Persistence and Productivity of Tall Fescue in Bermudagrass Sods Subjected to Different Clipping Managements¹

Abstract

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) is a vigorous and productive forage crop in the U.S. mid‐South during the warm season, but is dormant from October through March. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is semidormant in summer, grows well in spring and to some extent in autumn and winter. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of combinations of N fertilization level, harvesting management, and fescue row spacing, on the productivity and persistence of both bermudagrass and fescue in bermudagrass sods overseeded with fescue. ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue was overseeded in 25 or in 50‐cm rows in October, 1970 on an established ‘Midland’ bermudagrass sod growing on a coarse‐silty, mixed, acid thermic, aeric Fluvaquents soil at the West Tennessee Experiment Station, Jackson. Four rates of N fertilization included: none; or 200, 400, or 600 kg N/ha/year applied in four equal installments. Three clipping managements were superimposed: 5‐cm growth cut to a 2.5‐cm stubble, 10‐cm growth cut to a 5‐cm stubble, and 30‐cm growth cut to a 25‐cm stubble. Persistence of each species, composition of dry matter yield, and N content of harvested forage were measured from 1972–1975. When N was not applied, or when 200 kg N/ha/year were applied, fescue stands were excellent. Higher N rates resulted in half a stand. Fescue stands were less persistent in 50‐cm than in 2.5cm rows. Bermudagrass sods were maintained under all management conditions. Under the frequent 10 to‐5 cm and 5 to‐2.5 cm managements and with 200 kg N/ha/year, 1,500 kg dry matter/ha or more were harvested in each of four harvest periods (late winter to mid‐May, mid‐May to mid‐July, mid‐July to September, October through December) from the grass associations. The combination of the two species extended the season of production of the sod from 5 to 9 or 10 months/year during each of 3 years and increased dry matter production from 5,800 to 7,150 kg/ha/year. Most uniform production each year was obtained when fescue was seeded in 25‐cm rows and harvested from 10‐cm height to a 5‐cm stubble.

Comparison of Conventional and Minimal Tillage for Low-Input Pasture Improvement

“…Seeding warm‐season grass into a cool‐season annual can similarly extend the period of forage production (53). Although overseeding can improve seasonal distribution of yield and provide an increase in total annual yield, gains in production during the winter‐spring (October‐April) period may be made at the cost of some warm‐season forage output (37,40,41). The choice of cool‐season crop for overseeding is significant in this regard; oversown early‐maturing rye ( Secale cereale L.), wheat or oats ( Avena sativa L.), appear to present less problem for a companion warm‐season grass than do later‐growing forage species (56).…”

“…The greatest impact of minimal tillage on seasonal distribution of forage production is found when it is used to overseed a crop that has a seasonal growth pattern different from that of the resident pasture. Hence cool-season grasses or cool-season legumes sown into warm-season grasses can extend the period of forage production into late autumn and provide early growth in spring (7,37,40,41,56), or increase yield up to mid-summer (25). Seeding warm-season grass into a cool-season annual can similarly extend the period of forage production (53).…”

Seeding cool‐season grasses into unimproved warm‐season pasture in the southern Great Plains of the United States

“…, 2003; Gillen and Berg, 2005). Perennial or over‐seeded annual cool‐season pastures grown in cool‐ and warm‐season crop sequences can also extend the period of active forage production (Belesky and Fedders, 1995) and increase both cool‐season and year‐round forage and livestock production (Fribourg and Overton, 1979; Joost et al. , 1986; Gates et al.…”

Using Orchardgrass and Endophyte‐Free Fescue Versus Endophyte‐Infected Fescue Overseeded on Bermudagrass for Cow Herds: I. Four‐Year Summary of Forage Characteristics

“…Throughout the southern Ozarks, the relative proportions of E+ and bermudagrass in mixed‐species pastures that optimize cattle performance are unknown, and likely vary with precipitation, temperature, fertilization, and many other factors. To some extent, relative proportions of tall fescue and common bermudagrass can be managed to the advantage of one species or the other by the amount and timing of N fertilization, as well as by controlling closely the timing, frequency, and height of mowing or grazing (Wilkinson et al, 1968; Hoveland et al, 1978; Fribourg and Overton, 1979; Pitman, 1999). While it is unclear what relative proportions of E+ and common bermudagrass may optimize cattle performance, both species are likely important; E+ extends the grazing season by providing forage in the spring and fall when temperatures are cool, while bermudagrass grows actively throughout the summer and dilutes the concentrations of toxins produced within E+ plants.…”