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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #96507
Title: FLACCIDGRASS YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUE AS INFLUENCED BY CUTTING MANAGEMENT AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

Author
item Burns, Joseph
item CHAMBLEE, DOUGLAS - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item Belesky, David
item Fisher, Dwight

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Carostan flaccidgrass, a perennial, warm-season grass, has shown potential for high yields with acceptable nutritive value. In much of the Piedmont, bermudagrass is the major warm-season grass grown, but it is generally low in nutritive value. This study provides information on the yield response of flaccidgrass to nitrogen application and subsequent changes in yield and dnutritive value when harvested at different frequencies. Data were obtained from a North Carolina and a Georgia location. Flaccidgrass was responsive to nitrogen application with dry matter yield increasing linearly when nitrogen was increased from 160 to 260 and up to 360 pounds/acre. When defoliated (260 pounds of nitrogen/acre) from 8 inches to 2 inches dry matter yield was only 3.1 to 3.7 tons/acre in North Carolina and 1.5 to 2.8 tons/acre in Georgia. Increasing the cutting height to 20 inches gave 4.6 to 5.6 tons/acre in North Carolina and 3.2 to 4.9 tons/acre in Georgia. Harvests at the boot stage yielded 6.1 to 7.1 tons/acre in North Carolina and 3.7 to 7.4 tons/acre in Georgia. Highest yields were obtained at anthesis ranging from 8.0 to 8.9 tons/acre in North Carolina and 4.6 to 7.3 tons/acre in Georgia. Estimated digestibility was not altered by nitrogen application but was higher for the less mature forage. Nitrogen concentrations increased linearly as nitrogen application increased, but was reduced as the forage became more mature. Flaccidgrass appeared better adapted in the upper Piedmont than in the lower Piedmont.