WFREC Research Report WF 00-03


 Variety and Other Trials of Several Forage Grasses and Legumes,
 Temperate Corn and Grain Sorghum

 L.S. Dunavin and D.W. Gorbett

 Conversion factors are given in Table 1 for the use of those who would like to convert to
 metric units. Climatological data are presented in Table 2 for Jay and in Table 18 for
 Marianna.

 Warm-season perennial grasses.
 In 1999, there were eight warm-season grasses in this trial Four plots in each replication which
 had previously held grasses in the early years of this trial were fallowed. Cherokee red clover was
 overseeded on all plots on 23 December 1998. These were relatively old plots of grass. The
 bahiagrasses were planted on 22 April 92, and rooted plants ofFlorakirk and Tifton 78
 bermudagrass were set on 23 April 92. Tifton 85 bermudagrass was set on 14 April 93, and
 Coastal bermudagrass was set on 18 April 94. The trial was located on an Orangeburg sandy
 loam (Typic Paleudult). An application of 400 pounds per acre of 8-24-24 fertilizer was made on
 28 April 99. Ammonium nitrate was applied to provide 50 pounds per acre of N on 26 May, 16
 July, 5 Aug, and 8 Sept. 99. Harvests were made on 22 April, 20 May, 22 June, 29 July, 31 Aug.
 and 14 Oct. 99. Yields for dry matter of grass only are presented in Table 3. Clover was present
 at 4 harvests, and yields of clover are presented in Table 4. Season combined yields are given in
 Table 5.

 Russell bermudagrass and other grasses.
 This trial included four bermudagrass entries and two "volunteer" entries. Russell and Tiflon 85
 bermudagrass were set in 1995, and Florakirk bermudagrass was set in 1996. DH#1
 bermudagrass were set in 1997. The two volunteer entries consisted of various grasses and
 weeds. Crabgrass was a large component. The trial was located on an Orangeburg sandy loam
 (Typic Paleudult). An application of 400 pounds per acre of an 8-24-24 fertilizer was made on 9
 April 99. Ammonium nitrate was applied at 100 pounds per acre on 11 June, 26 July, and 8 Sept.
 99. Harvests were made on 7 June, 14 July, 19 Aug., and 29 Sept. 99. Yields were lower than in
 1998; however, less N was applied. The volunteer plots were not harvested in June, and their
 total yields were relatively low. Yield data are presented in Table 6. Tifton 85 produced the
 highest yield of dry matter. Russell had the lowest average total yield among the bermudagrasses;
 however, it was not significantly lower than that ofFlorakirk.




tAssociate Professor, WFREC, Jay and Professor, NFREC, Marianna.


January, 2000