| Bermudagrass and Weeping Lovegrass - Mixtures for Forage |
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Synopsis
Introduction
Effect of Seedbed Preparation on Establishing Weeping Lovegrass in Existing Bermudagrass
Results and Discussion
Starter Fertilizer Response: Planting Weeping Lovegrass in Bermudagrass
Study Area and Methods
Results and Discussion
Forage Yields of Bermudagrass - Weeping Lovegrass Mixtures
Study Area and Methods
Results and Discussion
References
Bermudagrass-Weeping Lovegrass Pasture Establishment and Management in Practice
Methods of Establishment
Advantages of the Mixture
Fertilization
Grazing and Haying
Soils
Effects of Bermudagrass
Stand Longevity
Failures and Stand Damage
Other Uses
Pollution
References
 Figure 13. Irrigating a bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass area with effluent. |
The mixture does best on deep, uniform, sandy soils to which both grasses are well adapted, including loamy fine sands, fine sandy loam, and sandy loam. Bermudagrass often dominates wet soil sites or those that contain more clay or silt than weeping lovegrass prefers. Weeping lovegrass often dominates on deep, sandy droughty, or infertile soils. Because of soil, terrain, and fertility complexes, pure bermudagrass, pure weeping lovegrass, and mixtures often are contained within the same pasture, which helps capture the abilities of the land and the forages (figures 4 and 12).
Effects of BermudagrassWeeping lovegrass in the mixture is somewhat less vigorous than in a pure stand because of competition from bermudagrass. The same is true of bermudagrass. The mixture is more permanent with more open growth of 'Midland' and 'Coastal' bermudagrass compared with dense, very competitive common bermudagrass. 'Renner' weeping lovegrass persists in dense-growing bermudagrass better than other varieties because of its more robust, competitive characteristics under fertile conditions.
In Africa, Gillard (1969) found that heavy stocking of weeping lovegrass caused a bermudagrass-weeping lovegrass combination to form naturally, and Altona (1972) found that bermudagrass invaded weeping lovegrass. These events are natural successions where both grasses are native.
Stand LongevityStand longevity of a good mixture is variable primarily because of the dynamics of soil type and extent of erosion, climatic extremes of drought and cold, fertilization practices, and residue height in grazing rotations. Some stands on good fine sandy loam soil lasted over twenty years, after which the lovegrass compenent thinned because of an extremely cold dry winter. These forces tend to damage weeping lovegrass more than a hardy variety of bermudagrass. Mixture stands containing excellent mixtures to areas of spotty stands of weeping lovegrass have survived over eleven years (figure 12). With proper grazing and fertilization, these mixtures are very long-lived in the proper precipitation zones. However, weeping lovegrass stand decline occurs more frequently on medium and fine-textured soils. Bermudagrass tends to persist and thicken over time in almost all cases. Ultimately, bermudagrass dominates if it is well adapted to the ecological zone, but in the continuum, weeping lovegrass adds immensely to the accumulated total yield.
Failures and Stand DamagePasture mixtures failed when bermudagrass's vigor was not reduced to allow weeping lovegrass establishment or persistence. Vigor of bermudagrass usually was reduced by rotational stocking, since cattle tended to graze the bermudagrass component selectively enough to keep it subdued. Delayed spring and early summer rains caused some failures. Weeping lovegrass was trample-damaged from cattle's winter grazing on exceedingly wet loam soil. Grazing shorter than 4 inches greatly weakened weeping lovegrass, thinning and spot-killing it in mixed stands because bermudagrass stolons dominated and killed the weeping lovegrass.
Other UsesThe mixtures is sod-seeded successfully to winter small grains or vetch (Vicia sativa L.). In one year, the pasture illustrated in figure 10 produced overseeded cereal rye, annual ryegrass, and hairy vetch plus the base forages bermudagrass and weeping lovegrass. This combination produces a green-grass season of about 270 days. Arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) can be sod-seeded in the mixture for additional spring forage. The mixture lends itself to usual hay harveting, weeping lovegrass seed can be produced from it, and it is a superb soil-conservation ground cover.
PollutionThe mixture is used successfully as a recipient of industrial effluent, which is sprinkler irrigated to distribute it. Soil erosion control is achieved because the effluent causes thicker, more productive stands (figure 13). The mixture can be used on pond dams, spillways, roadsides, and other conservation areas. Bermudagrass and weeping lovegrass mixtures should be excellent forages to use in the animal effluent systems associated with poultry, dairy, beef, and swine confinement enterprises.
ReferencesAltona, R. E. 1972. The influence of soil fertility on secondary succession. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa. 7:20-22 (Herbarium Abstract 43:253).
Chessmore, R. C. 1975. Bermudagrass management. Kerr Foundation, Poteau, Okla. Pub. no. 6. 31p.
Dalrymple, R. L. 1970. Weeping lovegrass management. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Okla. Bul. 39 p.
Gillard, P. 1969. The effect of stocking rate on botanical composition and soils in natural grassland in South Africa. J. Appl. Ecol. 6:489-497.
Rommann, L.M. 1972. Rapid establishment of Midland bermudagrass. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater. Ext. Facts no. 2560. 4 p.
Rommann, L.M. and W.E. McMurphy. 1974. Weeping lovegrass. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater. Ext. Facts no. 2556. 4p.
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