Murphy, J. M.

Rouquette, F. M., Jr.

Stichler, C. R.

English

Texas A&amp;M Repository

    PUBLICATIONS 2006 SEVEN-YEAR BEMUDAGRASS PRODUCTION AT PECOS, TEXAS UNDERIRRIGATIONF. M. Rouquette, Jr., C.R. Stichler, and J.M. MurphyBackground. Bermudagrass variety evaluations including Tifton 85 were conducted atPecos, Texas to determine stand survival and annual DM production. Eight bermudagrassvarieties were established in April-May, 1994, and were harvested during a 7-year period from1996 through 2002. In September 1996, NK-37 bermudagrass and Jose Tall Wheatgrass wereplanted and harvested at the same time as other bermudagrasses for a 5-year period from 1998through 2002. Forages were harvested to a 2-inch stubble at 28-day intervals 4 to 5 times eachyear. Soils at TAES-Pecos are alkaline, high in P and K, and slightly saline, and irrigation watercontains nitrates. Fertilizer schedules were as follows: 1994-1995 (none); 1996-1997 (124-0-0142 S in early season and after each harvest); 1998 (none); and 1999-2002 (50-0-0 early seasonand after each harvest). During this test period, annual precipitation was less than 7-inches peryear. The irrigation schedules were as follows: 1) 4.0 inches during February of each year; 2) 4.8inches beginning early April and 4.8 inches every 21 days until first harvest; 3) 2.4 inches aftereach harvest and 2.4 inches 14-days later (4.8" per 28-day interval). Thus, the total amount ofwater added per year was about 50 inches. The stubble height during the winter was about 4inches.Research Findings. During the 7-year measurement period, Coastal bermudagrassproduced more forage (P<.05) than the other 7 varieties (Table 1). The approximate hay -equivalent production was more than 7.5 tons per acre. Tifton 85 bermudagrass was mid-level inDM yield at 11555 Ibs/ac. Most of the reduced OM potential of Tifton 85 occurred during thefirst harvest in which it ranked lowest among the eight varieties, which included 1000 Ibs/ac lessthan Coastal bermudagrass. The moderately slow initiation of OM production was also notedpreviously in bermudagrass comparisons by Evers at TAES-Overton. Evaluations during the last5 years of the study, 1998-2002, included both NK-37 bermudagrass and Jose Tall Wheatgrass.During this period, NK-37 OM production was not different (P>.05) from Coastal which had thehighest yields, nor was NK-37 DM different (P>0.5) from that of Brazos, Tifton 44, or Alicia.During the 7-year period of this evaluation, all bermudagrasses and including Tifton 85, weresustainable. Production was variable with year as expected, however, yields in 1998 with noadded N were higher than expected (Table 3). The annual fertilization schedules includedmoderately high rates ofN and S during the first two years of the study, and then were decreasedto moderate rates during the last four years of the evaluation (Table 3).85Application. Bermudagrasses were sustainable and had variable levels of productionduring the 7-year evaluation. Irrigation requirements of about 50 inches produced about 6.5 to 7tons/ac OM or about 7.5 tons/ac as hay of the highest producing varieties. With fertilizer andirrigation costs, hay production would have to be merchandized to specialty markets such ashorses, etc., in order to have opportunities for positive cash flow.Table 1. Seven-year average of annual dry matter (OM) production of bermudagrass varieties.Bermudagrass Variety 7-Year Avg. DM YieldIbs/acCoastal 13649 aBrazos 13021 bTifton 44 12530 bcAlicia 12432 cTifton 85 11555 dJiggs 11321 deWorld Feeder 10959 efGrazer 10596 fDM yields followed by a different letter are different (P<.05)Table 2. Five-year average of annual dry matter production of bermudagrasses and tallwheatgrass.Varie 5-Year Av . DM YieldCoastal 14009 aNK-37 13341 abBrazos 13237 bTifton 44 13083 bAlicia 12821 bJiggs 11622 cTifton 85 11337 cdWorld Feeder 11270 cdGrazer 10756 dJose Tall Wheat rass 8565 eDM yields followed by a different letter are different (P<.05)Table 3. Yearly variation in dry matter (OM) production during the seven year period.DM yields followed by a dIfferent letter are dIfferent (P<.05)Year Total DM Yield Annual Fertilizer(Ibs/ac) (Ibs/ac)-13731 a l2002 250-0-01998 12131 b None1996 12114 bc 496-0-0-568 S1999 12064 bc 200-0-02001 11800 bc 200-0-02000 11609 c 200-0-01997 10607 d 620-0-0-710 SI86

Seven-Year Bermudagrass Production at Pecos, Texas Under Irrigation

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Seven-Year Bermudagrass Production at Pecos, Texas Under Irrigation

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Seven-Year Bermudagrass Production at Pecos, Texas Under Irrigation

Abstract

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Texas A&amp;M Repository

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