I am pleased to announce that the Noble Foundation is joining with the Missouri,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stations (AES's) along
with the Agriculture Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in the
cooperative release of the new bermudagrass variety, Ozark.
Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Charles Taliaferro
Plant and Soil Sciences Dept.
Oklahoma State University |
Ozark, which was tested as 74X 12-6, is an F1 hybrid that was
bred by Dr. Charles Taliaferro and William L. Richardson of the
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University. Ozark
exhibits excellent cold tolerance and has yielded well in Oklahoma and the
northern part of the bermudagrass belt. Ozark's superior cold tolerance,
stand persistence, adaptation, production and quality when grown in southern
Missouri and Kansas make it unique among released bermudagrass varieties.
Ozark has been evaluated in small plot performance trials in Oklahoma,
Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas over several years. In Oklahoma Agricultural
Experiment Station (OAES) tests, Ozark yielded similarly to Tifton 44,
Hardie and Midland 99, but produced significantly more forage
than Midland, World Feeder, Quickstand and Greenfield.
The Noble Foundation has tested the variety since 1990 in two separate trials
near Ardmore. In an early trial conducted in the years 1990-1996, Ozark yielded
similarly to Midland 99 and Coastal, but produced 16 percent and
17 percent more forage than Tifton 44 and Midland, respectively.
In a recent study, 1996-2001, Ozark has produced average yields that are
similar to Coastal, but six percent more than Midland 99, 17
percent more than Tifton 44, 25 percent more than Midland, and 47
percent more than Quickstand. In almost every yield trial conducted by
the Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas AES's, it has yielded as much or more forage
than any other variety. The forage quality of Ozark, as indicated by
laboratory tests of digestibility, crude protein, and crude fiber has been
similar to or better than, other high-yielding bermudagrass varieties.
Ozark is similar to Midland 99, Midland and Tifton 44
in morphology and growth habit. It has relatively tall, upright growth in
comparison to more decumbent varieties such as Greenfield and Quickstand.
Its stem diameter, shoot length, and leaf width are similar to Midland 99,
Midland, and Tifton 44. The leaves of Ozark tend to be
longer than those of Midland and Tifton 44, but similar to Midland
99. Like most hybrid bermudagrasses, it sets only a few seeds and
therefore must be established by conventional sprigging. It produces vigorous
underground rhizomes. It's establishment characteristics appear to be similar
to Midland 99, Midland and Tifton 44. A planting rate of
at least 25 to 30 bushels of sprigs per acre, combined with good weed control
and fertility management is recommended to hasten establishment. There have
been no unusual and/or severe insect or disease problems with Ozark.
Three classes of planting stock (Breeder, Foundation, and Certified) of Ozark
will be recognized. Breeder stock will be maintained by the OAES. Foundation
stock will be produced by the Missouri Foundation Seed Stocks in Missouri and
the Oklahoma Foundation Seed
Stocks (OFSS) in Oklahoma. Foundation class propagating stock will be
available to the public in spring 2002 from both agencies.
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