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Management Studies on Seed Production of Turf-Type Tall Fescue: I. Seed Yield

Dep. of Crop and Soil Sci., Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331-3002

^* Corresponding author (William.C.Young{at}orst.edu).

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Scbreber) is rapidly gaining popularity as a turfgrass. Limited information is available on seed yield response of turf-type cultivars to seed production management practices. We tested effects of four management variables on seed yield of Bonanza (late-maturing turf type), Rebel (mid-maturing turf type), Falcon (early-maturing turf type), and Fawn (forage type) tall fescue cultivars. Variables were spring-applied N rates (100,145, and 190 kg h^–1a), N application timing (double-ridge stage, spikelet initiation, and equally split between the two), row spacing (0.3 and 0.6 m), and post-harvest residue managements after removing the straw (flailchopping or burning the stubble). Seed yields of the second through fifth crops were measured. Nitrogen application timing did not affect seed yield of any cultivar. Effects of the other three variables on seed yield interacted with each other. For both Fawn and Rebel, high seed yields were achieved when 100 kg N ha^–1 was applied and residue was burned, irrespective of row spacing. Bonanza produced high seed yields with 145 kg N ha^–1, 0.6-m row spacing, and flail-chopping. In contrast, 0.3-m row spacing and residue burning was required for maximum seed yield in Falcon, whereas N rates did not have an effect. We conclude that seed yield responses of Fawn and Rebel to management practices are similar. Results further suggest that, compared with Fawn, the optimum spring N rate was higher for Bonanza seed production, and the optimum row spacing was narrower for Falcon seed production. Also, residue burning was needed for maintaining high seed yield in Fawn, Rebel, and Falcon, whereas, at optimum row spacing and N rate, mechanical removal of post-harvest residue was as effective as burning for Bonanza seed production.

Received for publication March 10, 1997.