| Abstract/Contents: | "A study evaluating 24 fine fescue varieties and two varieties of perennial ryegrass (Table 1) under two maintenance levels was established May 8, 1990, at the Penn State Horticulture Research Farm, Rock Springs, PA. Prior to seeding, the site had been plowed, disked, and harrowed. The seed was dropped onto 7.5 by 30 ft plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. After seeding, the area was cultipacked. A treatment of 0.75 lb ae/acre 2,4-D was applied July 16, 1990, to control common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus). The entire study was mowed in August, 1990, and September, 1991. Half of each plot received 43 lb/acre of nitrogen from urea on October 18, 1990, and October 8, 1991. To date, the fertilization of half of each plot is the only difference is the maintenance of the plots. Visual ratings of turf and weed cover were taken June 26, 1990, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0=0 percent cover and 10=100 percent cover. Visual ratings of percent total ground cover (alive or dead vegetation), green turf cover, and weed cover were taken May 13, August 4, and October 9, 1991. The 1991 data was analyzed as a randomized complete block design with a split-block treatment arrangement, with variety and maintenance level as main effects. Results from all ratings are reported in Table 2. There was a significant interaction between variety and maintenance level for the August 4 turf cover rating. The effect of maintenance level was not significant for any rating. The ratings for May 13 indicate that all varieties had established well by fall of 1990, despite some low turf cover ratings for June 26, 1990. Both perennial ryegrass varieties established quickly in 1990, but were rated poorly in May and August of 1991, and probably never exceeded a height of four inches either season. Despite low cover ratings, weed pressure in the ryegrass plots was very light, which suggests the mechanism of allelopathy from the perennial ryegrass. Of the fine fescue varieties, the hard fescues performed best on average. This is particularly evident for the October 9 rating, where the average turf cover rating for the hard fescues is 76 percent, compared to 55 percent for chewings fescues, 43 percent of slender creeping fescue, 52 percent for creeping red fescues, and 58 percent for sheep fescues. 'Durar' was notable among the hard fescues for its longer foliage, lighter color, and reduced density." |
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