Yield and Stand Survival of ‘Coastal’ Bermudagrass as Influenced by Management Practices1

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Abstract
A study was conducted over a 5‐year period to evaluate the effects of clipping practices and fertility levels on forage yields and stand survival of ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. Yields were greater with a short stubble height (5 cm), infrequent harvest (35 to 40 cm of growth) and nitrogen fertilization. Yield and ground cover density increased with nitrogen fertilization and also in each succeeding year of the experiment. Root weight was not influenced by nitrogen fertilization and declined in each succeeding year of the study. Ground cover increase and root weight decline were slightly greater with close, frequent defoliation. Neither the density nor the root weight changes were related to yields. Differences in carbohydrate percent of both stems and rhizomes were detectable immediately following clipping, but no permanent or major sustained treatment effects were found. Height of cutting appears to be less important in Coastal bermudagrass production than either frequency of defoliation or level of fertilization, but Coastal bermudagrass will tolerate a wide range in both height and frequency of defoliation.

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