Methods of Establishing Annual Ryegrass into Bahiagrass Sod Affects Forage Botanical Composition, Production, and Nutritive Value

Methods of establishment of cool-season forages can affect annual forage production in subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) production and nutritive value, and the subsequent bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) production and nutritive value using different methods of annual ryegrass establishment. The experiment was conducted in Ona, FL, from November 2006 to November 2008. The treatments were: annual ryegrass broadcast-seeded on undisturbed bahiagrass sod; annual ryegrass broadcast-seeded on light-disked bahiagrass sod; annual ryegrass broadcast-seeded on glyphosate-treated bahiagrass sod; annual ryegrass broadcast-seeded on paraquat-treated bahiagrass sod; and annual ryegrass broadcast-seeded on a prepared seedbed. The control was bahiagrass sod not overseeded. The prepared seedbed and glyphosate treatments resulted in greater annual ryegrass herbage accumulation (3,600 lb DM/acre), as compared to the other treatments (average of 336 lb DM/acre). The glyphosate treatment reduced average annual bahiagrass herbage accumulation (10,000 vs. 8,300 lb DM/acre for control and glyphosate, respectively) in the subsequent spring. The more effective methods to suppress bahiagrass sod resulted in greater annual ryegrass production with potential decrease in bahiagrass stand and production in the subsequent spring.