FERTILE TILLER PRODUCTION AND SEED YIELD IN MEADOW FESCUE (<i>FESTUCA PRATENSIS</i> L.)

The effect of plant density (row spacing / seeding rate), cultivar choice, nitrogen (N) fertilization and close-down date on the number of reproductive tillers surviving to maturity in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was examined over a two-year period. A low proportion of reproductive tillers survived to maturity during both seasons. Reproductive tillers surviving to maturity were mostly from the older tiller population groups. The July and August close-down dates had more (1.44±0.36 tillers) surviving reproductive tillers than the September and October close-down dates. More reproductive tillers survived to maturity in Cajun (1.36±0.5 tillers) than in Roa. Row spacing / seeding rate did not appear to influence the number of surviving reproductive tillers per quadrat. Management factors are important in affecting tall fescue seed yields, but the importance of environmental factors must not be ignored.

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Winter Grazing can be Beneficial to Tall Fescue Seed Production in Oklahoma

Santillano-Cázares¹,

Redfearn²,

Caddel³

et al. 2008

Forage & Grazinglands

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There is little information available about the effects of winter grazing on tall fescue seed production in Oklahoma and north Texas. Our objective was to determine the effects of winter grazing on tall fescue seed yield, seed yield components, and seed germination in this region. Four tall fescue entries were either grazed or remained un‐grazed during two growing seasons (2002‐2003 and 2003‐2004) near Burneyville, OK. Winter grazing lead to seed yield increases of as much as 380% under drought conditions in 2002‐2003 but did not affect seed yield in 2003‐2004. Winter grazing resulted in more seedheads/m2 in both growing seasons, and greater seed weight, seeds/m2, and germination in 2003‐2004. Winter grazing could be a viable component of tall fescue seed production systems in Oklahoma and north Texas, although drought can severely limit yields in some years.

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FERTILE TILLER PRODUCTION AND SEED YIELD IN MEADOW FESCUE (FESTUCA PRATENSIS L.)

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

The Regrowth of Grass Swards

The Regrowth of Grass Swards

Effect of management factors on tiller dynamics in tall fescue: Numbers of tillers reaching reproductive maturity

Winter Grazing can be Beneficial to Tall Fescue Seed Production in Oklahoma

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