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Agricultural Research and Education Center

Research Report RC-1984-6 September 1984

RYEGRASS FORAGE PRODUCTION AT ONA: 1983-84

P. Mislevy, F. G. Martin and G. M. Prine

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) can be important during the
cool winter months in south-central Florida as a source of very high quality
grazing. Ryegrass seeded after a vegetable crop, used in a pasture
renovation program or in a perennial grass sod, can provide high quality
forage which is quick to establish. Cultivated areas seeded to pure stands
of ryegrass can be grazed within 2 months after seeding and grazing may
extend for 120 days or more. Well fertilized ryegrass with adequate moisture
can carry about 3-3.5 yearling animals per acre. Ryegrass responds well to
nitrogen fertilization, which leads to more rapid gro
protein and improved digestibility. HUME L AK.RY

Since new ryegrass varieties are continually bei g releapd1y, blic;
and private sources, it is important that varieties b tested "una 'souTh-
central Florida conditions. In this investigation se eral ryegrass varieties
were evaluated for dry matter yield, seasonal forage < 9i alt. jir.~i4) @rida
resistance, and persistence at the Ona Agricultural
Center (AREC).

Experimental Procedure

Ten ryegrass varieties were seeded at the Ona AREC, on November 10,
1983. The field plot layout consisted of four replications of a randomized
complete block design.

Seeding rates for all ryegrass varieties were 20 lb/A. Prior to
seeding, plots were fertilized with 510 lb/A of 0-10-20 (N-P200-K20),
respectively + 32 Ib/A TEM 300, and after seedling emergence with 56 lb/A of
N. After harvest 1, 50 lb/A of N was applied, followed by 30 pounds N/A
after each additional harvest. Calcium and magnesium content was adequate
with an average pH of 5.5. The experiment also received 1.0 inches of water
from an overhead irrigation system.

All entries were harvested five times with rotary harvesters which cut
plants to a 3 inch stubble. Each harvest was made when the grass attained a
height of about 9 to 14 inches depending on variety. The initial harvest was
made 55 days after seeding. Rust was monitored on each variety during the
spring.

1/ Professor, Agricultural Research and Education Center (AREC), Ona;
Professor, Department of Statistics, Gainesville; Professor, Department
of Agronomy, Gainesville, Florida.

Results and Discussion

Significant differences in total dry matter yields were not obtained
between ryegrass entries grown during the 1983-84 cool season (Table 1).
Average total seasonal yield was 2.4 t/A, with little variation between
ryegrass varieties.

Seasonal distribution of dry matter over harvests was quite uniform
averaging 25, 25, 21 and 18% of the total yield for harvest 1, 2, 3 and 4,
respectively. Harvest 5 removed on May 9 produced the lowest yield averaging
11% of the total seasonal yield.

During the 1983-84 growing season 56 lb/A N was applied after seedling
emergence and 50 lb/A after the first harvest, however 30 Ib/A N was applied
for all other harvests. Consequently, dry matter yield of harvest 3 and 4
did decrease by 16 and 28%, respectively, from earlier harvests; however,
plant height remained uniform over all harvests (Table 2). This decrease may
be mainly due to the low N rate (30 Ib/A) applied after each harvest,
starting with harvest 2.

Crown rust (Puccinia spp.) was observed as early as March 29 on Marshall
and Ninak varieties. Following the harvest on April 6, these two varieties
were severely infected, averaging 60% plant cover at the time of harvest 5 on
May 9.

To determine the true performance of a ryegrass variety, testing must be
conducted over a period of at least 3 years. Yields of ryegrass entries
grown at the AREC Ona over a 3 to 7 year period averaged 3.0 t/A dry matter
(Table 3). Most varieties listed in table 2 consistently produced high
yields, with Fla. 80 and Gulf producing well over the 7 year period.
Marshall was also a good yielder, but is consistently infected with crown
rust in late March and April.
Conclusion

Results indicated little practical differences between ryegrass
varieties tested in 1983-84. Gulf annual and Pioneer Fla. 80 were among the
top yielders and have consistently demonstrated good rust tolerance.

Table 1. Ryegrass forage production: Ona AREC, 1983-84.

Harvest number and date
1 2 3 4 5
Brand Variety 1-4 2-3 3-1 4-6 5-9 Total
-------------t/A-------------

Funks Marshall 0.71 0.64 0.49 0.38 0.29 2.5 a
Pioneer Fla. 80 0.70 0.60 0.46 0.52 0.23 2.5 a
Van Der Have Ninak 0.47 0.63 0.62 0.52 0.23 2.5 a
Multimo 0.61 0.61 0.56 0.44 0.22 2.4 a
Van Der Have Urbana 0.56 0.59 0.56 0.49 0.21 2.4 a
Van Der Have Wesley 0.72 0.58 0.44 0.39 0.19 2.3 a
Gulf annual 0.60 0.60 0.43 0.42 0.30 2.3 a
Pioneer Shannon 0.56 0.54 0.54 0.40 0.22 2.3 a
Caramba 0.59 0.54 0.53 0.47 0.22 2.3 a
Van Der Have Facet 0.51 0.54 0.51 0.41 0.23 2.2 a
Avg. 0.60 0.59 0.51 0.44 0.23 2.4

Percent of total yield 25% 25% 21% 18% 11%

Means followed by the same letter are
0.05 level of probability according to

Van Der Have seeds, Netherlands.

not significantly different at the
Duncan's Multiple Range Test.

Date seeded: November 10, 1983
Seeding rate: 20 lb/A
Fertilization: At seeding 510 lb/A 0-10-20, N-P20-K20 + 32 lb/A TEM 300
: After seedling emergence 56 lb/A N
: After harvest 1, 50 lb/A N and after all other harvests 30
lb/A N.
Irrigation: Overhead sprinkler system, applied a total of 1.0 inches in 1
application to encourage germination.

Table 2. Ryegrass plant height of selected harvests grown during
the 1983-84 cool season. AREC, Ona, 1984.

Harvest number and date
1 3 5
Brand Variety 1-4 3-1 5-9

--------inches--------

Van Der Have Wesley 12 9 10
Van Der Have Facet 11 8 7
Gulf annual 12 8 15 H
Pioneer Fla. 80 13 9 12 H
Pioneer Shannon. 12 9 8
Funks Marshall 14 9 12 H
Caramba 11 8 9
Multimo 11 8 8
Van Der Have Ninak 12 9 8
Van Der Have Urbana 13 10 8

tH = plants headed, all others remained vegetative with no
infloresence.

Table 3. Ryegrass forage production from selected varieties grown at the AREC
Ona, 1978-4.

Year
Brand Variety 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Avg.
----------Dry matter yield t/A--------

NAPB* Sunbelt t t 3.5 3.3 3.0 t+ 3.3
Fuks Marshall t 4.0 3.5 3.4 3.6 1.4 2.5 3.1
NK Tetrablend 444 t t 3.5 3.0 3.2 t t 3.2
Pioneer Fla. 80 2.9 3.8 3.7 2.9 3.6 1.8 2.5 3.0
Gulf 3.0 3.7 3.5 3.2 2.8 1.9 2.3 2.9
NAPB Meritra t t 3.1 2.9 3.1 t t 3.0
Pioneer Shannon t t t 2.9 2.7 1.6 2.3 2.4
Avg. 3.0 3.8 3.5 3.1 3.1 1.7 2.4 3.0

tEntry not seeded that year.

*NAPB = North American Plant Breeders; NK Northrup King.