Forage Yield and Percent Cell Wall Constituents of Pensacola Bahiagrass as Related to N Fertilization and Clipping Height

Abstract

Abstract‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum, Flugge, is widely grown in the Southeast but little is known about the influence that cutting height has on forage yield and forage quality. The effect of height of clipping and N fertilization rate on yield and cell wall constituents was measured over a 2‐year period on an established stand of Pensacola bahiagrass growing on a loamy sand (Psammentic paleudults) which was fertilized annually with 0, 84, 168 and 336 kg/ha of N and clipped monthly at heights of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5 cm above the stolons. Highest forage yields were obtained when forage was harvested at ground level and yield was least when harvested at 10.0 or 12.5 cm. Cell wall constituents of the forage ranged between 70 and 72% and were not influenced by N fertilization or clipping height. Forage from the first harvest was lower in cell wall constituents than all later harvests. The data suggest that harvesting close to the soil will increase yields but quality as measured by cell wall constituents will be largely unchanged by N application or clipping height.