TITLE: Performance of Bermudagrass and Bahiagrass Varieties

CONTACT: Marcus Eichhorn, Forage Agronomist, Hill Farm Research Station, (318)927-2578 or Brad Venuto, Forage Agronomist, Department of Agronomy, (225)578-2110.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Livestock producers will be advised not to plant World Feeder in fields intended for bermudagrass hay production and/or pasture. Jiggs and Whitney will be recommended as alternatives for Coastal and Russell bermudagrasses on fields intended for hay production. Livestock producers will also be advised to plant Tifton 9 bahiagrass as an alternative for Pensacola if seed costs are about the same. As in the past, Argentine bahiagrass will not be recommended for forage production in north Louisiana.

PROBLEM / TOPIC: World Feeder bermudagrass and Tifton 9 bahiagrass have received wide publicity in the farm press while Jiggs bermudagrass has become popular among livestock producers in south Louisiana and east Texas. The performance of neither variety had been evaluated in north Louisiana. This research was undertaken to find answers to questions posed to us by numerous livestock producers across north Louisiana. Question 1. How much better is World Feeder than Coastal, Common, or Russell bermudagrass? Question 2. The cost of Tifton 9 seed is a lot higher than Pensacola-- How much better is Tifton 9 than Pensacola bahiagrass? Question 3. My neighbors like Jiggs.--How does Jiggs compare to other bermudagrasses?

ACTION: A variety trial was initiated in the spring of 1996 on a typical upland Coastal Plain fine sandy loam soil. Coastal, Russell, Jiggs, World Feeder, and Whitney hybrid bermudagrasses were established from plantings made with sprigs while Common bermudagrass and bahiagrasses Tifton 9, Pensacola, and Argentine were established from seeded plantings. Thereafter, varieties were fertilized and managed to simulate hay production. Nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulfur were applied as 17-5-20-5 at 580 lb/A on April 1 and after each harvest except for the final harvest of the season. Varieties were harvested when the majority of bermudagrasses attained early seedhead development. At harvest time, yields were recorded and sampled. Samples were forwarded to the Southeast Research Station for forage quality analyses.

IMPACT: Forage, crude protein, and digestible dry matter yields among bermudagrass varieties, highest to lowest, were Jiggs, Russell = Whitney = Coastal, followed by Common, and World Feeder. Yields of Tifton 9 and Pensacola bahiagrass were not different; each produced higher yields than Argentine bahiagrass. Overall, Jiggs, Russell, Coastal, and Whitney out-performed World Feeder bermudagrass. Tifton 9 and Pensacola out-performed Argentine bahiagrass.

TITLE: Performance of Annual Ryegrass Varieties

CONTACT: Marcus Eichhorn, Forage Agronomist, Hill Farm Research Station, (318)927-2578 or Ed Twidwell, Specialist, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, (225)578-2118.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Because the annual ryegrass varieties Marshall, Rustmaster, Jackson, Rio, TAM 90, Grazer, Surrey, and Southern Star are more resistant to winter-kill in the presence of below normal temperatures in north Louisiana, producers should give preference to these varieties for intended fall plantings.

PROBLEM / TOPIC: In response to increasing demands for annual ryegrass seed intended for forage use by livestock and wildlife and for soil erosion control, some seed companies have been marketing varieties that have not been properly evaluated in Louisiana. This research was undertaken with cooperating seed companies to evaluate the yield performance of new annual ryegrass varieties intended for production on pastures and to compare their performance with recommended varieties. A new variety must be evaluated in field trials conducted across the state for 3 years before it is considered for recommendation to livestock producers. Variety trails were conducted at this location to find answers to questions posed by livestock producers across north Louisiana. Question 1. How much better is this new variety than Gulf? Question 2. Is the variety more winter hardy than Gulf? Question 3. The seed of the new variety is more expensive than Gulf. Is it worth the difference in price?

ACTION: Annual ryegrass variety trials have been conducted at this location since 1992. Over years, the number of varieties evaluated has increased form 9 in 1992 to 30 in 2000. Each year, seed of varieties was drill-planted during the first week of October into a throughly prepared-seedbed of experimental plots with three replications of each variety. Varieties were planted at a 30 lb/A seeding rate in the presence of a soil incorporated starter fertilizer. Thereafter, varieties were fertilized and managed to simulate full-season forage production on pastures.

IMPACT: Results of variety trials at this and other locations in the state are reviewed by a committee of forage agronomists consisting of research and extension personnel. By consensus, a list of recommended varieties for the state is prepared and forwarded to all County Agents with the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and interested agricultural businesses. Annual ryegrass varieties Beefbuilder, Abundant, Marshall, Rustmaster, Big Daddy, Jackson, Gulf, Rio, TAM 90, Grazer, Surrrey, Southern Star, and Passerel are presently recommended across Louisiana for fall plantings made into prepared seedbeds and bermudagrass sods. From this list, producers can select or be advised to plant the best annual ryegrass varieties that can be grown in the state.

TITLE: Best Management Practices For Broiler Litter Use On Bermudagrass Hay Meadows

CONTACT: Marcus Eichhorn, Forage Agronomist, Hill Farm Research Station (318)927-2578.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The application of broiler litter waste on bermudagrass hay meadows may become overly restricted by environmental pollution concerns. "Best Management Practices", fertilization and harvesting practices, and yield management that will have minimal impact on surface and ground water quality have been termed BMPs. At this location, BMPs for broiler litter use on hybrid bermudagrass hay fields in north Louisiana are being developed. The beneficial effects of broiler litter use on bermudagrass hay meadows are also being demonstrated.

PROBLEM / TOPIC: Designated uses for water bodies within the western portions of the Quachita River Basin and eastern portions of the Red River Basin have been identified by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as either partially or fully threatened by non-point pollution sources. Pollutants in runoff and leachate waters originating from pasture lands, especially pasture and hay lands receiving poultry litter waste, are implied sources of water impairment. Best Management Practices for broiler litter waste use on hay lands must be developed, if the state water quality agency is going to support and recommend land application of broiler litter as a beneficial use of the waste.
 

ACTION: A US-EPA partially funded "Poultry Litter Application Demonstration Project" was initiated in the spring of 1998 on a typical upland Coastal Plain fine sandy loam soil that had been managed for bermudagrass hay production. Forage yields and quality, concentrations and uptakes of plant nutrients (non- and light metals), and heavy metals have been determined in the presence of a control, a commercial fertilizer check, and broiler litter rates of 2, 4, and 8 tons/A in 1998; 4, 8, and 16 tons/A in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Concurrently, rainfall, rainfall runoff, and rainfall infiltrate exiting the subsoil have been recorded and sampled. Samples of the waters have been analyzed for concentrations of fecal and coliform bacteria, and non-, light, and heavy metals. Soil samples have also been collected prior to and each year after the application of broiler litter and analyzed for concentrations of non-, light, and heavy metals.

IMPACT: Broiler litter waste is a renewable fertilizer source that contains all of the nutrients required for plant growth and reproduction. In north Louisiana, more than 150,000 tons are generated annually by flocks in broiler houses. Developed "Best Management Practices" for broiler use on bermudagrass hay meadows will provide both broiler producers and hay producers a cost-effective, environmentally safe waste management program for many years into the future.