Figure 5. First grazing of first year weeping lovegrass planted in existing bermudagrass following seedbed preparation.

Figure 6. A bermudagrass (sod cover) and weeping lovegrass (bunch grass) mixture established by drilling the weeping lovegrass on a very clean seedbed in a bermudagrass pasture.

Figure 7. First year weeping lovegrass developing in bermudagrass that was severely disked and then spike-tooth harrowed to prepare a seedbed; lovegrass planted in 10-inch rows.

Figure 8. Existing weeping lovegrass lightly disked, soil-smoothed as much as possible with a drag, and sprigged with bermudagrass to establish this mixture.

Figure 9. Uniform grazing on a high-quality, well-fertilized bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass mixture in a rotational grazing system, a near-perfect example of residue heights and relative uniformity of grazing in the mixture stand.

Pastures from northern Oklahoma to northern Texas and other areas were observed for various responses and pasture mixture characteristics.

Proper seedbeds, starter fertilizer, nitrogen topdressing, weed control, use deferments, and residue (stubble) heights are essential for the best establishment. Each of the production components is important for the success of the pasture mixture. Any missing or inadequate part will dictate a degree of failure. Pasture stands' composition varies because of soil variation, initial stand uniformity, and grazing-pressure responses (figure 4). Successfully established pastures generally are not used until weeping lovegrass production reaches the four-leaf stage with stems 8 to 14 inches long and yields about 1 to 1.5 tons per acre (figure 5). The pasture must be managed for vigorous weeping lovegrass development to sustain it in the mixture.

The first method involves planting both grasses during initial pasture establishment. Bermuda is sprigged by using usual methods (Chessmore, 1975; Rommann, 1972). The area then is dragged to level and firm the soil and weeping lovegrass is planted by using proper methods outlined in this publication and elsewhere (Dalrymple, 1970; Rommann and McMurphy, 1974). In this method, bermudagrass sprigging is best postponed to coincide with early weeping lovegrass planting dates. If sprigging is done earlier, the soil surface must be lightly reprepared for weeping lovegrass planting. This method is easiest and most consistent with good establishment of weeping lovegrass, which usually occurs the first season, with bermudagrass covering in one to three seasons. Similar results are achieved when weeping lovegrass is planted on a very good clean seedbed in a bermudagrass stand (figure 6).

The second method involves planting weeping lovegrass in established bermudagrass. The bermudagrass is tilled thoroughly to curtail its vigor and prepare a seedbed for weeping lovegrass, which must be well established before bermudagrass recovers.

Bermudagrass vigor is reduced by a combination of excessive summer and fall use the previous season, heavy plowing in fall and winter, and final seedbed preparation during early spring immediately before weeping lovegrass planting. Weeping lovegrass establishes better in this case if planting is done as early during the season as possible. Good establishment of weeping lovegrass and bermudagrass recovery usually require one to two seasons (figures 5 and 7).

The third method involves planting bermudagrass in established weeping lovegrass. First, weeping lovegrass is used well by grazing or burning residue by late winter or spring bermudagrass sprigging time. Then proper equipment capable of no-till sprigging is used during good to excellent soil moisture conditions to sprig bermudagrass directly into the weeping lovegrass pasture. A better procedure is to use the weeping lovegrass, till it lightly during good soil moisture conditions to prepare a fair seedbed but leave most of the weeping lovegrass clumps intact, and then sprig bermudagrass as usual (figure 8). Tillage via a straight running disk should not be deep, just 2 to 4 inches, to preserve the weeping lovegrass plants and effect some transplanting. The soil should be firmed and sprigged to bermudagrass immediately following tillage. Good soil moisture is necessary to prevent overkill of weeping lovegrass so it and bermudagrass will regrow together. Good establishment of bermudagrass usually requires one to three seasons; that of weeping lovegrass, one season.

Recorded establishment-year pasture yields from different successful areas have ranged from 2,300 to 4,300 pounds per acre. Yields obviously have been better in other cases.

Advantages of weeping lovegrass in the mixture include green pasture earlier in the spring and later in the fall, more total pasture, more persistent standing winter stockpiled forage that may contain some green leaves, and more forage production on some sites not as well suited to bermudagrass. Advantages of bermudagrass in the mixture include improved summer forage quality, better soil erosion control, more tolerance to trampling and severe overgrazing, better tolerance to winter forage overseedings, and more forage production on some sites not as well suited to weeping lovegrass. Sandy hilly lands often erode severely when weeping lovegrass is in pure stands even though production is excellent. The mixture provides better erosion control and greater production on such sites. On typical upland soils, livestock-carry capacity has been higher with mixtures than with pure bermudagrass but lower than with pure weeping lovegrass. Beef gain comparisons have not been made because the mictures are always in rotation with other pasture types as a component of a total integrated forage system.

The mixture has been managed more easily than acreage plantings of each grass in pure stand within the same pasture. Livestock sometimes use bermudagrass extensively and allow weeping lovegrass to mature (figure 4). Sometimes cattle prefer weeping lovegrass to bermudagrass during fall, winter, or spring when it is greener.

Fertilization of the mixture is similar to that of pure weeping lovegrass, with one to four nitrogen applications per summer, depending on the forage system, forage production targets, and economics.

Applications are based on need: early spring (March) for spring and early summer weeping lovegrass production, summer (May to July) for midseason bermudagrass and weeping lovegrass production, and late summer (August to very early September) for late bermudagrass and weeping lovegrass stockpiled for fall and winter. High rates of nitrogen are not essential for mixture success, and lower rates tend to favor weeping lovegrass. Nitrogen should be applied at 50 to 100 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre per application in southern Oklahoma and from zones with about 30 to 35 inches or more of precipitation. In some cases, actual nitrogen up to about 200 pounds per acre is appropriate in split applications in zones with 35 inches or precipitation or more. In zones with about 20 to 30 inches of precipitation, nitrogen rates should range from about 30 to 75 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre per application, with the higher rate corresponding to higher rainfall levels. Spring applications favor weeping lovegrass, while summer applications favor bermudagrass because of the season and its dense soil surface coverage. All nitrogen should be applied relative to soil moisture's being adequate. Weeping lovegrass roots are more confined in the mixture than in a pure stand. Phosphorus, potassium, and lime are applied according to needs indicated by soil test results.