1995 RUTGERS Turfgrass Proceedings

Transcription

1 1995 RUTGERS Turfgrass Proceedings Rutgers University THE NEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION In Cooperation With RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY NEW BRUNSWICK Distributed in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, Cooperative Extension work in agriculture, home economics, and 4-H. Zane R. Helsel, Director of Extension. Rutgers Cooperative Extension provides information and educational services to all people without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, disability or handicap, or age. Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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3 PERFORMANCE OF TALL FESCUE CULTIVARS AND SELECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY TURF TRIALS James A. Murphy, Ronald F. Bara, William K. Dickson, Margaret E. Secks, Dirk A. Smith, and C. Reed Funk 1 Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is native to Europe and surrounding regions. It was introduced to the United States during the 1800s and is widely used for forage, roadside stabilization, and the control of soil erosion. Interest and use of tall fescue as a forage increased in the United States with the development and release of 'Alta' and 'Kentucky 31' in 1940 and 1943, respectively. By the 1960s, 'Kentucky 31' was becoming more widely recognized as a useful turfgrass in the transition zone of the United States due to its good heat tolerance and adaptation to a wide range of soil type, ph, soil moisture, and light conditions. Compared to other widely used cool-season species, tall fescue has the capacity to develop a deep root system that provides tolerance or avoidance to drought stress. This species can also survive under reduced fertility, and tolerates insects better than many other cool-season species. Although short rhizomes are often observed on some plants, tall fescue has a bunchtype growth habit. Emergence of tall fescue seed occurs within 6 to 7 days in warm moist soil. Its rate of tillering and establishment is slower than perennial ryegrass and, therefore, may require higher seeding rates. Breeding for turf-type tall fescues was initiated in The first turf-type cultivar with a lower growth habit, finer leaves, and reduced vertical growth was 'Rebel, followed closely by the release of 'Falcon' and 'Olympic.' Compared to 'Kentucky 31,' these cultivars have considerably higher tiller density, darker green color, greater tolerance of close mowing, and better disease resistance. During the last 10 to 15 years, the use of improved tall fescue for turf has increased dramatically. Turf-type tall fescues have been used to improve the quality and durability of home lawns, school grounds, athletic fields, and parks in many areas of the United States. The lowergrowing cultivars of tall fescue offer reduced mowing costs as well as improved turf performance. Lower irrigation and fertility requirements of tall fescue make it possible to maintain high turf quality while reducing energy inputs. PROCEDURES Tall fescue trials were conducted at the Adelphia Plant Science Research Station in Adelphia (Tables 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6) and Horticultural Farm II in North Brunswick (Table 3), NJ. Table 1 contains entries from the 1991 Preliminary Tall Fescue National Test and was seeded September Tests presented in Tables 3 and 4 contain all the entries of the 1992 National Tall Fescue Test. These tests are conducted in cooperation with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) which is sponsored by the USDA in Beltsville, MD. National tests are 1 Assistant Extension Specialist in Turfgrass Management, Head Soils and Plants Technician, Research Farm Supervisor, Program Associate II, Senior Laboratory Technician, and Research Professor, respectively, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cook College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

4 conducted around the country to evaluate entries over many site and climatic conditions, and NTEP serves to coordinate and compile test results. All tests were arranged in a randomized complete block design with at least three replications. Plots were sown by hand at a rate of 0.88 oz of seed per 3 x 5 ft plot (3.7 lb seed/1000 ft 2 ), except for the 1992 test at Adelphia (Table 4) which was seeded at 1.8 oz per 3.5 x 5.5 foot plot (5.7 lb seed/1000ft 2 ). An unplanted 6 inch border was left around each plot. Table 7 summarizes the annual nitrogen (N) fertility and mowing heights for each test. Tests were maintained at different fertility levels and mowing heights based on the objective of each study. Management practices are often designed to encourage the expression of disease or other agronomic characteristics of interest to breeding and extension programs. Generally, newly seeded tests are intensively managed to permit rapid establishment and screening for disease and insect tolerance. Tests are later subjected to higher mowing, lower fertility, and limited irrigation to provide evaluation of entries under lower maintenance conditions. Weed control consisted of a spring preemergence application of DCPA or bensulide and a fall postemergence application of 2,4-D and dicamba. Reel mowers were used for lower mowing heights (2 inches or less), whereas rotary mowers were used at the higher cutting heights. Mowing frequency was based on the rate of growth, and clippings were returned. Ratings were made regularly throughout the growing season for turf quality (i.e., density, texture, color, uniformity, and freedom from disease or insect damage). Additional ratings for color, texture, and disease were made on some tests (Tables 3, 4, and 6). All ratings were made using a 1 to 9 scale, where 9 represents the most desirable turf quality, darker green color, finest leaf texture, and least disease damage. Ratings were frequently made by more than one person to reduce individual preferences toward particular traits. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION For all tests, turf quality ratings were averaged for each year and for the duration of the test (multiple year average). In each table, the entries are ranked by the overall (multi-year) quality average and presented along with the annual means. A comparison of quality ratings of the newer cultivars to older cultivars such as 'Kentucky 31' and 'Fawn indicates that breeding has dramatically improved tall fescue for the turf-type characteristics of lower growth habit, finer leaf blades (Table 4), higher tiller density, and darker green color (Tables 4 and 6). Older cultivars such as 'Falcon,' 'Arid,' and 'Bonanza' once ranked high in previous tall fescue tests and still perform well in more recent tests; however, the turf quality of these cultivars is usually surpassed by more recently developed cultivars. Brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, and net blotch, caused by Drechslera dictyoides f. sp. dictyoides Drechs, are two common and serious diseases of tall fescue. Although some improvement in the resistance of these two diseases has been made, more work is needed (Tables 3 and 6). Brown patch on tall fescue is especially severe when moderate drought stress precedes the hot and humid conditions that are favorable for disease development. Less damage from this disease is frequently observed on plots showing greater tolerance to drought stress. Net blotch can be particularly troublesome on new seedings of tall fescue and may contribute to the

5 slow establishment often observed with this species. This seedling blight is exacerbated when the immature leaf tissue of seedlings is damage by traffic. Many of the newer cultivars are developed to contain viable endophytes. The presence of endophytes in tall fescue can enhance resistance to some turfgrass insect pests as well as improve summer performance. The benefits of endophyte infection may not always be obvious, but can be dramatic. It should be noted that endophyte-infected grasses are not recommended for areas intended to be used for grazing of livestock because of potential side effects produced by endophyte-induced compounds. Research is underway to identify or develop endophytes that enhance turfgrass performance without the potentially adverse affects on animal productivity. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Publication No. E This work was conducted as part of NJAES Project No and was supported by New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, State, and Hatch Act funds, Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science, other grants, and gifts. Additional support was received from the United States Golf Association-Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Research Fund, the New Jersey Turfgrass Association, and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program.

6 Table 1. Performance of tall fescue cultivars and selections in a turf trial seeded September 1991 at Adelphia, NJ. (Test #1.) Turf Quality Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Lexas Genesis Jaguar Safari Falcon II Renegade Tomahawk Rebel 3D Marksman Pixie PM Hubbard Duke Apache II Rebel Jr Crossfire Virtue Lancer Trailblazer II Montauk Crewcut SRX Pick TOT Bonanza II Silverado GQ Eldorado Vegas Mini-Mustang Aztec

7 Table 1 (continued) Turf Quality Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 31 MIC Bonsai Mustang II Austin Monarch SR SRX Tribute Windsor II Oasis SR Olympic II Phoenix Titan II Shortstop Bonanza Wrangler Sapphire Rebel II Olympic ERA Thunderbird Winchester Mustang Rebel Titan Apache Arid Kentucky 31 E Kentucky 31 E

8 Table 1 (continued) Turf Quality Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 61 Fawn LSD at 5% = = best turf quality

9 Table 2. Performance of tall fescue cultivars and selections in a turf trial seeded September 1991 at Adelphia, NJ. (Test #2.) Turf Quality Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Lexas Rebel 3D Pixie Genesis Rebel Jr Tomahawk Hubbard Bonsai GQ Twilight Taurus Oasis Rebel II Tribute Arid KY LSD at 5% = = best turf quality

10 Table 3. Performance of tall fescue cultivars and selections in a turf trial seeded September 1992 at North Brunswick, NJ. (Includes all entries from 1992 National Tall Fescue Test - NTEP.) Brown Turf Quality Patch July Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Crossfire II Houndog V ISI-AFA Coronado Southern Choice Falcon II Coyote Jaguar III Genesis Pixie PST-5DX E Lexas Lancer Marksman Pick PST-5PM ZPS-E Virtue Micro DD Finelawn Petite PST-5LX Vegas Pick Cochise Tulsa Rebel Jr Debutante Gazelle Apache II Starlet

11 Table 3 (continued). Brown Turf Quality Patch July Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 31 Safari Rebel 3D Duster Tomahawk Leprechaun Eldorado PST-5STB Silverado SR SFL Regiment Duke SR Bonsai SR BAR Fa 2AB Trailblazer II PST-5VC Chieftain II Renegade Mirage Palisades PSTF Ninja Windsor II Crossfire Guardian Montauk Shenandoah BAR Fa

12 Table 3 (continued). Brown Turf Quality Patch July Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 61 Avanti Aztec Alamo M Bonsai Plus Austin ISI-CRC Pyramid PSTF Titan II Cafa CAS-LA FA Phoenix BAR Fa Monarch Astro Shortstop SR Bonanza II PSTF-LF Oasis Kittyhawk Finelawn Rebel II CAS-MA Murietta Olympic II Wrangler Bonanza

13 Table 3 (continued). Brown Turf Quality Patch July Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 91 Rebel Twilight Apache Titan Arid Falcon Olympic Mustang Anthem GA-JessupE Kentucky-31E Kentucky GA-JessupE Georgia LSD at 5% = NS = best turf quality 9 = least brown patch

14 Table 4. Performance of tall fescue cultivars and selections in a turf trial seeded September 1992 at Adelphia, NJ. (Includes all entries from the 1992 National Tall Fescue Test - NTEP.) Leaf Turf Quality Texture Color 2 Sept. Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Jaguar III Houndog V ISI-AFA Lexas Tulsa Falcon II Coyote Genesis Coronado Pixie PST-5DX E PST-5PM Crossfire II Southern Choice Lancer ZPS-E Duster PST-5VC Safari Guardian PST-5LX Pick Trailblazer II Duke Eldorado Apache II Finelawn Petite Micro DD Tomahawk Vegas

15 Table 4 (continued). Leaf Turf Quality Texture Color 2 Sept. Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 31 Rebel Jr Titan II Leprechaun Virtue Gazelle Regiment Rebel 3D Ninja Pick SFL SR Alamo Marksman SR SR M Silverado Montauk Palisades FA Renegade Bonsai Plus Windsor II PRO Chieftain II Debutante BAR Fa 2AB Mirage PSTF

16 Table 4 (continued). Leaf Turf Quality Texture Color 2 Sept. Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 61 Austin Cochise Cafa BAR Fa Pyramid PSTF Bonanza II Aztec BAR Fa SR Avanti CAS-MA Finelawn PSTF-LF ISI-CRC Monarch Starlet CAS-LA Bonsai PST-5STB Bonanza Shenandoah Kittyhawk Olympic II Phoenix Astro Twilight Arid Falcon Anthem

17 Table 4 (continued). Leaf Turf Quality Texture Color 2 Sept. Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 91 Kentucky-31 E Kentucky-31 E LSD at 5% = = best turf quality 9 = darkest green color 9 = finest, uniform leaf texture

18 Table 5. Performance of tall fescue cultivars and selections in a turf trial established October 1993 at Adelphia, NJ Turf Quality Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Jaguar Gazelle Pixie Rebel Jr GQ Rebel 3D Arriba Wrangler Oasis Rebel II Tribute Rebel III Amigo Mesa Titan Arid Fawn Ky LSD at 5% = = best turf quality

19 Table 6. Performance of tall fescue cultivars in a turf trial seeded September 1994 at Adelphia, NJ. Seedling Net Turf Vigor 2 Color 3 Blotch 4 Quality 1 Sept. May May Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 1 Southern Choice Jaguar III Gazelle Pixie Falcon II Marksman Tomahawk Renegade Starlet Rebel III Rebel 3D Safari Wrangler II Alamo Rebel Jr Tribute GQ Crossfire Monarch Winchester Eldorado Oasis Rebel Thunderbird Rebel II

20 Table 6 (continued). Seedling Net Turf Vigor 2 Color 3 Blotch 4 Quality 1 Sept. May May Cultivar or Selection Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. 26 Arid Wrangler Falcon Ky Fawn LSD at 5% = = best turf quality 9 = best seedling vigor 9 = darkest color 9 = least net blotch

21 Table 7. Annual nitrogen (N) applied and mowing height (Ht) on tall fescue tests established at Adelphia and North Brunswick, NJ N 1 Ht 2 N Ht N Ht N Ht Table 1 (1991 Adelphia) Table 2 (1991 Adelphia) Table 3 (1992 North Brunswick) Table 4 (1992 Adelphia) Table 5 (1993 Adelphia) Table 6 (1994 Adelphia) Annual N applied to turf (lbs/1000 ft 2 ). Mowing height in inches.