Compatability of Tall Fescue and Coastal Bermudagrass as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization and Height of Clip1

Abstract

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacae) was seeded into dormant Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.), fertilized at five levels of N, and clipped at 5.1 and 10.2 cm over a 3‐year period to evaluate the influence of these factors on its persistence in competition with Coastal. The experiment was conducted at two adjacent locations, with one irrigated and the other not irrigated.Tall fescue persisted and contributed to yield at N levels up to 420 kg N/ha per year at the 5.1‐cm clip height, and at N levels up to 560 kg N/ha per year at 10.2‐cm clip height. Nitrogen fertilization decreased fescue content, whereas, the higher clipping increased fescue content of the harvested forage. Fescue content was high in the spring and fall and low in summer. Fescue growth during summer was better at the irrigated location. High N fertilization gave the highest yields, with little fescue in the harvested forage. Tall fescue‐Coastal associations have potential in grazing systems for cow‐calf operations where even seasonal distribution of forage may be important.