Table 1. Effect of fertilization treatment on annual yield and quality of regrowth bahiagrass harvested from April to December from
 nine commercial ranch sites in south Florida.
 Na NPKc
 March, March,
 No Na NPKb Na NKd
Item fert. March March Sept. Sept.

Annual yield, t/A

1987 3.32' 4.06i 4.091 4.36i 4.51'
1988 3.97' 5.06j 5.32' 5.111k 5.72k
1989 4.60' 5.47i 5.82jk 5.91jk 6.30k

Avg. 3.73 4.58 4.78 4.82 5.18

Crude protein. %h

1987e 9.8 10.3 10.4 11.0 10.8
1988' 8.9 9.0 9.4 10.0 10.4
19899 10.5 10.3 10.7 11.2 11.4

Avg. 9.8 10.0 10.2 10.8 10.9

TDN, %

1987 54.0 54.2 54.6 54.7 54.6
1988 52.5 52.7 53.0 53.2 53.6
1989 53.6 54.2 53.9 54.3 54.5

Avg. 53.4 53.8 54.0 54.2 54.3
aN at 60 Ib/A.
bN at 60 Ib/A, PO, at 45 Ib/A, K20 at 45 Ib/A.
cN at 60 Ib/A, P20s at 90 Ib/A, K20 at 45 Ib/A.
dN at 60 Ib/A, K,0 at 45 Ib/A.
eEach 1987 value is an average of 144 samples taken from 9 sites over 8 harvests.
'Each 1988 value is an average of 96 samples taken from 8 sites over 6 harvests.
sEach 1989 value is an average of 112 samples taken from 8 sites over 7 harvests.
hValues are expressed as a % of the dry matter.
'ikAnnual yield means in a line which are followed by a different superscript differ at the .05 probability as determined by Duncan's Multiple
Range. Mean square for error was .38, .51, and .48 ton/A in 1987, 1988, and 1989, respectively.



Table 2. Benefits and cost of bahiagrass fertilization treatments.
 Increased cost Cost of each
Fertilization Increased of fertilizer additional ton
treatment yield of to produce of dry forage
comparisons dry forage forageb produced
Ib/acre Ib/acre $/acre $/ton

60 Ib N in March
vs. no fertilizer 1760 20 23

60 Ib N in March plus
60 Ib N in September
vs. 60 Ib N in March 480 20 84

60 Ib N, 45 Ib P2s,
45 Ib K20 in March
vs. 60 Ib N in March 400 14 72

60 Ib N, 90 Ib P20s
45 Ib KO in March
plus 60 Ib N, 45 Ib
K20 in September
vs 60 Ib N in March plus
60 Ib N in September 700 29 82
aBased on three-year forage yield averages.
bN, P205 and KO are charged at 0.27, 0.17 and 0.15 $ per Ib, respectively. Spreading cost was $4/A and charged only to N application since
P2Os and K20 were applied in addition to N.
cCost per ton of additional forage ($) = increased cost per acre for additional fertilizer ($)/(increased yield of dry forage (lb)/2000).