Bermudagrasses
established May 14, 1996 on the Headquarters Farm, were clipped
five times during the 1997 growing season. Clipping dates were May
28, June 17, July 10, August 28, and October 8. Cool temperatures
delayed forage production in the spring and dry weather from early
June through September curtailed growth during the summer and
early fall. Total production in dry pounds per acre for each
variety or strain is:
Ranking
|
Variety
|
Dry Pounds
Per Acre
|
1
|
Tifton 85
|
7020
|
2
|
Coastal
|
6301
|
3
|
Hardie
|
5531
|
4
|
74x21-6
|
5352
|
5
|
74x12-6
|
5189
|
6
|
Tifton 44
|
4788
|
7
|
Jiggs
|
4624
|
8
|
STW 15-11
|
4355
|
9
|
Russell
|
4228
|
10
|
Midland
|
3785
|
11
|
Quickstand
|
1749
|
Our 1997 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 this variety has adequate winter hardiness to survive
in Southern Oklahoma and North Texas. Last winter was mild and therefore, was not a good test for winter survival. We will need more 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 possess high forage yield potential for this region. These two potential varieties were the top-yielders in total forage production
over the six previous years of testing on the Headquarters farm (1990-96). Both have also produced outstanding forage yields in OSU forage yield trials for several
seasons at other Oklahoma locations. At this point, the Quickstand variety, appears to be better suited for turf and/or conservation purposes. It established
quicker than any variety in the test, and formed a dense persistent sod. However, it has a very prostrate (low growing) growth habit and has been very low yielding.
|