BERMUDAGRASS

MIDLAND 99

Midland 99 (no relation to Midland) is a vegetatively propagated bermudagrass released cooperatively in 1999 by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, USDA/Agricultural Research Service Grazinglands Research Laboratory, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Missouri Agricultural Research Station and Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station.  

Forage yields of Midland 99 have been consistently higher than the forage yields of Midland and Greenfield. Forage yields at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Mt. Vernon, Missouri, were in the range of 2 tons to 4 tons dry matter/acre, whereas yields at Batesville, Arkansas, Haskell, Oklahoma, and Chickasha, Oklahoma, were typically in the range of 7 tons to 10 tons dry matter/acre. These results suggest that the performance of Midland 99 relative to standard varieties will be stable over different yield environments. The crude protein concentration in Midland has been generally similar to the concentrations in Coastal, Midland, Hardie and Tifton 44.

Midland 99 has about the same level of freeze tolerance as Greenfield and somewhat higher tolerance than Midland and Tifton. There have been no indications of any unusual and/or severe insect or disease problems. Leaf disease has been minimal when other bermudagrass showed severe infections.

Like most bermudagrass varieties, Midland 99 does best in fertile, sandy loam soils. However, it appears to do well on heavier alluvial soils. This variety has maintained good stands and production on soils with low pH (~5.0). It has not been tested on alkaline or saline soils. Midland 99 sets few seed heads and is propagated by conventional sprigging. It produces stout underground rhizomes and many crown buds that function as vegetative propagules. A planting rate of 30 or more bushels of sprigs per acre, combined with good weed control and fertility management, will hasten full sod establishment.

Ozark

Charles M. Taliaferro and William L. Richardson of the OAES and OSU developed Ozark in cooperation with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Kansas State University, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of Arkansas. The University of Missouri Department of Agronomy released this variety in 2002.

Ozark is a propagation from a very cold tolerant bermudagrass from Yugoslavia and Coastal, which was jointly released by the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station and Plant Science Research Division of the Agricultural Research Service in 1943. Observation plots as far north as Elsberry, Missouri, have persisted more than five years. Based on its cold tolerance and stand persistence, Ozark is adapted to the southern one-third of Missouri and Kansas and statewide in Oklahoma and Arkansas. It is thought to be best adapted to the northern half of the bermudagrass belt.

Ozark has maintained good stands and production on soils with low pH (~5.0).  It has not been tested on alkaline or saline soils. While it requires considerable amounts of moisture for production, it is no more sensitive to water stress than other varieties of bermudagrass. Ozark is propagated by conventional sprigging and produces vigorous underground rhizomes and crown buds that function as vegetative propagules. The rate of spread is not as rapid as some of the more aggressive "common" bermudagrass varieties like Greenfield. A planting rate of at least 25 bushels to 30 bushels of sprigs per acre, combined with good weed control and fertility management is recommended to hasten establishment.

WEEPING LOVEGRASS

MORPA WEEPING LOVEGRASS

The OAES and the USDA released Morpa Weeping Lovegrass in 1970. Compared to common weeping lovegrass, it is 3 inches to 4 inches taller, darker in head color, six to eight days later in maturity and its leaves are slightly wider. Well adapted in Oklahoma except in the panhandle, Morpa is highly palatable relative to common weeping lovegrass under proper management. It equals or surpasses common lovegrass in all important characteristics except for slightly lower winter hardiness.

Morpa is registered under the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act. The sale of seed under the name Morpa Weeping Lovegrass is restricted to classes of certified seed.