1999 Iowa Turfgrass Research Report

This was the second year of data collection from the new tall fescue trial. This is a National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trial. It is being conducted at many locations around the U.S. The purpose of the trial is to study the regional adaptation of 129 tall fescue cultivars. Cultivars were evaluated for seedling vigor in October. The study is established in full sun. Three replications of the 3 x 5 ft (15 ft²) plots were established for each cultivar in the spring of 1996. The trial is maintained at a 2-inch mowing height, 3.5 lbs N/1000 ft² were applied during the growing season, and the area was irrigated when needed to prevent drought. Preemergence herbicide was applied once in the spring.

Cultivars were evaluated for turf quality each month of the growing season. Visual quality was assessed using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = best, 6 = lowest acceptable, and 1 = worst quality. The values listed under each month in Table 1 are the averages of ratings made on three replicated plots for the three studies. Yearly means of data from each month are listed in the last column. The cultivars are listed in descending order of average quality.

Data for genetic color (Gcol), spring greenup (Grn), and leaf texture (Leaf) also are included. Genetic color was rated using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = dark and 1 = light green. Spring greenup was estimated using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = green and 1 = dormant turf. Leaf texture was assessed with a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = fine and 1 = coarse texture.

Table 1. 1998 visual quality¹ and other ratings² for the tall fescue regional cultivar trial established in 1996.

					Turf quality
	Cultivar	Gcol	Grn	Leaf	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Mean
1	Renegade	7.0	4.0	6.0	6.7	5.0	6.7	6.3	6.0	7.3	6.3
2	Titan 2	6.3	4.7	5.3	5.3	6.3	6.3	6.0	6.3	6.7	6.2
3	Arid	5.7	6.0	4.3	5.7	5.7	6.3	5.7	6.7	6.3	6.1
4	Plantation (Pennington 1901)	7.0	4.0	5.3	5.7	5.3	5.3	5.7	7.3	6.7	6.0
5	Kentucky-31 w/endo	6.0	6.0	4.0	5.7	6.0	6.3	6.3	5.7	5.3	5.9
6	MB 28	7.0	4.3	6.7	5.7	5.3	6.0	6.3	6.0	6.3	5.9
7	Pixie E+	7.0	5.3	6.0	6.0	6.0	5.7	6.3	5.7	5.7	5.9
8	ISI-TF11	6.3	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.7	6.3	6.3	6.0	5.8
9	MB 216	7.7	4.3	5.7	5.7	5.3	5.3	6.0	6.3	6.0	5.8
10	Millennium (TMI-RBR)	6.7	4.0	6.7	5.3	4.7	6.0	6.7	6.0	6.3	5.8
11	Regiment	7.0	5.7	6.3	5.7	5.0	5.7	6.3	6.0	6.0	5.8
12	Crossfire II	7.0	4.7	5.3	5.3	5.0	5.3	6.3	6.3	5.7	5.7
13	CU9501T	7.0	4.3	5.7	6.0	4.3	5.0	6.3	6.0	6.0	5.6
14	Duster	7.0	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.7	6.3	5.7	5.6
15	Finelawn Petite	7.0	4.0	5.7	5.0	4.7	5.0	6.3	6.3	6.0	5.6
16	Marksman	6.0	4.3	5.0	5.3	6.0	5.7	5.7	6.0	5.0	5.6
17	Shenandoah	6.3	4.3	6.3	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.3	6.0	5.3	5.6
18	Tulsa	5.7	4.0	6.0	5.3	5.0	5.7	5.0	6.7	6.0	5.6
19	WRS2	7.0	4.0	6.0	5.0	4.7	5.3	6.3	6.3	6.0	5.6
20	Aztec II (TMI-AZ)	7.0	4.0	6.3	5.0	4.7	5.7	6.0	6.0	5.7	5.5
21	Bonsai 2000 (Bullet)	7.3	4.3	5.7	5.7	4.7	4.7	6.0	6.0	6.0	5.5
22	Pick FA B-93	7.0	4.3	5.7	4.7	4.7	5.7	5.3	6.3	6.3	5.5
23	Rebel Sentry (AA-A91)	6.0	4.3	6.3	5.0	5.0	5.7	5.3	5.7	6.3	5.5
24	Bandana (PST-R5AE)	6.7	5.0	6.7	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.7	6.0	5.0	5.4
25	J-101	7.0	4.0	7.0	5.0	4.0	5.0	5.7	6.3	6.3	5.4
26	Leprechaun	6.3	4.0	6.3	5.3	5.0	5.0	6.3	5.3	5.7	5.4
27	PST-523	6.3	4.7	6.3	5.3	5.0	5.0	6.0	6.0	5.0	5.4
28	Safari	6.0	5.3	5.7	5.7	4.7	5.3	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.4
29	WX3-275	5.7	4.7	6.7	5.3	5.0	5.0	6.3	5.7	5.3	5.4
30	ZPS-5LZ	7.0	4.0	6.3	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.3	5.4
31	Anthem II (TMI-FMN)	6.7	4.7	6.7	5.0	4.3	4.7	6.0	6.0	5.7	5.3
32	BAR FA6 US6F	7.0	4.0	5.7	5.0	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.7	6.0	5.3
33	Coronado	6.7	4.0	7.0	5.3	4.7	5.3	5.3	6.0	5.3	5.3
34	Coyote	6.7	4.7	6.3	4.7	4.7	5.3	5.0	6.7	5.7	5.3
35	DP 7952	6.0	5.7	5.0	5.0	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.3	5.7	5.3
36	Empress	6.3	4.0	5.7	4.7	4.3	5.0	6.0	6.0	5.7	5.3
37	Genesis	7.0	4.0	6.0	5.0	4.3	5.0	6.3	5.7	5.7	5.3
38	OFI-96-32	6.7	4.0	6.3	5.3	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.7	5.3
39	PRO 8430	6.3	4.7	6.0	5.3	4.7	5.0	5.3	5.7	6.0	5.3
40	PSII-TF-10	6.7	6.3	6.0	5.3	4.3	5.3	5.7	5.3	5.7	5.3
41	PSII-TF-9	6.3	4.7	5.0	5.0	4.7	5.0	5.7	5.0	6.3	5.3
42	PST-5M5	7.0	4.3	5.3	5.0	4.7	4.3	5.3	6.0	6.3	5.3
43	Rebel 2000 (AA-989)	7.0	4.0	5.3	5.3	4.3	5.0	6.0	5.7	5.3	5.3
44	Rembrandt (LTP-4026 E+)	7.0	3.7	5.7	5.0	4.3	5.3	5.0	6.3	5.7	5.3
45	Wolfpack (PST-R5TK)	6.7	5.0	5.7	5.0	4.7	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.3
46	WVPB-1D	6.7	5.0	6.0	4.7	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.3
47	ZPS-2PTF	7.0	4.0	6.0	5.3	4.3	5.0	6.0	5.7	5.7	5.3
48	Alamo E	6.7	4.0	6.0	5.3	4.7	5.0	5.0	6.0	5.3	5.2
49	ATF-038	6.0	4.0	5.3	4.7	4.0	5.3	5.3	5.7	6.0	5.2
50	Gazelle	6.0	4.7	6.7	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	6.0	5.3	5.2
51	JSC-1	6.7	4.3	6.3	5.0	4.3	5.0	6.0	5.3	5.7	5.2
52	MB 213	6.7	4.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.7	5.0	5.7	5.2
53	MB 29	6.7	4.0	5.0	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.2
54	R5AU	7.0	4.0	6.3	5.0	4.3	5.0	6.3	5.0	5.7	5.2
55	Southern Choice	6.7	4.0	7.0	5.3	4.7	5.0	5.7	5.0	5.7	5.2
56	SR 8210	6.0	4.0	6.0	5.0	4.7	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.2
57	SRX 8084	6.3	4.3	6.0	4.7	4.7	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.3	5.2
58	Tar Heel	7.0	4.3	6.3	4.3	4.0	5.3	6.3	5.7	5.7	5.2
59	Twilight II (TMI-TW)	7.0	4.0	6.0	4.7	4.3	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.0	5.2
60	ATF-253	7.0	4.3	6.7	4.7	4.3	5.3	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.1
61	Bravo (RG-93)	6.7	4.7	5.7	5.0	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.1
62	Falcon II	6.7	4.7	5.0	4.7	4.0	5.0	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.1
63	JTTFA-96	5.7	6.3	5.7	5.3	3.7	4.7	5.7	5.0	6.0	5.1
64	JTTFC-96	5.7	5.3	6.3	5.3	5.0	5.0	5.0	4.7	5.3	5.1
65	Kickoff (PST-5E5)	6.3	4.0	6.7	5.3	4.7	4.3	5.7	4.7	5.7	5.1
66	Masterpiece (LTP-SD-TF)	7.0	4.3	7.7	4.3	4.3	4.7	5.3	5.7	6.0	5.1
67	MB 212	7.0	4.7	6.3	5.0	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.7	5.1
68	MB 215	7.0	4.0	6.3	4.3	4.0	4.7	5.7	6.3	5.3	5.1
69	Mustang II	6.0	4.3	6.3	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.7	5.7	5.0	5.1
70	OFI-931	6.7	4.0	6.3	5.3	4.0	4.7	5.3	5.3	6.0	5.1
71	Shortstop II	6.0	4.0	7.0	5.0	4.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.1
72	WPEZE (WVPB-1C)	6.7	4.3	6.7	5.3	4.7	3.7	6.0	5.7	5.3	5.1
73	Apache II	6.3	4.0	5.7	4.7	4.7	5.0	5.3	4.7	5.7	5.0
74	ATF-022	6.3	4.7	5.3	5.0	4.3	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.7	5.0
75	BAR FA 6D	6.3	4.3	6.7	5.0	4.3	5.0	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.0
76	CU9502T	5.7	4.3	7.0	4.3	4.3	4.3	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.0
77	Jaguar 3	6.7	4.7	6.7	5.0	4.0	4.7	5.3	6.0	5.0	5.0
78	Lion	6.7	4.7	6.0	4.7	4.3	5.3	5.7	5.0	5.0	5.0
79	MB 214	7.3	4.0	6.7	5.0	4.3	5.3	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.0
80	WVPB-1B	6.3	4.3	6.3	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
81	ATF-188	6.3	4.0	6.0	4.7	3.7	4.3	5.7	5.3	5.7	4.9
82	ATF-192	6.0	4.0	5.0	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.7	6.0	6.0	4.9
83	ATF-196	6.3	4.3	7.3	4.3	4.7	4.3	5.0	5.3	5.7	4.9
84	AV-1	6.3	4.7	5.7	4.0	4.0	4.7	5.7	5.7	5.3	4.9
85	BAR FA 6LV	5.7	4.3	7.3	5.0	4.3	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.7	4.9
86	BAR FA6 US2U	6.7	4.3	7.0	4.7	3.7	4.7	6.0	5.3	5.3	4.9
87	BAR FA6D USA	6.7	4.3	6.7	4.7	4.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.0	4.9
88	Cochise II	6.7	4.0	6.0	4.7	4.0	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.0	4.9
89	DLF-1	6.0	5.0	6.0	5.0	4.7	4.7	5.3	5.3	4.7	4.9
90	EA 41	6.7	4.0	7.0	4.7	4.3	4.7	5.3	5.0	5.7	4.9
91	OF1-96-31	5.3	4.0	6.0	4.7	4.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.0	4.9
92	OFI-FWY	6.3	4.0	5.7	4.7	4.3	4.7	4.7	5.7	5.7	4.9
93	PC-AO	7.0	4.7	6.0	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	4.9
94	ATF-257	6.7	4.0	4.7	5.0	4.0	4.3	5.0	4.7	6.0	4.8
95	BAR FA6 US3	5.7	4.0	6.0	4.3	4.3	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	4.8
96	Coronado Gold (PST-5RT)	6.3	3.7	6.0	5.0	4.3	4.3	5.0	5.0	5.3	4.8
97	ISI-TF9	6.0	5.0	6.7	4.0	4.3	4.3	5.7	5.0	5.3	4.8
98	Kitty Hawk S.S.T. (SS45DW)	5.3	4.0	6.0	4.3	4.3	4.7	5.0	5.3	5.0	4.8
99	MB 26	6.0	3.7	6.7	4.3	4.0	5.0	4.7	5.3	5.3	4.8
100	Pick FA XK-95	7.0	4.3	5.3	4.3	3.7	4.3	5.7	5.7	5.3	4.8
101	SRX 8500	7.0	4.0	5.7	5.3	4.3	4.7	4.7	5.0	5.0	4.8
102	TA-7	6.7	4.7	5.3	5.0	4.3	4.3	5.0	5.7	4.7	4.8
103	Arid 3 (J-98)	6.0	4.0	5.7	4.7	4.0	4.7	5.0	4.7	5.0	4.7
104	Bonsai	6.0	4.7	5.3	5.3	4.3	4.0	5.3	4.3	5.0	4.7
105	Good-en (KOOS 96-14)	6.0	4.3	5.7	4.7	4.3	4.3	5.0	4.7	5.0	4.7
106	MB 210	`6.3	4.3	6.3	5.0	4.0	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.0	4.7
107	OFI-951	6.3	4.3	6.3	4.3	3.7	4.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	4.7
108	Pick FA 15-92	6.7	4.3	6.3	4.3	3.7	4.3	5.0	5.0	5.7	4.7
109	Pick RT-95	6.0	4.0	6.7	5.0	3.3	3.7	5.7	5.3	5.3	4.7
110	Arabia (J-5)	7.0	4.3	5.7	5.0	3.7	4.3	4.7	4.7	5.0	4.6
111	ATF-020	5.7	4.0	5.3	4.0	4.0	4.7	4.7	5.0	5.3	4.6
112	Comstock (SSDE31)	6.3	4.7	6.0	3.7	4.3	4.3	5.0	5.0	5.0	4.6
113	PICK FA 20-92	6.7	4.0	6.0	4.0	3.7	4.0	5.7	5.3	5.0	4.6
114	Sunpro	6.3	4.3	6.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	5.0	5.3	5.0	4.6
115	Tomahawk-E	6.3	4.3	6.0	4.7	4.3	4.0	4.3	5.0	5.0	4.6
116	EC-101	5.7	4.0	5.3	4.7	4.0	4.7	4.3	4.7	4.7	4.5
117	ISI-TF10	7.0	4.7	5.7	4.7	3.3	4.3	4.7	5.0	5.0	4.5
118	Reserve (ATF-182)	6.0	4.7	6.7	4.3	4.3	4.0	5.0	4.7	4.7	4.5
119	BAR FA6 US1	6.3	4.0	6.3	4.7	3.7	4.0	5.0	5.0	4.3	4.4
120	Pick FA 6-91	5.0	4.0	5.3	4.3	4.7	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.7	4.4
121	Arid 2 (J-3)	6.7	4.3	5.7	4.3	3.7	4.3	4.3	4.7	4.7	4.3
122	DP 50-9011	5.0	4.7	6.0	4.0	4.0	3.7	4.3	5.0	5.0	4.3
123	Equinox (TMI-N91)	5.7	4.3	6.0	4.0	4.0	4.3	4.3	4.3	5.0	4.3
124	MB 211	6.3	4.3	6.0	4.3	3.3	4.0	4.7	4.7	4.7	4.3
125	Pick GA-96	6.7	4.3	6.0	4.0	4.0	4.3	4.0	5.0	4.7	4.3
126	Pick FA N-93	6.0	4.3	5.0	4.0	3.3	4.0	4.7	4.3	5.0	4.2
127	Pick FA UT-93	5.7	4.3	7.3	4.0	4.0	4.3	4.3	4.0	4.3	4.2
128	PST-5TO	6.7	4.0	6.0	3.7	3.3	4.3	4.3	4.7	5.0	4.2
129	AA-983	6.7	4.7	6.3	4.0	3.3	3.7	4.3	3.7	4.7	3.9
	LSD0.05	1.7	1.1	2.6	2.0	1.9	2.2	2.3	2.4	NS	1.5

¹Visual quality was assessed using a 9 to 1 scale: 9 = best quality, 6 = lowest acceptable quality, and 1 = worst quality.

²Genetic color (Gcol) was rated using a 9 to 1 scale: 9 = dark and 1 = light green. Spring greenup (Grn) was determined using a 9 to 1 scale: 9 = green and 1 = dormant. Leaf texture (Leaf) was assessed with a 9 to 1 scale: 9 = fine and 1 = coarse texture.

NS = means are not significantly different at the 0.05 level

ISU Horticulture:Publications:1999 Turfgrass Report

College of Agriculture