Selecting and Establishing Forages in GeorgiaSelecting and Establishing Forages in Georgia

Wade HutchesonUGA Extension - Spalding County Agent

Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist

UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Wade HutchesonUGA Extension - Spalding County Agent

Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist

UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

OverviewOverview

• Selecting the best species and variety for your needs or the needs of your market

Species/variety selection

• Establishment techniques Sprigging hybrid bermudagrass Seeding bermudagrass Planting cool-season species

Selecting the Right Species

Selecting the Right Species

Selecting the Right Species

Selecting the Right Species

Selecting the appropriate species.

1. Acceptable to the marketA. Supreme quality demands?

i. Good-fair quality hay bermudagrass, tall fescue*, orchardgrass*

ii. Premium quality hay bermudagrass, orchardgrass*, annual

ryegrass, alfalfa, perennial peanut**

iii. Supreme quality hay Tifton 85 bermudagrass, annual ryegrass,

alfalfa, perennial peanut**

B. Other concerns:i. Palatabilityii. Health concerns (real or perceived)

Selecting the appropriate species.

2. Agronomically acceptableA. Tolerant of climatic conditions

Regional PossibilitiesRegional Possibilities

- Orchardgrass (1, but risky)

- Tall Fescue (1, risky in 2, 3)

- Bermudagrass (all, with right variety)

- Alfalfa (all, best w/ irrigation)

- Perennial peanut (5, risky in 4)

1

2

3

4

5

Rainfall DistributionsRainfall Distributions

1

Ave

rag

e M

on

thly

R

ain

fall

(in

ch

es

)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

Rainfall Distribution - Midville

Rainfall Distribution - Midville

1

2000-2007

Selecting the appropriate species.

2. Agronomically acceptableA. Tolerant of climatic conditions

i. tall fescue (not in S. Piedmont, Coastal Plain)ii. perennial peanut (not in Upper Coastal Plain

or N)

B. High yieldsC. Performance under irrigationD. Vigorous establishmentE. Soil fertility demands

i. Especially high in alfalfa and bermudagrass

F. Appropriate to your management

Bermudagrass VarietiesBermudagrass Varieties

• Sprigged: Coastal, Tift 44, Tift 78, Russell, also Tifton 85 south of Athens and I-20.

• Seeded types/blends: Cheyenne, Cheyenne II, Ranchero Frio, Sungrazer, Sungrazer Plus, Sungrazer 777, CD 90160, KF194, Pasto Rico.

• Sprigged: Coastal, Tift 44, Tift 78, Russell, also Tifton 85 south of Athens and I-20.

• Seeded types/blends: Cheyenne, Cheyenne II, Ranchero Frio, Sungrazer, Sungrazer Plus, Sungrazer 777, CD 90160, KF194, Pasto Rico.

Poor

Best

Species, Soil, and Management

Species, Soil, and Management

Soil C

on

dit

ion

s

Management Skill and InputRequired

PerfectionPerfection

Best

Bermudagrass

Perennial Peanut

AlfalfaAlfalfa

Selecting the appropriate variety.

Selecting the appropriate variety.

Choosing the right variety is a critical decision.

• Yields Total Yields (multi-year)

• Quality• Winter Hardiness• Persistence

Yields in 3rd or 4th year Stand ratings

• Disease resistance

Variety Trial Comparisons

Hybrid Bermudagrass Yields at Calhoun 2003-2005

Hybrid Bermudagrass Yields at Calhoun 2003-2005

02000400060008000

10000120001400016000180002000022000

Mea

n A

nnua

l Yie

ldlb

DM

/acr

e

Tifton 85 Russell Alicia Tifton 44 Coastal

Variety

02000400060008000

10000120001400016000180002000022000

Mea

n A

nnua

l Yie

ldlb

DM

/acr

e

Tifton 85 Russell Alicia Tifton 44 Coastal

Variety

a*bcb

cdd

Varieties labeled with the same letter were not significantly different (α=0.05).

Selecting the appropriate species

Source: Selecting a Bermudagrass Variety

EstablishmentEstablishment

Thou Shalt Soil TestThou Shalt Soil Test

The #1 cause of poor stands at establishment – poor soil fertility or low soil pH.

Thou Shalt Soil TestThou Shalt Soil Test

• Most common cause of poor establishment: Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.

• Most common cause of poor drought tolerance: Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.

Potassium is often the limiting nutrient.

Don’t wait till you’re ready to plant !

• Most common cause of poor establishment: Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.

• Most common cause of poor drought tolerance: Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.

Potassium is often the limiting nutrient.

Don’t wait till you’re ready to plant !

Prepared SeedbedPrepared Seedbed

• “Well-prepared” seedbed Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4

wks prior to sprigging / seeding Incorporate lime, phosphorus,

and potassium. Allow time to settle or firm with

cultipacker/roller.

• Seedbed should be firm Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in.

deep If too fluffy, the soil will dry

very quickly (sandy soils)

• “Well-prepared” seedbed Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4

wks prior to sprigging / seeding Incorporate lime, phosphorus,

and potassium. Allow time to settle or firm with

cultipacker/roller.

• Seedbed should be firm Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in.

deep If too fluffy, the soil will dry

very quickly (sandy soils)

Minimum Till (“No-till”)Minimum Till (“No-till”)

• Acceptable for vegetative establishment (sprigging), at least in Piedmont.

• Acceptable for vegetative establishment (sprigging), at least in Piedmont.

“No-till”“No-till”

• Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion.

• Primarily used for seeding or interseeding

• Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging).

• Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion.

• Primarily used for seeding or interseeding

• Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging).

Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass

Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass

Best methods1) Dormant sprigs (rhizomes) - 40-50 bu/A

Dec. to early Mar.

2) Sprigs with green tops – 30-50 bu/A spring (after last freeze) to early Aug.

3) Tops/green stems – 50-60 bu/A Jun. – Aug. Coastal, Russell, 85 Not recommended for Tifton 44

• Best if seedbed is well-prepared

How Much is a Bushel of Sprigs?

How Much is a Bushel of Sprigs?

Sprigs

Using Two 5-gallon Buckets

Line at 4 in.

1 bu

50 lb weight

Resources on BermudagrassResources on Bermudagrass

All this and more at www.georgiaforages.com

If it don’t rain,

it don’t matter.

If it don’t rain,

it don’t matter.

Seed PlacementSeed Placement

Drilling DepthDrilling Depth

• Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground

• Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed’s size

• Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures!

• Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground

• Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed’s size

• Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures!

Use Certified SeedUse Certified Seed

CommonCommon CertifiedCertified

Inoculate with appropriate strain:

Alfalfa group (Rhizobium meliloti)Clover Group (Rhizobium trifolii)

 Annual Cool Season GrassesSeeding Rate*

Species Grown Alone Mixture—— lbs/acre ————

• Tall Fescue 15 - 20 10-15• Ryegrass 20 – 30 10 – 15• Small Grains 90-120 60-90Oats, rye, wheat, triticale

*Use higher seeding rates when seed is broadcast and lower seeding rates when planting into a prepared seedbed or no-tilled into existing sod (over-seeding pasture).

 Annual Cool Season GrassesSeeding Rate*

Species Grown Alone Mixture—— lbs/acre ————

• Tall Fescue 15 - 20 10-15• Ryegrass 20 – 30 10 – 15• Small Grains 90-120 60-90Oats, rye, wheat, triticale

*Use higher seeding rates when seed is broadcast and lower seeding rates when planting into a prepared seedbed or no-tilled into existing sod (over-seeding pasture).

Tall Fescue Tall Fescue

• Kentucky 31 – E+• Endophyte free – E- Not recommended in GA• NE – Novel (friendly) Endophyte

i.e. Max Q, Greentag Select

• Kentucky 31 – E+• Endophyte free – E- Not recommended in GA• NE – Novel (friendly) Endophyte

i.e. Max Q, Greentag Select

Renovating Infected Tall FescueRenovating Infected Tall Fescue

• Prevent Seedhead production - mowed x2 summer• Destroy old stand

1. spray – smother – spray

2. spray – spray – plant

late summer apply glyphosate,

repeat 4-6 wks after initial treatment

plant beginning w/in 1 day

Plantings Sept – Oct depending on location

• Prevent Seedhead production - mowed x2 summer• Destroy old stand

1. spray – smother – spray

2. spray – spray – plant

late summer apply glyphosate,

repeat 4-6 wks after initial treatment

plant beginning w/in 1 day

Plantings Sept – Oct depending on location

Nutrients removed per acre with bermudagrass hay or 500 lb animal

Nutrients removed per acre with bermudagrass hay or 500 lb animal

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

lbs/

acre

rem

oved

Nitrogen Phosphate Potash Calcium Mag

6 Tons Hay500 lb animal

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

lbs/

acre

rem

oved

Nitrogen Phosphate Potash Calcium Mag

6 Tons Hay500 lb animal

Adapted from S. Forages 3rd Ed.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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