Yield and N Content of Closely Clipped Bahiagrass as Affected by N Treatments¹

Abstract

Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) is normally grown in pure stands and produces forage primarily on stolons growing along the soil surface. Harvesting by clipping has been at a height of 6 to 7 cm and N fertilization has traditionally been in split applications with the first in March or April. Advantages of split applications have not been established and clip ping at 6 to 7 cm may seriously underestimate forage production. More detailed information is needed to accurately establish total forage yields and seasonal forage production patterns under close clipping. A field clip ping investigation was conducted where bahiagrass sod receiving 0, 84, 168, and 336 kg/ha of N fertilizers in one of six time of application combinations was harvested monthly at a height of 0 to 3 mm. The first year, dry forage production increased from 3,042 kg/ha with 0 N, to 6,398 kg/ha with 336 kg/ha of N. In the second year, forage production at the same N rates ranged from 3,812 to 12,151 kg/ha. Close clipping (0 to 3 mm stubble) resulted in different seasonality of forage production and N concentrations when compared to previous results where clipping was at heights of 6 to 7 cm. Increasing the N application rate increased root and stolon weights. Forage production efficiency of applied N (kg dry matter produced/kg N applied) decreased from 54.6 for the first 84 kg/N/ha applied to 34.0 for the additional N from 84 to 168 kg/ha and further to 5.2 for N from 168 to 336 kg/ha N. With unfertilized bahiagrass, N should be applied by or before early March, but after the first year, time of N application makes no practical difference in yield. At low N rates, harvesting to a stubble height of 3 cm or less will significantly increase the amount of forage utilized , harvested, or reduce the amount of N applied. It was concluded that close grazing or clipping of Pensacola bahiagrass wilt: a) increase digestibility by keeping the forage green; b) increase the effective yield of a pasture; and c) split applications of N may provide better forage distribution over a season without affecting yield.

Herbage Responses and Biological N2 Fixation of Bahiagrass and Rhizoma Peanut Monocultures Compared with their Binary Mixtures

“…Greater HA for bahiagrass monocultures occurred due to N fertilization (90 kg N ha −1 harvest −1 ). The effects of N fertilization on bahiagrass have already been reported in the literature (Blue, 1973;Beaty et al, 1974Beaty et al, , 1980Stewart et al, 2007). Ecoturf-DF9 and Q6B-Argentine had greater TNAG B in the first year in comparison with the second year.…”

“…Since total N aboveground is a function of the product of HA and N concentration, monocultures of RP were benefited by its greater proportion in monocultures. The effects of N fertilization on bahiagrass have already been reported in the literature (Blue, 1973;Beaty et al, 1974Beaty et al, , 1980Stewart et al, 2007). 7b; 49, 24, and 10 kg N ha −1 , respectively).…”

Root‐Rhizome Mass and Chemical Composition of Bahiagrass and Rhizoma Peanut Monocultures Compared with their Binary Mixtures

“…Pensacola bahiagrass N content (kg DM ha −1 ) in roots varies according to N fertilizer rates. When fertilized with 0, 84, 168, and 336 kg N ha −1 , Pensacola bahiagrass belowground N content was 36,112,173,191 kg N ha −1 , respectively (Beaty et al, 1980). Ecoturf belowground N content was 574 kg ha −1 when plots were sampled 5 yr after planting (Dubeux et al, 2017), which is about six times the value found in this study.…”

Herbage Accumulation of Three Bahiagrass Populations during the Cool Season

“…Previous research has demonstrated that bahiagrass makes 86% of its growth during the six warmest months of the year, even in peninsular Florida (Beaty et al, 1980; Mislevy and Everett, 1981). However, the duration of the period of active growth has not been thoroughly examined.…”