by Jerry L. Baker

Table 2. Three-year dry forage yields from bermudagrass (1996-98); established May 14, 1996 Ardmore, OK
-	Pounds/acre				-	-
Variety or strain	1996	1997	1998	Three-year total	Three-year average	Average crude protein (%)1
Tifton 85	6796	7020	12975	26791	8930	13.4
Coastal	5134	6300	12077	23511	7837	14.5
74x12-6	6424	5189	11153	22766	7589	13.1
Hardie	6696	5530	9747	21973	7324	12.4
74x21-6	5407	5352	10604	21363	7121	13.3
Jiggs	5424	4623	10195	20242	6747	13.5
Russell	4444	4229	10526	19199	6400	13.0
STW 15-11	4228	4356	10575	19159	6386	13.0
Tifton 44	5188	4788	8773	18749	6250	13.1
Midland	5495	3785	8195	17475	5825	13.6
Quickstand	3943	1750	5930	11623	3874	13.4
Average	5380	4811	10067	20258	6753	13.3
L.S.D. (0.05)	1402	1516	2029	4227	-	-
C.V. (%)	15.3	18.5	11.8	12.3	-	-
1Includes twelve clippings; two in 1996 (establishment year), five in 1997, and five in 1998.

Discussion
The bermudagrass varieties were clipped five times during the 1998 growing season (Table 1). Despite the drought and heat during much of the season, forage yields were surprisingly high. The average total yield of the eleven varieties was 10,067 pounds, of which 68% had been harvested by June 30. An abundant accumulation of soil profile moisture during the winter and early spring was apparently sufficient to sustain the grasses through the early part of the growing season. The low Coefficient of Variation (C.V.) for total 1998 yields (11.8%) indicates that the data give a very reliable comparison of the bermudagrass varieties.

The three-year forage yield summary for this test is shown in Table 2. Tifton 85 was the most productive variety each year. However, we should use these data with caution; Tifton 85, Jiggs, and Russell have not been tested extensively and may not have adequate cold hardiness to survive the winters in southern Oklahoma and north Texas consistently. Since the initiation of the test in 1996, we have not experienced the cold temperatures needed to test for good winter survival.

The experimental strain 74x21-6 is being released as the variety Midland 99. This variety is expected to be well adapted for use in Oklahoma and north Texas. It has demonstrated superior forage yields in our trials at Ardmore and the Oklahoma State University forage yield trials across Oklahoma for several seasons. The difference in yield between Midland 99 and Midland (2,409 pounds/acre) was more than the Least Significant Difference (L.S.D.), which was 2,029 pounds/acre, showing that once again in 1998, Midland 99 had superior forage yield (Table 1). Foundation planting stock of Midland 99 will be available this spring under the auspices of Oklahoma Foundation Seedstocks, Inc. Information on dates and availability of sprigs will be released soon.

Table 3 shows 1998 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 percentage of total forage produced at each clipping was 20 (May 11), 18 (June 2), 30 (June 30), 16 (August 26), and 16 (October 7). Notice that crude protein content of the dry forage averaged 13.5%. Crude protein was highest at the first clipping and lowest at the third.

Table 3. Bermudagrass forage composition - - 1998
Ardmore, OK
Variety or strain	Dry matter	Crude protein	Phosphorous	Potassium	Calcium	Magnesium
-	Weighted average of five forage clippings (%)
Tifton 85	42.0	12.5	0.181	1.75	0.53	0.240
Coastal	49.8	13.9	0.179	1.38	0.59	0.280
74x12-6	51.1	13.3	0.148	1.31	0.56	0.293
74x21-6	47.8	13.1	0.152	1.38	0.53	0.215
STW 15-11	45.6	12.7	0.163	1.12	0.48	0.265
Russell	45.2	13.1	0.182	1.76	0.76	0.236
Jiggs	41.3	14.1	0.177	1.31	0.81	0.335
Hardie	45.2	12.5	0.153	1.23	0.46	0.277
Tifton 44	48.1	13.7	0.170	1.48	0.52	0.269
Midland	50.2	13.7	0.167	1.53	0.49	0.243
Quickstand	45.8	15.4	0.188	1.37	0.61	0.271
Average	46.6	13.5	0.169	1.42	0.58	0.266

SOME INFLUENCING FACTORS

Location: Headquarters Farm, Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Soil type: Weatherford fine sandy loam.
Sprigging date: May 14, 1996.
Sprigging method: Sprigged by hand in two-feet rows; sprigs two feet apart in rows (12 sprigs per plot).
Plot size: 7 ft x 12 ft.
Replications: Three (3).
Fertilizer: Starter was 100 lb. of N/acre on April 2, 1998.
Topdress was 50 lb. of N/acre on May 11, July 1, and August 26, 1998.
Weed control: Applied Weedone DCP plus Pendimethlin herbicide on March 3, 1998 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 test varieties were clipped when more productive entries reached suitable grazing stage. Clipping dates during the season are shown in Table 1.
Winter damage: Winter cold damage differences among entries were insignificant.
Temperatures: The low temperature was 18^oF on March 10 and 12, 1998. Temperatures were 20°F or lower on only three dates:

Dates	Minimum temperature (°F)
December 13, 1997	20
March 10, 1998	18
March 12, 1998	18

Rainfall (inches):
Month	96-year average	1997	1998
January	1.73	0.43	5.83
February	2.09	5.05	1.16
March	2.86	0.82	4.91
April	4.00	4.01	1.12
May	5.37	5.60	0.16
June	3.93	3.99	2.37
July	2.79	0.05	0.01
August	3.50	1.75	1.20
September	3.63	1.71	0.87
October	3.61	3.44	6.43
Total	33.51	26.85	24.06

Information in this report is not conclusive but should be valuable 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 decision-making and idea formation.

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

	Did you find this article helpful? We encourage you to provide feedback to other users and the author(s) by completing the information below.
	Rating:	Highly recommend Excellent Worth reading Nothing special Wouldn't recommend
	Feedback for the author(s):