Discussion
Five forage clippings were made from the bermudagrass variety test during the 1997 season. The clipping dates and forage yields from each clipping are shown in Table 1. Total forage production ranged from 1,750 to 7,020 dry pounds per acre. In general, forage yields were 10% lower in 1997 compared with yields in 1996, the establishment year. Cool temperatures delayed forage production in the spring and dry weather from early June through September limited growth during the summer and early fall.

The two-year forage yield summary for this test is shown in Table 2. Tifton 85 has produced the most forage in both years. However, these data should be used with caution. Tifton 85 has excellent forage potential for the southern U.S. It is vigorous, generally grows taller and has larger stems and broader leaves than the other varieties in the test. However, the verdict is still out on whether the variety has adequate hardiness to consistently survive the winters in Southern Oklahoma and North Texas. The 1996-97 winter was mild and therefore, was not a good test for survival. We will need additional winters and years of data before we can make recommendations regarding the adaptability of the variety to this region of the country. 74x12-6 and 74x21-6 are experimental strains developed by Oklahoma State University that have demonstrated high forage yield potential in previous testing on NF Headquarters farm (1990-96) and in OSU forage yield trials throughout Oklahoma.

Table 3 shows 1997 forage composition data for each entry in the test. The reported averages are weighted by the amount of forage harvested at each clipping. The average percent of total forage produced at each clipping was 9 (May 28), 12 (June 17), 29 (July 10), 27 (August 28) and 23 (October 8). Note that crude protein content of the dry forage averaged 12.5%. Crude protein was highest at the second clipping and lowest at the third clipping.

TABLE 3. BERMUDAGRASS FORAGE COMPOSITION - 1997 ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA
Weighted Average (5 Forage Clippings)
Variety or Strain	% Dry Matter	% Crude Protein	% Phosphorous	% Potassium	% Calcium	% Magnesium
1. Tifton 85	31.7	13.5	0.213	2.29	0.52	0.250
2. Coastal	39.4	13.2	0.211	1.64	0.56	0.245
3. Hardie	35.5	12.4	0.214	1.69	0.43	0.297
4. 74x21-6	37.3	13.6	0.204	1.78	0.47	0.240
5. 74x12-6	39.3	13.2	0.199	1.71	0.49	0.276
6. Tifton 44	37.1	12.1	0.223	1.66	0.46	0.262
7. Jiggs	33.8	11.6	0.238	1.51	0.71	0.287
8. STW 15-11	37.8	12.7	0.195	1.41	0.44	0.291
9. Russell	38.9	12.1	0.205	1.75	0.68	0.225
10. Midland	42.9	12.6	0.183	1.56	0.46	0.234
11. Quickstand	39.5	10.9	0.203	1.43	0.49	0.236
Average	37.6	12.5	0.208	1.68	0.52	0.258

Some Influencing Factors
Location: Headquarters Farm, Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Soil Type: Wilson silt loam.
Sprigging date: May 14, 1996.
Sprigging method: Sprigged by hand in two-ft. rows; sprigs two feet apart in rows (12 sprigs per plot).
Plot size: 7 ft x 12 ft.
Replications: Three (3).

1997
Fertilizer: Applied 250 pounds/acre of 17-17-17 on April 14. On May 28 applied 400 pounds/acre of 34-0-0 and on September 3 an additional application of 300 pounds/acre of 34-0-0.

Weed control: Applied Weedone DCP plus Pendimethlin herbicide for control of broadleaf weeds and crabgrass. Good control of crabgrass throughout the growing season.

Clipping procedure: Grasses were clipped to a height of three inches to simulate rotational grazing. The tests were clipped when more productive entries reached suitable grazing stage. Clipping dates during the season are shown in Table 1.

Winter damage: No major difference was observed among entries for cold damage during the winter months. Freezing temperatures in mid-March and mid-April retarded spring growth. The Russell and Jigg varieties appeared to be delayed the most by the late freezes.

Temperatures: The low temperature was 7°F on January 29,1997. Temperatures were 20°F or lower on 12 dates as follows:

Rainfall (inches):
Month	95-Year Average	1996	1997
January	1.74	1.72	0.43
February	2.06	0.00	5.05
March	2.88	4.42	0.82
April	4.00	4.04	4.01
May	5.37	0.16	5.60
June	3.93	4.65	3.99
July	2.82	3.38	0.05
August	2.74	6.23	1.75
September	3.65	7.42	1.71
October	3.61	3.56	3.44
Total	32.80	35.58	26.85

Information in this report is not conclusive, but should be of valuable assistance when used with similar information from other sources.

All available information pertaining to the subject should be used in making conclusions and decisions. This publication is intended to furnish supplemental information to aid in making a more sound decision and to stimulate thinking for new ideas.

I would like to acknowledge the following Research Assistants for their valuable assistance in the collection and analysis of data and the preparation of this report: Julie Barrick, Bret Flatt, Roger Hartwell, Sean Maher, and Frank Motal.

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