Using Adaptive Management to Restore Grasslands Invaded by Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

Abstract Urban soils may restrict turfgrass rooting depth with shallow soil layers in high sand content soils, which may influence water conservation. A greenhouse study sought to quantify water usage and determine the physiological response of turfgrasses at four irrigation levels. ‘ATF-1434′ tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons.; syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), ‘Jamur' Japanese lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), and ‘Zeon' Manilagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.] were established in 10 cm (4 in) diameter by 17.8 cm (7 in) tall containers. Each species was irrigated with 16.5, 21.9, 27.3, or 32.7 mm.wk−1 (0.65, 0.86, 1.1, or 1.3 in.wk−1). Gravimetric water loss was determined by pre- and post-irrigation pot weights. Turf quality, leaf discoloration, percent green cover, and gross photosynthesis were evaluated weekly and root parameters were measured at the conclusion of each trial. Although root mass was similar among species, water deficit stress and leaf discoloration occurred sooner in tall fescue than the two Zoysia species, reducing turf quality and green cover. Japanese lawngrass and Manilagrass had greater stomatal conductance, resulting in 109 and 89% higher gross photosynthesis relative to tall fescue. Both zoysiagrasses maintained acceptable turf quality with 27.3 mm water.wk−1. However, tall fescue quality was not acceptable at any irrigation level. Index words: Photosynthesis, gravimetric water loss, tall fescue, Japanese lawngrass, Manilagrass. Species used in this study: Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons.; syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.); Japanese lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.); Manilagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.].

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Response of Twenty Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Cultivars to Low Mowing Height

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050943 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 943

Author(s):

Marco Schiavon ◽

Stefano Macolino ◽

Cristina Pornaro

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Green Cover ◽

Color Density ◽

Quality Rating ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Dark Green ◽

Dwarf Type

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) is the most widely used species in the European transition zone, however, despite its good wear tolerance, its use is still limited to lawns and landscape areas due to concerns about its ability to withstand low mowing regimes. A two years field study was conducted to access performance of twenty tall fescue cultivars (‘Ares’, ‘Armani’, ‘Dynamites LS’, ‘Firecracker SLS’, ‘Firewall’, ‘Foxhound’ ‘Granditte’, ‘JT-LT2′, ‘JT-338′, ‘Karakum’, ‘Lexington’, ‘Olympic Gold’, ‘Rebounder’, ‘Rhambler SRP’, ‘Starlett’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Talladega’, ‘Thunderstruck’, ‘Titanium 2LS’, ‘Turfway’) mowed weekly at 18 mm. Turfgrass was evaluated every two weeks for visual quality, color, density, texture and uniformity, as well as percent green cover (PGC) and dark green color index (DGCI), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and traction twice per year. Although no cultivars showed sufficient quality throughout the year, ‘Turfway’, ‘Titanium 2LS’ and ‘JT-338’ achieved high quality rating during spring and fall, the two seasons with the highest frequency of games played on sports field in northern Italy. Traction ratings collected in these study fell within acceptable range for football fields. Our results suggest that improved dwarf-type tall fescue cultivars can be used in sport fields in Northern Italy.

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Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Turfgrass Cultivars Performance under Reduced N Fertilization

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11020193 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 193

Author(s):

Marco Schiavon ◽

Cristina Pornaro ◽

Stefano Macolino

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

N Fertilization ◽

The European Union ◽

Green Cover ◽

Northeastern Italy ◽

Turfgrass Quality ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Dark Green

The identification of minimal N requirements for sustaining turfgrass quality and functionality became necessary to reduce N fertilization inputs and avoid potential environmental impacts in the European Union. A two year study was conducted at Padova University in Legnaro, northeastern Italy to investigate the performance of four tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) cultivars (‘Lexington’, ‘Rhambler SRP’, ‘Rhizing star’, and ‘Thunderstruck’) fertilized twice per year at either 75 or 150 kg N ha−1 year−1. Turfgrass was evaluated every two weeks for turfgrass visual quality, percent green cover (PGR) as well as dark green color index (DGCI) through digital image analysis and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). ‘Rhizing star’ was the only cultivar that showed poor adaptation to the environment, achieving acceptable turfgrass quality (6.0 or higher) only during June and July 2019. Turf fertilized at 150 kg N ha−1 year−1 generally showed higher performance than 75 kg N ha−1 year−1, however, the increase in turfgrass quality was mostly negligible and detected only during the winter months. Results suggest that well adapted tall fescue cultivars could be fertilized at 75 kg N ha−1 year−1 in Northern Italy.

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Effects of pasture base and species mix complexity on persistence and weed ingress in summer-dry dairy pastures

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp17032 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (6) ◽

pp. 561 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K. N. Tozer ◽

E. M. K. Minnee ◽

R. M. Greenfield ◽

C. A. Cameron

Keyword(s):

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Standard Treatment ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Complex Mixtures ◽

First Year ◽

Bare Ground ◽

Basal Cover ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Over Time

Basal and canopy cover of sown and unsown species in swards sown with six species mixtures were assessed monthly from autumn 2010 to spring 2014, to test the hypotheses that (a) sowing an alternative pasture base, or (b) increasing the complexity of the sown mix, improves persistence and reduces weed ingress in temperate summer-dry dairy pastures. Treatments comprised either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with AR1 endophyte or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) infected with Max P endophyte to which were added either a legume (‘standard’, 2-species mix), a legume and two forage herbs (‘herbs’, 4-species), or three legumes, two forage herbs and two grasses (‘complex’, 8-species). In the first year, basal and canopy cover of sown species were higher in perennial ryegrass- than tall fescue-based swards, and basal cover of sown species was higher and the percentage bare ground lower in the ‘standard’ (50%) than ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ swards (42%). By the final year, basal cover of sown species (25%), unsown species (28%), and percentage bare ground (47%) were similar in all six treatments. Although establishment was greater in perennial ryegrass than tall fescue-based swards and in the ‘standard’ than in the ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ mixtures, the loss of sown species in these treatments was greater. The decline in basal cover of sown species was –27% in the standard treatment, –16% averaged over the ‘complex’ and ‘herbs’ treatment, –24% in perennial ryegrass-based swards and –15% in tall fescue-based swards. The results are contrary to both hypotheses with respect to weed ingress. However, support was provided for the hypotheses in the greater persistence (smaller decline over time in basal cover) in tall fescue than ryegrass-based swards, and ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ than ‘standard’ mixtures.

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Weed ingress in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)based swards under dairy grazing

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2016.69.5946 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 263-269

Author(s):

K.N. Tozer ◽

E.M.K. Minnee ◽

R.M. Greenfield ◽

C.A. Cameron

Keyword(s):

Lolium Perenne ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus

Weed ingress was assessed monthly over four years in a total of six swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) to which were added a legume (2 species mix) legume and forage herbs (4 species mix) or legumes herbs other grasses (8 species mix) Unsown species (weeds) present were from 13 families of which Asteraceae was the most abundant Asteraceae species increased from

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Response of Retail Lawn Seed Products during Acute Drought and Recovery

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04809-21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Florence Breuillin-Sessoms ◽

Dominic P. Petrella ◽

Daniel Sandor ◽

Samuel J. Bauer ◽

Brian P. Horgan

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Poa Pratensis ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Kentucky Bluegrass ◽

University Of Minnesota ◽

Early Recovery ◽

Green Cover ◽

Rainout Shelter ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Fine Fescue

Consumers often have multiple choices when purchasing retail lawn products in stores. In this study, we evaluated the acute drought performance of locally available retail lawn seed products (mixtures or blends) at two mowing heights of 2.5 and 3 inches. We hypothesized that the species present in the products and the height-of-cut differentially influence the drought resistance and recovery of the mixtures and blends. In Fall 2016 and 2017, 28 different products consisting of 25 mixtures and 3 blends of turfgrass seeds were established under a fully automated rainout shelter at the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. The drought treatments lasted for 67 days in 2017, and 52 days in 2018; both the 2017 and 2018 treatments were followed by a recovery period. Data were obtained during acute drought treatments and recovery periods for visual turfgrass quality and green turfgrass cover using digital images of the plots. During the first year, several products displayed higher green stability (or the ability to remain green) at the 3-inch height-of-cut compared with the 2.5-inch height-of-cut. Products with tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and fine fescue (Festuca sp.) as dominant species generally performed better during the drought treatments, whereas an increasing presence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) decreased the visual drought performance of the products. During the recovery period, an effect of the interaction between mowing height and the date of data collection on the percentage of green cover was observed: the lower mowing height improved the early recovery of green cover after acute drought. These findings suggest that consumers in the upper midwestern United States and areas with a climate similar climate to that of St. Paul, MN, who are challenged with multiple choices of lawn seed products should choose products containing a higher tall fescue content and adjust their mowing heights to optimize recovery.

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Performance of sown species and weed ingress in new dairy pastures based on tall fescue and perennial ryegrass

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2014.67.5785 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 67 ◽

pp. 231-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K.N. Tozer ◽

E.M.K. Minnee ◽

C.A. Cameron

Keyword(s):

Lolium Perenne ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Percentage Cover ◽

The Third ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Pasture Productivity

Poor performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and subsequent weed ingress reduces pasture productivity Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is more droughttolerant than perennial ryegrass and may perform better in summer dry upper North Island environments thus reducing weed ingress To compare swards based on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for performance of sown species and weed ingress a replicated grazed plot study was established Measurements were made every 3 months from May 2010 until May 2013 Percentage cover of sown species at the canopy surface was significantly higher in perennial ryegrass than tall fescue swards over 3 years By the end of the third year basal and canopy cover of unsown species in tall fescue swards reached 28 and 40 respectively compared with only 13 and 7 respectively in perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass swards performed better and may provide a better option for keeping out weeds within the first 3 years of sowing

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Management of Meloidogyne incognita with Jesup (Max-Q) Tall Fescue Grass Prior to Peach Orchard Establishment

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-08-13-0849-re ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

pp. 625-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. P. Nyczepir ◽

P. M. Brannen ◽

J. Cook ◽

S. L. F. Meyer

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Meloidogyne Incognita ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Tree Planting ◽

Trunk Diameter ◽

Second Stage ◽

Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽

Peach Trees ◽

A Site ◽

Peach Orchard

The effects of two preplant Jesup (Max-Q) tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) ground cover treatments as alternatives to chemical control of Meloidogyne incognita were investigated from 2006 to 2013. The experiment was initiated in 2006 in a site known to be infested with M. incognita. Treatments included (i) 1 year of peach followed by 1 year of Jesup (Max-Q), (ii) 2 years of continuous Jesup (Max-Q), (iii) 2 years of continuous peach, and (iv) 2 years of continuous peach followed by fumigation with 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D). Both Jesup (Max-Q) treatments suppressed (P ≤ 0.05) population densities of M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2) compared with the 2-year continuous peach treatments (prior to fumigation); no J2 were detected in soil samples taken from 2-year continuous Jesup (Max-Q) plots. Evaluation of the effects of the Jesup (Max-Q) treatments on subsequent peach tree planting was initiated in 2008, when herbicide was applied to the tall fescue treatment plots and half the continuous peach plots were fumigated with 1,3-D (nematicide treatment control). Peach trees were planted into all plots in 2009. By the end of the experiment (48 months after orchard establishment), trunk diameter was greater (P ≤ 0.01) in both of the Jesup (Max-Q) treatments and in the 1,3-D-fumigated treatment than in the nonfumigated treatment. Moreover, trunk diameter did not differ among the Jesup (Max-Q) and the fumigated treatments. Preplant Jesup (Max-Q) tall fescue was as effective as 1,3-D fumigation in increasing tree growth in an M. incognita-infested site.

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