Establishiment of Kleingrass with Annual Ryegrass and Other Cultural Treatments

Abstract Weed control is required after seeding kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) to assure successful stand establishment. Four field experiments were conducted over a 4‐yr period at two sites in Texas to evaluate a winter cover of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and cultural treatments before seeding kleingrass as possible weed control methods. Hand‐weeding during establishment increased kleingrass forage production to 22 times that was produced in an unweeded control. Kleingrass was successfully established at one site by seeding into annual ryegrass stubble. The stand persisted for 3 yr with little maintenance. The beneficial effects of annual ryegrass cover during the winter before seeding kleingrass were not confirmed in all experiments. Kleingrass establishment following winter cover crops of arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.) oat (Avena sativa L.) or weeds was poor. Conversely, a heavy cover of ryegrass kept the soil cool and was responsible for poor kleingrass germination and growth at one site. Kleingrass establishment was most successful when both ryegrass and weeds were removed by herbicides or by tillage before seeding.