PR-458
R. Spitaleri, J.C. Henning, T.D. Phillips, G.D. Lacefield, and D.C. Ditsch
Orchardgrass (Dactylus glomerata) is a high-quality, productive, cool-season grass that is well adapted to Kentucky conditions. This grass is used for pasture, hay, green chop, and silage, but it requires better management than tall fescue for higher yields, quality, and long stand life. It produces an open, bunch-type sod, making it very compatible with alfalfa or red clover as a pasture and hay crop or as habitat for wildlife.
This report provides current yield data on orchardgrass varieties included in yield trials in Kentucky as well as guidelines for selecting orchardgrass varieties.
Maturity. Orchardgrass varieties will range in maturity from early to late, based on the date of heading. In this report, early-maturing varieties will in general have higher first cutting yields than later-maturing varieties because they are more mature at the date of first cutting. Orchardgrass typically matures earlier in the spring than red clover or alfalfa. Later-maturing varieties are preferred for use with red clover or alfalfa because they are at a more optimal stage of maturity when the legume is ready for cutting.
Local Adaptation and Seasonal Yield. Choose a variety that is adapted to Kentucky as indicated by good performance across years and locations in replicated yield trials, such as those presented in this publication. Also, look for varieties that are productive in the desired season of use.
Seed Quality. Buy high-quality seed that is high in germination and purity and free from weed seed. Buy certified seed or proprietary seed of an improved variety. An improved variety is one that has performed well in independent trials. Other information on the label will include the test date (which must be within the past nine months) and the level of germination and other crop and weed seed. Order seed well in advance of planting time to assure that it will be available when needed.
Data from four studies are reported. Orchardgrass varieties were sown at a reclaimed mine site in eastern Kentucky (1997) and at Lexington (1999), Quicksand (1999), and Princeton (2000). The planting medium at the reclaimed mine site is composed mainly of gray shale and sandstone and is generally low in organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium. The soils at Princeton (Crider), Lexington (Maury), and Quicksand (Nolin) are well-drained silt loams and are well suited to orchardgrass production. Seedings were made at the rate of 20 lb/A into a prepared seedbed with a disk drill. Plots were 5 ft x 15 ft in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Nitrogen was topdressed at 80 lb/A of actual N in March (60 lb/A for newly seeded stands) and 60 lb/A of actual N after the first cutting and again in late summer. The tests were harvested using a sickle-type forage plot harvester to simulate a spring cut hay/summer grazing/fall stockpile management system. Fresh weight samples were taken at each harvest to calculate percent dry matter production. Management practices for establishment, fertility, weed control, and harvest timing were in accordance with University of Kentucky recommendations.
Weather data for Princeton, Lexington, and Quicksand are presented in Table 1. Temperature and rainfall during 2001 were close to normal.
Ratings for maturity and dry matter yields (tons/acre) are reported in Tables 2 through 5. Yields are given by cutting date and as total annual production. Varieties are listed by descending total yield. Experimental varieties are listed separately at the bottom of the tables and are not available commercially. Statistical analyses were performed on all data (including experimentals) to determine if the apparent differences are truly due to varietal differences or just to chance. In the tables, the varieties not significantly different from the top variety in that column are marked with one asterisk (*). To determine if two varieties are truly different, compare the difference between them to the LSD (Least Significant Difference) at the bottom of the column. If the difference is equal to or greater than the LSD, the varieties are truly different when grown under the conditions at the given locations. The Coefficient of Variation (CV), which is a measure of the variability of the data, is included for each column of means. Low variability is desirable, and increased variability within a study results in higher CVs and larger LSDs.
Table 6 summarizes information about distributors and yield performance across locations for all varieties currently included in tests discussed in this publication. Varieties are listed in alphabetical order with the experimental varieties at the bottom. Remember that experimental varieties are not available for farm use, while commercial varieties can be purchased through dealerships. In Table 6, a shaded area indicates that the variety was not in that particular test (labeled at the top of the column), while a clear block means that the variety was in the test. A single asterisk (*) means that the variety was not significantly different from the top-yielding variety in that study. It is best to choose a variety that has performed well over several years and locations. Remember to consider the distribution of yield across the growing season when evaluating productivity of orchardgrass varieties (Tables 2 through 5).
Selecting a good orchardgrass variety is an important first step in establishing a productive stand of grass. Proper management, beginning with seedbed preparation and continuing throughout the life of the stand, is necessary for even the highest-yielding variety to produce to its genetic potential.
The following is a list of University of Kentucky agricultural Extension publications related to orchardgrass management. They are available from your local county Extension office.
AGR-1: Lime and Fertilizer Recommendations
AGR-18: Grain and Forage Crop Guide for Kentucky
AGR-26: Renovating Hay and Pasture Fields
AGR-58: Orchardgrass
AGR-64: Establishing Forage Crops
AGR-103: Fertilization of Cool-Season Grasses
Authors
R. SpitaleriResearch Specialist, Forages, UK Department of Agronomy
J.C. HenningExtension Professor, Forages, UK Department of Agronomy
T.D. PhillipsAssociate Professor, Tall Fescue Breeding, UK Department of Agronomy
G.D. LacefieldExtension Professor, Forages, UK Department of Agronomy
D.C. DitschExtension Associate Professor, Feed Production, UK Department of Agronomy
Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
| Table 1. Temperature and rainfall at Quicksand, Lexington, and Princeton, Kentucky in 2001. | ||||||||||||
| Quicksand | Lexington | Princeton | ||||||||||
| Temp | Rainfall | Temp | Rainfall | Temp | Rainfall | |||||||
| MON | °F | DEP | IN | DEP | °F | DEP | IN | DEP | °F | DEP | IN | DEP |
| JAN | 34 | +3 | 2.5 | -0.8 | 31 | 0 | 0.9 | -1.9 | 35 | +1 | 1.6 | -2.3 |
| FEB | 43 | +10 | 3.7 | +0.1 | 40 | +5 | 3.2 | 0 | 44 | +6 | 5.0 | +0.5 |
| MAR | 42 | +1 | 2.2 | -2.2 | 40 | -4 | 2.7 | -1.7 | 44 | -3 | 2.8 | -2.1 |
| APR | 61 | +8 | 1.7 | -2.4 | 59 | +4 | 1.7 | -2.2 | 64 | +5 | 2.2 | -2.6 |
| MAY | 66 | +4 | 4.4 | -0.1 | 66 | +2 | 4.9 | +0.4 | 69 | +2 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| JUN | 70 | 0 | 4.2 | +0.4 | 71 | -1 | 2.0 | -1.6 | 74 | -1 | 4.8 | +1.0 |
| JUL | 73 | -1 | 6.4 | +1.2 | 75 | -1 | 5.6 | +0.6 | 80 | +2 | 5.5 | +1.2 |
| AUG | 75 | +2 | 2.4 | -1.6 | 76 | +1 | 4.8 | +0.8 | 79 | +2 | 4.0 | -0.1 |
| SEP | 66 | 0 | 1.1 | -2.4 | 65 | -3 | 3.0 | -0.2 | 69 | -2 | 3.5 | +0.2 |
| OCT | 58 | +4 | 1.4 | -1.6 | 56 | -1 | 3.6 | +1.1 | 61 | +2 | 7.5 | +4.4 |
| NOV | 55 | +13 | 1.8 | -2.1 | 51 | +6 | 2.8 | -0.6 | 54 | +7 | 7.8 | +3.2 |
| Dep is departure from the long-term average for that location. | ||||||||||||
| Table 2. Dry matter yields (tons/acre) of orchardgrass varieties sown 7 October 1997 at a reclaimed mine site near Laurel Fork, Kentucky. | ||||||||
| Variety |
Total 1998 |
Total 1999 |
Total 2000 |
Maturity 1 |
2001 Harvests | Total 2001 |
4-yr Total |
|
| May 17 | Oct 10 | |||||||
| Commercial varieties - available for farm use | ||||||||
| Benchmark | 1.01 | 1.76 | 2.31 | 56.2 | 0.71 | 0.54 | 1.25 | 6.33* |
| 9007238 | 0.96 | 1.62 | 2.30 | 59.7 | 0.70 | 0.57 | 1.27 | 6.16* |
| Takena | 1.17 | 1.68 | 2.03 | 43.8 | 0.62 | 0.58 | 1.20 | 6.08* |
| Halmark 1996 2 | 1.01 | 1.70 | 2.06 | 55.7 | 0.62 | 0.49 | 1.11 | 5.89* |
| Renegade | 0.97 | 1.83 | 1.94 | 55.8 | 0.62 | 0.51 | 1.13 | 5.87* |
| Summer Green | 1.00 | 1.71 | 2.05 | 50.8 | 0.56 | 0.53 | 1.09 | 5.85* |
| Condor | 1.06 | 1.60 | 2.05 | 48.0 | 0.59 | 0.54 | 1.13 | 5.84* |
| Warrior | 0.97 | 1.58 | 2.20 | 48.3 | 0.53 | 0.52 | 1.05 | 5.80* |
| Progress | 1.00 | 1.71 | 2.07 | 45.3 | 0.51 | 0.43 | 0.94 | 5.72* |
| Halmark 1970 2 | 0.93 | 1.59 | 2.03 | 53.5 | 0.61 | 0.56 | 1.17 | 5.72* |
| Crown | 1.05 | 1.64 | 1.93 | 50.8 | 0.55 | 0.47 | 1.02 | 5.63* |
| Stampede | 0.86 | 1.55 | 2.14 | 52.8 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 0.97 | 5.52* |
| Ambrosia | 0.91 | 1.57 | 1.90 | 33.3 | 0.47 | 0.48 | 0.95 | 5.33* |
| Haymate | 0.92 | 1.68 | 1.64 | 35.0 | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.96 | 5.20 |
| Arctic | 0.95 | 1.59 | 1.67 | 42.8 | 0.48 | 0.46 | 0.93 | 5.14 |
| Martin | 1.04 | 1.30 | 1.51 | 61.8 | 0.83 | 0.42 | 1.25 | 5.09 |
| Bronc | 0.68 | 1.42 | 1.86 | 42.7 | 0.42 | 0.43 | 0.84 | 4.81 |
| Shiloh | 0.93 | 1.39 | 0.89 | 53.3 | 0.55 | 0.52 | 1.06 | 4.27 |
| Experimental varieties - not available for farm use | ||||||||
| KYOG II | 0.99 | 1.79 | 2.45 | 59.0 | 0.87 | 0.63 | 1.51 | 6.75* |
| Mean | 0.97 | 1.62 | 2.00 | 49.9 | 0.59 | 0.51 | 1.10 | 5.68 |
| CV,% | 35.84 | 26.50 | 23.66 | 10.24 | 33.47 | 26.37 | 27.87 | 22.52 |
| LSD, 0.05 | 0.40 | 0.49 | 0.54 | 5.86 | 0.23 | 0.15 | 0.35 | 1.47 |
| * Not significantly different from the highest
value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. 1 Maturity rating scale: 37 = flag leaf emergence, 45 = boot swollen, 50 = beginning of inflorescence, 58 = complete emergence of inflorescence, 62 = beginning of pollen shedding. 2 Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated. |
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| Table 3. Dry matter yields (tons/acre) of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) varieties sown 23 September 1999 at Lexington, Kentucky. | |||||||||
| Variety |
Total 2000 |
Maturity 1 May 10, 2001 |
2001 Harvests | Total 2001 |
2-yr Total |
||||
| May 11 | Jun 21 | Aug 2 | Aug 31 | Oct 18 | |||||
| Commercial varieties - available for farm use | |||||||||
| Haymate | 8.84 | 47.8 | 3.38 | 1.58 | 0.74 | 0.63 | 0.82 | 7.15 | 15.99* |
| Potomac | 8.94 | 62.0 | 3.14 | 1.25 | 0.89 | 0.76 | 0.80 | 6.84 | 15.78* |
| Hallmark 1996 2 | 9.02 | 63.0 | 3.28 | 1.17 | 0.75 | 0.62 | 0.89 | 6.72 | 15.74* |
| Benchmark | 8.89 | 61.0 | 3.16 | 1.18 | 0.83 | 0.68 | 0.90 | 6.74 | 15.63* |
| Hallmark 1970 2 | 8.90 | 62.0 | 3.28 | 1.08 | 0.76 | 0.69 | 0.82 | 6.63 | 15.54* |
| Crown | 8.72 | 61.5 | 3.15 | 1.18 | 0.73 | 0.65 | 0.83 | 6.53 | 15.25 |
| ISI-Spanish Red | 8.37 | 42.5 | 2.82 | 1.58 | 0.73 | 0.75 | 0.96 | 6.84 | 15.21 |
| WP300 | 8.54 | 52.8 | 3.20 | 1.32 | 0.71 | 0.60 | 0.70 | 6.53 | 15.07 |
| Megabite | 7.46 | 54.3 | 3.55 | 1.23 | 0.75 | 0.64 | 0.62 | 6.79 | 14.25 |
| Tekapo | 7.99 | 55.0 | 2.70 | 1.06 | 0.49 | 0.51 | 0.56 | 5.31 | 13.30 |
| Sidekick (KBG) | 6.90 | 60.3 | 2.80 | 1.17 | 0.78 | 0.14 | 0.64 | 5.53 | 12.43 |
| Experimental varieties - not available for farm use | |||||||||
| KYO7G23-335 | 9.39 | 62.3 | 3.66 | 1.21 | 1.02 | 0.86 | 0.94 | 7.70 | 17.08* |
| OG8703 | 9.11 | 62.0 | 3.33 | 1.13 | 0.90 | 0.76 | 0.80 | 6.93 | 16.04* |
| BAR Dgl 9 BTR-F | 8.50 | 57.5 | 3.48 | 1.26 | 0.75 | 0.57 | 0.97 | 7.04 | 15.54* |
| BAR Dgl 9 BTR-G | 8.63 | 56.8 | 3.21 | 1.23 | 0.77 | 0.60 | 0.65 | 6.46 | 15.09 |
| ISI-OG-10 | 8.34 | 40.5 | 2.97 | 1.43 | 0.60 | 0.61 | 0.98 | 6.59 | 14.93 |
| WX9-400 | 8.32 | 54.0 | 3.00 | 1.20 | 0.59 | 0.68 | 0.62 | 6.10 | 14.41 |
| Mean | 8.52 | 56.2 | 3.18 | 1.25 | 0.75 | 0.63 | 0.79 | 6.61 | 15.13 |
| CV,% | 8.88 | 5.64 | 6.77 | 10.24 | 18.80 | 21.31 | 16.49 | 8.96 | 7.45 |
| LSD, 0.05 | 1.08 | 4.50 | 0.31 | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.84 | 1.60 |
| * Not significantly different from the highest
value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. 1 Maturity rating scale: 37 = flag leaf emergence, 45 = boot swollen, 50 = beginning of inflorescence, 58 = complete emergence of inflorescence, 62 = beginning of pollen shedding. 2 Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated. |
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| Table 4. Dry matter yields (tons/acre) of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) varieties sown 13 September 1999 at Quicksand, Kentucky. | |||||||
Variety |
Total 2000 |
Maturity 1 May 18, 2001 |
2001 Harvests | Total 2001 |
2-yr Total |
||
| May 28 | Jul 3 | Aug 6 | |||||
| Commercial varieties - available for farm use | |||||||
| Haymate | 4.87 | 48.8 | 2.29 | 0.72 | 0.87 | 3.88 | 8.74* |
| Benchmark | 5.16 | 57.3 | 1.96 | 0.67 | 0.85 | 3.48 | 8.64* |
| Hallmark 1970 2 | 5.16 | 63.8 | 1.70 | 0.55 | 0.90 | 3.15 | 8.31* |
| Megabite | 4.74 | 57.5 | 2.03 | 0.59 | 0.84 | 3.46 | 8.20* |
| Potomac | 4.94 | 62.5 | 1.74 | 0.54 | 0.89 | 3.16 | 8.11* |
| Hallmark 1996 2 | 4.77 | 64.0 | 1.59 | 0.60 | 1.00 | 3.19 | 7.96* |
| Crown | 4.60 | 56.0 | 1.74 | 0.63 | 0.90 | 3.26 | 7.86* |
| ISI Spanish Red | 4.73 | 38.8 | 1.30 | 0.59 | 1.04 | 2.93 | 7.66 |
| Tekapo | 4.59 | 49.5 | 1.52 | 0.59 | 0.92 | 3.03 | 7.62 |
| Sidekick (KBG) | 2.62 | 24.8 | 1.05 | 0.59 | 1.16 | 2.79 | 5.41 |
| Experimental varieties - not available for farm use | |||||||
| KYO7G23-335 | 4.92 | 37.3 | 2.00 | 0.65 | 0.83 | 3.48 | 8.40* |
| BAR 9 Dgl BTR F | 4.73 | 56.8 | 1.97 | 0.51 | 0.91 | 3.40 | 8.13* |
| BAR 9 Dgl BTR G | 4.38 | 56.0 | 1.83 | 0.49 | 0.87 | 3.18 | 7.56 |
| Mean | 4.63 | 51.8 | 1.75 | 0.59 | 0.92 | 3.26 | 7.89 |
| CV,% | 11.54 | 11.90 | 12.77 | 15.55 | 21.62 | 10.65 | 9.55 |
| LSD, 0.05 | 0.77 | 8.85 | 0.32 | 0.13 | 0.29 | 0.50 | 1.08 |
| * Not significantly different from the highest
value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. 1 Maturity rating scale: 37 = flag leaf emergence, 45 = boot swollen, 50 = beginning of inflorescence, 58 = complete emergence of inflorescence, 62 = beginning of pollen shedding. 2 Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated. |
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| Table 5. Dry matter yields (tons/acre) of orchardgrass and prairiegrass (PGR) varieties sown 21 September 2000 at Princeton, Kentucky. | ||||||
| Variety |
2001 Harvests | 2001 Total |
||||
| May 8 | Jun 13 | Jul 17 | Aug 22 | Oct 22 | ||
| Commercial varieties - available for farm use | ||||||
| Bronc | 1.95 | 1.49 | 0.20 | 0.66 | 0.71 | 5.01* |
| Haymate | 2.01 | 1.32 | 0.19 | 0.48 | 0.58 | 4.59* |
| Udder | 1.88 | 1.40 | 0.19 | 0.44 | 0.61 | 4.52* |
| Benchmark | 1.69 | 1.25 | 0.21 | 0.64 | 0.63 | 4.41* |
| Boone | 1.82 | 1.30 | 0.18 | 0.57 | 0.55 | 4.41* |
| Renegade | 1.60 | 1.29 | 0.14 | 0.50 | 0.47 | 4.01 |
| Prairie | 1.49 | 1.01 | 0.26 | 0.57 | 0.56 | 3.90 |
| Experimental varieties - not available for farm use | ||||||
| K5633d (PGR) | 1.74 | 0.99 | 0.92 | 0.62 | 0.60 | 4.87* |
| K5632m (PGR) | 1.88 | 1.08 | 0.64 | 0.65 | 0.59 | 4.84* |
| OG9705g | 1.55 | 1.30 | 0.22 | 0.58 | 0.66 | 4.30* |
| KYO7G23-335 | 1.57 | 1.17 | 0.29 | 0.67 | 0.58 | 4.28* |
| CASMG24 | 1.21 | 1.03 | 0.28 | 0.68 | 0.64 | 3.84 |
| K5568k | 1.05 | 1.13 | 0.20 | 0.42 | 0.78 | 3.58 |
| CASEG23 | 1.38 | 1.20 | 0.23 | 0.33 | 0.41 | 3.55 |
| Mean | 1.63 | 1.21 | 0.30 | 0.56 | 0.60 | 4.29 |
| CV,% | 23.30 | 13.17 | 42.18 | 21.94 | 17.31 | 14.92 |
| LSD, 0.05 | 0.54 | 0.23 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.15 | 0.92 |
| * Not significantly different from the highest value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. | ||||||
| Table 6. Performance of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (KGB) varieties across years and locations. | ||||||||||
| Mine Site | Lexington | Quicksand | Princeton | |||||||
| 1997 1 | 1999 | 1999 | 2000 | |||||||
| Variety | Proprietor/KY Distributor | 98 2 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| Commercial varieties - available for farm use | ||||||||||
| Ambrosia | Pennington Seeds | * | * | |||||||
| Arctic | Willamette Seed Company | * | * | |||||||
| Benchmark | FFR/Southern States | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | |
| Boone | University of Kentucky/Public Variety | * | ||||||||
| Bronc | Grassland West Company | * | * | |||||||
| Condor | Hansford Seed Company | * | * | * | ||||||
| Crown | Previously by Scott Seed Co./Sphar Seed Co. | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||
| Hallmark 1996 3 | James VanLeeuwen | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||
| Hallmark 1970 3 | James VanLeeuwen | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||
| Haymate | FFR/Southern States | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||
| ISI Spanish Red | International Seeds, Inc. | * | * | |||||||
| Martin | * | * | ||||||||
| Megabite | Turf-Seed Inc. | * | * | |||||||
| Potomac | USDA/Public | * | * | * | ||||||
| Prairie | Turner Seed Company | |||||||||
| Progress | J.W. Jenks Seed/Scott Seed | * | * | * | ||||||
| Renegade | Grassland West Company | * | * | * | ||||||
| Shiloh | * | * | ||||||||
| Sidekick (KBG) | Ampac Seed Company | |||||||||
| Stampede | J & M Seed | * | * | * | ||||||
| Summergreen | * | * | * | |||||||
| Takena | Smith Seed | * | * | * | * | |||||
| Tekapo | Ampac Seed Company | * | ||||||||
| Udder | Improved Forages | * | ||||||||
| Warrior | * | * | * | |||||||
| WP 300 | Western Productions Inc. | * | ||||||||
| Experimental varieties - not available for farm use | ||||||||||
| 9007238 | Soil Conservation Service | * | * | * | * | |||||
| BAR Dgl 9 BTR G | Barenbrug USA | * | ||||||||
| BAR Dgl 9 BTR F | Barenbrug USA | * | * | * | * | |||||
| CASEG23 | Cascade International Seed | |||||||||
| CASMG24 | Cascade International Seed | |||||||||
| ISI OG 10 | International Seeds, Inc. | * | ||||||||
| K5568k | Ampac Seeds | |||||||||
| K5632m | Ampac Seeds | * | ||||||||
| K5633d | Ampac Seeds | * | ||||||||
| KYOG II | KY Agric. Exp. Sta/Experimental | * | * | * | * | |||||
| KYO7G23-335 | KY Agric. Exp. Sta/Experimental | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| OG 8703 | Fine Lawn Research/Geo.W. Hill | * | * | |||||||
| OG9705g | FFR Cooperative | * | ||||||||
| WX9-400 | Proseeds | * | ||||||||
| 1 Establishment year. 2 Harvest year. * Not significantly different from the highest yielding variety in the test. Shaded boxes indicate that the variety was not in the test. Open boxes indicate the variety was in the test but yielded significantly less than the top ranked variety in the test. 3 Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated. |
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