ARS | Publication request: MECHANICAL RENOVATION OF BERMUDAGRASS FOR INTERSEEDING TALL FESCUE

Submitted to: International Soil Tillage Research Organization Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: July 13, 2003
Publication Date: July 13, 2003
Citation: Franzluebbers, A.J. 2003. Mechanical renovation of bermudagrass for interseeding tall fescue. International Soil Tillage Research Organization Proceedings. p. 437-443. CD-ROM.

Technical Abstract: Perennial year-round grazing systems require both warm- and cool-season grass components that establish readily and persist in the warm, humid climate of the southeastern USA. The ideal conditions for tall fescue establishment in bermudagrass has not been extensively investigated. Previous attempts to establish tall fescue in bermudagrass pasture have produced variable results. Manipulation of surface residue and surface soil conditions may improve tall fescue establishment, although it may be at the expense of bermudagrass stand. We conducted a strip-plot, block design consisting of 10 treatments replicated 4 times in 675 m2 plots to determine (1) whether surface disturbance of `Coastal' bermudagrass pasture would improve interseeded tall fescue establishment, (2) which surface disturbance would lead to improved tall fescue establishment, and (3) how surface disturbance would alter botanical composition with time. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of (a) burning surface residue prior to interseeding or not and (b) level of mechanical disturbance of surface soil, including none. We report the results of botanical composition during the first year following tall fescue interseeding sampled at 3-month intervals.