Selecting and Establishing Forages in Georgia Wade Hutcheson UGA Extension - Spalding County Agent Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Wade Hutcheson UGA Extension - Spalding County Agent Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Overview Selecting the best species and variety for your needs or the needs of your market  Species/variety selection Establishment techniques  Sprigging hybrid bermudagrass  Seeding bermudagrass  Planting cool-season species

Selecting the Right Species

Selecting the appropriate species. 1.Acceptable to the market A.Supreme quality demands? i.Good-fair quality hay  bermudagrass, tall fescue*, orchardgrass* ii.Premium quality hay  bermudagrass, orchardgrass*, annual ryegrass, alfalfa, perennial peanut** iii.Supreme quality hay  Tifton 85 bermudagrass, annual ryegrass, alfalfa, perennial peanut** B.Other concerns: i. Palatability ii. Health concerns (real or perceived)

Selecting the appropriate species. 2.Agronomically acceptable A.Tolerant of climatic conditions

Regional Possibilities -Orchardgrass (1, but risky) -Tall Fescue (1, risky in 2, 3) -Bermudagrass (all, with right variety) -Alfalfa (all, best w/ irrigation) -Perennial peanut (5, risky in 4)

Rainfall Distributions 1

Rainfall Distribution - Midville

Selecting the appropriate species. 2.Agronomically acceptable A.Tolerant of climatic conditions i. tall fescue (not in S. Piedmont, Coastal Plain) ii. perennial peanut (not in Upper Coastal Plain or N) B.High yields C.Performance under irrigation D.Vigorous establishment E.Soil fertility demands i. Especially high in alfalfa and bermudagrass F.Appropriate to your management

Bermudagrass Varieties Sprigged: Coastal, Tift 44, Tift 78, Russell, also Tifton 85 south of Athens and I-20. Seeded types/blends: Cheyenne, Cheyenne II, Ranchero Frio, Sungrazer, Sungrazer Plus, Sungrazer 777, CD 90160, KF194, Pasto Rico. Sprigged: Coastal, Tift 44, Tift 78, Russell, also Tifton 85 south of Athens and I-20. Seeded types/blends: Cheyenne, Cheyenne II, Ranchero Frio, Sungrazer, Sungrazer Plus, Sungrazer 777, CD 90160, KF194, Pasto Rico.

Poor Best Species, Soil, and Management Soil Conditions Management Skill and Input Required Perfection Best Bermudagrass Perennial Peanut Alfalfa

Selecting the appropriate variety. Choosing the right variety is a critical decision. Yields  Total Yields (multi-year) Quality Winter Hardiness Persistence  Yields in 3 rd or 4 th year  Stand ratings Disease resistance

Variety Trial Comparisons

Hybrid Bermudagrass Yields at Calhoun a* bcb cd d Varieties labeled with the same letter were not significantly different (α=0.05).

Selecting the appropriate species Source: Selecting a Bermudagrass Variety

Establishment

Thou Shalt Soil Test The #1 cause of poor stands at establishment – poor soil fertility or low soil pH.

Thou Shalt Soil Test Most common cause of poor establishment:  Soil pH and/or fertility is too low. Most common cause of poor drought tolerance:  Soil pH and/or fertility is too low. Potassium is often the limiting nutrient. Don’t wait till you’re ready to plant ! Most common cause of poor establishment:  Soil pH and/or fertility is too low. Most common cause of poor drought tolerance:  Soil pH and/or fertility is too low. Potassium is often the limiting nutrient. Don’t wait till you’re ready to plant !

Prepared Seedbed “Well-prepared” seedbed  Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4 wks prior to sprigging / seeding  Incorporate lime, phosphorus, and potassium.  Allow time to settle or firm with cultipacker/roller. Seedbed should be firm  Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in. deep  If too fluffy, the soil will dry very quickly (sandy soils) “Well-prepared” seedbed  Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4 wks prior to sprigging / seeding  Incorporate lime, phosphorus, and potassium.  Allow time to settle or firm with cultipacker/roller. Seedbed should be firm  Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in. deep  If too fluffy, the soil will dry very quickly (sandy soils)

Minimum Till (“No-till”) Acceptable for vegetative establishment (sprigging), at least in Piedmont.

“No-till” Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion. Primarily used for seeding or interseeding Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging). Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion. Primarily used for seeding or interseeding Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging).

Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass Best methods 1) Dormant sprigs (rhizomes) bu/A  Dec. to early Mar. 2) Sprigs with green tops – bu/A  spring (after last freeze) to early Aug. 3) Tops/green stems – bu/A  Jun. – Aug.  Coastal, Russell, 85  Not recommended for Tifton 44 Best if seedbed is well-prepared

How Much is a Bushel of Sprigs? Sprigs Using Two 5-gallon Buckets Line at 4 in. 1 bu 50 lb weight

Resources on Bermudagrass All this and more at

If it don’t rain, it don’t matter. If it don’t rain, it don’t matter.

Seed Placement

Drilling Depth Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed’s size Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures! Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed’s size Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures!

Use Certified Seed CommonCertified

Inoculate with appropriate strain: Alfalfa group (Rhizobium meliloti) Clover Group (Rhizobium trifolii)

Annual Cool Season Grasses Seeding Rate* SpeciesGrown AloneMixture —— lbs/acre ———— Tall Fescue Ryegrass 20 – 3010 – 15 Small Grains Oats, rye, wheat, triticale *Use higher seeding rates when seed is broadcast and lower seeding rates when planting into a prepared seedbed or no-tilled into existing sod (over-seeding pasture). Annual Cool Season Grasses Seeding Rate* SpeciesGrown AloneMixture —— lbs/acre ———— Tall Fescue Ryegrass 20 – 3010 – 15 Small Grains Oats, rye, wheat, triticale *Use higher seeding rates when seed is broadcast and lower seeding rates when planting into a prepared seedbed or no-tilled into existing sod (over-seeding pasture).

Tall Fescue Kentucky 31 – E+ Endophyte free – E- Not recommended in GA NE – Novel (friendly) Endophyte i.e. Max Q, Greentag Select Kentucky 31 – E+ Endophyte free – E- Not recommended in GA NE – Novel (friendly) Endophyte i.e. Max Q, Greentag Select

Renovating Infected Tall Fescue Prevent Seedhead production - mowed x2 summer Destroy old stand 1. spray – smother – spray 2. spray – spray – plant late summer apply glyphosate, repeat 4-6 wks after initial treatment plant beginning w/in 1 day Plantings Sept – Oct depending on location Prevent Seedhead production - mowed x2 summer Destroy old stand 1. spray – smother – spray 2. spray – spray – plant late summer apply glyphosate, repeat 4-6 wks after initial treatment plant beginning w/in 1 day Plantings Sept – Oct depending on location

Nutrients removed per acre with bermudagrass hay or 500 lb animal Adapted from S. Forages 3 rd Ed.

QUESTIONS?