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Timothy Hay Variety Trial
R.L. Dovel and J. Rainey'
INTRODUCTION
Timothy is a short-lived perennial forage grass that is in high demand
for high quality hay. The development of specialty markets in the race horse
industry has driven prices to levels that are in excess of alfalfa hay prices.
There is an increasing interest in timothy hay in the Klamath Basin yet little
variety yield data is available for prospective producers. This trial was
established to compare the relative yield potential of various commercially
available timothy varieties in the Klamath Basin.
PROCEDURES
Plots were established in August 1988. The trial consists of ten commercially available Timothy varieties arranged in a randomized complete block
design with four replications. Soil samples from the plots were analyzed and
appropriate fertilizer applied prior to planting. Seed was drilled to a depth
of 1/4 inch or greater using a modified Kincaid drill at a rate of 4 lbs/A.
Plots were 5 x 20 feet with a 3-foot alleyway. Water was supplied with a
solid set sprinkler system. Plants were allowed to grow uncut through the
first growing season. Three harvests were taken in 1989, 1990, and 1991 when
plants started heading. Plots were harvested using a flail harvester with a
3-foot wide cutting head. All yields are reported on a dry weight basis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Establishment was poor due to deep planting. Timothy should be planted
no deeper than 1/4 inch. It appears that seedling vigor of the various
varieties was not the same since some varieties established much better than
others in spite of the depth of planting.
Although Richmond had the highest yields in 1989, it was not an outstanding yielding variety in 1990 and was ranked fourth in 1991 (Table 1). Clair
was the second highest yielding entry in 1989, the highest yielder in 1990,
and was the second highest yielding variety in 1991, averaging 324 lbs/A more
than Richmond over three years. Due to the importance of stand persistence in
this crop, more emphasis should be placed on the second and third year yields.
There was little difference in digestibility, as measured by acid detergent fiber (ADF), between the entries in this trial. However, there were
substantial differences in crude protein (CP) between varieties. Average CP
value ranged from 7.6 to 10.4 percent. The two varieties with the highest CP
were Basho and Climax, while Clair had the lowest value (Table 1). Forage
quality evaluations were made on the second cutting in 1990.
1/ Assistant Professor and Biological Sciences Research Technician, respectively, Klamath Experiment Station, OR.
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Continued testing is required to develop valid conclusions on the yield
potential of these varieties in the Klamath Basin. However, the average yield
across three years was in excess of four tons/A. At current market prices
this yield would result in comparable or superior net profits/A to alfalfa
hay.
Table 1. Summary of forage yield and quality of ten timothy
hay varieties established in the fall of 1988 at the
Klamath Experiment Station, OR.
Entry
1989
Yield
1990
1991
Avg.
Forage quality'
ADF
Protein
---- 1990 ----
lbs/A Clair
Drummond
Timflor
Mariposa
Richmond
11,920
8,393
9,838
10,970
12,210
9,331
6,286
6,980
7,122
8,666
11,925
9,970
11,983
10,484
11,330
11,059
8,216
9,600
9,525
10,735
40.1
40.2
41.6
40.4
41.4
7.6
9.2
8.7
8.3
7.5
Bounty
Basho
Climax
Champ
Salvo
9,085
7,805
8,042
9,816
11,000
6,980
8,379
8,155
6,525
8,075
9,972
11,388
10,654
10,801
10,044
8,679
9,191
8,950
9,047
9,706
39.3
39.4
40.2
40.0
40.1
10.0
10.4
10.4
8.5
9.1
Mean:
LSD (0.05)
CV (%)
9,908
17,777
12
7,648
954
9
10,855
1,062
8
9,470
40.3
1.1
1.8
9.0
1.3
9.7
1/ Forage quality was determined on samples from the second
cutting in 1990.