Publication Date
1997
Description
In the southeastern United States, warm season perennial grasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.]Pers.) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) predominate permanent pastures. During dormancy, winter annuals are either over-seeded on permanent pastures or grown on prepared seedbeds for winter pasturing of animals. In addition, cattlemen feed hay cut from warm-season grass production. Cattleman and hay producers have lacked a dependable perennial cool season grass that could be utilized in addition to or in place of winter annuals or hay. High temperatures, pests, droughty conditions and competition from warm season species undermine the persistence of cool season grasses. A recently developed tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), ‘Georgia-5’ was released as the first persistent cultivar for the coastal plains region of the lower southeastern USA. Research studies indicated that Georgia 5 can be interseeded into warm season perennial grasses as far south as north Florida and persist under winter grazing as a permanent winter pasture for at least three years. Grower interest and acceptance has been good. On-farm Cooperative Extension Service demonstrations have shown that when properly managed, Georgia 5 can persist under interseeded and monoculture conditions, provide excellent grazing and reduce winter supplemental feed requirements.
Citation
Lee, R D.; Gates, R N.; and Bouton, J H., "Extending Utilization of Georgia 5 Tall Fescue in the Lower Southeastern United States" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 36.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session22/36
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Extending Utilization of Georgia 5 Tall Fescue in the Lower Southeastern United States
In the southeastern United States, warm season perennial grasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.]Pers.) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) predominate permanent pastures. During dormancy, winter annuals are either over-seeded on permanent pastures or grown on prepared seedbeds for winter pasturing of animals. In addition, cattlemen feed hay cut from warm-season grass production. Cattleman and hay producers have lacked a dependable perennial cool season grass that could be utilized in addition to or in place of winter annuals or hay. High temperatures, pests, droughty conditions and competition from warm season species undermine the persistence of cool season grasses. A recently developed tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), ‘Georgia-5’ was released as the first persistent cultivar for the coastal plains region of the lower southeastern USA. Research studies indicated that Georgia 5 can be interseeded into warm season perennial grasses as far south as north Florida and persist under winter grazing as a permanent winter pasture for at least three years. Grower interest and acceptance has been good. On-farm Cooperative Extension Service demonstrations have shown that when properly managed, Georgia 5 can persist under interseeded and monoculture conditions, provide excellent grazing and reduce winter supplemental feed requirements.
