Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
!"#$%&'(")*&#&)+&'$,'-(.'(")/&)0")'!'.1#23'4,5'
Not Competitive
Leafspot Diseases
Poor Winterhardiness
Grows Very Slow
Poor Stress Tolerance
The Stand is Gone!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Soil Test and Follow Fertility
Recommendations
Thou Shalt Soil Test
•! Most common cause of poor establishment:
!! Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.
•! Most common cause of poor drought
tolerance:
!! Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.
•! Most common cause of poor persistence:
!! Soil pH and/or fertility is too low.
Sample hayfields every year and
1/3 of your pastures each year.
Annual Nutrient Removal by the
Primary Hay Crops in the South
"#$%&'($)*+',-.'/*
012)*-3*"#$%&'($456%'47'8%9*
%#!"
K is for Persistence
9,)76:2+)200"
;)5/2):+)200"
%!!"
<244"=,056,"
$#!"
$!!"
#!"
!"
&'()*+,-"
./*01/2(,"
.*(20/"
3245'67"
82+"
Adapted from Southern Forages, 2007 and Myer et al, 2010.!
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
1!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Potash also helps to ward off
diseases and prepare for dormancy
Troubleshooting
Leafspot and winterhardiness!
Tissue Sampling
Tissue K % should be 2.0% or greater.
6 in.
DO NOT cut back on lime!
Get your priorities right!
1.! Lime is still job #1.
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
2!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Effect of PL (w/ or w/o Alum) &
Amm. Nitrate on Soil PH
Al(SO4)
Usually as KAl(SO4)2!12H2O
Adapted from: Moore and Edwards. 2005. J. Environ. Qual. 34:2104–2111.!
Effect of PL (w/ or w/o Alum) &
Amm. Nitrate on Forage Yields
Poultry Litter for Forage
•! Weed pressure does increase!
!! Not a source of weed seed!
!! Changes the fertility and makes broadleaf
weeds more competitive.!
•! Potassium fertilization may not be
adequate!
!! Poultry Litter: 3-3-2!
!! Ideal bermudagrass fertilizer: 4-1-3!
Adapted from: Moore and Edwards. 2005. J. Environ. Qual. 34:2104–2111.!
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
3!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Drought Tolerance of
Forage Species
Soil pH Problems
Exacerbate a Drought
Water Use
Efficiency
Max. Root
Depth
DM lbs/inch
inches
1646
78
990
47
Pensacola Bahiagrass
1194
79
Tall Fescue
1064
48
Ladino Clover
480
38
Red Clover
436
45
Species
Coastal Bermudagrass
Common Bermudagrass
From: Southern Forages, as adapted from Doss et al. (1960; 1962; 1963)
(Severe as "
summer 2011 "
or 2007)!
Drought Recovery?
•! What would it take to refill
(recharge) the soil?
!! Accounting for runoff
!! Evaporation and transpiration
!! Leaching below root zone
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
4!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Drought Tolerance of
Forage Species
Proper Rest Following
Grazing is Key!
Water Use
Efficiency
Max. Root
Depth
DM lbs/inch
inches
1646
78
990
47
Pensacola Bahiagrass
1194
79
Tall Fescue
Species
Coastal Bermudagrass
Common Bermudagrass
1064
48
Ladino Clover
480
38
Red Clover
436
45
•! In continuously grazed
pastures, most plants are
grazed every 2 – 7 days.
•! With recommended rest
periods, roots will redevelop
to approximately the same
depth as uncut plants.
From: Southern Forages, as adapted from Doss et al. (1960; 1962; 1963)
Picture staged by: C. Mackoviak, Univ. of Florida!
More than meets the eye.
What you don’t see….
Graze/Cut!
Regrowth !
Begins!
Adequate!
Rest!
Roots die
back!
Graze/Cut!
Again!
Roots die
back even
more!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
5!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
6!
Forage Conference at GCA Convention
Identifying & Preventing
Bermudagrass Stand Decline
Burning-Off Bermudagrass
Fields
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Dr. Dennis Hancock, Univ. of Georgia!
Burn Bans
Increases Greenup Rate
and
Permitting
Decreases Weeds
Releases Nutrients
Online Burning Permit:!
Reduces Leafspot Disease Pressure
Neighboring Properties
http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/
OnlinePermits/index.cfm !
Risky
For more information on burn bans and
permitting:!
Visit: http://www.gatrees.org/ or !
Call: 1-877-OK2-BURN !
Air Quality Limitations
:::;<'-%<&83-%8<');6-,*
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0989/
='-%<&8>-%8<');6-,*?,8&1*@A/8$')*
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
7!