Mississippi Forage Crop Variety Trials, 1999 Information Bulletin 356 -- August 1999   Ned C. Edwards, Jr. Superintendent MAFES South Mississippi Branch Robert Elmore Research Assistant II Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Carl H. Hovermale Agronomist MAFES South Mississippi Branch David M. Ingram Associate Agronomist MAFES Brown Loam Branch Roscoe Ivy Agronomist MAFES Prairie Research Unit Billy Johnson Senior Research Assistant MAFES Coastal Plain Branch David Lang Associate Professor/Associate Agronomist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Contents Introduction Performance of Ryegrass Coastal Plain Branch Station, Newton Brown Loam Branch Station, Raymond South Mississippi Branch Station, Poplarville Performance of Cool-Season Grasses Prairie Research Unit, Prairie Coastal Plain Branch, Newton Mississippi State University, Starkville Performance of Warm-Season Grasses Prairie Research Unit, Prairie Performance of Clovers South Mississippi Branch Station, Poplarville (white clover) South Mississippi Branch Station, Poplarville (red clover) South Mississippi Branch Station, Poplarville (annual clover) Performance of Bermudagrass Prairie Research Unit, Prairie Brown Loam Branch Station, Raymond Coastal Plain Branch, Newton Mississippi State University, Starkville Seed Sources   Notice to User This Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Information bulletin is a summary of forage research conducted at locations shown on the map and is intended for colleagues, cooperators, and sponsors. The interpretation of dat a presented herein may change after additional experimentation. Information included herein is not to be construed either as a recommendation for use or as an endorsement of a specific product by Mississippi State University or the Mississippi Agricultura l and Forestry Experiment Station. This report contains data generated as part of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and USDA-ARS Forage Research Unit research program. Joint sponsorship by the organizations listed under seed sources is gratefully acknowledged. Commercial and public varieties tested in this research project (trade names, experimental code names or numbers, etc.) and sources of seeds may be found under seed sources.   Introduction New, improved, and standard varieties of forage crops are evaluated in MAFES small-plot trials each year. Seeds obtained from commercial seed companies and state universities are tested at several locations in Mississippi. All entries from privately owned companies are tested on a fee basis. The Forage Crop Evaluation Committee may enter varieties of interest or proven varieties to be used as standards. This report contains data collected in 1998-99 on the performance of annual ryegrass, cool-season peren nial grasses, bermudagrass, and clovers. A randomized complete block design with three to four replications, depending on location, was used. These data were analyzed within locations and within harvest dates. The number of harvests during the season vari ed by location because of different planting dates and growing conditions.   Performance of Ryegrass Thirty-three ryegrass varieties were planted at three locations. At Newton, the test was harvested five times. The highest-yielding variety was Passerel with a total dry matter yield of 7,199 pounds per acre. Marshall, Rio, Stampede, and Typhoon produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-producing variety (Table 1). The highest 4-year average yields were produced by Marshall (6,915), Rio (6,486), and Surrey (6,545)(Table 2). Because of a relatively dry fall and winter, the test at Raymond was harvested only three times. February, April, and May were extremely dry with about 6 inches of total rainfall. Total yields were less than normal, and there was no significant difference among the varieties evaluated in 1998-99 (Table 3). The highest 4-year average yields were produced by TAM 90 (7,429), Rust Master (7,332) and Marshall (7,236) (Table 4). The test at Poplarville was harvested five times and had an average yield of 5,647 pounds per acre (Table 5). The highest yield was produced by an experimental variety from Florida, FLX 1998 (NEW) 4N LATE, with 6,944 pounds per ac re. Beef Builder, Big Daddy, FLX 1997 (G)4N, Hercules, Tetragold, and WVPB - AR-98-L produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-yielding variety.   Performance of Cool-Season Perennial Grasses A study was established in 1996 to evaluate selected varieties of four species of cool-season perennial grasses. Fescue is considered the best adapted cool-season perennial grass for Mississippi. Earlier varieties of orchard grass have not been persistent under Mississippi conditions. Little is known about tall oat grass. Prairie brome is being promoted as a perennial, but under Mississippi environmental conditions, it will respond as a reseeding annual. The test at Prairie was harvested three times, and the highest yield was produced by Georgia 5 fescue, with a yield of 3,399 pounds per acre (Table 6). The yields produced by Kentucky 31 and WVPBTF B-3 were not significantly diffe rent from the highest-producing variety (Table 6). At Newton, the test was harvested twice, and the highest yield was produced by Jessup Minus tall fescue (Table 7). Five other varieties produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-yielding variety. The highest three-year average yield (3,626 pounds per acre) was produced by WVPB TF B-16 tall fescue. A new experiment to evaluate cool-season grasses established at Mississippi State included eight perennial ryegrass varieties. Perennial ryegrass varieties were included in this test to see how they would compare with annual ryegrass and other cool-season perennial grasses. The test was harvested four times and the highest yield (4,636 pounds per acre) was produced by Gulf annual ryegrass (Table 8). Two other annual ryegrasses, Jackson and Marshall, produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-producing variety. The perennial ryegrass with the highest yield was Yatsyn with a yield of 3,543 pounds per acre.   Performance of Warm-Season Perennial Grasses A study was initiated at the Prairie Research Unit to evaluate five species of native warm-season perennial grasses. Highest yield was produced by Alamo switchgrass with 4,194 pounds per acre (Table 9). Kanlow switchgrass an d Eastern gammagrass produced yields of 3,662 and 3,264 pounds per acre, respectively, but these yields were not significantly different from the highest yield.   Performance of Clovers Twelve white clovers were evaluated at Poplarville. The highest yield (2,030 pounds per acre) was produced by Canopy Ladino (Table 10). Four other varieties produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-y ielding variety. Twelve varieties of red clover were evaluated at Poplarville. The highest yield (3,050 pounds per acre) was produced by Cherokee (Table 11). Arlington and FLMR 7 produced yields that were not significantly different from the high est-yielding variety. Four varieties of crimson, two varieties of berseem, and two arrowleaf varieties were evaluated at Poplarville. The highest yields were produced by the crimson varieties, with Dixie producing 3,674 pounds per acre (Table 12).   Performance of Bermudagrass Several of the evaluated bermudagrasses are experimental lines and may not be available for distribution at this time. Some of these lines are local ecotypes and others may be "sports" from established varieties. Murphy was selected in Leake County, MS. P oplarville is a selection by Carl Hovermale at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station. Lott is a selection made by Harry Lott from Grenada County, MS. These lines were included in the test because they are potential improvements over currently av ailable varieties. The other bermudagrasses are established varieties and are generally available. Coastal is the oldest of the improved bermudagrasses. It was developed by Glenn Burton at Tifton, GA. He also developed and released Tifton 44, Tifton 78, and Tifton 85. In ad dition, Burton developed Grazer, which was released jointly with Louisiana State University. Alicia was selected from an introduction growing in Edna, TX. Lancaster was selected from a field of Coastal in Alcorn County, MS. Russell, named for Russell Coun ty, AL, where it was found in 1970, was released by Auburn University and Louisiana State University in 1995. Sumrall 007 was selected by Gerald Summrall from Monticello in Lawrence County, MS. At Prairie, Tifton 44 was the highest yielding of the 12 varieties evaluated with a yield of 4,521 pounds per acre, compared with 3,468 for the average of all varieties (Table 13). The yields produced by Coastal and Tifton 85 wer e not significantly different from the highest-producing variety. At Raymond, Tifton 78 WH produced the highest yield (9,012 pounds per acre), which was not significantly different from the yields produced by Tifton 9, Pensacola, Tifton 44, Tifton 78, Coa stal, and Alicia (Table 14). The highest 4-year average yield (8,719 pounds per acre) was produced by Tifton 85. At Newton, Tifton 85 produced the highest yield (9,580 pounds per acre), which was not significantly different from Tifton 78 WH, Tifton 78, Tifton 44, Coastal, and Alicia bermudagrass (Table 15). The highest 4-year average (9,14 2 pounds per acre) was produced by Tifton 78. At Mississippi State, in a comparison of 11 varieties planted in 1993, Sumrall 007 produced the highest yield, which was not significantly different from the yield produced by Russell and McDonald (Table 16). In a test of six varieties planted in 1996, the highest yields were produced by Sumrall 007, Tifton 85 and Coastal (Table 17).   Seed Sources Annual Ryegrass Barmultra Barenbrug Passerel Plus Pennington Seed, Inc. Barverdi Barenbrug Ribeye Barenbrug Beef Builder Forbes Seed and Grain, Inc. Rio Olsen-Fennell Seed, Inc. Big Daddy Smith Seed Services Rust Master DLF Trifolium, Inc. Blizzard Plainview Seed Sirloin Barenbrug FL4N International Seed Southern Star Forbes Seed and Grain, Inc. FLX1997 (G) 4N University of Florida Stampede Olsen-Fennell Seed, Inc. FLX1998 (SII) LR University of Florida Surrey University of Florida FLX1997 (New) 2NLR University of Florida TAM 90 Texas A&M FLX1998 (New) 4NLate University of Florida Tetragold Barenbrug Gulf (certified) Mid Valley Ag. Products TXR 96-3 Texas A&M Hercules Barenbrug TXR 97-3 Texas A&M Hurricane Plainview Seed Typhoon Plainview Seed Jackson Wax Seed Company WVPB-AR-93-101 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders Marshall Wax Seed Company WVPB-AR-98-L Willamette Valley Plant Breeders ME-94 Wax Seed Company WVPB-AR-R-3 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders OFI-A94 Olsen-Fennell Seed, Inc. WVPB-F-11 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders Passerel Pennington Seed, Inc.   Perennial Ryegrass BG-14 Barenbrug Moy Barenbrug BG-34 Barenbrug Tetra Barenbrug Grasslands Barenbrug Yatsyn Barenbrug Lafayette Cascade International Seed Co. GD3251 Cascade International Seed Co. Lane Cascade International Seed Co.   Tall Fescue Bull DLF Trifolium PRO-B6 Pro Seeds Marketing CAFA 401 Jenks Seed Connection WVPB TF B-3 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders Georgia 5 University of Georgia WVPB TF B-5 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders Jessup (EF) Pennington Seed Company WVPB TF B-16 Willamette Valley Plant Breeders Kentucky 31 International Seeds, Inc. Orchardgrass MoTol 85II International Seed Inc. 9007238 Plant Material Center Quantum Cascade International Seed Co.   Tall Oat Grass 564692 Plant Material Center   Prairie Brome Gala Cascade International Seed Co. Stocker Cascade International Seed Co. Muta Commercial Seed Trade Clovers All clovers were obtained from the USDA-ARS Regional Plant Introduction Station in Griffin, GA. Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that also may be su itable.   Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. Visit: DAFVM || USDA Search our Site || Need more information about this subject? Last Modified: Monday, 29-Mar-04 09:50:44 URL: http://msucares.com/pubs/bulletins/b0356.htm Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.