Maximizing Production Potential of Tall Fescue¹

Abstract

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is grown primarily for forage on over 162,000 ha in Missouri. Fescue is managed for spring and summer pasture and for both seed and fall forage production. Spring and fall growth is often stockpiled for late fall and winter feed. This study was conducted to determine the effects of rate and time of N applications and forage management on seed yield, and on quality and yield of forage. Plots were layed out on established stands of tall fescue on Gerald, Lebanon and Edina silt loams (Umbric Fragiudalf, Typic Fragiudalf, fine mixed mesic; Typic Argialboll, fine montmorillonite, mesic, respectively.) Nitrogen rates on Gerald and Lebanon soils (Southwest Missouri) were 0, 33, 67, 101, and 134 kg/ha in different time combinations, including December, March, June, and August. Forage management included: (a) removal after seed harvest and again in December, (b) stockpile after seed harvest, harvest in December. Nitrogen rates on Edina silt loam (North Missouri) were 0, 67, and 134 kg/ha in different time combinations, including December, March, July, and August. In addition to the two management systems listed above, forage was round baled at the early head stage and harvested again in December. Effects of treatments were evaluated by seed yield and yield, crude protein, and IVDMD of the forage. Nitrogen for seed production was more efficient when applied in December, while March was a better time to apply N for forage production. One‐hundred‐one kg/ha was the optimum rate for both purposes. Severe lodging was caused by 134 kg/ha N at both locations. Failure to remove plant residue after seed harvest reduced seed yields the following year from 42 to 45%. These residues average 7.0% crude protein and 52% IVDMD. Forage round baled in the early head averaged 10.9% crude protein and 52% IVDMD. August was the best time to apply N for fall forage production and 101 kg/ha was the optimum rate.

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

“…This is contrary to the findings of Davies & Edwards (1958) and Kroth et al (1977) in their work on cool season grasses. This lack of any apparent response to N may have been due to the very high levels of N applied.…”

“…The effect of N may be expressed through the number of reproductive tillers produced, spikelet size, seed weight and lodging (Evans 1955;Evans 1959;Jones 1953;Kroth et al 1977). Defoliation or close-down date has been shown to have a drastic effect on the number of reproductive tillers which reach maturity and consequently on seed yields (Lewis 1969;Watson & Watson 1982;Brown et al 1988).…”

Nitrogen Fertilization Rates Influence Stockpiled Tall Fescue Forage through Winter

“…grows on >14 million ha (Hoveland, 1993) and provides forage for >17 million beef cattle (West and Waller, 2007) in the humid transition zone of the United States. Application of 40 to 112 kg N ha −1 in late summer increases yield and nutritive value of stockpiled tall fescue in December (Balasko, 1977;Kroth et al, 1977;Collins and Balasko, 1981a;Gerrish et al, 1994;Teutsch et al, 2011). One of the greatest attributes of tall fescue is that, with proper late-summer N fertilization, its autumn growth can be accumulated, or stockpiled, for deferred grazing.…”

Performance of Steers Fed Ammoniated Straw From Tall Fescue Seed Fields

“…Research in the mid‐1970s showed that producers in the lower Midwest could achieve seed yields above 1000 lb/acre with proper management (8). This and subsequent research (22) shows that maximum tall fescue seed yields are possible only when (i) nitrogen fertilization is timely, (ii) weed control is adequate, and (iii) the residual dry matter or straw is removed.…”