Summary of Crabgrass
and Dalrymple Farm Crabgrass Varieties
Genius: Digitaria
The grass called “Crabgrass” is variable in species, actually incredibly variable! To explain, there are five species of crabgrass, naturalized in Oklahoma. There are 35 species within the United States. And there are 235 species in the world, (This detail was provided many years ago by Dr. Ron Tyrl, Professor of Plant Taxonomy, retired Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma).
Within each species there is enormous and numerous variations from small undesirable forage types, to bigger desirable types. Each species is different than all the other in their vast variability. Pay attention! If someone says they have “common”, or “Native”, or “Natural” Crabgrass seed available, what is it? It could be any species and, very low production, short season, and have other problems.
As is said, it could be anything from “soup to nuts!” It is wise and best to buy named and proven varieties from a reliable source.
In a very simple explanation these “varieties” were selected and named by looking through and studying a population, or collection of Crabgrass selections, and finding the most productive one(s) and with numerous other desirable forage characteristics. That basic procedure is how the first known Crabgrass named variety ‘Red River’ Crabgrass was selected and released to the public, and the same for the other varieties following.
In a crude way, it is similar to looking through a population of cattle that range from less than 4 feet tall at maturity, to over 6 feet tall at the top of the withers, and with other wanted characteristics, and selecting the best by the guidelines of the research. Yes, there are cattle that tall and over!
What is “native”, “common”, or “natural” Crabgrass?
A long, basic, history of Crabgrass as just a plant, is in order. The basic “Crabgrasses” evolved on the African continent over ions of prior time. Then they spread to Europe by human means, accidental or on purpose. As Europeans then came to the North American Continent, they brought Crabgrass seeds with them. This probably accidentally in, grains, seed, hay, etc. Remember, this early time was years before technical seed cleaners were available. Then over hundreds of years the vast crabgrass species spread across the new United States.
All of the following four varieties are “high-quality” and “high-palatability” summer forages. They are good for all aspects of summer forage, i.e., grazing, haying, green chop, grass silage (wrapped) summer mixtures, double cropping with annual winter forage crops, COVER CROPPING (excellent), winter stockpile, and numerous soil conservation mixtures.
All are relatively disease “free.” All can be managed for planned volunteer, thus, simulating a perennial.
Since 1988, when ‘Red River’ Crabgrass was released by the Noble Research Institute (with R. L. Dalrymple as researcher), Dalrymple Farm Crabgrass varieties have grown to four, and with each release some kind of improvement over the prior. In comparison, there are over 100 varieties of wheat that can be grown in Oklahoma, each with its own “improvement.”
We can continue to try to have even better varieties of big forage Crabgrass.
The following is a listing of present, 2021, Dalrymple Farm, big forage type Crabgrass Varieties:
‘Red River’ Crabgrass was researched for forage from one plant selected from about 50 typical natural crabgrass selections for variety development from 1974 to its release in 1988 as a “public” variety. It was released from Noble Research Institute as a public variety. Selections studied were from Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, New Zealand, Oklahoma, and Texas. The one “Mother Plant” of ‘Red River’ Crabgrass came from the sand hills north of the Red River in Love County, southern Oklahoma. Thus, the name ‘Red River’ Crabgrass. ‘Red River’ Crabgrass is a bunch grass, and also a runner (stolon) type crabgrass, if there is space, capable of high production per acre with good moisture and soil fertility. In open plot areas, runners can spread over 6 feet side to side, thus, over 12 feet spread from only tiny seed. This capability helps cover the soil very well. It is a tall type of crabgrass, capable of standing up to 2 to 3 feet tall. ‘Red River’ Crabgrass produced up to and over 12,000 lbs/ac dry weight in the early research work. Yields in usual farm and ranch use are usually less. It is also a relatively lush grass (high moisture) with a relatively small stem and will often lean over (weep) or lodge and bed down as it nears 2 ½ to 3 feet tall, due to the somewhat weak, smallish stems and water weight. It makes a fine stem, leafy hay suitable for all classes of beef stock including also horses, sheep and goats. It should be grazed or harvested before lodging happens. ‘Red River’ Crabgrass is the world’s first known developed and named crabgrass variety. It is a Certified Seed variety via the procedures of the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association. It is not a Trademark (TM) or Plant Variety Protection (PVP) variety. This has partially resulted in the problem presented in the immediate following information.
An exceptional crop of ‘Red River’ Crabgrass, see above, swathed for hay, (seed in Dalrymple Farm’s case), in July. There is enough time left in summer for another crop from this field. The look of the stubble is okay.
A problem has developed in the ‘Red River’ Crabgrass forage industry. Dalrymple Farm had received numerous, voluntary reports from producer comparisons, that some marketed ‘Red River’ Crabgrass was not true to the type of the original release. This will be reported in more detail on this webpage in the future. To summarize now, NONE, zero, of the ‘Red River’ Crabgrass seed sources, from seed companies, tested at Dalrymple Farm were correct. It seems “harvesters” just took seed from “any” crabgrass and called it ‘Red River’. This can be a problem for any “unprotected” variety of plants. Part of the possible cause of this problem above is that ‘Red River’ Crabgrass was not Trademarked (TM), or Plant Variety Protected (PVP). So, in essence, someone could name a Rhode Island Red Chicken, ‘Red River’ Crabgrass, and there’s nothing that can be done about it.
All of Dalrymple Farm’s researched and selected Crabgrass varieties are high production types, but variable in individual characteristics. These stocker heifers, above, are grazing well fertilized and irrigated ‘Red River’ Crabgrass, in July period here, at 2 head per acre, all summer until October, with an ADG of 1.4 lbs/day for all summer. There is an estimated 3,000+/- pounds per acre pasture reserve (for all summer) pasture at this time. This is comparable to dryland production in the more humid SE US of 40 inches or more annual rainfall.
All of Dalrymple Farm’s researched and selected Crabgrass varieties are high production types, but variable in individual characteristics. These stocker heifers, above, are grazing well fertilized and irrigated ‘Red River’ Crabgrass, in July period here, at 2 head per acre, all summer until October, with an ADG of 1.4 lbs/day for all summer. There is an estimated 3,000+/- pounds per acre pasture reserve (for all summer) pasture at this time. This is comparable to dryland production in the more humid SE US of 40 inches or more annual rainfall.
‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass is the most recent variety development at Dalrymple Farm. Remember ‘Red River’ Crabgrass was “released” from Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, Oklahoma as a public variety in 1988, (33 years ago in 2021). We at Dalrymple Farm, have been very strict, almost religious, about seed field sanitation, variety purity and protection. Dalrymple Farm ‘Red River’ was/is as ‘Red River’ as can predictably be.
But, there was reported and knowledge that some other ‘Red River’ Crabgrass in the nation seed trade was not true to the Noble Research Institute release. In brief summary, Dalrymple Farm secured commercial seed lots from five “big seed” sources and studied them in research plots. Common farm seeds available were not used. Too much risk. NONE of the commercial seeds were as actual original ‘Red River’ Crabgrass. Some were very poor forage crabgrass.
Dalrymple Farm then “re-purified” a super pure Dalrymple Farm source of original ‘Red River’ Crabgrass. It was released to the public in 2017 as ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass. It is approved for Certified Seed via the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association, Stillwater, Oklahoma procedures. ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass is essentially a purist form of the pure original ‘Red River’ Crabgrass as can be. It is a Trademark® proprietary variety of Dalrymple Farm.
This is the first “selection” and seed increase block to create ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass, 66 days after sprouting. There is about 4200+/- pounds per acre of forage at this time, and with that leaving a 3 inch stubble. ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass is a super pure genetic form of the original ‘Red River’ Crabgrass from 1988. This photograph is also an excellent example of a good hay harvest stage.
Swathing some lodged, over 3 feet tall, ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass above, the day after a pounding, hard rain, and lodged grass. Note the good windrows! The stubble is too short with few leaves left, for quick regrowth. With moisture the grass will be okay!
‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass, released by Dalrymple Farm in 2010, is the first variety developed after ‘Red River’ Crabgrass. The “Mother Seed” came from an associate in New Zealand. He did not know exactly from where the seed originated. ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass is a much different type than the bunch grass and runner type ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. It grows very erect and similar to wheat, rye etc. in spring. It stools (tillers) profusely, making upwards to over 100 basal type stems from a one seed plant, plus sprouting auxiliary stems on the main branches, and making up to over 450 total stems per plant. Fantastic! This from one tiny seed. It makes very few, almost none, runner type stems. In essence, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass grows and tillers very much like spring season wheat or oats, but tillers enormously more and has profuse auxiliary branching on the tillers. ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass typically produces much faster initial growth and much more early production than ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. It can often grow to near “knee high” (18-24 inches) by the same time ‘Red River’ and ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses are ankle high (6 inches). That early growth can range from 1,000 lbs./acre dry forage to near 2,000 lbs./acre more than ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. That is very important to most stockmen. ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass can be a very tall type, sometimes reaching up to 58 inches tall at early seed harvest stage. It can be that productive but, it should be grazed or hayed much earlier, at about 12 – 24 inches tall for grazing and 24 – 36 inches tall for haying when regrowth is wanted. And, always at tall 3 to 6 inch stubble leaving a lot of leaf, for good survival and quick regrowth. The grass of the last use of summer can be taken down to 1 to 3 inches to complete the season’s use. ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass is a Trademarked Proprietary variety of Dalrymple Farm.
To help illustrate the potential of this new variety, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass, early growth was compared to ‘Red River’ Crabgrass, which, if pure, is still an excellent variety as is ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass. Germinations (seedling emergence) after rain started at 3 days and continued to completion at 3 weeks. ‘Red River’ Crabgrass or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass took longer to establish compared to ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass. ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass seed size was 117%, seedling growth was 166%, leaf width was 140%, leaf length was 136%, stem diameter was 175%, and stem length was 195% for an average of all these comparisons of 155% compared to ‘Red River’ and ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. ‘Red River’ and ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses are good too, they just take longer to develop.
Moisture was adequate, in another case but limited. Within this consideration, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass was 2 feet tall in 56 days, ready for seed harvest or shatter in 74 days, and was 58 inches tall in 80 days. All these basic comparisons are applicable to ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass.
Footnote: A good example of early forage development of ‘Quick-N-Big®’ and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrasses, comes from one of Dalrymple Farm clients. Twenty three days after emergences, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass was “belly deep” on Angus cows (that’s essentially 24″ of growth). This was a case of good planting, moisture and good soil fertility. It shows genetic potential! A true case.
Thirteen year old Dillon Dalrymple standing in ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass over 3 feet tall. This grass was 75 days past sprouting and with 5400+/- lbs/acre hay yield, more or less. This variety should be harvested for hay when its 2-3 feet tall and in the boot to early head stage. It has been up to 2 feet tall when ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses were 6-8 inches tall. It starts fast! The tallest growth measured at seed harvest was 58 inches to the top of the heads. It can get very tall!
This average 25 inch tall ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass in a perfect first hay harvest stage, or delayed start of grazing. At 50 days after sprouting it is 27 inches tall, and the estimated yield is 3600+/- pounds per acre. This is a good example of early growth of ‘Quick-N-Big®’ and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ varieties.
‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass was released in 2016 by Dalrymple Farm. It is essentially an extension of ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass. It was decided to try to advance the ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass another positive step. After much study, it was decided that it would be desirable to have a ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass with some decumbent (squatting) stems around the crown. This enhances spreading, and should make the variety more tolerant and resistant to too short haying, mowing and grazing, and being “stomped” into the dirt. Thus, the ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass was developed out of the very original seed that made ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass. It has been measured as tall as 56 inches thus also a very productive grass. In Dalrymple Farm research plots, both ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass produced essentially the same total height growth for the summer. ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass is essentially a ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass with the decumbent stems (fake runners or stolons) for quicker soil cover and more protection from short grazing, short mowing, and too much tread damage, etc. around the crown. It’s a good forage grass, also with the very rapid early growth.
‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’, seen above, is also a quick, early growth crabgrass. It has more “spread” at the base than ‘Quick-N-Big®’, and that helps it “cover the ground” a bit better, and leave more leaf on stubble when hay mowing or rotational grazing. Note, the good, green, leafy stubble. Super! This is a good example of hay harvest at early head stage. This field was 63 days after sprouting and it can get to 56 inches tall at the top of the heads.
The ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass, seen above, variety is a composite of 9 identical, or very similar “Spreader” plants, selected out of the original research stand of over 60,000 individual plants. This October photo illustrates the spreading (but not runner) capability of the variety if there is space in the stand. Under good conditions, average total spread, from one plant, at ground level was 36 inches. And, the variety has measured 56 inches tall at the top of the seed heads, thus it is a very productive variety, as well as a “Spreader” capable type. “Spreader” stems help protect this variety from too short grazing or hay mowing.
The composite that made ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass, was the 9 most desirable plants for this new variety, out of a total of over 60,000 plants searched through in the research plots.
Other Considerations When Studying Crabgrass Variety Comparisons
All of these varieties are very high palatability and high summer quality, and capable of producing upwards to 10,000 to 12,000 lbs. /acre in research in total season. However, at the farm level, good yields of 6,000 to 8,000 lbs. /acre are more realistic. This requires good fertilization and “proper” stubble height and recovery time, and adequate rains or irrigation.
For example, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass can produce 1500+/- lbs of early growth ahead of ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. It uses 25 to 45 lbs of nitrogen per acre to do that. So, these varieties have less nitrogen left to regrow than other crabgrass that are shorter, thus maybe it will not re-grow so well the second growth. This isn’t the fault of the grass, its food supply is reduced.
Another thing that happens is the effect of stubble height. A taller grass, like ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass, that is cut too short, grows back much slower and less for a while, that reduction may be 30% or more. Whereas, if the stubble height is taller and leafier, a variable 3 to 6 inches, it grows back more and much faster. Shorter, leafy crabgrass, like ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass, cut at 3 inches can grow back comparatively well.
A good motto for a taller stubble like above is: “It grows back twice as fast and twice as much!!” The taller left over stubble can be used some way at summer’s end or winter, short grazing or hay, and we still get it all.
All of these varieties are upper level forage yielders for hay, bale silage and grazing. Some general differences are, the ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass both have much more forage yield in early season, and they “weep” over or lodge very little, and much slower or later than ‘Red River’ or ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses. These varieties stand up better for fall and winter stockpile grazing.
An example of first (early) growth is shown by the following case. Treated the same, in spring season, ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass reached 15 inches tall, ‘Red River’ and ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrasses were 3.5 inches tall. That’s a lot of difference in early season forage. That difference is near a ton of pasture per acre. Think about that!
When comparing grasses, always remember to consider nitrogen supply and grass yield. “Average” crabgrass forage yield per lb. of nitrogen is about 35 lbs. /acre/lb. of nitrogen (from somewhere, fertilizer, manure, chicken litter, legume nitrogen cycling). It can be less and it can be up to over 55 lbs of grass/lb. of nitrogen. If a grass yields “big” early (first) growth, it uses more of its nitrogen supply than lower yielding varieties, therefore, lower yielding grasses can have a larger supply of nitrogen for second growth, and they may do well or better on the second growth. But, it may just be that these grasses just had more nitrogen for second growth and not totally more genetically superior. Worth thinking about!
Note: Some agricultural folks do not appreciate Trademarked (TM) or Plant Variety Protected (PVP) Varieties, but remember this – TM or PVP and Certified Class seed are the best ways for a producer to be assured the product is the correct one. It is also the best way for the seed grower to protect the integrity of a variety, and keep it as pure as possible for as long as possible, for the using public.