Modelling of seed yield and its components in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) based on a large sample

A field study was conducted with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) to determine the effect of the initial population density and spatial arrangement of plants on crop development and seed yield. Individual seedling plants were transplanted at seven densities (1.6, 3.1, 6.3, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 plants m−2) and three row spacings (20, 40, and 80 cm), and characteristics of seed production were determined for 3 yr (1991–1993). Over the 3 yr, heading commenced at dates differing by 15 d and was delayed, as density increased, by 8, 6, and 2 d, respectively, in the first, second, and third production years. The time of seed maturity differed among years (21 July to 4 August) but was generally unaffected by density or row spacing. In the first production year, seed yield increased with density up to 25 plants m−2 for each row spacing, then remained constant to at least 50 plants m−2 with both 20- or 40-cm rows; it decreased slightly at 100 plants m−2 with 20 cm rows. In the second production year, seed yield was relatively independent of plant density except that it decreased when the initial density was less than 6 plants m−2 with a row spacing of 80 cm, and tended to be greatest with the 40-cm row spacing at 6–25 plants m−2. In the third production year, seed yield was much lower than in the previous 2 yr but the pattern of response to the density and row spacing treatments was similar to that in the second production year. The seed yield of tall fescue can be optimized for at least 3 consecutive years by establishing an initial density of 20–100 plants m−2 in rows spaced 20–60 cm apart. If the maximization of first-year seed yield is a priority, then the initial establishment should be at a density of 25–50 plants m−2 in rows spaced 20–40 cm apart. Key words: Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, population density, plant spacing, seed production

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Effects of method, rate and time of application of nitrogen fertilizer on seed production of tall fescue

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p97-151 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 453-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

N. A. Fairey ◽

L. P. Lefkovitch

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

N Application ◽

Seed Crop ◽

Grass Seed ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Clean Seed

The production of seed of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) provides an opportunity to diversify the agriculture of the Peace region with a new, un-subsidized, soil-conserving, cash-crop. Nitrogen fertility and nutrition are major components of the production of any grass-seed crop. A field study was conducted on the nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements for optimizing seed yield and quality of tall fescue grown in the Peace region. Row-crop stands (30-cm spacing) were established at four sites in two consecutive seeding years (1993 and 1994), with two consecutive seed crops being harvested from each stand. A total of 18 N fertilizer treatments was applied to the first seed crop, a factorial combination of two methods (surface-broadcast, granular, ammonium nitrate 34–0–0, and soil-injected 28–0–0 solution), three times (early- to mid-September, early- to mid-October, and early- to mid-April prior to the first seed harvest), and three rates (50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1 N). The second seed crop received 68 kg ha−1 of surface-broadcast N applied in mid-September after removal of the harvest crop residue. Seed yield and quality were not affected by the time of N application. When compared with broadcast application, soil-injection of N fertilizer significantly reduced whole-plant dry matter (DM) yield and seed yield/seedhead by 7 and 9%, respectively, but the two methods of N application had no differential effect on clean seed yield ha−1, fertile tiller density, harvest index, thousand-seed weight, specific seed weight, germination, or on the proportion of clean seed. When compared with N at 50 kg ha−1, whole-plant DM yield was increased by 6 and 8%, and clean seed yield/seedhead by 15 and 14%, with the 100 and 150 kg ha−1 rates of N, respectively. The first- and second-year seed yields averaged 1319 and 952 kg ha−1, respectively, for the 1993 seeding year, and 1630 and 716 kg ha−1, respectively, for the 1994 seeding year. The cumulative seed productivity over the 2 production years was similar for the two seeding years, being 2271 kg ha−1 for 1993 and 2346 kg ha−1 for 1994. Each seed crop of tall fescue requires an available N supply from the soil in the range of 100 to 150 kg ha−1 N to maximize seed yield and quality. Key words: Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, nitrogen fertility, grass seed production, grass seed quality

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Crop density and seed production of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber). 2. Reproductive components and seed characteristics

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p98-113 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 543-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

N. A. Fairey ◽

L. P. Lefkovitch

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Yield Components ◽

Seed Weight ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Plant Density ◽

Initial Density ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Seed Characteristics

The population density and spatial arrangement of plants may influence the productive life and performance characteristics of a perennial grass-seed crop. A study was conducted to determine the effects of the initial density (1.6, 3.1, 6.3, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 plants m−2) and row spacing (20, 40, and 80 cm) of plants on reproductive yield components and seed characteristics of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber), over 3 consecutive production years (1991–1993) in the Peace region of Canada. The weight proportion of cleaned-to-uncleaned seed was 85–86% for the three lowest plant densities and then decreased, as density increased, to 82% at 12.5 plants m−2 and 66% at 100 plants m−2. The 1000-seed weight decreased as density increased and ranged from 1.68 to 2.22 g (i.e., 595 000 to 450 000 seeds kg−1). The specific seed weight ranged from 18 to 31 kg hL−1; it differed among years, but the effect of plant density was inconsistent. The germination capacity of the seed was unaffected by plant density, but differed among years; it averaged 87%, 88% and 59% in 1991, 1992 and 1993, respectively. The seed yield/plant, the number of panicles/plant, and the number of seeds/plant decreased exponentially as plant density increased. The number of clean seeds/panicle decreased, as plant density increased, in the first year but was less affected subsequently, particularly with the 20-cm row spacing. The seed yield was correlated closely with the number of panicles m−2 (r = 0.659***). An initial density no greater than 25 plants m−2 in rows spaced 20–40 cm apart enhanced seed quality by producing a greater proportion of clean seed which had a higher 1000-seed weight. Such a plant density, however, is at the low end of the optimum range for maximizing seed yield per unit land area. Key words: Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, population density, plant and row spacing, yield components, seed quality

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Response of Tall Fescue Genotypes to a New Strain of Brome mosaic virus

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-89-0224 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 89 (3) ◽

pp. 224-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. A. Rouf Mian ◽

J. C. Zwonitzer ◽

A. A. Hopkins ◽

X. S. Ding ◽

R. S. Nelson

Keyword(s):

Mosaic Virus ◽

Plant Height ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Field Evaluation ◽

Brome Mosaic Virus ◽

Economic Damage ◽

Plant Materials

Brome mosaic virus (BMV) infects many different species within the Poaceae family. A new strain of BMV, named F-BMV, was identified in a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plant. Here, we report the identification and characterization of tall fescue plants resistant to F-BMV, and the effects of F-BMV infection on their growth and development. Susceptible plants infected with F-BMV produced 40% fewer tillers and 42% less dry matter compared with virus-resistant plants in a greenhouse study. In the field, susceptible plants infected with F-BMV produced 25% fewer tillers, 36% less dry matter, 10% less plant height, and 40% lower seed yield compared with virus-resistant plants. In a field evaluation of a tall fescue mapping population, the virus symptom scores were negatively correlated with production of dry matter (r = -0.55), plant height (r = -0.55), and seed yield (r = -0.33). Thus, F-BMV has the potential to cause significant economic damage to susceptible tall fescue plants. These results indicate that the virus can present a serious challenge for long-term maintenance of valuable plant materials. A survey of tall fescue plants from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Oregon indicated that the prevalence F-BMV in the field was very low.

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Isolation and identification of plant growth-promoting bacteria associated with tall fescue

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2009.71.2751 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 211-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Monk ◽

E. Gerard ◽

S. Young ◽

K. Widdup ◽

M. O'Callaghan

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Growth Promoting

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a useful alternative to ryegrass in New Zealand pasture but it is slow to establish. Naturally occurring beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere can improve plant growth and health through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms. Keywords: rhizosphere, endorhiza, auxin, siderophore, P-solubilisation

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THE PERFORMANCE OF S170 TALL FESCUE IN CANTERBURY

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1974.36.1401 ◽

1974 ◽

pp. 214-215

Author(s):

B.R. Watkin

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

White Clover ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Trifolium Repens ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Sheep Grazing ◽

Selection Of

AN Aberystwyth selection of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), known as S170, was sown with certified New Zealand white clover (Trifolium repens) and re' clover (T. pratense) and compared under sheep grazing with other grass/clover pastures at the Grasslands Division Regional Station at Lincoln (Watkin, 1975) .

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