Herbage accumulation and nutritive value of new bermudagrass accessions and cultivars

Authors: GARCIA, CARLOS - University Of Florida; DUBEUX, JOSE - University Of Florida; SANTOS, ERICK - University Of Alberta; VENDRAMINI, JOAO - University Of Florida; RIOS, ESTEBAN - University Of Florida; Jaramillo, David; QUEIROZ, LUANA - University Of Florida; SOUZE, RAYANNE - University Of Florida; GROSSI, BRUNO - Embrapa; RUIZ-MORENO, MARTIN - University Of Florida; LONGHINI, VANESSA - University Of Florida; VAN CLEEF, FLAVIA - University Of Florida; SANTOS, MERCIA - Federal Rural University Of Pernambuco

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2024
Publication Date: 7/20/2024
Citation: Garcia, C., Dubeux, J., Santos, E., Vendramini, J., Rios, E., Jaramillo, D.M., Queiroz, L., Souze, R., Grossi, B., Ruiz-Moreno, M., Longhini, V., Van Cleef, F., Santos, M. 2024. Herbage accumulation and nutritive value of new bermudagrass accessions and cultivars. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21643.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21643

Interpretive Summary: Bermudagrass is a major source of livestock feed in the southeastern United States, and characterization of new genotypes is important for developing novel varieties. Ten bermudagrass genotypes ('Missouri', 'Tifton 85', 'Jiggs', 'FL44', '322', '323', '276', '282', '283', and '286') were grown during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Several genotypes displayed unique responses to nutritive value and assessment dates in this investigation, where novel genotypes were more productive than currently released varieties. The results from this study indicate genotype 286 tended to have greater protein concentration while exhibiting comparable herbage accumulation to other treatments, thus this genotype should be further examined for future release to livestock and hay producers in the United States. These results indicate novel genotypes may provide greater nutritive value and sustain, or improve forage productivity compared to other varieties currently available to farmers.

Technical Abstract: Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is a major source of animal feed in the southeastern United States; nevertheless, little is known about the characterization of new genotypes. In North Florida, 10 bermudagrass genotypes ('Missouri', 'Tifton 85', 'Jiggs', 'FL44', '322', '323', '276', '282', '283', and '286') were grown during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Herbage accumulation (HA), crude protein (CP), and nitrogen yield (Ny) all demonstrated a genotype × harvest interaction (P < 0.05). In June, all bermudagrass genotypes presented significant variation in HA, with genotype 286 being more productive than Jiggs (4427 vs. 3245 kg DM/ha, respectively). In October, however, genotype 323 had greater CP concentration than genotypes 283, 286, and 322 and Tifton 85 (P < 0.05), with average CP concentrations of 155, 128, 136, and 137 g/ kg DM, respectively. Average in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations for genotype 323 (450 g/kg of DM) was greater than that of Missouri (393 g/kg of DM (P<0.05), although it was equivalent to Tifton 85 and genotype 322. Several genotypes displayed unique responses to all qualities and assessment dates in this investigation. According to the principal component analysis (PCA), the genotype from Missouri exhibited the poorest connection with the productive and nutritive value properties. Genotype 286 tended to have greater protein concentration while still productive; thus, this genotype should be further examined for future release to livestock and hay producers in the United States.