Agronomic Crop Species and Variety Selection ¹

D. L. Wright, E.B. Whitty, and C. G. Chambliss²

A field or forage crop may include several species within a genus and several varieties within a species, or may consist of a single species with no recognized varieties.

In choosing the genus, species, or variety of crop to be grown, the following characteristics should be kept in mind: 1) growth cycle; 2) growing season; 3) adaptation to soils and climate; 4) uses of the crops; 5) yield and quality of the harvested product; 6) resistance to insects, diseases, and nematodes; and 7) market acceptability of the variety.

New or unfamiliar species and/or varieties should not be planted on large acreages until they have been evaluated and performed satisfactorily for a number of years on relatively small areas on a particular farm or those in close proximity. Even if a particular species or variety has performed well in experimental or other trials, a grower should be familiar with the characteristics and particular cultural requirements of the species or variety before large acreages are planted. However, many crops have been genetically transformed to include Bt or herbicide resistance or both and have had little evaluation. Parent lines may have been widely grown and new gene insertions can result in different performance.

The potential for an introduced species or variety to become a noxious, invasive, or otherwise undesirable plant should be considered before the initial planting. Check to be sure that any plant selected is not on the invasive or noxious weed lists, which may prohibit planting or propogation. Some desirable plants may become difficult to control weeds in other crops. For example, crotalaria and hairy indigo were introduced into Florida as green-manure crops, but soon became major pests in other crops. Some grasses such as cogongrass may root so deeply that they are difficult to control or eradicate. Other plants may harbor diseases, nematodes, or insects that attack crops. Several of the species listed in Table 1 could be undesirable in many situations if proper precautions are not followed.

The field and forage crops that could be grown in Florida are described in Table 1, as to common name, scientific name, plant family, growth cycle, growing season, method of propagation, and area adaptations. Recommended varieties of the major field crops grown in Florida are listed in appropriate variety reports.

Tables

Table 1.

Growth characteristics and adaptations of field and forage crops grown in Florida.

Common Name (Plant Family)¹ Scientific Name	Growth Cycle²	Season of Maximum Growth	Method of Propagation	Seed/lb (1000)	Section of State Where Adapted³
					NW	NE	C	S
Aeschynomene (L) Aeschynomene spp.	A	Summer	Seed	200-220	*	*	*	*
Alfalfa (L) Medicago sativa	P ⁴	Winter	Seed	210	*	*	*	*
Alyceclover (L) Alysicarpus vaginalis	A	Summer	Seed	300	*	*	*	*
Austrian winter pea (L) Pisum arvense	A	Winter	Seed	5	*	*	*	*
Bahiagrasses (G) Paspalum notatum	P	Summer	Seed	120-240	*	*	*	*
Barley (G) Hordeum vulgare	A	Winter	Seed	13	*	*	*	*
Beggarweed, Florida (L) Desmodium purpureum	A	Summer	Seed	200	*	*	*	*
Bermudagrasses (G) Cynodon dactylon	P	Summer	S&V	1800	*	*	*	*
Buffelgrass (G) Pennisetum ciliare	P	Summer	Seed	3200	*	*	*	*
Bur-clover, California (L) Medicago hispida	A	Winter	Seed	150	*	*	*	*
Bur-clover, spotted (L) Medicago arabica	A	Winter	Seed	230	*	*	*	-
Canola (B) Brassica napus	A	Winter	Seed	120	*	*	-	-
Caribgrass (G) Eriochloa polystachya	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	-	*
Carpetgrass (G) Axonopus affinis	P	Summer	Seed	1250	*	*	*	*
Cassava (Sp) Manihot esculenta	P ⁴	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	*
Castorbean (Sp) Ricinus communis	P	Summer	Seed	1	*	*	*	*
Chufa (Se) Cyperus esculentus	P ⁴	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	-
Clover, arrowleaf (L) Trifolium vesiculosum	A	Winter	Seed	400	*	-	-	-
Clover, berseem (L) Trifolium alexandrinum	A	Winter	Seed	200	-	-	*	*
Clover, crimson (L) Trifolium incarnatum	A	Winter	Seed	150	*	-	-	-
Clover, hop (L) Trifolium campestre	A	Winter	Seed	1000	*	*	*	-
Clover, hop, large (L) Trifolium aureum	A	Winter	Seed	2200	*	*	*	-
Clover, hop, small (L) Trifolium dubium	A	Winter	Seed	1000	*	*	*	-
Clover, Persian (L) Trifolium resupinatum	A	Winter	Seed	640	*	*	*	*
Clover, rose (L) Trifolium hirsutum	A	Winter	Seed	170	*
Clover, red (L) Trifolium pratense	P ⁴	Winter	Seed	275	*	*	*	*
Clover, sub (L) Trifolium subterraneum	A	Winter	Seed	60	*	-	-	-
Clover, white (L) Trifolium repens	P ⁴	Winter	Seed	800	*	*	*	*
Clover, white, Ladino (L) Trifolium repens	P ⁴	Winter	Seed	800	*	*	*	*
Corn (G) Zea mays	A	Summer	Seed	1.1-1.8	*	*	*	*
Cotton, Sea Island (M) Gossypium barbadense	P ⁴	Summer	Seed	4	*	*	*	-
Cotton, upland (M) Gossypium hirsutum	P ⁴	Summer	Seed	4	*	*	*	-
Cowpea (L) Vigna Uniquiculata	A	Summer	Seed	2-6	*	*	*	*
Crotalaria, lance (L) Crotalaria lanceolata	A	Summer	Seed	170	*	*	*	*
Crotalaria, showy (L) Crotalaria spectabilis	A	Summer	Seed	33	*	*	*	*
Crotalaria, slenderleaf (L) Crotalaria intermedia	A	Summer	Seed	97	*	*	*	*
Crotalaria, striped (L) Crotalaria mucronata	A	Summer	Seed	80	*	*	*	*
Dallisgrass (G) Paspalum dilatatum	P	Summer	Seed	230	*	-	-	-
Digitgrasses (G) Digitaria decumbens	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	*	*
Fescue tall (G) Festuca arundinacea	P	Winter	Seed	230	*	*	*	*
Guineagrass (G) Panicum maximum	P	Summer	Seed	1000	-	-	*	*
Limpograss (G) Hermarthria altissima	P	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	*
Indigo, hairy (L) Indigofera hirsuta	A	Summer	Seed	200	*	*	*	*
Johnsongrass (G) Sorghum halepense	P	Summer	Seed	130	*	*	*	*
Kudzu (L) Pueraria thumbergiana	P	Summer	S&V	40	*	*	*	*
Hemp, Sunn Crotalaria Junceae	A	Summer	Seed	15	*	*	*	*
Lespedeza (L) Lespedsa Striata	A	Summer	Seed	200-340	*	*	*	*
Lovegrass, weeping (G) Eragrostis curvula	P	Summer	Seed	1500	*	*	*	*
Lupine, blue (L) Lupinus angustifolius	A	Winter	Seed	2	*	*	*	-
Lupine, yellow (L) Lupinus luteus	A	Winter	Seed	3.6	*	*	*	-
Medic, black (L) Medicago lupilina	A	Winter	Seed	280	*	*	*	-
Molassesgrass (G) Melinis minutiflorum	P	Summer	Seed	6800	-	-	*	*
Napiergrass (G) Pennisetum purpureum	P	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	*
Oats (G) Avena sativa	A	Winter	Seed	13	*	*	*	*
Pangolagrass (G) Digitaria decumbens	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	*	*
Paragrass (G) Panicum purpurascens	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	-	*
Pea, field (L) Pisum sativum	A	Winter	Seed	4	*	*	*	*
Peanut (L) Arachis hypogea	A	Summer	Seed	0.5-1.0	*	*	*	-
Peanut, perennial (L) Arachis glabrata	P	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	*
Pearlmillet (G) Pennisetum glaucum	A	Summer	Seed	88	*	*	*	*
Pigeon Pea (L) Cajanus cajun	A	Summer	Seed	5.5-6.0	*	*	*	*
Ramie (N) Beohmeria nivea	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	-	*
Rape (B) Brassica napus	B	Winter	Seed	104	*	*	*	*
Rescuegrass (G) Bromus catharticus	A	Winter	Seed	62	*	*	-	-
Rhodesgrass (G) Chloris gayana	P	Summer	Seed	2000	-	-	*	*
Rice (G) Oryza sativa	A	Summer	Seed	15-25	*	*	*	*
Roughpea (L) Lathyrus hirsutus	A	Winter	Seed	15	*	-	-	-
Rye (G) Secale cereale	A	Winter	Seed	18	*	*	*	*
Ryegrass, Italian (G) Lolium multiflorum	A	Winter	Seed	227	*	*	*	*
S. humilis (L) Stylosanthes guianesis	A	Summer	Seed	180-220	-	-	*	*
St. Augustinegrass (G) Stenotaphrum secundatum	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	*	*
Sericea (L) Lespedeza cuneata	P	Summer	Seed	360	*	-	-	-
Sesbania (L) Sesbania exaltata	A	Summer	Seed	44	*	*	*	*
Sorghum (G) Sorghum bicolor	A	Summer	Seed	28	*	*	*	*
Sourclover (L) Melilotus indica	A	Winter	Seed	300	*	*	*	*
Soybean (L) Glycine max	A	Summer	Seed	2.8-8	*	*	*	*
Stargrass, (G) Cynodon aethiopicus	P	Summer	Veg.	---	-	-	*	*
Sudangrass (G) Sorghum vulgare sudanese	A	Summer	Seed	55	*	*	*	*
Sugarcane (G) Saccharum sp.⁵	P	Summer	Veg.	---	*	*	*	*
Sweetclover (L) Melilotus alba	A	Winter	Seed	250	*	*	*	*
Sunflower (Thistle) Helianthus annuus	A	Summer	Seed	3-9	*	*	*	*
Tobacco (Nightshade) Nicotiana tabacum	A	Summer	Seed	5000	*	*	*	-
Torpedograss (G) Panicum repens	P	Summer	Veg.	500	-	-	*	*
Trefoil, big (L) Lotus uliginosis	P	Winter	Seed	1200	*	*	*	*
Trefoil, birdsfoot (L) Lotus corniculatus	P	Winter	Seed	400	*	*	*	*
Triticale (G) Triticosecale	A	Winter	Seed	---	*	*	-	-
Vaseygrass (G) Paspalum urvillei	P	Summer	Seed	440	*	*	*	*
Velvetbean (L) Mucna pruriens	A	Summer	Seed	0.8-1.2	*	*	*	*
Vetch, common (L) Vicia sativa	A	Winter	Seed	8	*	-	-	-
Vetch, hairy (L) Vicia villosa	A	Winter	Seed	18	*	-	-	-
Vetch, monantha (L) Vicia arthculata	A	Winter	Seed	12	*	-	-	-
Vetch, woollypod (L) Vicia dasycarpa	A	Winter	Seed	10	*	-	-	-
Wheat (G) Triticum aestium	A	Winter	Seed	12-20	*	*	*	*
¹ A = annual; P = perennial; B = biennial ² L = Legume; G = Grass; M = Mallow; B = Brassica; Sp = Spurge; Se = Sedge; N = Nettle ³ NW = northwest; NE = northeast; C = central; S = south ⁴ Grown as an annual under Florida conditions ⁵ All sugarcane varieties currently grown commercially are hybrids produced from crosses of Saccharum species, the most important of which are S. officinarum and S. spoutaneum.

Footnotes

This document is SS-AGR-156, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First printed December 1992. Revised November 2008. Reviewed August 2011. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

D.L. Wright, professor, North Florida Research and Education Center-Quincy; E. B. Whitty, professor emeritus, Agronomy Department; and C. G. Chambliss (deceased), former associate professor, Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.

Agronomic Crop Species and Variety Selection 1

Tables

Footnotes

Agronomic Crop Species and Variety Selection ¹