Cutting Height and Frequency Effects on Composition, Yield, and Quality of a Bermudagrass-Crabgrass Mixture

Abstract

‘Coastal’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is the most abundant warm‐season perennial grass in the lower South. Large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] will often invade stands of Coastal bermudagrass but little is known about the response of this species mixture to defoliation management. A study was conducted in 1990 and 1991 to determine the effects that cutting height and interval have on species composition, dry matter (DM) yield and quality of a bermudagrass‐crabgrass mixture. Percentage crabgrass, DM yield, crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were measured on small plots of coastal bermudagrass that were cut at three cutting heights (1, 4, and 7 in.) and five cutting intervals (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 wk). Percentage crabgrass was low in 1990 and did not show a response to cutting height. Higher crab‐grass percentages in 1991 showed a positive linear response to cutting height and a negative linear response to cutting interval at both the middle and end of the experiment. There was a linear decrease in DM yield as cutting height increased, but yield increased linearly with increased cutting interval. Crude protein percentage declined linearly with increased cutting interval, but a linear response to cutting height in both years changed from negative to positive as interval increased. There was a curvilinear increase of IVOMD as cutting height increased in both years. In 1990, there was a linear decrease of IVOMD as interval increased with the rate of decrease being higher as cutting height increased; however, in 1991, there was a curvilinear decrease of IVOMD with increasing interval. Results of this study indicate that cutting height and frequency interact to affect the productivity, quality, and composition of bermudagrass‐crab‐grass mixtures. Research Question ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass is extensively used in the lower South for both grazing and hay. Bermudagrass yield and nutritive value can be high; however, these attributes are greatly influenced by both cutting height and frequency. Crabgrass encroachment can further affect bermudagrass yield and quality. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cutting height and interval on yield, quality, and botanical composition of a Coastal bermudagrass‐crabgrass mixture. Literature Summary Several studies with Coastal bermudagrass have shown that reducing the frequency of harvests increases dry matter yield at the expense of forage quality. Other research has shown declines in yield and increases in quality as the cutting height increases. These studies, however, did not look at the combined effects of cutting height and frequency on yield and quality. Study Description A plot study was conducted in 1990 and 1991 with an existing stand Coastal bermudagrass. Location: East central Alabama Soil: Marvyn loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic, typic haplodult) Fertilization: N—150 lb/acre at start and midpoint P—44 lb/acre at start K—150 lb/acre at start and midpoint Irrigation: Applied weekly i...

Managing harvest of ‘Russell’ and ‘Tifton 44’ bermudagrass receiving broiler litter for nutritive value and phosphorus removal

“…Results agree with Aiken et al. (1995), who reported a linear decrease in DM yield as stubble height increased in a mixture of Coastal bermudagrass and crabgrass [ Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] harvested at 1‐, 4‐, and 7‐inch stubble heights and intervals of 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 d. In that study, the nutritive value of the mixed forage increased as stubble height increased; however, cuttings that exceeded 4 inches compromised DM yield and were not recommended.…”

“…An abundance of stolons would likely explain the relatively low weighted‐sum IVTDMD, particularly at an advanced stage of maturity with the 49‐d harvest interval. Previous studies on the compromise between forage nutritive value and DM yield in hybrid bermudagrass have reported a large decrease in IVTDMD between the 28‐ and 42‐d harvests (Aiken et al., 1995), the 35‐ and 49‐d harvests (Read et al., 2018), and the 28‐ and 56‐d harvests (Monson & Burton, 1982). The leaves of Russell are shorter than those of Coastal, but herbage CP, ADF, and NDF concentrations are generally similar to Coastal (Ball et al., 1996a, 1996b).…”

“…In that study, prolonging the harvest interval to 49 d increased P removal, but the opposite was true for forage nutritive value. The existence of a trade‐off between DM yield and forage CP and IVTDMD concentrations is well known in hybrid bermudagrass; the more mature the forage, the lower the nutritive value (Aiken, Sladden, & Bransby, 1995; Ball, Hoveland, & Lacefield, 2002; Monson & Burton, 1982). Consequently, a recommended harvest interval of every 28 to 35 d was suggested by Lang and Broome (2003).…”

“…Prolonging the harvest interval of Tifton 44 from 14 to 56 d decreased forage CP and IVTDMD concentrations, whereas frequent mowing reduced total DM yield (Monson & Burton, 1982). Cutting height can also affect bermudagrass DM yield and nutritive value (Aiken et al., 1995; Read et al., 2018). Pederson, Brink, and Fairbrother (2002) reported increased P concentration in stems and suggested that cutting forages to leave a short stubble height can optimize P removal if stems comprise a large proportion of the harvested DM.…”

Forage Yield and Nutritive Value of Turf Bermudagrasses Managed to Simulate a Horse Pasture Management Scheme in the U.S. Upper Transition Zone

“…Yukon could be genetically predisposed to favoring aboveground growth over root growth, whereas Riviera favors root over aboveground growth. Total yearly DM yields <2.25 tons for each cultivar and mixture was low, but was likely due to the frequent mowing schedule with taller cutting heights (Aiken et al, 1995). This indicated a need for using light stocking rates and supplemental feeding for horse pastures that are frequently mowed to a 4-to 6-inch height.…”