Figure 2. Typical hay growth of bermudagrass alone (left) and bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixture (right).

Established and well-managed bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixtures have different green seasons and production than does either grass alone. This study was initiated to determine the seasonal and total yields and other relationships of a good mixture compared to that of bermudagrass alone.

The study area was on the Noble Foundation Pasture Demonstration Farm located five miles northwest of Ardmore, Oklahoma. The soil was Durant loam typical of the area's upland soils.

The 'Midland' bermudagrass pasture was converted to a bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixture to make it more productive and lengthen its green season. The five-year-old bermudagrass stand was prepared for weeping lovegrass planting from April 10 through 16. The pasture was offset disked twice 4 to 6 inches deep after beef cows grazed the bermudagrass as short as possible. The seedbed was completed by tandem disking twice 2 to 3 inches deep flat-running spike-tooth harrow pulled in tandem. The final seedbed was good and had a relatively smooth, firm friable surface. Rocks and shallow soil prevented moldboard plowing and better seedbed preparation.

On April 16, 'Ermelo' weeping lovegrass was planted in 10-inch rows with a drill equipped with a small-seed seedbox. The seeding rate was 3 pounds of pure live seed per acre. Ammoniated phosphate at 23-60-0 pounds per acre (N-P₂O₅-K₂O) was banded with the seed on the freshly completed seedbed. Press wheels firmed the soil in the rows, providing excellent seed-soil contact, and subsequent rains lightly covered and firmed it also. Actual nitrogen at 59 pounds per acre was topdressed on June 4 when weeping lovegrass seedlings were 4 to 6 inches tall. One application of 2,4-D herbicide controlled weeds. Weeping lovegrass was not planted on three areas of bermudagrass for a comparison of bermudagrass and the bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixture. Topdressed fertilizer was applied to all areas for good production. The first seasonal application was for early weeping lovegrass. Application intervals varied because applications were correlated to rainfall events. Phosphorus and potassium were omitted during the last two seasons because of a combination of adequate soil nutrient levels, higher prices, and restricted supply. Rates of fertilizer used (pounds per acre) are presentable in table 3.

Forage was not harvested the first season. It was cut to leave 3-inch residue, and all harvested forage was removed the second through fifth seasons. Late production was harvested during the winter dormant season to simulate stockpiled winter forage grazing and ensure maintenance of grass vigor

Figure 3. Three-year-average yield relationships of 'Midland' bermudagrass and a 'Midland'-'Ermelo' weeping lovegrass mixture.

Figure 4. Variable-composition pastures adjacent to the mixture study plots: good mixtures to spots of pure bermudagrass. During this grazing cycle, cows selectively graze bermudagrass to a shorter residue.

The bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixture yielded more than bermudagrass alone every harvest (table 4 and figure 2). Year 2 production is from June to fall and is not included in the averages for figure 3 because it was not divided seasonally, but is included in the totals and averages of table 4. for three and one-half years, the mixture averaged 5,280 pounds more per acre annually than bermudagrass alone, demonstrating the production potential of weeping lovegrass. It produced 10.6 tons more per acre than bermudagrass alone, which was a great improvement in efficiency of fertilizer and other input costs. Yields by date varied greatly. Production was lowest during year 3 because of summer drought and the stand was damaged during the very wet winter of years 3 and 4; year 5 also had excessive precipitation. The stand recovered well and produced best in year 4, which had normal moisture. Compared with bermudagrass, and was more productive (figure 3). These data are from areas capable of producing a good mixture and showing its potential. Fertilization was for upper-level production and, because of the early application for weeping lovegrass, bermudagrass received more than usual. One to three nitrogen applications during the growing season can be satisfactory for practical production, depending on the management scheme for production and quality control.

The mixture's yield averaged 231 percent that of bermudagrass alone for three and one-half years and ranged from 168 percent during wet year 4, which favored bermudagrass, to 418 percent during dry year 3, which favored weeping lovegrass. Other relationships are shown in table 4. Weeping lovegrass was 83 percent of the mixture's production during dry year and 73 percent during the wet year. It was 70 to 93 percent of the mixture, depending on the date, and averaged 81, 79, and 78 percent of the mixture's total for spring, summer, and fall, respectively. Bermudagrass production in the mixture was 45 percent that of bermudagrass alone.

Dry-matter percentage of the mixture averaged slightly more than that of bermudagrass alone (table 4). Bermudagrass's dry-matter percentage in the mixture was usually less than that of bermudagrass alone because of lower yield, shade from the weeping lovegrass, and other factors. Dry-matter percentage of bermudagrass alone was lower than that of weeping lovegrass except when the latter was greener. Dry-matter content ranged from 28.7 percent during spring to 82.8 percent during winter. Chessmore (1975) and Dalrymple (1970) present other quality factors.

The mixture's total yield was statistically different from that of bermudagrass at the 95 percent level of probability and had a coefficient of variation percentage of 17. That of 13 for bermudagrass alone was different from the mixture's percentage, and that of 23 for weeping lovegrass in the mixture was different from bermudagrass's coefficient of variation percentage in the mixture.

Chessmore, R. C. 1975. Bermudagrass management.
  Kerr Foundation (Kerr Center), Poteau, Oklahoma. Pub no. 6. 31 pp.

Dalrymple, R. L. 1970. Weeping lovegrass management.
  The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Bul., 39 pp.