Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass for Forage

1. Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass for Forage Tommy Waldrop Area Livestock Teacher May 2007

2. Hybrids • Do not produce many viable seed. • Must be Established Vegetatively. • Hybrids usually produce greater Yield • Higher cost of establishing stand.

3. Preparing for Establishment • Well tilled field • Start the fall before planting • Eliminate Common Berudagrass- (several applications of Glyphosate) • Soil Test - Lime and Fertilize accordingly

4. Select Variety • Tifton 85 • Tifton 44 • Tifton 78 • Coastal • Midland • Grazer • Russell • Alicia

5. 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.

6. Tifton 44 • More Winterhardy than Coastal • Finned Stemmed • Preferred by many Horse Buyers • Slower to Establish • Slightly Higher Nutritive Value Than Coastal

7. Tifton 78 • Starts Faster than Coastal • Produces more LWG/A than Coastal • Above Ground Stolons • Hard to Keep a Stand • Not Planted much Now

8. 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

9. Midland • Good Cold Tolerance • Survived Winters in Indiana • Yields 13% less that Coastal • Not the Best Choice for South Georgia

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Establishment Methods • Sprigs • Tifton 44 • Midland • Cuttings

14. 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

15. Sprig

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Stand Renovation • Reduced Forage Production • Thin Stands • Poor Drainage • Soil Compaction • Accumulation of Nutrients

20. Minimum Renovation • Soil Testing • Fertilization • Weed control • Prescribed Burning

21. Extensive Renovation • Subsoiling or Chiseling • Discing or Plowing • Replanting • Heavy Fertilization

22. To Produce one Ton of Forage • Bermudagrass must Absorb • 50 Lbs Nitrogen • 15 Lbs Phosphorus • 42 lbs Potassium

23. 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

24. The End