VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Cynodon dactylon | Bermuda Grass 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Bermuda grass is eaten by livestock [74].  No information was found
discussing beneficial or detrimental effects of Bermuda grass on
wildlife.


PALATABILITY : 
Bermuda grass is highly preferred by cattle [23].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Bermuda grass has good forage value for cattle [74], and is acceptable
for sheep [59].  Bermuda grass, sampled in September in Oklahoma,
contained 8.1 to 10.2 percent crude protein and was 41.6 to 44.4 percent
digestible [9].

Nutritional contents (% dry matter) of Bermuda grass stems and leaves
sampled from the Edwards Plateau region of Texas are as follows [44]:

	     phosphorus	   crude protein    digestible organic matter

May 24	       0.22%		12%     	      58%
June 28	       0.21%		12%	       	      56%

Crude protein was measured for four Bermuda grass cultivars in New
Mexico.  Coastal Bermuda grass had the highest crude protein values:
5.5, 7.5, and 7.4 percent for July, August, and October, respectively.
[52].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Bermuda grass is commonly used to revegetate lignite surface mine spoils
in the southeastern and Gulf Coast states [37,69,81].  It provides good
initial erosion control as well as high forage quality.  However, its
use is limited because optimal establishment requires planting by sprig
rather than by seed.  Seeding rates and sprig spacings are described
[8].  Bermuda grass planted on uranium mine spoils should not be used
for forage because of potentially high plant selenium concentrations
[43].

Bermuda grass declines on mine spoils if not fertilized on a yearly
basis.  It may be a good species for initial erosion control followed by
later replacement with lower maintenance plants [69,81].  Harris and
Zuberer [37] found that Bermuda grass production increased when grown
with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) inoculated with
rhizobia (Rhizobium spp.).  The clover grows during the winter months
and increases soil nitrogen which the Bermuda grass then utilizes during
the summer growing season [37].

Bermuda grass increases streambank substrate stability during floods; it
armours sand and resists scouring [55].  In Arizona riparian areas,
Bermuda grass enhanced postflood development of aquatic macrophyte
communities [19].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Bermuda grass is used as a turf grass for lawns, athletic fields, and
golf courses [64,75,81].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Bermuda grass is a widely planted turf, hay, and pasture grass in the
southern United States.  Many cultivars have been developed for
increased drought resistance, cold hardiness, disease resistance, and
forage production.  Quisenberry [64] reviewed the research conducted in
the southeastern United States relevant to the resistance of Bermuda
grass cultivars to insects and mites.  

Bermuda grass requires regular fertilizing to maintain high yields and
turf quality.  Bermuda grass pastures can be safely and adequately
fertilized with municipal sewage sludge [51].

Bermuda grass is considered a weed in corn, alfalfa, citrus, grape,
cotton, sugarcane, and other crops, as well as in landscaping and
nonBermuda grass lawns [33].  Bermuda grass is a troublesome weed in
native plant restoration projects [1,35].  In Everglades National Park
in Florida, Bermuda grass primarily colonizes disturbed sites and is not
considered a threat to native vegetation [86].  No information was found
concerning the ability of Bermuda grass to invade and outcompete
undisturbed native vegetation.

Bermuda grass is difficult to eradicate without herbicides.  Numerous
herbicides have been tested on Bermuda grass and its various cultivars.
Herbicide application rates and effectiveness are described
[4,22,46,47,66].  Soil solarization is only partially effective at
killing Bermuda grass [3].  The phytotoxins of several fungi which
utilize Bermuda grass have been isolated.  Investigations of their
possible use as a control are ongoing [72].

Bermuda grass is widely used in timber pastures.  Timber pastures are
usually fertilized annually.  Bermuda grass is tolerant of competition
from a periodically thinned pine overstory.  However, pine litter
restricts Bermuda grass reproduction by stolons.  Use of prescribed
burning to enhance Bermuda grass by removing litter without damaging
young pines is described [17].  Shade reduces Bermuda grass forage
yields, but as long as pines are small and spaced so that direct
sunlight reaches grass during a portion of each day, yields are
satisfactory [14].

Bermuda grass is suspected of having allelopathic qualities [54,84].  It
inhibited the growth of newly planted peach (Prunus persica) [84].
Bermuda grass produces cyanogenic compounds [59].

Related categories for Species: Cynodon dactylon | Bermuda Grass