Bermudagrass makes excellent warm-season pasture.
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), a
warm-season grass native to southeast Africa, is
widely grown in the southeastern United States and
is gaining popularity in southern Missouri. It is a
deep-rooted, sod-forming grass that spreads by means
of stolons and rhizomes and grows to a height of 15
to 24 inches. Perhaps its greatest advantage is that
it is productive during the months of June, July and
August when the quantity and quality of cool-season
grasses such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) are
poor (Figure 1). Another advantage of bermudagrass
is that herbage production is distributed more
evenly throughout late spring and summer than that
of other warm-season grasses.
Bermudagrass produces an extensive root system
that provides some drought tolerance. It responds
well to nitrogen fertilization and produces a large
quantity of dry matter for either grazing or hay
production when soil moisture is not limiting.
Although both seeded and sprigged varieties of
bermudagrass are available, sprigged varieties
generally have a yield advantage over seeded
varieties. Hybrid bermudagrasses are popular for hay
production because they are responsive to nitrogen
fertilizer, have a high yield potential and are
relatively fast drying. Bermudagrass makes good use
of animal manures and, if well fertilized, gives
high animal weight gains per acre.
Bermudagrass is adapted to a wide range of soil
conditions but is best suited to a well-drained
site. Hulled seed of common bermudagrass or other
seed-propagated varieties should be planted in
spring. Hybrid varieties can be planted in April or
May as sprigs. Because hybrid varieties produce
little or no viable seed, they must be vegetatively
propagated (sprigged). In the southern United
States, annual clovers, small grains and annual
ryegrass are often overseeded in the fall to provide
winter-spring production.
Establishment of Bermuda grass
While bermudagrass is best adapted to deep sandy
loam and medium-textured soils, with appropriate
management it can be grown on shallow, droughty
soils. Although bermudagrass can be extremely
drought tolerant, it does not produce much forage
under arid conditions. Bermudagrass will not
tolerate waterlogged conditions. Like most grasses,
it does best at a pH of 5.5 or above and is highly
responsive to the application of nitrogen
fertilizer; potassium (potash) is also important for
forage growth and winter hardiness.
Soil fertility at establishment is essential to
obtain a healthy and vigorous stand of bermudagrass.
Obtain a soil sample for analysis well before
establishment time because lime is slow to affect
soil pH and should be applied 6 to 12 months before
planting bermudagrass. Dolomitic limestone should be
used if the soil test indicates magnesium is needed.
Ensure that adequate phosphorous and potassium are
applied before planting. Potassium and phosphorous
applications are most effective if incorporated into
the soil during bed preparation. After planting,
nitrogen should be applied at a rate of 30 to 50
pounds per acre when stolons have reached a length
of 3 inches. A second application of 30 to 50 pounds
N per acre can be applied 30 days later if adequate
soil moisture is available. Good fertility at
establishment will help reduce the time required for
coverage and may allow for limited grazing or hay
production during the first growing season.
Typically, bermudagrass is established between
April 1 and June 1. Later plantings are successful
only if adequate moisture is available. Bermudagrass
should be planted into a well-tilled, level and firm
seedbed. Seeded varieties can be either broadcast or
drilled. The desired seeding depth is 1/4 inch.
Seeding rates are 4 to 8 pounds of pure live seed
per acre.
Bermudagrass can be sprigged at many different
rates. The faster the stand is desired, the more
sprigs that must be planted. A rate of 20 (one
bushel is 1.25 cubic feet) gives an acceptable rate
of ground cover in southwest Missouri. Sprigs,
consisting of underground rhizomes and plant crown
and stolons, should be planted at a depth of 1 to 2
inches in 20- to 40-inch rows (Figures 2 and 3).
Planting any deeper will delay establishment.
Rolling after planting will help ensure good soil
contact and enhance soil moisture retention during
dry weather. For best results, buy sprigs from a
reputable dealer. Use only fresh, moist, healthy and
weed-free sprigs that have been grown under a good
fertility program. Sprigs should be kept moist but
not wet, cool, and in the shade to ensure survival.
As a rule of thumb, sprigs should be planted within
24 hours of digging.
Grazing management
Bermudagrass can be either grazed continuously or
used in a management-intensive grazing system. The
choice of grazing system depends on the producer's
needs and level of management. The primary goal of a
grazing system should be to maintain a vigorous
growth of high-quality forage. This would be
accomplished through adequate fertilization and
management of the growth of the grass. A secondary
goal should be to maximize forage use. This goal is
best accomplished through a management-intensive, or
rotational, grazing system. In a rotational grazing
system, the amount of time cattle graze an
individual pasture before being moved to another one
could be as short as a 12 hours to as long as 7
days.
Grazing should begin when the bermudagrass is 6-8
inches tall, and when it is grazed to 3-4 inches,
cattle should be moved to another pasture. If
bermudagrass reaches 8 inches or more in height, it
should be clipped or cut for hay. Clipping the whole
pasture after grazing to a uniform height of 3-4
inches is recommended. The growth rate of
bermudagrass will vary throughout the growing season
because of climatic conditions. Generally, the
growth rate will be greater in the May-June period
than in the July-August period because of a greater
amount of available moisture.
Overseeding bermudagrass pastures
Bermudagrass pastures lend themselves well to
overseeding with cool-season annual forages. Annual
forages can be drilled (sod-seeded) directly into
the bermudagrass sod during mid to late September
and provide excellent fall, winter and spring
grazing. Forages that can be overseeded into
bermudagrass include the cereal grains and annual
ryegrass. Cereal grains are planted at 90 to 100
pounds of seed per acre and annual ryegrass at 25 to
30 pounds of seed per acre.
Before establishment of the cool-season grasses,
it is critical that the bermudagrass be grazed or
mowed short. This will reduce competition for
sunlight between the germinating cool-season plants
and the bermudagrass. Similarly, during the spring
the cool-season forage needs to be grazed or mowed
short to prevent any delay in bermudagrass growth.
It may be possible to manage the annual ryegrass for
reseeding, providing a volunteer stand for several
years.
Weed control
Maintaining a vigorous and healthy stand of
bermudagrass helps to prevent invasion by weeds. If
a broadleaf weed problem does develop, it can
usually be checked by the timely application of an
herbicide. Consult your regional MU Extension
specialist for the correct herbicides and
application rates for controlling weed species in
bermudagrass. The herbicide label provides important
information on the period of time that must elapse
between application and resumption of grazing.
Pests and
diseases
Pests and diseases are usually not a serious
problem with bermudagrass pastures. Invasions of
fall armyworm and spittlebug can be a problem and
leafspot infections may occur, particularly when
soil potassium levels are low. Keeping the potassium
levels up, burning the fields just before green up,
and harvesting on a regular basis all help to
prevent a major disease outbreak. If a disease or
pest outbreak does occur, check with your regional
MU Extension specialist for the correct pesticides
and application rates.
Summary
Of the warm-season perennial grasses available,
bermudagrass is one of the most suitable in a
management-intensive grazing system. It has the
potential to provide a large quantity of
high-quality forage throughout the summer in
southern Missouri if managed correctly. Within its
zone of adaptation, bermudagrass is hardy enough to
survive with little care but responds quickly to
more intensive management. Since establishment costs
are a major expense, producers should do everything
possible to ensure success. The most important
considerations during establishment of bermudagrass
are to prepare a clean seedbed, plant a winter-hardy
cultivar, and control weeds. The most critical
aspects of managing bermudagrass are a proper
fertility program and the stage of maturity at
harvest. When it is used for grazing, the stocking
rate is critical. Bermudagrass is tolerant of close
grazing and drought and suffers from few insects and
diseases.
Charles Taliaferro, Regents Professor at
Oklahoma State University, contributed to the
development of this publication.
