Maturation effects on forage quality of Kentucky bluegrass

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Hockensmith ◽  
C. C. Sheaffer ◽  
G. C. Marten ◽  
J. L. Halgerson
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Cool Season

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is an important constituent of many permanent pastures in the northern United States and is an important source of livestock feed, but there is a paucity of information on its forage quality. The objective of this research was to assess changes with maturity in forage quality of whole herbage, leaves, and stems of Kentucky bluegrass compared with other important cool-season forage grasses. Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) were sampled weekly beginning in mid-May until each species reached milk stage. Kentucky bluegrass had the highest or was among the grasses with the highest average leaf percentage, and leaf, stem, and whole herbage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations; and lowest average whole herbage, leaf, and stem in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations compared with tall growing species. Kentucky bluegrass also had the slowest rates of change in leaf and stem concentration and in whole herbage IVDDM and NDF concentrations with maturity. Leaf concentration was negatively correlated with herbage NDF and ADL concentration, but was not correlated with herbage IVDDM and CP concentration. Relative to tall growing cool season grasses, Kentucky bluegrass is leafier, but it has poorer forage digestibility. Key words: Poa pratense L., forage quality, perennial grass, leaves, stems

scholarly journals Southern Blight of Tall Fescue and Bluegrass Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-246
Author(s):  
G. Polizzi ◽  
A. Vitale ◽  
I. Castello
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Sclerotium Rolfsii ◽  
Aerial Mycelium ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Fluorescent Light ◽  
Southern Blight

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) are the main turfgrass species cultivated in Sicily (southern Italy) for ready lawn (sod) to ornamental purposes. In July 2004 and May 2005, a widespread disease was noticed in two turf nurseries on the eastern side of Sicily on a ready lawn mixture of F. arundinacea cv. Safari (94%) + P. pratensis cv. Cabaret (6%). Numerous yellow, circular- and crescent-shaped patches as much as 30 to 40 cm in diameter were observed. The turf usually died around the perimeter of the patch, but the grass remained green in the center of the ring with a tuft of green grass in the center (frog eye). Affected turf was initially reddish brown and turned brown as it died. Small, round and off-white or tan seed-like structures were dispersed on mycelial strands at the outer edge of the ring in the mat at the base of grasses. The pathogen was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The fungus was isolated directly as aerial mycelium or sclerotia or following surface disinfection (2 min in 0.5% NaOCl) and plating diseased tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Sclerotia were observed in vitro in 7-day-old cultures. Pathogenicity was tested by inoculating two com-mercial ready lawn strips (80 × 100 cm) of two healthy turfgrass species each with three isolates of the fungus. Thirty sclerotia were placed at the base of stems. Noninoculated ready lawn strips served as control. All plants were covered with plastic bags, exposed to diffused daylight for 5 days, and then maintained in a growth chamber at 25 to 28°C under fluorescent light. Disease symptoms and southern blight signs like the ones observed in the field occurred 2 weeks after inoculation. S. rolfsii was reisolated from affected tissues. Symptoms were not detected on any of the non-inoculated ready lawn strips. The disease was serious enough that chemical treatments were required for its control. Southern blight was previously detected on bermudagrass and other cool-season turfgrass genera (1).To our knowledge, this is the first report of southern blight on tall fescue and bluegrass in Italy. Reference: (1) R. W. Smiley. Common Names of Plant Diseases. Diseases of Turfgrasses. Online publication. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.

scholarly journals Month of Seeding Effect on Low-Input Establishment of Cool- and Warm-Season Turfgrasses in Continental Transition Zone

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-170
Author(s):  
Kenneth Lynn Diesburg ◽  
Ronald F. Krausz
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Low Input

This research was conducted to determine the degree of success, by month, in seeding establishment of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. var. dactylon), and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) at two locations in the moist, Midwest, continental transition zone on a prepared seed bed without irrigation or cover. The four species were planted every month of the year starting in September 2005. Starter fertilizer and siduron were applied the same day as seeding with no subsequent management except mowing. Percent cover of living turfgrass was recorded in each of 24 months after seeding. Tall fescue (80%) and Bermudagrass (73%) provided the best percent cover over all planting dates. Kentucky bluegrass provided 65% and zoysiagrass 24% cover. The cool-season grasses performed best in the July-to-March plantings; tall fescue 88% and Kentucky bluegrass 72%. Bermudagrass (94%) established best in the January-to-April plantings, while Zoysiagrass (32%) established best in the November-to-March plantings. Germination and seedling survival after germination of all species were inhibited by limited moisture during summer. The warm-season grasses were further limited by winter kill in the August, September, and October seedings. These results emphasize the risk in spring-seeding as well as the value in dormant-seeding of both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses for low-input, nonirrigated establishment.

scholarly journals Date of Seeding Affects Establishment of Cool-season Turfgrasses

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 152a
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Reicher ◽  
Clark S. Throssell ◽  
Daniel V. Weisenberger
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Starter Fertilizer ◽  
Seeding Date ◽  
P Fertilizer

Little documentation exists on the success of seeding cool-season turf-grasses in the late fall, winter and spring. The objectives of these two studies were to document the success of seeding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) at less-than-optimum times of the year, and to determine if N and P fertilizer requirements vary with seeding date of Kentucky bluegrass. `Ram I' Kentucky bluegrass, `Fiesta' perennial ryegrass, and `Mustang' tall fescue were seeded on 1 Sept., 1 Oct., 1 Nov., 1 Dec., 1 Mar., 1 Apr., and 1 May ± 2 days beginning in 1989 and 1990. As expected, the September seeding date produced the best establishment, regardless of species. Dormant-seeding Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in November, December, or March reduced the establishment time compared with seeding in April or May. Seeding perennial ryegrass in November, December, or March may not be justified because of winterkill potential. To determine the effect of starter fertilizer on seedings made at different times of the year, `Ram 1' Kentucky bluegrass was seeded 1 Sept., 1 Nov., 1 Mar., and 1 May ± 2 days in 1989 and 1990, and the seedbed was fertilized with all combinations of rates of N (0, 24, and 48 kg·ha-1) and P (0, 21, and 42 kg·ha-1). Fertilizer rate had no effect on establishment regardless of seeding date, possibly because of the fertile soil on the experimental site.

scholarly journals Date of Seeding Affects Establishment of Cool-season Turfgrasses

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1166-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Reicher ◽  
Clark S. Throssell ◽  
Daniel V. Weisenberger
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Starter Fertilizer ◽  
Seeding Date ◽  
P Fertilizer

Little documentation exists on the success of seeding cool-season turfgrasses in the late fall, winter and spring. The objectives of these two studies were to document the success of seeding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) at less-than-optimum times of the year, and to determine if N and P fertilizer requirements vary with seeding date of Kentucky bluegrass. `Ram I' Kentucky bluegrass, `Fiesta' perennial ryegrass, and `Mustang' tall fescue were seeded on 1 Sept., 1 Oct., 1 Nov., 1 Dec., 1 Mar., 1 Apr., and 1 May ± 2 days beginning in 1989 and 1990. As expected, the September seeding date produced the best establishment, regardless of species. Dormant-seeding Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in November, December, or March reduced the establishment time compared with seeding in April or May. Seeding perennial ryegrass in November, December, or March may not be justified because of winterkill potential. To determine the effect of starter fertilizer on seedings made at different times of the year, `Ram 1' Kentucky bluegrass was seeded 1 Sept., 1 Nov., 1 Mar., and 1 May ± 2 days in 1989 and 1990, and the seedbed was fertilized with all combinations of rates of N (0, 24, and 48 kg·ha-1) and P (0, 21, and 42 kg·ha-1). Fertilizer rate had no effect on establishment regardless of seeding date, possibly because of the fertile soil on the experimental site.

scholarly journals The Use of Soil Amendments to Improve Survival of Roadside Grasses

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1404-1410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Nelson Brown ◽  
Josef H. Gorres
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Red Fescue

Highway rights-of-way are routinely planted with turfgrasses to prevent erosion, filter runoff, and improve aesthetics. However, the roadside is a harsh environment, and perennial grasses often die within the first year, leading to bare ground and annual weeds, which do not prevent erosion during the winter. To improve the survival of perennial vegetation on the roadside, it is necessary to identify the factors limiting vegetation growth and then to either identify plants that can tolerate those factors or identify ways to ameliorate the stresses while still maintaining safety. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of improved cultivars, salt tolerance, and organic matter amendments on perennial grass survival along two highways in Rhode Island. The amendments tested were processed biosolids and composted yard waste, each applied in a 50:50 mixture by volume with existing roadside soil; plain soil was included as a control. We tested 20 improved turfgrass cultivars and one seed mixture with common creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) as the standard. Turfgrass species tested were perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), red fescue, alkali grass [Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl.], idaho bentgrass (Agrostis idahoensis Nash), tufted hairgrass [Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.], and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). We found that soil amendment was more effective than either improved genetics or salt tolerance. Establishment, vertical growth, and persistence of vegetation cover were significantly improved by amendment with organic matter, particularly biosolids. In Summer 2009 (the second growing season), turf cover exceeded 50% in the biosolids plots but was below 20% in the plain soil plots with complete loss of cover in the plain soil plots at one location. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, red fescue, and idaho bentgrass showed the best persistence at the species level, and there were no consistent differences among cultivars.

CHLORIDE UPTAKE BY VARIOUS TURFGRASS SPECIES AND CULTIVARS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. CORDUKES ◽  
E. V. PARUPS
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Chloride Content ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Chloride Uptake

Twelve cultivars representing eight grass species were each grown in a sand/vermiculite medium in the greenhouse, fed six solutions varying in chloride content for 140 days, and cut at lawn height. Six harvests were obtained and analyzed for chloride uptake. Visual ratings and yields indicated that the grasses tolerate relatively high chloride levels for a considerable time. Chloride uptake increased with time and increasing chloride content of the solutions. Uptake was less from alkaline than from acid solutions. Highland bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were the least tolerant, while Norlea perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were the most tolerant to chlorides. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were intermediate in this respect.

scholarly journals Membrane Lipid Composition and Heat Tolerance in Cool-season Turfgrasses, including a Hybrid Bluegrass

2009 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kemin Su ◽  
Dale J. Bremer ◽  
Richard Jeannotte ◽  
Ruth Welti ◽  
Celeste Yang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Tolerance ◽  
Molecular Species ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Membrane Lipid ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Lipid Molecular Species ◽  
Heat Tolerant

Cool-season turfgrasses may experience heat stress during summer. Hybrid bluegrasses (HBGs), crosses between kentucky bluegrass [KBG (Poa pratensis L.)] and native texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torr.), have improved heat tolerance but the mechanisms of heat tolerance are poorly understood. Our objectives were to quantitatively profile membrane lipid molecular species in three cool-season turfgrasses exposed to optimal (22/15 °C, 14/10 h light/dark) and supra-optimal temperatures (35/25 °C and 40/30 °C, 14/10 h light/dark). Grasses included a low heat-tolerant tall fescue [TF (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. ‘Dynasty’)], a mid-heat–tolerant KBG (‘Apollo’), and a heat-tolerant HBG (‘Thermal Blue’). At high temperature, glycolipid digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) in HBG was 12% and 16% greater than in KBG and TF, respectively, and the ratio DGDG to monogalactosyldiacylglycerol was 19% and 44% greater in HBG than in KBG and TF, respectively. Greater heat tolerance in HBG and KBG was associated with higher contents of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, and with reduced overall unsaturation compared with TF. Overall, 20 lipid molecular species were present in greater amounts and another 20 species in lesser amounts in HBG and KBG than in TF. Results suggest 40 membrane lipid molecules are potential biomarkers for heat tolerance and that compositional changes in membrane lipids in response to heat contribute to differences in heat tolerance among cool-season grasses.

scholarly journals Breeding and Evaluation of Fine Fescues for Increased Tolerance to Mesotrione Herbicide

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Trent M. Tate ◽  
Stacy A. Bonos ◽  
William A. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Recurrent Selection ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
The Third ◽  
Three Generations

Fine fescues (Festuca sp.) are a group of species that require fewer inputs, such as fertilizer, than other cool-season species managed for turf. They are adapted to infertile, acidic soils; shade; and drought. One area that poses additional challenges is the lack of weed control options for fine fescues during establishment from seed. Mesotrione is a herbicide that provides preemergence control of many broadleaf and grassy weeds, such as annual bluegrass (Poa annua), but is currently not labeled for use in fine fescues at seeding. The objectives of this research were 1) to use a recurrent selection technique to develop mesotrione-tolerant chewings fescue (Festuca rubra ssp. commutata), hard fescue (Festuca brevipila), and strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra spp. rubra); and 2) to conduct field trials to compare the new selections to commercially available cultivars and experimental lines not selected for tolerance to mesotrione. Progress was made after each of the three generations of recurrent selection. The top statistical grouping of entries for injury following application of mesotrione at the 8-oz/acre rate included all the third-generation (G3) hard fescues, all the G3 chewings fescues, and the G3 strong creeping red fescue STB1 Composite. After three generations, selections of hard, chewings, and strong creeping red fescues had equivalent or better tolerance to mesotrione than tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) cultivars, which are on the label for safe use at seeding. These new selections would provide turf managers an option to control weeds using mesotrione during seedling establishment of fine fescues.

scholarly journals Selective Creeping Bentgrass Control in Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue with Mesotrione and Triclopyr Ester

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H. Dernoeden ◽  
John E. Kaminski ◽  
Jinmin Fu
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Creeping Bentgrass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Application Frequency

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.; CBG) is a common weed in home lawns and golf course roughs in many regions of the United States. Currently, no herbicides are registered for selective control of CBG in cool-season grasses. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the ability of mesotrione and triclopyr ester to selectively remove CBG from Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Mesotrione (0.14 and 0.21 kg·ha−1 a.i.) and triclopyr ester (0.56 and 1.12 kg·ha−1 a.i.) were applied on a 2-week interval two, three, or four times in Connecticut and Maryland in 2005, and three or four times in Maryland in 2006. Two applications of mesotrione at 0.21 kg·ha−1 a.i. provided marginally acceptable CBG control, but three or four applications at 0.14 or 0.21 kg·ha−1 a.i. provided excellent CBG control. Mesotrione elicited little or no injury to Kentucky bluegrass, but generally caused objectionable injury in tall fescue for about 7 to 14 d after each application. Triclopyr applied at 0.56 kg·ha−1 a.i. reduced CBG cover, but the level of control generally was unacceptable, regardless of application frequency. Three or four applications of triclopyr (1.12 kg·ha−1 a.i.) effectively controlled CBG in Connecticut in 2005 and Maryland in 2006. Triclopyr caused no visual injury to tall fescue, regardless of rate or application frequency. Four triclopyr applications to Kentucky bluegrass, however, were phytotoxic and reduced stand density, especially at the high rate (1.12 kg·ha−1 a.i.). Three summer applications of mesotrione (0.14 kg·ha−1 a.i.) or triclopyr (1.12 kg·ha−1 a.i.) provided the best combination of turfgrass safety and CBG control. Chemical names used: [(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid (triclopyr ester); 2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione (mesotrione)

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