibility

-7values for some hybrids that were considerably above that of either Coastal or Tifton 44 throughout the season. This offers hope that higher quality bermudagrass varieties will be released by breeders in the future. Several of these high digestibility hybrids also have considerable cold hardiness, table 10. Hybrids with high

digestibility sho.uld result in higher animal performance than is now achieved on warm season perennial grasses.

SUMMARY Warm season perennial forage grass trials were conducted at four locations during 1978,
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and 1980,

Results of those trials show that Tifton 44 had greater cold hardiness than Coastal.
Wh~re

col.d hardiness was a problem, forage

yields of both varieties were equal or superior to other berrnudagrasses. Forage digestibility of Tifton 44 was superior to that of Coastal bermuda. Several new bermuda hybrids were considerably higher in digestibility than either Tifton 44 or Coastal. Limpograsses were not cold hardy in central and northern Alabama. In the Gulf Coast area, Redalta lirnpograss was cold hardy and its yjeld over a 3-year period equalled that of Coastal and Tifton 44 bermudagrass. Forage digestibility of Redalta lirnpograss was superior to that of Coastal bermudagrass. Pasta Rico bermudagrass forage yield sharply declined the second year and was below that of other bermudagrasses. At present, Tifton 44 is an attractive variety due to good cold hardiness and somewhat higher digestibility than Coastal.

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Table 1. Forage yield of summer perennial grasses at Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama (planted April 12~ 1978) Entry Percent ground cover
MaJl l J9Z9

Tons drJ:: forage Eer acre 1.6 b 1.5 bt* 1.2 c 1.2c 2.5 a
l 9Z8

Tifton 44 bermuda ......... go Coastal bermuda ........... 48 Tifton 84 bermuda ......... 12 Tifton 26-6 bermuda ....... 2 Redalta limpograss ........ 0

4,4 4.6 2.3 1.1 0

J gzg

a a b c

tllle~:a

3.0 3.0 1.8 1.2 1.2

ge

*Any two yields within a CQlumn marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level.

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Table 2. Forage yield of summer perennial grasses at the Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama (planted April 18, 1978) · Per.cent grouna cover Tons drJ:: forage Eer acre Apri 1 16, 1979 1980 Average 1980 19Z8 4.5 a* 6.7 8.8 a 6.7 a Co a sta 1 bermuda .......... 88 5.6 3.0 b 8.1 a 5. 6 ab Tifton 44 bermuda ........ 100 4.4 7.0 b 2.6 c 3.6 ab Tifton 26-6 bermuda ...... 32 2.o ·c 4.2 6. 2 c 4.5 b Tifton 84 bermuda ........ 82 3.4 d 2.3 1.6c 1.8c Red a1ta 1 impograss ....... 22 *Any two ytelds within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level. Entry Table 3. Forage yield of summer perennial grasses at Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, Alabama (planted April 19, 1978) .Percent ground cover May 2, 1979 Coasta 1 bermuda....... 89 Tifton 44 bermuda ..... 98 Redalta limpograss .... 85 Tifton 26-6 bermuda ... 77 Tifton 84 bermuda ..... 100 P,aspalum 404368 ....... 40 Paspalum .............. 85 Entry Tons dry forage per acre 1979 1980 8.6 a 8.6 c 8.3 ab 8.5 ab 8.1 ab 7.2 abc 8.4 ab 6.6 c 7.4 b 6.0 cd 5.8 c 6. 9 be 5.9 c 5.0 d

1978 3.6 b* 3. 9 ab 4.9 a 3.7 b 3.6 b 2.9 be 2.3 c

Average 6.9 6.9 6.Z 6.2 5.7 5.2 4.4

*Any two yields within a c,ol umn marked with the same 1etter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level.

-9Table 4. Forage yield of bermuda and limpograsses at Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina, Alabama (planted April 11, 1979)

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Percent Tons dri: forage 12er acre ground cover April 21 , 1981 1979 1980 Averaae Tifton 44 bermuda ............ 100 2.8 cde* 5.8 a 4.3 Tifton 21-6 bermuda .......•.. 32 3.2 b 3.0 be de 3.1 Oklahoma LCB 7-25 bermuda ...• 93 2.4 de 3.0 b 2.7 Co as ta 1 bermuda .............. 98 2.9 be de 2.8 b 2.8 4.1 a Pas to Rico bermuda ........... 70 2.2 be 3.2 0 Tifton 3408 bermuda .......... 3. 6 abc 1.4 c 2.5 3.0 bcde Oklahoma 71 X 6-7 bermuda .... 100 1. 0 c 2.0 0 3.2 be de Tifton 35-3 bermuda .......... 0 0 3.8 ab Tifton 31-6 bermuda ......... 0 0 Tifton 40-6 bermuda ..... ' ... 3 .l be de 0 0 Greenalta limpograss ........• 3.0 bcde 0 0 Red a 1 ta limpograss ........... 2.3 de 0 Bigalta limpograss ........... 0 2.1 d 0 *Any two yields ~ithiri a"t61D~n markea 0ith the same Tetter are-not ·significantly different at the 5 "perceht 1 ev~l . Entry

Table 5.

Forage yield of bermuda and limpograsses at . Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama (planted April 6, 1979) Tons dry forage per acr€ 1979 5. 7 a 4. 7 ab* 5.5 a 3. 7 be 4.2 b 3.5 c 4,0 b 3.3 c 3.8 be 3.9 b 1.8d 1980 Average 7.4 ab 6.6 7.5 a 6.1 6.6 abc. 6.0 6.2 be 5.0 5.8 cd 5.0 4.9 de 4.2 4.0 4.1 e 2.9 f 3.1 2.8 fg 3.3 2 .8 . 1.6 g 1.6 g 1 .7 0 0

Percent ground cover May 13, 1 981 Tifton 44 bermuda ............ . 100 Coastal bermuda .............. . 100 Tifton 35-3 bermuda .......... . 100 Tifton 44 bermuda ............ . 100 Tifton 31-6 bermuda .......... . 100 Oklahoma 71 x 6-7 bermuda .... . 100 go Tifton 21-6 bermuda .......... . 100 Oklahoma LCB 7-'25 bermuda .... . 72 Tifton 40-6 bermuda .......... . 48 NK Pasta Rico bermuda........ . 1.7 Redalta limpograss ........... . 0 Greenalta limpograss ......... . 0 Bigalta limpograss ........... . Entry
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2.2 d
l. 5 d

*Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent 1evel .

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Table 6.

Forage yield of bermudagrass hybrids at Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina, Alabama (planted May 8, 1980)

Percent Tons dry forage per acre ground cover Apri 1 2, 1 981 1980 Tifton 37-5 x 21-6 ................... 12 3.2 a* Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 {79-16) ............ 0 2.8 a 2.4 ab Tifton 34-4 (T-44 x Cal1ie) .......... 11 Tifton 35-3 x 49-4 ................... 9 2.4 ab Tifton Coastcross -3 ................. 10 2.3 ab Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 (79-17) .......•.... 70 1. 7 be Tifton 44 ............................. 95 1.6c Coastal ............................... 15 1 .4 cd 0,7 d Tifton 34-5 (T44 x Callie) ............ 12 *Any two yields marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level. Entry

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Table 7.

Forage yield of bermudagrass hybrids at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama (planted April 25, 1980)

Percent Tons dry forage ground cover per acre May 13, 1981 1980 Tifton 37-5 x 21-6 ................ 100 2.3 a* Tifton Coastcross - '3 .............. 80 2. 0 ab Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 (79-17)........ 84 1. 6 be Tifton 34-4 (T-44 x Callie)....... 72 1. 5 cd Tifton 35-3 x 49-4 ............... 51 1 .3 cd Coastal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 1 .0 cde Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 (79-16)........ 0 0.9 de Tifton 44 ......................... 100 0.6 e Tifton 34-5 ,{T-44 .x Call,ie)....... 60 0 *Any two yields within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level. Entry

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Table 8. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDt10) of summer perennial grasses at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1980 (planted Aoril 1.8, ·1980) Entry May 27 Red a1ta 1 impograss .......... 56.3 Tifton 26-6 bermudagrass ..•. 54.8 Tifton 84 bermudagrass~····· 55.7 Tifton 44 bermudagrass ..•.•. 49.8 Co as ta 1 be~mudagrass ......•. 48.1 Percent IVDMD of dry forage June 20 July 28 Sept.2 Oct. 16 Mean 53.8 53.8 51.1 47.9

53.6

55.4 55.6 55.3 48.1

53.0
58.0 56.3 54.3 51.5 50.2 51.8 49.2 45.6 50.-7 49.6 47.0 46.6

Table 9. ~vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of bermuda and l impograsses at Plant Breed. ng Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1980 (planted April 16, 1979) i
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Percent IVDMD of dry forage
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Q~t . 16 ~July 28 Au9. 28 Sept.2 Nean Ma~ 27 .1une ~0 59.1 64.4 61.5 55.5 55.5 59.2 Tifton 40-6 bermuda ........ 61.9 58.9 bermuda ........ 52.3 61.0 64.0 55.4 58.5 Tifton 21-6 55.4 60.7 56.8 60.2 56.3 53.2 Tifton 31-6 bermuda ....... 55.1 55.1 63.3 53.4 56.6 59.6 58.2 Oklahoma LCB 7-25 bermuda .. 49.7 46.5 62.0 55.9 59.2 Red a1ta 1impograss .. . ....... 55.8 56.4 56.5 61.6 52.3 55,3 Tifton 35-3 bermuda ....... 51.4 53.8 52.4 56.1 51.4 Tifton 44 bermuda .......... 54.8 54.4 52.9 53.7 53.6 57.5 Tifton 34-8 bermuda ........ 47.4 52,5 52.6 53.2 NK Pasta Rico bermuda ...... 52.0 52,3 51.9 55.1 50. 9. Oklahoma 71 X 6-7 bermuda .. 49.3 54.1 50,2 52.1 51.2 54.5 51.4 Co as ta 1 bermuda ............ 53,1 Each value is an average of four replications. On several dates samples were missing so the mean is not comparable for all entries in the test.

Entr:-y

Table 10. ~vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of new bermudagrass hybrids at Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Alabama, 1980 (planted April 25, 1980) Percent IVDMD of dry forage harvested October 16 Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 (79-16) .............. 63.9 Tifton 35-3 x 49-4 ..................... 62.4 Tifton Coastcross -3 .......... . ........ 61.4 Tifton 34-4 (T-44 x Callie) ............. 61.3 Tifton 3705 x 21-6 ..................... 60.6 Tifton 34-5 x 21-6 (79-i7) . ... : . : .... .. 59.8 Tifton 44 ..... . ..... . .. . ............... 56.8 Coas~al. . ································ 56.6 Entry

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Information contained herein is available to all regardless of race, color, sex, or ~tional origin

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