PERFORMANCE OF BERMUDAGRASS

Several of the bermudagrasses evaluated are experimental lines and may not be available for distribution at this time. Some of these are local ecotypes and others may be "sports" from established varieties. Holly Springs is local ecotype from fields of common selected by Dr. Joe Johnson at the North Mississippi Branch Station at Holly Springs. Maddox and Gillihan were selected from pastures where Callie hay had been fed. Maddox was found in Simpson County, Mississippi and Gillihan in Shelby County, Tennessee. Stallings was selected in Weakley County, Tennessee. Murphy was selected in Leake County, Mississippi. These lines were included in the test because they are potential improvements over currently available varieties. The other bermudagrasses are established varieties and are generally available. Coastal is the oldest of the improved bermudagrasses. It was developed by Dr. Glenn Burton at Tifton, Georgia. He also developed and released Tifton 44, Tifton 78, and Tifton 85. He developed Grazer, which was released jointly with Louisiana State University. Alicia was selected from an introduction growing in Edna, Texas. Lancaster was selected from a field of Coastal in Alcorn County, Mississippi. 1994 was the first year to harvest the test at Pontotoc. The average yield for the 12 varieties was 6,797 in four harvest. The highest yield was produced by Tifton 85 and a winter hardy selection of Tifton 78, with yields of 8,115 and 7,478 (Table 18). At Mississippi State, 12 bermudagrasses were evaluated in a study established in 1993 and highest yields in 1994 were produced by Tifton 44, and Alicia (Table 19). Tifton 78WH produced 8,094 pounds of forage in the year of establishment in a test at Raymond (Table 20). At Poplarville, the highest yields in 1994 were produced by Gillihan and Alicia (Table 18). At Poplarville, another study was planted in 1991 to evaluate Tifton 85 with Tifton 44, Tifton 78, and Coastal (Table 22). In 1994, there were no significant differences in yield.