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Superintendent
David Davis
21262 Genoa Road
Linneus, MO 64653
Phone: 660 895-5121
FAX: 660 895=5122
Email:
DavisDK@missouri.edu
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January - March, 2007
Forage Systems Update
Vol 16, No. 1
Field Notes from Valerie Tate
Bermudagrass is considered a Southern forage and has not been grown in
northern Missouri because winterkill has traditionally been a problem
with older cultivars of Bermudagrass. At FSRC we established a small
plot of 'Ozark' Bermudagrass in 2003 to evaluate winter hardiness and
yield potential in our more northern climate. University research has
demonstrated that Ozark tolerates cold weather better than any other
cultivar.
Bermudagrass is a warm season perennial grass that is productive
during the months of June, July, and August when the yield and quality
of cool-season grasses such as tall fescue are poor. Bermudagrass is
grown extensively in the southeastern US and has gained popularity as
an alternative summer forage in southern Missouri. In grazing
systems, Bermudagrass can help alleviate the effects of fescue
infected with endophyte. However, being a warm season grass, forage
production in the early spring and fall is very limited.
Bermudagrass is established by sprigging, dropping sprigs of
Bermudagrass into a shallow furrow and covering the root.
Bermudagrass is a high quality, high yielding forage with a high
fertility requirement. Each spring, usually in late March, prior to
green up, the area is burned with fire to remove the residue and
reduce the winter annual weeds. The area is fertilized at a rate of
100-100-100 pounds per acre of Nitrogen- Phosphorus-Potassium
fertilizer by May 1. The first harvest typically occurs in mid June
and the average yield per cutting over the last three years at FSRC
has been 4780 pounds per acre. Typically at FSRC, Bermudagrass can be
harvested three times a year, in mid June, late July, and early
September. Following each harvest, nitrogen is applied at a rate of
100 pounds per acre. We will continue to evaluate the winter hardiness
and yield potential of Ozark over the next several years so that a
science based use recommendation can be determined.
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