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Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass for Forage. Tommy Waldrop Area Livestock Teacher May 2007. Hybrids. Do not produce many viable seed. Must be Established Vegetatively. Hybrids usually produce greater Yield Higher cost of establishing stand. Preparing for Establishment. Well tilled field
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Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass for Forage Tommy Waldrop Area Livestock Teacher May 2007
Hybrids • Do not produce many viable seed. • Must be Established Vegetatively. • Hybrids usually produce greater Yield • Higher cost of establishing stand.
Preparing for Establishment • Well tilled field • Start the fall before planting • Eliminate Common Berudagrass- (several applications of Glyphosate) • Soil Test - Lime and Fertilize accordingly
Select Variety • Tifton 85 • Tifton 44 • Tifton 78 • Coastal • Midland • Grazer • Russell • Alicia
Tifton 85 • 25% better Yields than Coastal. • 10% more digestible than Coastal. • Not to be Planted north of I-20. • Responds to Good Management. • Easy to Establish. • Larger Stems – Takes Longer to Dry. • Broader Leaves. • Some Horse Buyers do not like it. • Higher Stocking Rates.
Tifton 44 • More Winterhardy than Coastal • Finned Stemmed • Preferred by many Horse Buyers • Slower to Establish • Slightly Higher Nutritive Value Than Coastal
Tifton 78 • Starts Faster than Coastal • Produces more LWG/A than Coastal • Above Ground Stolons • Hard to Keep a Stand • Not Planted much Now
Coastal • First Released in 1943 • Planted on more than 10 Million Acres • Yields up to 6 times more than Common • Still a good hay Grass
Midland • Good Cold Tolerance • Survived Winters in Indiana • Yields 13% less that Coastal • Not the Best Choice for South Georgia
Grazer • Equal to Coastal in disease resistance, Drought resistance, and persistence. • Produces 10 – 15% less forage. • 12% more digestible than Coastal. • Gains per acre are the same as Coastal.
Russell • Collected from Field in Russell Alabama in a Field that was planted in Callie. • Cold Hardy. • Popular Varieties in North Ga. • Rapid Establishment. • Fined Stem. • Dense Sod and Low Growth Habit.
Alicia • Imported from Africa in the 1960’s. • Establishes easy, Popular with Spriggers. • Popular Horse Hay. • Forage Quality 10% lower than Coastal. • Susceptible to Leaf Rust • Other Varieties provide better Forage.
Establishment Methods • Sprigs • Tifton 44 • Midland • Cuttings
Sprigs • Minimum of 20 Bushels per Acre in soft bare ground. • Plant more if Quick Stand is the Goal. • Cover with Dirt Immediately. • Sprigs left in sun for 4 hours on top of ground have only 3% survival. • Pack soil with Packer or Tractor with Duals. • Spray with 2-4D
Cuttings • Must have 6 weeks of growth. • Must be 18 to 24 inches long. • Cheaper than paying for sprigs. • Plant 5 to 7 Bales per Acre. • Bale immediately after cutting. • Scatter and disc into field before they wilt. • Spray with 2-4D.
Most Common Causes of Failures • Poorly Prepared Seedbed • Inadequate Moisture • Using Dried Sprigs • Planting to few Sprigs • Covering too Deep • Not Firming Soil • Weed Competition • Grazing before Established
Stand Renovation • Reduced Forage Production • Thin Stands • Poor Drainage • Soil Compaction • Accumulation of Nutrients
Minimum Renovation • Soil Testing • Fertilization • Weed control • Prescribed Burning
Extensive Renovation • Subsoiling or Chiseling • Discing or Plowing • Replanting • Heavy Fertilization
To Produce one Ton of Forage • Bermudagrass must Absorb • 50 Lbs Nitrogen • 15 Lbs Phosphorus • 42 lbs Potassium
Good Fertilization Advantages • Increased Forage Production • Improved Forage Quality (Protein) • Improved Root System and Sod Density • Reduced Weed Competition • Reduced Soil Erosion • Improved Water-to-Yield Ratio