Abstract/Contents: | "As a part of an ongoing research project with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, a study designed to evaluate the effects of site preparation and seeding method on the establishmen of hard fescue and tall fescue for roadside conditions was established near Lancaster, PA, at the interchange of SR 222 and SR 30. The existing vegetation was killed 3 weeks prior to seeding with 3 lb ae/acre glyphosate, and the killed vegetation was mowed. Seedbed preparation and seeding were done September 28, 1989. 'Aurora' hard fescue and 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue were either dropped or sown with a cultipacker seeder onto 6 by 30 ft plots that were either mowed only, or mowed and disked. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a 2 by 2 by 2 factorial treatment arrangement with four replications, with species, seedbed preparation, and seeding method as main effects. After seedbed preparation, with species, seedbed preparation, and seeding method as main effects. After seedbed preparation, but prior to seeing, all plots received 860 lbs/acre of 10-20-20 fertilizer and 2 tons/acre of agricultural lime. An application of 2,4-D, dicamba, and triclopyr, at 0.5, 0.5, and 0.38 lb ae/acre, respectively, was made May 18, 1990, to control broadleaf weeds. The area was included in normal PennDOT maintenance practices for the area, and was mowed twice in 1990, and three times in 1991, at a height of 2.5 in. In 1991, visual ratings for percent turf cover and weed cover were taken May 10, July 22, and October 29. Results for species, seeding method, and seedbed preparation are reported in Table 1, and Table 2 reports results for the interaction of species, seeding method, and seedbed preparation. The effect of species was significant for turf cover on May 10 and July 22. On May 10, prior to mowing, tall fescue provided better cover than hard fescue and had fewer weeds. July 22 ratings were taken after mowing (at approximately 2.5 in), and hard fescue provided significantly more turf cover, due to a much denser turf. The tall fescue plots have a much thinner stand than the hard fescue plots, so removal of the foliage has more of an effect on cover. Seeding method had a statistically significant effect on turf cover on July 22, but is arguable if a difference of 65 versus 70 percent cover is of agronomic significance. The effects of seedhead preparation were not significant at any rating date. After two seasons of observation at this site, it is apparent that under the conditions experienced, establishment method did not affect the success of hard fescue and tall fescue seedings." |