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Effect of Autumn Sod Treatments on Overseeded Annual Ryegrass Production and Coastal Bermudagrass Recovery
Author(s) -
Evers Gerald
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2011.09.0484
Subject(s) - cynodon dactylon , sowing , perennial plant , lolium multiflorum , agronomy , lolium , biology , seedling , cynodon , forage , grazing , growing season , poaceae
Overseeding warm‐season perennial grasses with annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a common practice throughout the southeastern United States to extend the grazing season with high quality forage. ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] competition to overseeded annual ryegrass was determined by light reaching the soil surface, ryegrass seedling density, and ryegrass herbage production. Treatments were 0, 56, and 112 kg ha −1 N 6 to 8 wk before planting ryegrass and sod management practices (SMPs) of a shallow disking (2.5 to 5.0 cm), applying a desiccant, and a control before planting in combination with mowing to a 2.5 or 10.0‐cm sod height (SH) for 3 yr. Applying N 6 to 8 wk before planting did not influence any of the plant parameters measured. The shallow disking SMP and 2.5‐cm SH allowed the most light to reach the soil surface and had the greatest ryegrass seedling density. At the 10‐cm SH the shallow disking SMP had a greater seedling density than the desiccant and control SMP. None of the SMP–SH combinations consistently improved first harvest or annual herbage mass yields over the control at the 2.5‐cm SH. Significant differences may have occurred if the first harvest was taken earlier. Spring bermudagrass recovery was reduced by the shallow disking SMP and 2.5‐cm SH. At a bermudagrass SH of 10 cm or less there was little advantage to disking or using a desiccant to enhance ryegrass production.