selecting and establishing forages in georgia wade hutcheson uga extension - spalding county agent...
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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 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)
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)
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Ave
rag
e M
on
thly
R
ain
fall
(in
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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
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).
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
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!
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.