by Jerry L. Baker
TABLE 1. RYEGRASS
FORAGE PERFORMANCE, 1997-98
PASTURE DEMONSTRATION FARM, ARDMORE, OK
|
|
|
Pounds/Acre of
Oven-Dry Forage
|
|
|
|
|
Clipping
Dates
|
|
|
|
|
Variety or
Strain
|
12/18
|
2/2
|
Total
thru
2/2
|
3/3
|
3/25
|
4/14
|
5/12
|
5/29
|
1997-98
Total
|
%
Common
Annual
|
% Forage
Produced
by 2/2
|
1.
|
Ribeye
|
1051
|
440
|
1491
|
1335
|
513
|
1038
|
1517
|
300
|
6194
|
122
|
24
|
2.
|
Big Daddy
|
997
|
522
|
1519
|
1259
|
523
|
1018
|
1321
|
276
|
5916
|
117
|
26
|
3.
|
Rio
|
902
|
373
|
1275
|
1213
|
449
|
944
|
1568
|
318
|
5767
|
114
|
22
|
4.
|
Tam 90
|
874
|
415
|
1289
|
1220
|
542
|
1011
|
1335
|
259
|
5656
|
112
|
23
|
5.
|
Marshall
|
753
|
119
|
872
|
1007
|
677
|
1195
|
1542
|
347
|
5640
|
111
|
16
|
6.
|
WVPB-AR-A9
|
535
|
259
|
794
|
1162
|
555
|
1221
|
1496
|
333
|
5561
|
110
|
14
|
7.
|
WVPB-AR-93-101
|
860
|
407
|
1267
|
1194
|
479
|
894
|
1374
|
262
|
5470
|
108
|
23
|
8.
|
Southern Star
|
1029
|
360
|
1389
|
1038
|
495
|
890
|
1339
|
278
|
5429
|
107
|
26
|
9.
|
Passerel
|
628
|
119
|
747
|
1032
|
616
|
1051
|
1608
|
353
|
5407
|
107
|
14
|
10.
|
NC/FLX 1997
(LRCT)
|
404
|
260
|
664
|
1141
|
490
|
1113
|
1568
|
388
|
5364
|
106
|
12
|
11.
|
FLX 1997 (SII) LR
Select
|
509
|
340
|
849
|
1145
|
502
|
1114
|
1445
|
275
|
5330
|
105
|
16
|
12.
|
FL 1995 x
4N-LS
|
497
|
347
|
844
|
1177
|
598
|
1019
|
1306
|
302
|
5246
|
104
|
16
|
13.
|
Jackson
|
761
|
265
|
1026
|
1064
|
520
|
957
|
1339
|
315
|
5221
|
103
|
20
|
14.
|
TXR 95-6
|
578
|
406
|
984
|
1233
|
481
|
1000
|
1202
|
275
|
5175
|
102
|
19
|
15.
|
Matua rescue
|
665
|
33
|
698
|
479
|
420
|
1056
|
1982
|
532
|
5167
|
102
|
14
|
16.
|
Surrey
|
708
|
383
|
1092
|
1300
|
339
|
781
|
1402
|
247
|
5161
|
102
|
21
|
17.
|
DSV 417 prairie
brome
|
481
|
27
|
508
|
440
|
419
|
1348
|
1934
|
499
|
5148
|
102
|
10
|
18.
|
Major
|
684
|
343
|
1027
|
1148
|
375
|
824
|
1513
|
260
|
5147
|
102
|
20
|
19.
|
FLX 1997 G (4N)
Bulk
|
822
|
155
|
977
|
1071
|
520
|
914
|
1366
|
296
|
5144
|
102
|
19
|
20.
|
Common Annual
|
757
|
288
|
1045
|
1175
|
555
|
960
|
1065
|
263
|
5063
|
100
|
21
|
21.
|
Tetragold
|
552
|
371
|
923
|
1243
|
538
|
881
|
1154
|
323
|
5062
|
100
|
18
|
22.
|
T-444
|
769
|
350
|
1119
|
1088
|
494
|
863
|
1127
|
284
|
4975
|
98
|
23
|
23.
|
FL 1995 GxS
|
748
|
418
|
1166
|
1264
|
312
|
814
|
1152
|
264
|
4972
|
98
|
24
|
24.
|
TXR 95-5
|
410
|
216
|
626
|
1054
|
561
|
938
|
1459
|
297
|
4935
|
98
|
13
|
25.
|
Oklon rye
|
1568
|
611
|
2179
|
1322
|
310
|
647
|
435
|
0
|
4893
|
97
|
45
|
26.
|
Hercules
|
491
|
206
|
697
|
1054
|
511
|
818
|
1188
|
273
|
4541
|
90
|
15
|
27.
|
CAS-MM6
|
382
|
79
|
461
|
679
|
594
|
987
|
1138
|
267
|
4126
|
82
|
11
|
28.
|
833 oat
|
580
|
425
|
1005
|
1118
|
379
|
725
|
871
|
0
|
4098
|
81
|
25
|
29.
|
Jagger wheat
|
646
|
426
|
1072
|
1032
|
215
|
616
|
722
|
0
|
3657
|
72
|
29
|
|
Average
|
705
|
302
|
1007
|
1084
|
483
|
959
|
1336
|
285
|
5154
|
102
|
20
|
|
L.S.D.
(.05)
|
311
|
220
|
480
|
268
|
78
|
210
|
407
|
80
|
921
|
|
|
|
C.V.
(%)
|
31.4
|
51.9
|
33.9
|
17.6
|
11.5
|
15.6
|
21.7
|
20.1
|
12.7
|
|
|
Planted: October
6, 1997.
Seeding Rate: Ryegrass and bromegrass; 25
lb./acre.
Small grains; 2,000,000 live seed/acre which approximates
90-120 lbs./acre, depending on variety and species.
Seeding Method: Drilled in seven-inch rows;
ryegrass planted at one-half inch and small grains at a
one-inch depth.
Replications: Four (4).
Soil Type: Chickasha loam.
Fertilization: Topdress: 80 lb. N/acre on
October 17, 1997 and 50 lb. N/acre on February 3,
1998.
Management: Disked and roller-harrowed.
Clipping: Clipped with a rotary mower at a height
of two and one-half to three inches to simulate
rotational grazing.
Winter Damage: No appreciable damage to any
entries.
|
DISCUSSION
The 1997-98 ryegrass variety trial was conducted on the Pasture Demonstration Farm near Ardmore (Table 1). The test included 24 ryegrass varieties and/or strains,
Matua rescuegrass, DSV 417 prairie bromegrass, Oklon rye, Jagger wheat and 833 oat. The small grains varieties were included to show producers how ryegrass forage
distribution compares to other commonly grown cool-season annual grasses in this area. Fall planting was delayed by dry soil conditions during August and September.
The season was characterized by mild temperatures and excessive soil moisture from December through March followed by extreme drought during April and May. Plant
growth and development were excellent during the winter and early spring. However, forage production was reduced substantially during the late spring dry period.
Seven clippings were made during the season (Table 1). An average of 20% of the forage in the test was harvested by the February 2 clipping date. Oklon rye, Jagger
wheat and 833 oat respectively produced 45, 29, and 25 percent of their forage by that date. Big Daddy and Ribeye produced the most early-season (first three clippings)
forage of the ryegrasses while Matua and DSV 417 prairie brome produced the most late season (last two clippings) forage in the test. Note that the overall average
production for the trial was 5,154 pounds of which 75% was harvested between February 2 and May 12.
Table 2 summarizes forage production of common entries over the last three years of testing. The average total production was about 20% lower this year than in
the 1996-97 season. The last three years have been very representative of the variable environmental conditions that we experience from year to year in Oklahoma.
Those varieties that rank consistently near the top each year are recommended to producers. Marshall, an "old" ryegrass variety, continues to consistently rank
high in total forage production. Jackson, Tam 90, Rio and others generally produce earlier forage than Marshall, but have not been as consistent in overall production.
Based on the last two years data, the variety Ribeye appears to be a promising "new" ryegrass for this area. Matua rescue led the trial in total forage in 1995-96
and 1996-97, however, yields were only average this season following a long, dry spring.
TABLE 2. RYEGRASS
FORAGE PERFORMANCE SUMMARY, 1995-98 AT ARDMORE,
OK
|
Variety or
Strain
|
1995-96
|
1996-97
|
1997-98
|
2-Year
Average1
|
2-Year
Average2
|
3-Year
Average
|
1.
|
Ribeye
|
-
|
7249
|
6194
|
-
|
6722
|
-
|
2.
|
Matua rescue
|
6164
|
8014
|
5167
|
5656
|
6591
|
6448
|
3.
|
Passerel
|
-
|
7453
|
5407
|
-
|
6430
|
-
|
4.
|
Jackson
|
4427
|
7623
|
5221
|
4824
|
6422
|
5757
|
5.
|
Rio
|
4859
|
6628
|
5767
|
5313
|
6198
|
5751
|
6.
|
Marshall
|
5366
|
6710
|
5640
|
5503
|
6175
|
5905
|
7.
|
WVPB-AR-A9
|
4692
|
6753
|
5561
|
5127
|
6157
|
5669
|
8.
|
WVPR-AR-93-101
|
4723
|
6693
|
5470
|
5097
|
6082
|
5629
|
9.
|
Common Annual
|
4114
|
6881
|
5063
|
4589
|
5972
|
5353
|
10.
|
Tam 90
|
4283
|
6266
|
5656
|
4970
|
5961
|
5402
|
11.
|
Surrey
|
4375
|
6742
|
5161
|
4768
|
5952
|
5426
|
12.
|
TXR 95-6
|
-
|
5165
|
5175
|
-
|
5170
|
-
|
13.
|
Hercules
|
4365
|
5660
|
4541
|
4453
|
5101
|
4855
|
14.
|
Southern Star
|
4747
|
-
|
5429
|
5088
|
-
|
-
|
15.
|
Major
|
4109
|
-
|
5147
|
4628
|
-
|
-
|
|
Average
|
4685
|
6757
|
5373
|
5001
|
6072
|
5620
|
|
L.S.D.
(.05)
|
631
|
1757
|
926
|
|
|
|
1Average
includes 1995-96 and 1997-98 seasons.
2Average
includes 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons.
Ryegrass is often used in
mixtures with rye and other small grains. A strong
caution should be made in wheat and other grain producing
enterprises. Ryegrass can become a weed much like wild
oats and cheat. It usually volunteers to a good stand and
in many cases competes too much with wheat and other
grain production.
|
INFLUENCING WEATHER FACTORS
Temperatures:
Low temperature was 18°F on March 10 and 12, 1998.
Temperatures were 20°F or lower on 3 dates as follows:
|
Date
|
Minimum
Temperature
|
Dec.
13
|
20
|
Mar.
10
|
18
|
Mar.
12
|
18
|
Rainfall
(inches):
|
Month
|
32-Year
Average
|
1996-97
Season
|
1997-98
Season
|
September
|
4.30
|
6.94
|
1.45
|
October
|
4.12
|
2.66
|
4.12
|
November
|
2.45
|
4.64
|
2.22
|
December
|
2.04
|
0.10
|
5.38
|
January
|
1.53
|
0.25
|
4.83
|
February
|
2.03
|
4.58
|
1.44
|
March
|
3.27
|
0.37
|
5.94
|
April
|
3.66
|
5.78
|
1.84
|
May
|
5.57
|
6.07
|
0.26
|
Total
|
28.97
|
31.39
|
27.48
|
|