Productivity and Quality of Bermudagrass in a Cool Temperate Environment

Abstract

In temperate environments a warm‐season species is needed to provide forage during summer when the growth rate of cool‐season forages is low. Management data for warm‐season pasture is limited for the Appalachian region. A bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] selection RS1, has been identified which is capable of growth and persistence in areas where other cultivars of the species winterkill. A field study was conducted to determine RS1 bermudagrass productivity and quality as affected by a split application of 60, 120, 240, or 360 kg N ha−1 and a 2‐, 4‐, or 6‐wk delay of initial harvest on a fine‐loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludult (Gilpin) soil. Treatments were replicated four times in the field, and the study was conducted for 2 yr. Delaying initial harvest significantly increased yield in both years to more than 8 Mg ha−1 when 360 kg N ha−1 yr−1 was applied. Herbage yields typically ranged between 3 and 6 Mg ha−1 and would contribute substantially to forage requirements in mid‐summer in the region. Increased N resulted in higher herbage yield regardless of harvest delay regime. Herbage yields were about 25% less in 1989 than in 1988 and could be due in part to cool and wet conditions in 1989, compared to a hot, dry 1988 growing season. Bermudagrass in vitro dry matter digestibility and crude protein declined with delayed initial harvest (maturity), increased following the mid‐season N application, and continued to decline into late summer. Season average quality was not affected by initial harvest delay. Bermudagrass (RS1) will persist and respond to N fertilizer and defoliation management in cool, temperate environments and promises to be a useful component in forage‐based animal production systems in the region

Influence of Height‐Based Management on Forage Nutritive Value of Four Warm‐Season Forage Grasses

“…Neutral detergent fiber digestibility of bermudagrass was greater for the first and third cuts than fourth cut while the second cut did not differ from the others at 3 wk postcutting. These results correspond with the findings of Belesky et al (1991), which determined that CP and digestibility decrease as stands mature. The cases in which first and third cuts did not differ can be explained by the high precipitation during July in both years.…”

“…In most cases, nutritive value decreased from first to last cut. These findings correspond to the patterns observed in many warm‐ and cool‐season grass studies where nutritive value is highest in young herbage regrowth and declines with maturity (Perry and Baltensperger, 1979; Bosworth et al, 1980; Belesky et al, 1991; Iptas and Brohi, 2003; Nave et al, 2013; Gelley et al, 2016). Correlations between morphological components and nutritive value variables indicated a positive relationship between proportion of lamina and CP content for all species ranging from 0.6967 to 0.8829, which allows us to tie morphology to a key component in determining forage nutritive value.…”

“…In addition, yield and quality factors could be positively influenced under more generous fertilization programs (Perry and Baltensperger, 1979; Kering et al, 2013; Kilcer et al, 2005; Teutsch et al, 2005). However, many studies have documented that low rates of applied N can be successful in producing forage of adequate yields and nutritive value for beef cattle, which met the goal of the present study (Perry and Baltensperger, 1979; Belesky et al, 1991; Iptas and Brohi, 2003; Beck et al, 2015).…”

Warm‐Season Grass Productivity and Growth Rate as Influenced by Canopy Management

“…use is restricted because of winter-injury susceptibility in existing cultivars. However, in southern West Virginia (900 m elevation), Belesky et al (1991) obtained herbage yields ranging from 3 to 6 Mg ha-1 (depending on N inputs) for cold-tolerant 'Quickstand' bermudagrass clipped biweekly.…”

Taxa de desidratação e composição químico-bromatológica do feno de grama-estrela (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) em função de níveis de adubação nitrogenada

“…Também para os teores de FDA, não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos, obtendo-se valor médio de 42% na MS. Resultados semelhantes aos deste trabalho foram encontrados por Rocha et al (2002), que não encontraram respostas para gramíneas do gênero Cynodon, quando usaram diferentes doses de N/ha (0, 100, 200 e 400 Kg), com intervalos entre cortes de 42 dias, alcançando teores médios de FDA de 40,18%. Entretanto, Belesky et al (1991) observaram redução no teor de FDA, da grama-Bermuda, quando adubado com nitrogênio.…”