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A Comparison of Two Methods of Establishing Bahiagrass Test Plots

USDA-ARS, Univ. of Georgia, College of Agric. Exp. Stn., Coastal Plain Exp. Stn., Dep. of Agronomy, Tifton, GA 31793

^* Corresponding author.

The objective of this study was to determine how well a 12-plant-plot establishment method that saves at least 1 yr and supplies other useful information in a field-yield trial could evaluate 10 bahiagrass entries (Paspalum notatum Flugge), established by the conventional seeded-plot method. The 12-plant-plot-test can indicate if a selection is apomictic (uniform) or sexual (variable) in its mode of reproduction, suggest the extent to which it will "breed true" and produce seed the first year—not supplied by the seeded-plot method. The 10 bahiagrass entries included the apomictic tetraploid, Tifton 54 and nine sexual Pensacola diploids. The 12-plant-plots were established with plants from seed planted in the greenhouse in December and transplanted to 5-cm clay pots in early February. Twelve such potted plants were set 30 cm apart in a single row in the center of 1.3- by 4.3-m plots 30 Apr. 1980. On the same day, the 10 entries were seeded at a rate of 22 kg/ha in the same sized plots arranged so that the two establishment methods of each entry were side-by-side. At the end of the first year, the plants in the 12-plant-plots had established a solid strip of grass about 60 cm wide. Respective correlation coefficients comparing the 1980, 1981, 1982, and 3-yr averages for seeded vs. 12-plant plot were 0.67, 0.73, 0.83, and 0.94 for dry matter yield; 0.82, 0.83, 0.89, and 0.95 for dry matter percentage; and 0.45, 0.33, 0.87, and 0.78 for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Thus the 12-plant plot test that requires only a few seeds, saves at least 1 yr in a field-yield trial and supplies other useful information, can adequately evaluate bahiagrass selections and replace the seeded-plot test when circumstances deem it desirable.

Received for publication May 9, 1988.