Forage crops variety testing 1976

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Agronomy Extension Specialists

Published by

THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE

North Carolina State University at Raleigh and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Cooperating. State University Station, Raleigh, N. C., George Hyatt, Jr., Director. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30,1914.

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INTRODUCTION

_...

Page

1 Names and Addresses of Cooperators and Extension Staff.. 3

Map of Test Locations

...

4

Geographical Information on 1975 Test Sites ...•... 5

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

...

6

WINTER ANNUAL GRASSES .•...•...•... 8

Results and Discussion ...•... 8

Agencies Sponsoring Entries ....•...•.•... 10

Piedmont, Rowan County Location

Dry Forage Yields .•...•...•....•.. 11 Crude Protein Percent ...•... 12 Crude Protein Pounds Per Acre ...•.. 13

Piedmont Long-Term Averages of Dry Forage Yield and

Protein .•...•.•.••...•.•...•... 14

Coastal Plains, Johnston County Location

Dry Forage Yields ...•...•.•..•... 15 Crude Protein Percent ...•...•...•. 16 Crude Protein Pounds Per Acre ...•...•... 17

Coastal Plains Long-Term Averages of Dry Forage Yield

and Prate in ...••...•.•.•...•... 18

S~R ANNUAL GRASSES •...•...•...•...•.. 19

Results and Discussion ...•....•.•.•...•. 19

Agencies Sponsoring Entries ...•.•...

Coastal Plains, Bertie County Location

Dry Forage Yield ...••...•...••...•..•... Crude Protein Percent ..••...••...•...•...•. Dry Forage Yield, Crude Protein, Crude Fiber,

Total Digestible Nutrients and Estimated

Net Energy ...••...•....•.••....•..•.•....•••. 22

23 24

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Dry Forage Yields ...•...•...•..••..••.. 26 Crude Protein Percent ...•...•...•... 27

Dry Forage Yield, Crude Protein, Crude Fiber Total Digestible Nutrients and Estimated Net

Energy ...•...•...••...•...•....•.•...•... 28

Coastal Plains Long-Term Averages of Dry Forage

Yield, Crude Protein and Total Digestible Nutrients 29

Piedmont, Rowan County Location

Dry Forage Yields .•.•....•...•••...•..•..•. 30 Crude Protein Percent ...•...•...•....•..•.. 31 Dry Forage Yields, Crude Protein, Crude Fiber,

Total Digestible Nutrients and Estimated Net

Energy ...•.••..•...•..••...•...••...•... 32

Piedmont, Granville County Location

Dry Forage Yields ••••....•...•....•••.•.•.•••. Crude Protein Percent ...••....•..••.•.•.•... Dry Forage Yields, Crude Protein, Crude Fiber, Total Digestible Nutrients and Estimated Net

Ene rgy ...•...•...••.•...•.•....••..••..•...

Piedmont Long-Term Averages of Dry Forage Yield,

Crude Protein and Total Digestible Nutrients ....•..•..

PERENN'I~ FORAGES ...•...•...••...•...••...•...•...

Results and Discussion .••..•.•...•••.••...•....••.••

Agencies Sponsoring Entries ...•...•....•....•....•...•.

Perennial Grasses - Piedmont, Rowan County Location

Dry Forage Yield .•...••..•...••...•.•...•..

APPENDIX

List of Appendix Tab les .••..•.•...••.••...••..•...•..••

Appendix Tab les ...•...•...•.•..•...••.•.•...••.•.•.•.•. 33 34

35

36

37

38

39

40

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INTRODUCTION

EVALUATION OF FORAGE CROPS VARIETIES IN NORTH CAROLINA

New forage varieties and hybrids are constantly being released from public

and private sources. In addition, forage breeders are continually interested

in testing expertmentals under a variety of growing conditions. In order to

determine adaptability and productivity, it is necessary that these forages

be tested under North Carolina growing conditions. The purpose of this

publication is to present comparative data on the various forages tested in

North Carolina.

The varieties tested are classed into three major groups: winter annual

grasses including rye, wheat, oats, barley, and ryegrass; summer annual grasses

including sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, pearl millet and sudangrass; and

perennial forages such as alfalfa, ladino clover, orchardgrass and tall fescue.

Silage information is not included in this publication.

All varieties are managed on a multiple-cut system with most varieties

being clipped three or more times to s~ulate, as nearly as possible, rotational

grazing or haying conditions.

Since dry matter yields are considered one of the major factors in

comparing forages, yields are reported on all forages tested. Crude protein

is reported for annual grasses, while crude fiber and estimates of total

digestible nutrients and net energy are reported for sorghum-sudangrass hybrids,

sudangrass and pearl millet.

Weather-gathering instruments are often not available at the exact tests

sites. However, climatological data are presented from stations nearest a

given test and are listed in the appendix. In most cases reporting stations

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Long-term yield averages are given for entries which have been tested

for more than one year. In order to properly evaluate a variety for anyone

area, data taken for more than one year are desirable.

Experimental lines are sponsored through the Agricultural Research Service,

USDA, Beltsville, Maryland; institutions, and privately owned companies.

These lines are not available on the common market. All entries from privately

owned companies are on a fee basis, whether they are experimental lines or

varieties offered for sale in North Carolina. The Crop Science Department,

N. C. State University reserves the right to enter proven varieties to be used

as standards. All varieties are from certified sources or from sources which

would be able to verify the origin. This gives assurance as to the purity of

the entries tested and results reported here could likely be reproduced.

Annual forage tests are conducted on private farms as well as state

experiment stations. The perennial tests are located solely on state experiment

stations. Cooperators are listed in Table 1. The Forage Variety Testing

Program expresses appreciation to these individuals and to the county extension

agents and their staffs for assistance in conducting these tests.

Statistical analyses and most other computations are made in the

Statistical Laboratory and Computing Center at North Carolina State University.

Supervision of these operations is by Dr. John

o.

Rawlings and Mrs. Sandra

Donaghy.

Nitrogen analyses are conducted by the Department of Soil Science,

Analytical Service Laboratory at N. C. State University under the supervision

of Drs. James W. Gillam and Maurice Watson.

Crude fiber and moisture percentages are determined by the North Carolina

Department of Agriculture, Feed Branch Division of Analytical Chemistry under

the supervision of Dr. Jack W. Van Stavern and Mr. Robert Teague. Appreciation

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Table 1. Names and addresses of cooperators and extension staff in 1975 North Carolina Forage Variety Trials.

Name

Winter Annual Grasses

Clyde Z. McSwain

W. R. Baker, Jr.

Summer Annual Grasses

Johnathan Evans

Rhodes Bond

Jim Smith

Clyde Z. McSwain

Perennial Forages

Clyde Z. McSwain

Address

Salisbury, N. C. Rowan County

Clayton, N. C. Johnston County

Fayetteville, N. C. Cumberland County

Windsor, N. C. Bertie County

Butner, N. C. Granville County

Salisbury, N. C. Rowan County

Extension Agent or Experiment Station

Piedmont Research Station David Hall

Central Crops Research Station

Bruce Woodard Mike Mauney

Walden M. Hearn, Jr.

William B. Umstead Farm Charles Gantt

Piedmont Research Station David Hall

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fORSYTH I GUllfOOO

II

WINTERANNUAL GRASSES

e

SU1'1MER ANNUAL GRASSES

II) PERENNIAL GRASSES

Sl(~fS fl)CK!NGHAM

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Crop Location Soil Length of Growing Season Average Annual Rainfall

Perennial Grasses, Piedmont Research Station Winter Annuals, Salisbury, North Carolina

Summer Annuals Central Piedmont, Rowan County Approx. Elev. 825 feet.

Davidson-Mecklenburg Association 200 Days Dark red clay loam soil with

firm red clay, thick subsoil.

49 inches Winter Annuals Summer Annuals Sununer Annuals Sunnner Annual Grasses

Central Crops Research Station Clayton, North Carolina

West Central Coastal Plain Johnston County

Approx. Elev. 330 feet. Rhodes Bond Farm

Windsor, North Carolina Northern Coastal Plain Bertie County

Approx. Elev. 50 feet. Johnathan Evans Farm

Fayetteville, North Carolina Southern Coastal Plain

Cumberland County

Approx. Elev. 100 feet.

William B. Umstead State Farm Butner, North Carolina

Northern Piedmont Granville County

Approx. Elev. 500 feet.

Norfolk-Ruston Association Lig~gray loam surface soil Yellow friable sandy clay loam

subsoil.

Caroline Association Gray loam surface soil Fine sandy clay subsoil.

Norfolk-Ruston Association Light gray surface soil Yellow friable sandy clay

loam subsoil.

Helena-Wilkes Association Gray sandy loam soil with firm clay subsoil.

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Generally accepted research techniques for small-plot experiments were

employed on all tests. Cultural practices were in accord with sound research

techniques. Fertilization, seeding rates, dates, and other cultural

infor-mation of a given test are listed with the table which gives dry matter yields

by harvests for that test.

Unless the reader is directly interested in the experimental details, he

may desire to continue with the Results and Discussion Section.

A randomized complete block with five replications was used for each

test.

Plot length in all cases was twenty feet. All plots were 2~ feet wide. Blocks were separated by not less than 2~ feet and all tests were bordered

by material either identical or comparable to that included in the test.

In tests which included different species with major differences in

seasonal productivity, borders were maintained between varieties. Where

major seasonal differences between varieties were not a factor, borders were

not used and the entire plot was harvested for yield.

All plots contained three rows nine inches apart. Seeding was accomplished

with a push-type Planet Jr. Seeder which was calibrated for each variety.

Seeding rates for all tests conducted were adjusted to 100 percent

germination as determined by the Seed Testing Laboratory at N. C. State

University under the supervision of Dr. R. P. Moore.

Seeding dates for various tests are shown on tables which show seasonal

yields for a given test. In general, perennials and winter annuals were

seeded in September while summer annuals were seeded in May.

Standard practices were employed in seed bed preparation. No cultivation

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The machine used to harvest plots was a self-propelled, flail knife

chopper designed specifically for small-plot work. Wheels of the machine were

spaced such that the harvest rows and the stubble were not damaged during

harvesting. The height in inches of stubble left after harvesting was as

follows: alfalfa, 3; other perennials and winter annual grasses, 2~; and

summer annual grasses, 6.

Harvesting procedure included drying either the whole sample or a

subsample from all of the plots. Subsampling was necessary in some cases due

to the bulk of material being handled and shortage of drying space. When

subsamples were used, all the plots in a test were subsampled.

Samples were dried in a forced air drier at 1300 Fahrenheit. Moisture

remaining in the samples from the summer annual grass tests was determined

to be from five to nine percent. Extreme variations did not exist within

separate harvests and no attempt was made to standardize dry weight yields to

a constant moisture level. Moisture remaining in samples from winter annual

and perennial tests was assumed to be less than ten percent.

After drying, composite samples were taken and ground through a Wiley

Mill.

Crude protein determinations were made for both summer and winter annuals,

but only the summer annuals were tested for percent crude fiber. Crude protein

determinations were made on two composites of each entry on each harvest.

Crude fiber and moisture were determined from a sample composited over all

harvests at a given location.

The A.O.A.C. method was used to determine crude fiber percent. Nitrogen

was determined by standard Kjeldahl procedure. Formulae for computing

various nutritional estimates were: total digestible nutrients percent

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Crude protein was calculated as percent nitrogen multiplied by 6.25. Crude

fiber and crude protein for summer annual grasses are reported on an absolute

dry basis.

WINTER ANNUAL GRASSES

Small grains and ryegrass serve as an important part of the winter feeding

program on many farms in North Carolina. Since silage is one of the prtmary

winter feeds, these crops are of particular importance in supplying

supple-mental energy and protein for silage-fed animals. Maximum production of winter

annual grasses occurs in the early spring when feed supplies are generally

short; therefore, farmers should carefully consider a small grain or ryegrass

or a mixture of the two in their feeding program.

Sponsoring agencies for the winter annual crops are given in Table 3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Forage yields varied considerably within and between the two winter

annual tests (Tables 4 and 8). Relative ranges among varieties differed

greatly for the geographical region. Extremely wet weather delayed harvest

of the Rowan County test until the end of March, and only three harvests were

taken for the season. In the Piedmont, Rowan County, total seasonal production

for the winter annuals ranged from 1869 pounds per acre for B1ueboy II wheat

to 2984 pounds per acre for Gurley's GI 75 rye (Table 4).

Five harvests were taken in the Coastal Plain with total production ranging

from 2462 pounds per acre for Coker 227 Oats to 6226 pounds per acre for

T-E GroGreen rye (Table 8). In the Coastal Plain, the ryegrasses ranged from

3524 pounds per acre for Sabalon to 5248 pounds per acre for Gulf. In the

Piedmont test ryegrasses ranged from 3837 pounds per acre for Sabrina to 4401

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Seasonal yield should be considered in making any decision on varieties

or species. Rye is generally earlier in spring forage production and in

termination of growth than ryegrass. Therefore, rye is better suited to a

double-cropping program than ryegrass. Ryegrass usually produces more forage

than rye during late April and the month of May.

Some difference did exist in percent crude protein (Tables 5 and 9) and

crude protein per acre (Tables 6 and 10). Crude protein is dependent upon

nitrogen applied, variable nitrogen status of the soil, rainfall and yield.

Total crude protein harvested per acre is obviously dependent upon yield as

well as percent crude protein in the plant tissue (Tables 6 and 10). When

selecting between species, one should weigh these factors against the other

performance factors. The significant point is that during the winter period

these crops can supply a considerable amount of protein needed in animal

nutrition.

Ryegrass may at times become a pest since it volunteers readily. This

is especially true in the Piedmont when it is used in rotation with the small

grains or alfalfa. Infestation by ryegrass in small grains, alfalfa and

culti-vated crops has been a problem to some in the past, however, herbicides can now

be used effectively to reduce this problem. Check the latest North Carolina

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Table 3. Name, address and variety designation of agencies sponsoring entries in the 1975 Winter Grass Test.

Name

Agriculture Service Corporation

Berger

&

Plate Company

Coker's Pedigreed Seed Company

Gurley Milling Company

McNair Seed Company

Pennington Grain and Seed, Inc.

Northrup, King &Company

Taylor-Evans Seed Company

N. C. Agricultural Extension Service

Van Der Have Company

Address

7726 Lakeside Drive, N.E. Salem, Oregon

1 California Street

San Francisco, California

Hartsville South Carolina Selma North Carolina Laurinburg North Carolina Box 290 Madison, Georgia Box 959 Minneapolis, Minnesota Tulia, Texas

Raleigh, N. C.

1610 Forest Ridge Place Mt. Vernon, Washington

Hybrid Designation Billion Westerwold Tetraploid Ryegrass LSC-ROI Tetraploid Ryegrass

Coker 227 Oat

Gurley Grazer 2000 Rye Gurley GI 75 Rye

McNair Vita-Graze Rye McNair Vita-Graze N Rye

Wintergrazer 70 Rye

Sabalon Italian Tetra. Ryegrass

Sabrina Hybrid Tetra. Ryegrass

T-E Gro-Green Rye T-E Expt. 7105 Rye

Wrenn's Abruzzi Rye Blue Boy II Wheat Clayton Barley Carolee Oats Gulf Ryegrass

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Table 4. FVT 118 Winter annual grasses, dry forage yields, Piemnont, Rowan County, North Carolina, 1974-75.

Pounds Per Acre Dry FOrage!.!

Entry

Gurley!s GI 75 Wintergrazer 70 Vita Graze T-E Exp. 7105 T-E Gro-Green Wrenn's Abruzzi Vita Graze N

Gurley's Grazer 2000

Wheat Blueboy II Barley Clayton Coker 227 Carolee Ryegrass 3/27 2093 1583 1969 1604 1521 1469 1647 1391 91 146 346 304 4/17 675 645 530 653 506 709 579 743 661 780 536 613 Harvest Dates 5/6 5/2.8 1216 1427 1080 1205 1377 1203 1028 1117 1117 1417 1329 1113 6/9 Total 3984 3655 3579 3462 3404 3381 3254 3251 1869 2343 2211 2030 Gulf LSC-ROI Ninak

Sabal.on Italian Billion Westerwold Sabrina

Mea'n of Test

-L.S.D. (.05) (.01) 1180 514 687 893 1103 926 992 968 839 742 402 534 1117 985 1019 913 1051 981

illQ

327 435 2109 2008 2046 1915 1740 1780

illl

678 925 282 284 283 296 280 237 134 182 4401 4380 4274 4116 4039 3837 834 1107

1/

Average of five replicati ons ,

Seeded October 1, 1974 at rate of: Rye - 2 bu/A, Wheat - 3 bu/A, Oats - 2 bu/A, Barley - 2 bu/A, Ryegrass - 40 Ibs/A

Fertilization: 50 lbs. N, 50 lbs. P

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Table 5. FVT 118 Winter annual grasses, crude protein percent. Piedmont, Rowan County, North Carolina - 1975

Percent Crude Protein

Harvest Dates

Entry 3/27 4/12 5/6 5/28 6/9 Average

Rye

Gur1ey's GI 75 15.0 21.6 15.9 16.3

Wintergrazer 70 14.1 22.8 15.5 16.1

Vita-Graze 13.3 23.5 15.4 15.5

T-E Exp. 7105 14.8 21.5 15.7 16.4

T-E Gro-Green 13.4 27.7 15.1 16.2

Wrenn's Abruzzi 14.2 24.4 15.4 16.8

Vita-Graze N 14.7 22.3 15.4 16.4

GurleyIs Grazer 2000 11.5 21.4 16.3 15.5

Wheat

B1ueboy I I 18.7 20.8 16.0 17.8

Barley

Clayton 18.6 22.6 18.3 19.3

Oats

Coker 227 16.0 20.6 13.0 15.5

Caro1ee 19.2 22.0 14.1 16.8

Ryegrass

Gulf _24.6 _23.4 _17.8 _22.5 _21.3

LSC-R01 26.7 23.9 21.1 23.1 23.3

Ninak 26.1 23.4 17.8 22.5 21.3

Sab aLon Italian 25.9 25.2 21.9 23.9 23.8

Billion Westerwo1d 25.6 22.7 19.3 19.8 21.7

Sabrina _26.9 _22.6 _18.5 _20.6 _21.5

Mean of Test 15.3 23.7 18.2 20.3 22.1 18.5

---L.S.D. (.05 ) _1.1 _1.2 _1.0 _1.3 _1.2 _1.0

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Table 6. FVT 118 Winter annual grasses, pounds per acre crude protein. Piedmont, Rowan County, North Carolina - 1975

Pounds Per Acre

Harvest Dat e s

Entry 3/27 4/12 5/6 5/28 6/9 Total

Rye

Gurley's GI 75 313 145 194 652

Wintergrazer 70 223 146 221 590

Vita-Graze 263 124 166 553

T-E Exp. 7105 237 140 191 568

T-E Gro-Green 204 139 208 551

Wrenn's Abruzzi 163 159 182 504

Vita-Graze N 243 131 158 532

Gurley's Grazer 2000 163 159 182 504

Wheat

Blueboy II 57 128 178 363

Barley

Clayton 64 120 243 427

~

Carolee 18 142 159 319

Coker 227 23 158 184 365

Ryegrass

Gulf 221 268 488 64

1041

LSC-ROl 295 235 423 66

1019

Ninak 242 238 366 64

910

Sabalon Italian 257 229 419 70

975

Billion Westerwold 248 238 336 55

878

222 328 49 824

Sabrina 225

168 177 206 393 61 645

Mean of Test

-(.05) 77 95 62 134

29 160

L.S.D. ₈₃ ₁₈₃ 40 213

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Table

7.

Winter annual grasses, long-term averages of dry forage yield and protein. Piedmont, North Carolina.

Dry Forage Yield and Crude Protein in Pounds Per Acre

1 !

1973 1974 1975 Average

Forage Crude Forage Crude Forage Crude Forage Crude

Entry Yield Protein Yield Protein Yield Protein Yield Protein

Rye

Gurley's GI 75 6408 1036 6326 747 3984 652 5517 804

Wintergrazer 70 5899 1008 6787 797 3655 590 5393 790

Vita-Graze 6409 1053 6479 733 3579 553 5434 772

T-E Exp. 7105 3462 568

T-E Gro-Green 7573 1085 7710 908 3404 551 6167 840

Wrenn's Abruzzi 5946 967 6479 815 3381 504 5216 754

Vita-Graze N 3254 532

Gurley's Grazer 2000 6668 1107 6685 781 3251 504 5479 789

Wheat

B1ueboy II 6333 1078 5902 720 1869 363 4654 713

Barley

Clayton 5950 1088 6221 783 2343 427 4790 758

Oats

Coker 227 5716 656 2211 319 3964 488

Caro1ee 6963 1100 6341 772 2030 365 5060 738

Ryegrass

Gulf 8675 1424 7014 631 4401 1041 6630 1013

LSC-R01 ₄₃₈₀ ₁₀₁₉

Ninak ₄₂₇₄ ₉₁₀

SabaLon Italian ₄₁₁₆ ₉₇₅

Billion Westerwold ₄₀₃₉ ₈₇₈

Sabrina ₃₈₃₇ ₈₂₄

1/A f f' 1 · ·

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Table 8. FVT 119 Winter annual grasses, dry forage yields, Coastal Pl.aLns , Johnston County, North Carolina.

Pounds Per Acre Dry Foragel l

Entry 1/30 2/28

Harvest Dates

3/26 4/16 5/15 Total

T-E Gro Green Wintergrazer 70 Vita-Graze N Gurley's GI 75 Vita-Graze

Gurley's Grazer 2000 T-E Exp. 7105

Wrenn's Abruzzi

Wheat

B1ueboy I I

Barley Clayton Oats

-Carolee Coker 227 Ryegrass Gulf Billion Westerwo1d Ninak LSC-R01 Sabrina Sabalon

L.S

.n,

(.05) (.01) 318 538 997 1176 1420 1112 413 1011 280 183 348 117 664 430 574 1360 1195 1299 1098 811 1100 1173 861 743 472 651 362 790 703 336 273 165 284 760 330 439 1744 1629 1449 1324 1470 1334 1555 1231 786 876 11.62 697 1401 1210 984 865 833 917

nn

280 371 1130 1384 1201 1121 973 1117 1109 1202 754 731 713 671 2082 1562 1903 1768 1788 1508 1262 345 458 1614 1474 12.33 1289 12.35 1202 1265 960 662 696 1093 615 975 1021 921 908 766 815 1041 473 628 6226 6220 6179 6008 5909 5865 5515 5265 3225 2958 3967 2462 5248 4496 4144 3814 3552 3524 ~ 1201 1595

llAverage of five replications.

Seeded September 30, 1974 at rate of: Rye ~ Z bu/A, Wheat - 3 hulA, Oats - 2 bu/A, Barley - 2 bulA, Ryegrass - 40 lbs/A

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Table 9. FVT 119 Winter annual grasses, crude protein percent. Coastal Plain, Johnston County, North Carolina - 1975

Percent Crude Protein

Harvest Dates

Entry 1/30 2/28 3/26 4/16 5/5 Average

Rye

T-E Gro-Green 14.5 25.0 27.1 28.0 18.9 23.9

Wintergrazer 70 13.8 26.0 24.1 24.2 19.0 22.4

Vita-Graze N 11.9 23.7 27.4 25.8 19.3 22.2

Gurley's GI 75 11.7 25.2 28.1 26.9 20.1 22.6

Vita-Graze 13.2 23.2 26.4 26.3 19.0 23.0

Gurley's Grazer 2000 11.7 24.4 26.8 25.1 17.3 21.3

T-E Exp. 7105 13.2 23.2 26.4 26.3 19.0 23.0

WrennIS Abruzzi 12.0 24.0 26.6 25.4 19.2 21.9

Wheat

B1ueboy II 12.1 22.8 26.5 21.7 19.3 21.7

Barley

Clayton 12.7 27.4 28.7 24.9 23.0 25.2

Oats

Carolee 10.7 25.9 26.2 24.3 22.3 23.4

Coker 227 13.0 25.7 24.3 21.8 20.9 22.4

Ryegrass

Gulf 25.5 27.3 24.1 23.9 25.1

Billion Westerwo1d Tetra 25.7 27.9 28.9 32.1 28.9

Ninak 26.4 26.0 29.3 34.2 29.3

LSC R01 23.7 30.3 27.9 29.1 28.4

Sabrina 26.9 26.1 26.1 31.9 27.4

Sab aLon Italian 24.1 29.3 27.7 31.1 28.7

Mean of Test _12.4 _25.0 _26.9 _25.8 _23.2 _24.3

-L.S.D. (.05) .8 1.1 1.5 .5 2.1 1.1

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Table 10. FVT 119 Winter annual grasses, pounds per acre crude protein. Coastal Plain, Johnston County, North Carolina - 1975

Pounds Per Acre

Harvest Dates

Entry 1/30 2/28 3/26 4/16 5/5 Total

Rye

T-E Gro-Green 55 340 472 316 304 1487

Wintergrazer 70 74 310 392 335 281 1392

Vita-Graze N 119 307 397 310 238 1371

Gurley's GI 75 138 278 371 301 259 1347

Vita-Graze 160 191 360 246 213 1170

Gurley's Grazer 2000 130 268 357 280 208 1243

T-E Exp. 7105 54 273 410 292 239 1268

Wrenn's Abruzzi 122 207 328 305 185 1147

Wheat

B1ueboy II 34 169 208 164 128 703

Barley

Clayton 24 129 252 182 160 747

Oats

Caro1ee 38 166 307 173 244 928

Coker 227 16 93 169 146 129 553

Ryegrass

Gulf 201 381 501 232 1315

Billion Westerwo1d 181 338 453 327 1299

Ninak 89 256 558 315 1218

LSC R01 Tetraploid 65 263 494 263 1085

Sabrina 44 217 467 244 972

SabaLon Italian 69 268 417 256 1010

Mean of ~ 80 188 319 330 235 1122

L.S.D. (.05) 51 82 77 92 112 278

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Table 11. Winter annual grasses, long-term averages of dry forage yield and protein. Coastal Plain, North Carolina.

Dry Forage Yield and Crude Protein in Pounds Per Acre!!

1973 1974 1975 Average

Forage Crude Forage Crude Forage Crude Forage Crude Entry Yield Protein Yield Protein Yield Protein Yield Protein

Rye

T-E-Gro-Green 8740 1567 7992 1388 6226 1487 7576 1466 Wintergrazer 70 7861 1444 7185 1141 6220 1392 7018 1312

Vita-Graze N 6179 1371

Gurley's GI 75 8498 1537 7734 1306 6008 1347 7339 1383 Vita-Graze 8123 1409 6490 990 5909 1170 6772 1178 Gurley's Grazer 2000 8575 1458 7054 1163 5865 1243 7093 1275

T-E Exp. 7105 5515 1268

Wrenn's Abruzzi 7891 1387 6882 1042 5265 1147 6613 1181

Wheat

Blueboy I I 6304 1105 4990 742 3225 703 4791 842

Barley

Clayton 6223 1016 3019 369 2958 747 4026 704

Oats

Caro1ee 8114 1286 5092 694 3967 928 5667 960

Coker 227 ₄₅₄₈ ₆₃₇ ₂₄₆₂ ₅₅₃ ₃₅₀₅ ₅₉₅

Ryegrass

Gulf 8653 1306 5899 756 5248 1315 6534 1114

Billion Westerwo1d ₄₄₉₆ ₁₂₉₉

Ninak ₄₁₄₄ ₁₂₁₈

LSC-R01 ₃₈₁₄ ₁₀₈₅

Sabrina ₃₅₅₂ ₉₇₂

Sabalan ₃₅₂₄ ₁₀₁₀

(23)

SUMMER ANNUAL GRASSES

Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, pearl millet, and sudangrass, like the winter

annuals, are special purpose crops and serve as an important source of feed

when other pasture crops are in short supply. Their period of maximum

production is during the summer When cool season pasture grasses are low in

production.

In using these crops, careful attention should be given to management.

They require relatively high amounts of fertilizer for high production.

For best quality they should be grazed at 16 to 24 inches of growth or cut

for green chop at 24 to 30 inches of growth. In either case plants should not

be grazed or chopped below 6 to 8 inches in order to insure adequate regrowth.

Sponsoring agencies of the entries in the test are shown in Table 12.

The data presented in Tables 13 through 26 are summaries of the information

gathered on various characters relative to summer annual grasses grown at four

locations, two in the Piedmont and two in the Coastal Plain, during 1975.

These data include: dry forage yield, crude protein percent, crude fiber

percent and estimated total digestible nutrients and net energy. One, two

and three years of data are given for varieties which have been tested for more

than one year (Tables 19 and 26).

The differences in yield for summer annuals at the two Coastal Plain

locations were quite large (Tables 13 and 16), yields being especially low

for the Bertie County Test (Table 13). Only three harvests were taken in

Bertie County due to severe dry weather. The range for the pearl millets in

the Bertie County test was from 4.66 tons per acre for Millet III to 5.01 tons

per acre for Pearlex 37 and for the Sorghum-Sudan hybrids from 2.73 tons per

(24)

location, Cumberland County, the total of five harvests ranged from 7.04 tons

per acre for Pearlex 37 to 7.25 tons per acre for Pearlex 24 and from 4.18 tons

per acre for G-99-F to 5.71 tons per acre for 83F. When dry forage yields for

the two Coastal Plain locations were combined, the pearl millets ranged from

5.89 to 6.08 tons per acre, and the sorghum-sudangrass hybrids ranged from

3.66 to 4.82 tons per acre (Table 19).

In the Piedmont, Rowan County, test yields were 5.01 and 5.69 tons per

acre for the two pearl millets and 4.51 to 6.92 tons per acre for the

sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. Disease and weed infestation caused lower yields for

the second Piedmont test which was located in Granville County (Table 23).

The pearl millet entries produced 4.00 and 4.12 tons per acre and the

sorghum-sudangrass hybrids yields ranged from 3.65 to 5.13 tons per acre. The combined

Piedmont yields were 4.51 and 4.91 tons per acre for the pearl millets while

the sorghum-sudangrass hybrids ranged from 4.20 to 5.82 tons per acre (Table 26).

The curde protein percent of these species did differ to some extent

(Tables 14, 17, 21 and 24). Once again, it should be noted that crude protein

per acre increased significantly as dry forage yield increased (Tables 15, 18

22, and 25). The significant point is that during the summer period these

crops will supply considerable amounts of protein.

Some differences did exist in the percent crude fiber, percent total

digestible nutrients (TDN) , and the percent estimated net energy (ENE) of

these summer annual crops (Tables 15, 18 22, and 25). TDN and ENE per acre

increased considerably with increased dry forage yield and should be taken into

account when maximum energy production per acre is desired.

No attempt has been made to specify the superiority of any varieties or

species. The long-term averages should be relied on more heavily in selecting

(25)

Coastal Plain the pearl millets have consistently yielded better than the

sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. Also, factors in addition to dry forage yield

(26)

Table 12. Name, address and variety designation of agencies sponsoring entries in the 1975 Summer Annual Simulated Grazing Trials.

Name

Acco Seed

Coker's Pedigreed Seed Company

DeKa1b AgResearch, Inc.

FFR Cooperative

Funk's Seeds International

Pennington Grain and Seed, Inc.

Taylor Evans Seed Company

North American Plant Breeders

Northrup, King and Company

Address

P. O. Box 1630 Plainview, Texas

Box 340

Hartsville, South Carolina

Route 2

Lubbock, Texas

4112 East State Road 225 Lafayette, Indiana

719-26th Street Lubbock, Texas

Madison, Georgia

Box 68

Tulia, Texas

P. O. Box 568 Hutchinson, Kansas

Box 151

Columbus, Mississippi

Variety Designation

Sweet Sioux III (88) Sweet Sioux IV (88) S-99

(88)

Coker 74-5F

(SS)

8udax

8X

16

(88)

Sudax SX 17 (SS)

FFR 66 (S8)

83F (S8) G-99F

(8S)

Millet III (Pearl Millet)

Summergrazer (S8)

T-E Haygrazer

(88)

Saxon

(S8)

Pearl 24 Millet Pear1ex 37 Millet

Trudan 5 (Sudangrass) Millex 23 Millet

(27)

Table 13. FVT 125 _{SUIInller annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry} forage yield. _{Coastal Plain, Bertie County - 1975.}

Tons Per Acre Dry Forage!./

Harvest Dates _Total

Entry _7/2 _7/30 _9/19

For Year

Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids

83F _.67 _2.56 _.99 _3.92

T-E Haygrazer _.66 _2.22 _.82 _3.70

Sweet Sioux III .75 1.77 1.13 3.65

Coker 74-5F .78 2.00 .78 3.56

S-99 .65 1.93 .97 3.55

SX-16 .66 1.93 .84 3.43

Sweet Sioux IV .62 1.88 .91 3.41

SX-17 .50 2.01 .89 3.40

G-99F .47 1.95 .71 3.13

FFR 66 .52 1.82 .70 3.04

FFR 74 .57 1.35 .81 2.73

Pearl Millet

Pear1ex 37 .98 2.30 1.73 5.01

Pearlex 24 1.20 2.06 1.65 4.91

Millet III 1.11 2.02 1.53 4.66

Mean of Test .72 1.97 1.03 3.72

-L.S.D. (.05) .17 .26 .22 .44

(.01) .22 .35 .30 .59

l/Average of five replications.

Seeded May 13, 1975 at rate of: Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids - 40 1bs/acre Pearl Millet - 25 lbs/acre

Fertilization: 24 lbs. N, 72 1bs. P

20, 144 lbs. P205 per acre at planting and 50 1bs. N after each harvest except the last.

(28)

Table 14. FVT 125 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials,

11

crude protein percent. Coastal Plain, Bertie County - 197~ .

d P -

21

Percent Cru e

rote1n-Entry 7/2

Harvest Dates

7/30 9/19

83F 15.4 9.2 10.9

T-E Haygrazer 13.0 9.5 10.9

Sweet Sioux III 14.0 12.5 9.9

Coker 74-5F 13.3 11.0 10.5

S-99 14.2 10.0 10.5

SX-16 12.2 9.4 11.4

Sweet Sioux IV 13.6 10.8 11.7

SX-17 15.0 12.4 9.8

G-99F 15.5 9.6 11.0

FFR 66 15.8 9.3 10.7

FFR 74 15.2 14.5 11.0

Pearl Millet

Pear1ex 3F 11.4 13.2 8.5

Pear1ex 24 11.4 8.8 10.4

Millet III 9.9 9.1 7.5

Mean of Test 13.6 10.7 10.3

-L.S.D. (.05) .7 1.0 .6

(.01) _9 _1.3 _.8

l/protein percentages are based on a composite sample made up of three replications.

2/D- -b1

- 1gest1 e protein may be computed by using formulae:

(29)

Table 15. FVT 125 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yield, crude protein, crude fiber, total digestib1e1~utrients,and est~ated net energy. Coastal Plain, Bertie County - 1975- .

Dry Crude Crude Total Digestible Estimated

Weight Protein Fiber Nutrients Net Energy

Entry Tons/Acre % Lb/Acre % % Lb/Acre % Lb/Acre

Sorghum-Sudan Hubrids

83 F 3.92 10.6 835 28.8 59.8 4700 48.3 3795

T-E Haygrazer 3.70 10.4 773 30.8 58.4 4327 46.3 3433

Sweet Sioux III 3.65 12.0 878 31.4 58.0 4244 45.8 3352

Coker 74-5F 3.56 11.3 806 30.0 59.0 4209 47.2 3368

8-99 3.55 10.9 773 30.7 58.5 4150 46.5 3298

SX-l6 3.43 10.4 714 29.5 59.3 4077 47.6 3273

Sweet Sioux IV 3.41 11.5 791 30.3 58.8 4019 47.0 3203

SX-l7 3.40 12.2 829 31.6 57.9 3935 45.6 3098

G-99F 3.13 10.8 675 28.2 60.2 3766 48.9 3056

FFR 66 3.04 10.8 654 28.7 59.9 3632 48.4 2935

FFR 74 2.73 13.6 742 28.0 60.3 3297 49.0 2678

Pearl Millet

Pearlex 37 5.01 11.2 1122 29.8 59.1 5914 47.3 4735

Pearlex 2"4 4.91 10.0 979 28.6 60.0 5887 48.5 4764

Millet III 4.66 8.8 818 30.0 59.0 5506 47.2 4401

~ of Test 3.72 11.0 813 29.8 59.2 4404 47.4 3528

L.S.D. (.05) .44 .6 145 .8 .'6 519 .8 417

(.01) .59 .8 109 1.1 .8 692 1.1 556

(30)

Table 16. FVT 127 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yields. Coastal Plain, Cumberland County - 1975

1/

Tons Per Acre Dry

Forage-Harvest Dates Total

Entry 6/16 7/9 7/31 8/28 10/24 For Year

83F .79 1.86 1.04 .93 1.09 5.71

S 99 .85 1.85 .96 .94 1.07 5.67

T-E Haygrazer .78 1.92 1.11 .93 .88 5.62

Sweet Sioux IV .83 1.89 1.00 .92 .87 5.52

SX 16 .83 1.87 .95 .84 .98 5.47

Sweet Sioux III .76 1.70 1.00 .94 1.07 5.47

FFR 74 .76 1.66 1.28 .82 .61 5.13

FFR 66 .46 1.75 1.12 .82 .97 5.12

Coker 74-5F .72 1.65 .90 .85 .82 4.94

SX-lF .63 1.70 .79 .79 1.00 4.91

G-99-F .53 1.61 .56 .76 .72 4.18

Pearl Millet

Pearlex 24 .94 2.27 1.21 1.23 1.60 7.25

Millet III .95 2.48 .98 1.30 1.41 7.12

Pear1ex 37 .85 2.19 1.14 1.52 1.34 7.04

Mean of Test .76 1.89 1.00 .97 1.03 5.65

---L.S.D. (.05) .11 .26 .20 .25 .11 .50

(.01) .14 .34 .27 .33 .14 .67

1/

- Average of five replications.

Seeded May 15, 1975 at rate of: Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids - 40 Ibs/acre Pearl Millet - 25 lbs/acre

Fertilization:

Weed Control:

24 1bs. N, 72 1bs. K₂₀ and 144 1bs. P20 per acre at planting and 50 1bs. N per acre after each harve~t except the last.

(31)

Table 17. FVT 127 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials,

crude protein percent. Coastal Plain, Cumberland County - 1975

1/

Percent Crude

Protein~/

Harvest Dates

Entry 6/16 7/9 7/31 8.28 10/24

83F 17.2 14.8 19.4 15.6 11.7

S-99 15.3 12.8 16.2 16.0 10.9

T-E Haygrazer 16.1 15.1 16.1 15.7 11.1

Sweet Sioux IV 16.8 13.6 15.4 16.5 11.0

SX-l6 16.7 14.2 18.0 15.0 10.5

Sweet Sioux III 17.5 12.7 16.4 14.2 10.9

FFR 74 17.4 16.6 15.8 16.9 13.2

FFR 66 19.0 15.3 18.2 16.9 9.9

Coker 74-5F 16.3 15.3 16.7 15.2 10.2

SX-17 17.9 14.1 20.6 14.1 10.9

G-99-F 18.9 13.3 16.2 15.0 11.7

Pearl Millet

Pear1ex 24 19.1 12.2 16.1 17.0 13.1

Millet III 19.1 12.4 15.0 13.9 13.3

Pearlex 37 17.1 11.3 18.0 15.3 13.3

Mean of Test 17.5 13.8 17.0 15.5 11.5

---L.S.D. (.05) 1.3 1.6 1.6 .7 .9

(.01) 1.7 2.1 2.2 1.0 1.2

l/protein percentages are based on a composite sample made up of five replications.

~/Digestibleprotein may be computed by using formulae:

(32)

Table 18. FVT 127 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yield, crude protein, crude fiber, total digestible nutitents, and estimated net energy. Coastal Plain, Cumberland County - 1975- •

Dry Crude Crude Total Digestible Estimated Weight Protein Fiber Nutrients Net Energy

Sorghmn-Sud an Hybrids

83F 5.71 15.5 1772 26.1 61.7 7035 50.9 5807

8-99 5.67 13.9 1577 28.7 59.9 6798 48.4 5497

T-E Haygrazer 5.62 14.9 1678 27.8 60.5 6822 49.2 5555 Sweet Sioux IV 5.52 14.5 1589 27.8 60.5 6655 49.3 5421

SX-16 5.47 14.7 1614 28.1 60.3 6606 49.0 5365

Sweet Sioux III 5.47 13.9 1525 29.3 59.5 6517 47.9 5243

FFR 74 5.13 16.1 1649 25.7 61.9 6343 51.3 5249

FFR 66 5.12 15.5 1586 26.4 61.5 6298 50.7 5187

Coker 74-5F 4.94 14.8 1465 28.7 59.9 5920 48.4 4786

8X-17 4.91 14.9 1467 28.4 60.1 5917 48.7 4795

G-99-F 4.18 14.4 1210 26.9 61.2 5130 50.2 4208

Pearl Millet

Pear1ex 24 7.25 14.8 2141 28.7 59.9 8686 48.4 7022 Millet III 7.12 14.1 2016 29.5 59.3 8456 47.7 6789 Pear1ex 37 7.04 14.3 2015 28.6 60.0 8442 48.6 6832

Mean of Test 5.69 14.6 1662 27.9 60.5 6830 49.2 5554

L.S.D. (.05) .50 .6 156 .7 .5 605 .6 494

(.01) .67 .8 207 .9 .6 807 .9 659

1/

(33)

long-term averages of dry forage yields, crude protein and total digestible nutrients. Coastal Plain-, Entry Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids Dry Forage Tons/A 1973 Crude Protein Lbs/A TDN Lbs/A Dry Forage Tons/A 1974 Crude Protein TDN Lbs/A Lbs/A Dry Forage Tons/A 1975 Crude Protein TDN Lbs/A Lbs/A Dry Forage Tons/A Average Crude Protein TDN Lbs/A Lbs/A 83F T-E Haygrazer S-99

Sweet Sioux III Sweet Sioux IV SX-l6 Coker 74-5F SX 17 FFR 66 FFR 74 G-99F Pearl Millet Pear1ex 24 Pearlex 37 Millet III 4.48 3.92 4.79 4.75 4.18 960 836 965 978 890 5191 4680 5551 5483 4887 2.73 2.87 3.16 2.66 2.65 2.53 2.30 3.94 385 449 488 443 417 323 378 565 3163 3389 3667 3074 3209 2949 2817 4712 4.82 4.66 4.61 4.56 4.47 4.45 4.25 4.16 4.08 3.93 3.66 6.08 6.03 5.89 1304 1226 1175 1246 1190 1152 1136 1148 1120 1196 943 1560 1569 1417 5868 5575 5474 5381 5337 5341 5065 4926 4965 4820 4448 7287 7178 6981 3.96 3.80 4.17 3,.95 3.41 3.60 3.12 5.01 857 820 900 858 783 778 787 1063 4643 4514 4866 4633 4068 4267 3819 6000 N \0

Mean of Test

(34)

Table 20. FVT 126 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yields. Piedmont, Rowan County - 1975.

Tons Per Acre Dry ForagJ/

Harvest Dates Total

Entry 6/18 7/28 8/20 10/14 For Year

SX-17 .56 3.45 .53 2.38 6.92

Sweet Sioux III .92 2.52 .46 2.29 6.19

83F .94 2.28 .49 2.25 5.96

Sordan 70A .76 2.61 .46 2.09 5.92

Sweet Sioux IV .86 2.45 .47 2.12 5.90

SX-l6 .83 2.40 .45 2.08 5.76

T-E Haygrazer .78 2.45 .55 1.94 5.72

Swnrnergrazer .53 2.64 .45 2.07 5.69

FFR 66 .47 2.50 .69 2.00 5.65

Saxon .88 2.39 .47 1.88 5.62

G-99F .64 3.28 .21 1.49 5.62

S-99 .90 2.24 .36 2.08 5.58

74-5F .63 2.24 .58 2.10 5.55

FFR 74 .84 2.07 .71 1.85 5.47

Trudan 5 .66 1.81 .43 1.61 4.51

Pearl Millet

Mi11ex 23 .67 3.61 .19 1.22 5.69

Millet III .66 2.91 .21 1.23 5.01

Mean of Test .74 2.58 .45 1.92 5.69

---L.S.D. (.05) .16 .66 .12 .25 .78

(.01) .22 .88 .16 .33 1.04

11

Seeded May 14, 1975 at rate of: Sorghum Sudan - 40 1bs/acre

Pearl Millet - 25 1bs/acre

Fertilization:

Weed Control:

20 lbs. N, 50 lbs. P205 and 50 lbs. K20 per acre at planting and 50 1bs. N per acre after each harvest except the last.

(35)

Table 21. FVT 126 _{Sunnner annual grasses simulated grazing trial"} crude protein percent. Piedmont, Rowan County - 1975- .

Percent Crude

Protein~/

Harvest Dates

Entry 6/18 7/28 8/20 10/14 Sorghum-Sudan

Hybrids

SX-1F 22.1 14.8 15.2 11.6 Sweet Sioux III 20.6 14.3 15.9 10.8 83F 20.7 15.2 17.4 12.4 Sordan 70A 21.7 13.8 14.1 12.1 Sweet Sioux IV 20.9 12.3 13.3 10.8 SX-16 19.5 13.7 15.7 11.9 T-E Haygrazer 20.5 14.7 13.4 12.7 Sununergrazer 23.2 13.0 15.1 10.5 FFR 66 22.6 12.8 15.5 9.4 Saxon 22.1 14.3 16.8 10.1 G-99F 21.0 14.0 16.4 10.9 S-99 20.0 15.5 14.8 11.3 74-5F 22.0 16.6 15.5 10.4 FFR 74 21.2 17.1 16.2 11.8 Trudan 5 22.2 14.3 15.7 15.1

Pearl Millet

Mil1ex 23 24.2 16.7 18.0 14.8 Millet III 23.9 14.9 16.0 16.9 Mean of Test 21.7 14.6 15.6 12.0

-L.S.D. (.05) 1.4 1.0 1.0 .6 (.01) 1.9 1.4 1.3 .7

I/protein percentages are based on a composite sample made up of five

replications.

l/Digestible protein may be computed by using formulae:

(36)

Table 22. FVT 126 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yield, crude protein, crude fiber, total digef~ib1e nutrients and esttmated net energy. Piedmont, Rowan County - 1975- •

SX 17 6.92 14.3 1980 28.1 60.3 8341 48.9 6773

Sweet Sioux III 6.19 14.0 1735 29.3 59.5 7358 47.8 5916

83F 5.95 15.2 1806 27.5 60.7 7229 49.6 5901

Sordan 70A 5.92 14.2 1683 28.3 60.1 7116 48.8 5769

Sweet Sioux IV 5.90 13.1 1549 31.0 58.3 6881 46.2 5454

SX-16 5.76 14.1 1621 28.1 60.3 6945 49.0 5642

T-E Haygrazer 5.72 14.7 1681 30.0 59.0 6754 47.2 5400

Sunnnergrazer 5.69 13.2 1503 29.7 59.2 6739 47.4 5400

FFR 66 5.66 12.9 1459 31.5 57.9 6545 45.7 5159

Saxon 5.62 14.3 1609 29.7 59.1 6658 47 .4 5335

G-99F 5.62 14.1 1577 29.2 59.5 6679 47.9 5373

S-99 5.58 14.6 1625 28.2 60.3 6719 48.9 5455

74-5F 5.55 14.7 1639 29.3 59.4 6597 47.8 5302

FFR 74 5.47 15.8 1727 27.1 61.0 6673 50.0 5467

Trudan 5 4.51 15.9 1429 28.3 60.2 5421 48.8 4397

Pearl Millet

Mi11ex 23 5.69 17.2 1960 25.3 62.3 7085 51.7 5882

Millet III 5.01 16.6 1672 25.3 62.2 6248 51.6 5187

Mean of Test 5.69 41.6 1662 28.6 60.0 6823 49.0 5518

L.S.D. (.05) .78 .6 245 .7 .5 927 .7 745

(.01) 1.04 .8 325 .9 .7 1231 .9 990

(37)

Table 23. _{FVT 124}

Sunnner annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yields. _{Piedmont, Granville County - 1975.}

Tons Per Acre Dry Forage.!./

Harvest Dates _Total

Entry _6/30 _7/29 _8/18

10/20 For Year

Sorghwn-Sudan Hybrids

83F .33 2.30 .75 1.75 5.13

FFR 74 .38 2.07 1.00 1.66 5.12

Sordan 70A .34 2.22 .66 1.65 4.87

Sweet Sioux III .29 2.46 .55 1.56 4.86

FFR 66 .26 2.05 .81 1.70 4.82

T-E Haygrazer .47 1.78 .74 1.78 4.77

SX-17 .34 2.31 .57 1.50 4.72

SX-16 .46 2.19 .54 1.44 4.63

Sweet Sioux IV .31 2.20 .59 1.44 4.54

Sunnnergrazer .25 1.94 .71 1.61 4.51

S-99 .43 1.76 .60 1.69 4.48

Saxon .35 2.15 .67 1.26 4.43

74-5F .25 2.09 .58 1.47 4.39

Trudan 5 .10 1.59 .59 1.60 3.88

G-99F .41 2.07 .39 .78 3.65

Pearl Millet

Millex 23 .42 2.15 .32 1.23 4.12

Millet III .40 1.88 .20 1.52 4.00

Mean of Test .34 2.07 .64 1.50 4.52

-L.S.D. (.05) .08 .57 .18 .36 .65

(.01) .10 .75 .24 .48 .87

1/

Seeded May 22, 1975 at rate of: Sorghum Sudan - 40 lbs/acre Pearl Millet - 25 1bs/acre

Fertilization:

Weed Control:

50 1bs. N, 100 1bs. P

Z05 and 100 1bs. KOper acre at planting and 50 1bs. N per acre after each

harve~t

except the last.

(38)

Table 24. FVT 124 Sunnner annual grasses simulated grazing trials, 1/ crude protein percent. Piedmont, Granville County - 197~

d P · 2/ Percent Cru e

rote1n-Harvest Dates

Entry 6/30 7/29 8/18 10/20

Sorghtml-Sudan Hybrids

83F 19.0 10.7 17.4 11.2

FFR 74 18.4 15.9 19.6 14.0

Sordan 70A 22.6 15.0 17.9 11.3

Sweet Sioux III 19.0 10.0 16.6 9.0

FFR 66 20.7 12.0 15.0 11.3

T-E Haygrazer 17.3 14.2 17.3 10.5

SX-17 17.1 10.9 16.8 11.3

SX-16 13.7 12.7 15.2 9.5

Sweet Sioux IV 17.0 10.5 16.7 12.4

Summergrazer 20.9 11.2 17.7 10.4

8-99 17.3 12.4 16.7 13.1

Saxon 18.4 14.2 17.0 11.5

74-5F 19.3 13.5 16.8 10.5

Trudan 5 19.2 11.2 18.4 11.1

G-99F 17.6 13.1 20.9 11.5

Pearl Millet

Mi11ex 23 13.7 13.9 17.5 13.3

Millet I I I 11.7 13.5 18.1 13.7

Mean of Test 17.8 12.6 17.4 11.5

L.S.D. ( .05) 1.1 1.6 1.7 .7

(.01) 1.4 2.2 2.3 .9

IIp _

- rote~n percentages are based on a composite sample made up of five replications.

2/

_n-

Lb l

- ~gest~ e protein may be computed by using formulae:

(39)

Table 25. FVT 124 Summer annual grasses simulated grazing trials, dry forage yield, crude protein, crude fiber, total digestibl, nutrients and estimated net energy. Piedmont, Granville County - 1975- .

83F 5.13 12.3 1268 28.2 60.2 6195 48.9 5029

FFR 74 5.12 16.2 1657 27.4 60.7 6229 49.6 5088

Sordan 70A 4.87 14.7 1428 29.6 59.3 5771 47.6 4633

Sweet Sioux III 4.86 11.0 1065 27.6 60.7 5899 49.5 4812

FFR 66 4.82 12.7 1228 29.7 59.2 5718 47.5 4586

T-E Haygrazer 4.77 13.6 1299 24.7 62.6 5978 52.2 4986

SX-17 4.72 12.2 1130 26.4 61.5 5800 50.6 4773

SX-16 4.63 12.1 1116 24.3 62.9 5811 52.6 4859

Sweet Sioux IV 4.54 12.4 1117 30.0 59.0 5346 47.2 4269

Sunnnergrazer 4.51 12.4 1121 33.5 56.6 5104 43.8 3950

S-99 4.48 13.7 1230 27.8 60.5 5420 49.2 4410

Saxon 4.42 14.2 1256 27.6 60.7 5380 49.5 4392

74-5F 4.39 13.3 1166 29.8 59.1 5192 47.4 4161

Trudan 5 3.88 12.5 968 28.5 60.0 4651 48.6 3764

G-99F 3.65 14.2 1030 28.8 60.0 4385 48.6 3553

Pearl Millet

Mil1ex 23 4.12 13.8 1130 26.1 61.7 5079 50.9 4192

Millet III 4.00 13.6 1085 26.3 61.6 4923 50.7 4057

Mean of Test 4.52 13.2 1195 28.0 60.4 5464 49.1 4442

-L.S.D. (.05) .65 .9 163 1.8 1.2 801 1.7 668

( .01) .87 1.2 217 2.4 1.6 1064 2.3 887

(40)

long-term averages of dry forage yields, crude protein and total digestible nutrients. Piedmont-.

1973 1974 1975 Average

Dry Crude Dry Crude Dry Crude Dry Crude

Forage Protein TDN Forage Protein TDN Forage Protein TDN Forage Protein TDN Entry Tons/A Lbs/A Lbs/A Tons/A Lbs/A Lbs/A Tons/A Lbs/A Lbs/A Tons/A Lbs/A Lbs/A

-Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids

SX 17 5.82 1555 7071

83F 5.54 1537 6712

Sweet Sioux III 3.37 992 3921 3.45 854 4000 5.53 1400 6629 4.12 1082 4850

Sordan 70A 5.40 1556 6444

FFR 74 3.15 744 3677 5.30 1692 6451 4.23 1218 5064

T-E Haygrazer 3.34 1022 3913 2.99 515 3483 5.25 1490 6366 3.86 1009 4554 w

FFR 66 3.39 1052 3960 3.08 708 3525 5.24 1344 6132 3.91 1040 4616 0'\

Sweet Sioux IV 5.22 1333 6114

SX 16 3.23 994 3788 3.23 783 3768 5.20 1369 6378 3.89 1049 4645

Sunnnergrazer 5.10 1312 5922

5-99 3.21 1077 3821 3.27 750 3894 5.03 1428 6070 3.84 1068 4595

Saxon 2.96 730 3623 5.02 1433 6019 3.99 1082 4821

74-5F 4.92 1403 5895

G-99F 4.64 1304 5532

Trudan 5 4.20 1230 4903

Pearl Millet

Mi11ex 23 4.91 1545 6082

Millet III 4.51 1379 5586

Mean of Test 3.27 1012 3853 3.19 732 3248 5.08 1430 6137 3.98 1078 4735

(41)

-PERENNIAL FORAGES

The perennial species reported in this publication include orchardgrass

and tall fescue.

Tall fescue and orachargrass are two of the most important perennial

cool season pastures grasses in the state. Both grow well in combination with

1adino clover where ladino is adapted. Orchardgrass is especially good as hay

with or without a legume. Tall fescue is more widely adapted than orchardgrass

in eastern North Carolina.

Sponsoring agencies for the species entered in these tests are given in

Table 27.

Perennial grasses were seeded at the Piedmont Research Farm in the

Fall of 1972. This trial consisted of ten entries of orchardgrass. Four of

these were exper~ental lines from this institution. In addition to the

orchardgrasses, there were three entries in the tall fescue test, one of which

was a tall fescue-ryegrass cross from Kentucky designated as Kenhy. An

exper~ental tall fescue, FFR Syn. C., was also entered in this trial.

The orchardgrasses ranged from 6297 pounds per acre for Able to 7763

pounds per acre for Va. 70 (Table 28). Entries in the tall fescue test ranged

(42)

Table 27. Names, addresses and variety designations of agencies sponsoring entries in the 1975 North Carolina Perennial Forage Trials.

Name

Farmers Forage Research

N. C. State University

U. S. Department of Agriculture

N. C. Agricultural Extension Service

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Agriculture Research Service, U.S.D.A.

*Experimentals.

Address

Route 2, Box 290 Lafayette, Indiana

Raleigh

North Carolina

University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky

N. C. State University Raleigh, North Carolina

Blacksburg Virginia

Beltsville Maryland

Variety Designation

Hallmark Orchardgrass Able Orchardgrass

~FR Syn. C Fescue

*Va. Comp. Syn. 4

Medium Late Orchardgrass ~~a. Comp. Syn. 4

Early Orchardgrass

~. C. Comp , VIII Orchardgrass *N. C. Comp , VI

Orchardgrass

Kenhy Fescue x Ryegrass

Kentucky 31 Fescue

Jackson Orchardgrass Va. 70 Orchardgrass

(43)

Table 28. FVT 102 Perennial grasses, dry forage yields and three-year averages. Piedmont, Rowan County - 1975.

Pounds Per Acre Dry Forage-

1/

1975 1974 1973 Three Year

Entry 5/6 6/9 10/28 Total Total Total Average

Orchardgrass

v«.

70 3178 2122 2463 7763 6957 6734 7144

*N.

C. Comp. VI 3033 2221 2479 7733 6940 6829 7160

Boone 2967 2068 2502 7537 7031 6386 6978

*N.

C. Comp. VIII 3203 2048 2271 7522 6595 6875 6990

*Va. Comp , Syn. 4

(Early) 2986 2107 2286 7379 6837 6664 6953

*Va. Comp , Syn. 4

(Medium Late) 3012 2183 2096 7291 6719 6971 6987

Hallmark 2783 2066 2162 7011 6346 6734 6960

Potomac 2656 2051 2135 6842 6235 6663 6573

Jackson 2203 2580 1844 6627 6443 6663 6571

Able 1813 2983 1501 6297 5903 6121 6101

Fescue

*FFR Syn. C 3461 2326 3641 9428 7489 8227 8373

Ky. 31 2631 2731 3660 9022 7291 8641 8310

Kenhy 2638 2791 3071 8500 7577 7991 8015

Mean of Test 2813 2329 2470 7612 6833 7063 7163

---L.S.D. (.05) 329 236 457 632 801

(.01) 439 315 610 844 1068

*Experimenta1s.

l/Average of five replications.

Seeded September 13, 1972 at rate of 20 1bs. per acre.

Fertilization: At seeding - 40 pounds N, 120 pounds P20S per acre.

Maintenance fertilization - 800 lbs. 0-10-20 plus 75 lbs. N per acre - February 22, 1973

75 1bs. N per acre - September 11, 1973

700 lbs. 0-10-20 plus 75 lbs.

N.

per acre - February 28, 1974 100 Ibs. N per acre - August 28, 1974

(44)

APPENDIX

Page

List of Appendix Tables

1 Climatological Data for Rowan County Location 41

2 Climatological Data for Johnston County Location 42

3 Climatological Data for Bertie County Location 43

4 Climatological Data for Cumberland County Location 44

(45)

Table 1. _{Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation in inches-.} Piedmont, Rowan County, 1975.

Temperature

Departure from long

Month Mean tenn mean Highest Date Lowest Date

Jan. 45.1 ₇₈ ₃₁ ₁₉ ₁₅₊

Feb. 45.7 ₇₇ ₁ ₁₈ ₁₀₊

Mar. 48.0 76 22 19 2

Apr. 57.9 83 28 25 13

May 69.5 91 22 45 5

June 73.6 92 18 52 8

July 75.6 90 30+ 56 2

Aug. 78.5 98 26 59 30+

Sept. 70.4 95 4 44 14

Oct. 62.9 86 14 30 31

Nov. 52.4 81 5 23 26

Dec. 41.2 70 6 9 19

+A1so earlier date or dates.

Precipitation

Departure No. of days with

from long Greatest in precipitation

Month Total tenn mean 24 hours Date 0.10 in or over

Jan. 6.30 2.16 11 9

Feb. 3.42 .70 4 9

Mar. 7.99 2.13 14 9

Apr. 1.02 .28 3 5

May 7.68 1.91 29 13

June 3.47 1.34 1 7

July 7.51 2.51 15 10

Aug. 1.18 .34 7 4

Sept. 8.92 2.73 23 7

Oct. 3.12 1.15 17 6

Nov. 2.24 .59 13 5

(46)

Table 2. Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation in inches. Coastal Plain, Johnston County, 1975.

Temperature

Departure from long

Month Mean term mean Highest Date Lowest Date

Jan. 50.6 74 31 27 3

Feb. 50.9 78 23 29 8

Mar. 48.3 77 24 19 4

April 56.5 84 25 30 13

May 71.2 91 24 54 15+

June 77.5 93 7 59 23

July 75.9 95 3 52 2

Aug. 79.2 96 26 61 29

Sept. 72.9 94 4 45 15

Oct. 64.4 86 14 32 31

Nov. 54.8 82 6+ 26 15

Dec. 42.3 71 15 11 19

Precipitation

Jan. 4.12 1.05 20 10

Feb. 3.98 1.08 5 7

Mar. 6.87 2.05 19 12

April 1.78 .68 15 6

May 2.73 .48 1 11

June 2.93 .70 12+ 6

July 10.27 2.15 15 12

Aug. .63 .51 7 1

Sept. 8.93 2.14 1 11

Oct. 1.49 .85 9 2

Nov. 3.26 1.87 13 4

(47)

Table 3. _{Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation in inches.} Coastal Plain, Bertie County, 1975.

Temperature

Departure from long

Month Mean term mean Highest Date Lowest Date

Jan. 45.4 ₇₆ ₂₉₊ ₁₄ ₁₅

Feb. 46.2 ₇₅ ₂₄ ₂₅ ₁₅

Mar. 49.3 83 24 19 4

Apr. 54.7 85 25 26 13+

May 68.9 ₉₁ ₂₇ ₄₀ ₃

June 73. 7 95 18 49 8

July 75.7 93 3 45 2

Aug. 77.4 98 26+ 53 9

Sept. 71.2 93 6 40 15

Oct. 62.4 86 14 28 31

Nov. 54.2 82 6+ 23 15+

Dec. 42.5 73 16 12 20

+Also earlier date or dates.

Precipitation

Jan. 4.12 .82 11 8

Feb. 2.59 .98 17 6

Mar. 3.74 1.47 14 8

Apr. 3.03 .86 15 6

May 4.83 2.07 28 7

June 1.27 .44 28 3

July 8.47 2.09 12 14

.77 .37 7 2

Aug.

6.03 3.10 1 12

Sept.

1.73 .75 18 4

Oct.

1.16 .94 13 3

Nov.

4.84 1.80 8 9

(48)

Table 4. Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation in inches. Coastal Plain, Cumberland County, 1975.

Temperature

Departure from long

Month Mean te rm mean Highest Date Lowest Date

Jan. 46.5 3.5 76 30 22 15

Feb. 48.5 4.4 82 24 24 8

Mar. 50.9 - .6 82 25 26 5+

Apr. 59.2 -2.6 85 27 36 13+

May 71.6 1.8 96 23 50 5

June 72.2 .5 96 21+ 56 9

July 78.2 -1.4 95 4 54 2

Aug. 81.4 3.1 98 18 63 30

Sept. 73.8 .8 96 5 49 15

Oct. 65.1 2.6 87 15 35 31

Nov. 55.0 2.6 84 10 30 26

Dec. 43.9 .7 74 16 17 19

Precipitation

Jan. 5.72 2.59 1.65 13 11

Feb. 5.45 2.01 1.96 17 6

Mar. 5.76 1.72 1.97 19 13

Apr. 2.27 -1.00 1.05 15 5

May 3.69 .28 .83 16 8

June 1.99 -2.73 .47 1 5

July 9.08 3.09 1.90 12 13

Aug. 1.12 -4.71 .47 7 3

Sept. 10.28 6.01 2.25 1 13

Oct. 1.52 -1.13 .60 9 4

Nov. 2.20

-

.76 1.15 13 3

(49)

Table 5. Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation in inches. Piedmont, Granville County, 1975.

Temperature

Departure from long

Month Mean tenn mean Highest Date Lowest Date

Jan. 44.6 3.9 77 29 19 21+

Feb. 46.4 4.0 75 24+ 20 10

Mar. 48.3 -1.1 76 24 20 4

Apr. 57.2 -2.7 81 25 30 13

May 68.9 .9 91 23+ 46 11

June 74.4

-

.5 93 26+ 50 8

July 76.4 -1.4 93 3 48 2

Aug. 78.6 2.1 96 22 60 29

Sept. 71.0 .1 92 5+ 47 15

Oct. 63.6 2.8 87 14 32 31

Nov. 53.9 3.1 83 5 26 1

Dec. 41.8 .3 71 6 12 19

Precipitation

Jan. 7.25 4.09 2.29 11 9

Feb. 2.80

-

.70 .87 5 7

Mar. 9.14 5.57 2.23 14 12

Apr. .96 -2.15 .65 15 2

May 4.05 .47 1.09 18 7

June .52 -3.18 .29 1 2

July 16.44 1.14 2.93 14 12

Aug. 3.06 -1.24 .93 25 4

Sept. 8.37 4.89 2.78 25 10

1.08 -1.63 .60 17 2

Oct.

2.75 .25 2.12 13 - 3

Nov.

-2.88 .35 1.09 26 8

(50)