Results of Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Trials

Rodney A. St. John, Nick E. Christians, and David D. Minner

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) has sponsored several regional Kentucky bluegrass cultivar trials conducted at most of the northern agricultural experiment stations. Two high-maintenance trials were underway during the 2000 season. The first, a high-maintenance study, was established in 1995 and completed in July of 2000. The second is a new high-maintenance study that was established in fall 2000. It contains 173 cultivars. Both studies received or will receive 4 lb N/1000 ft2/yr, and were irrigated as needed. The objective of these high-maintenance, irrigated studies is to investigate cultivar performance under a cultural regime similar to that used on irrigated home lawns in Iowa.

The values listed under each month in Table 1 are the averages of visual quality ratings made on three replicated plots for the first study. Visual quality was based on a scale of 9 to 1: 9 = best quality, 6 = lowest acceptable quality, and 1 = worst quality. Yearly means of monthly data were taken and are listed in the last column. The first cultivar received the highest average rating for the entire 2000 season. The cultivars are listed in descending order of average quality.

Data for genetic color (Gcol) and leaf texture (Leaf) also are included for the 1995 high-maintenance trial. Genetic color was rated using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = dark and 1 = light green. Leaf texture was assessed with a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = fine and 1 = coarse texture.

Data for the 2000 high-maintenance study are included in Table 2. The cultivars are listed in descending order according to percentage bluegrass cover in October, 2000.

Table 1. 2000 visual quality1 and other ratings2 for the 1995 High-maintenance Kentucky Bluegrass Trial.

       

Visual quality

 

Cultivar

Gcol

Leaf

June

July

Mean

1

Award

8.7

8.7

8.7

8.7

8.7

2

Midnight

8.7

8.3

9.0

8.3

8.7

3

Total Eclipse (TCR-1738)

8.7

8.7

8.7

8.7

8.7

4

Absolute (MED-1497)

8.3

8.7

9.0

8.0

8.5

5

Impact (J-1576)

8.7

8.3

8.7

8.3

8.5

6

Liberator (ZPS-2572)

8.3

8.7

8.3

8.3

8.3

7

North Star (PST-A7-60)

9.0

9.0

7.7

9.0

8.3

8

Quantum Leap (J-1567)

8.7

8.7

8.0

8.7

8.3

9

NuGlade

8.7

8.7

7.7

8.7

8.2

10

Arcadia (J-1936)

8.0

8.3

8.0

8.0

8.0

11

Dragon (ZPS-429)

8.7

8.7

7.3

8.7

8.0

12

NJ 1190

8.0

9.0

7.0

9.0

8.0

13

Seabring (Ba 79-260)

8.7

8.7

8.0

8.0

8.0

14

Ba 73-373

8.7

8.7

7.3

8.3

7.8

15

Ba 75-163

7.7

8.3

7.3

8.3

7.8

16

Ba 81-220

8.3

8.7

7.3

8.3

7.8

17

Brilliant (PST-B2-42)

8.0

8.3

7.0

8.7

7.8

18

H86-690

8.0

8.3

7.3

8.3

7.8

19

Pick 8

8.7

8.3

8.0

7.7

7.8

20

Showcase (PST-BO-141)

8.0

8.0

7.7

8.0

7.8

21

Wildwood

7.7

7.7

7.3

8.3

7.8

22

Abbey

8.3

8.3

7.0

8.3

7.7

23

Apollo (PST-B3-180)

8.0

8.0

7.3

8.0

7.7

24

Ba 70-060

8.0

8.3

7.7

7.7

7.7

25

Ba 81-270

7.7

8.0

7.3

8.0

7.7

26

Conni

8.0

8.7

6.7

8.7

7.7

27

Glade

7.7

8.0

7.3

8.0

7.7

28

Lipoa

8.3

8.3

7.3

8.0

7.7

29

Moonlight (PST-A418)

7.7

8.0

8.0

7.3

7.7

30

NuStar

7.7

8.0

7.0

8.3

7.7

31

Odyssey (J-1561)

8.0

8.3

8.0

7.3

7.7

32

Pepaya (DP 37-192)

7.7

7.7

8.0

7.3

7.7

33

Rugby II (MED-18)

8.0

8.0

7.7

7.7

7.7

34

Sidekick

8.7

9.0

7.0

8.3

7.7

35

SR 2000

8.7

8.3

7.3

8.0

7.7

36

Unique

7.3

8.3

7.3

8.0

7.7

37

ZPS-2183

8.7

8.0

7.7

7.7

7.7

38

Ba 77-702

8.7

8.3

7.0

8.0

7.5

39

Ba 81-113

7.7

8.3

7.0

8.0

7.5

40

Chateau

8.0

8.3

7.3

7.7

7.5

41

Fortuna

7.7

8.0

7.7

7.3

7.5

42

Haga

7.0

7.3

7.0

8.0

7.5

43

Jewel (Ba 81-227)

8.3

8.3

7.0

8.0

7.5

44

Livingston

8.0

8.7

6.3

8.7

7.5

45

Pick-855

7.3

7.7

7.0

8.0

7.5

46

PST-P46

7.3

8.3

7.7

7.3

7.5

47

Sodnet

7.7

8.7

7.0

8.0

7.5

48

A88-744

8.0

8.3

7.0

7.7

7.3

49

Ba 81-058

7.3

8.0

7.0

7.7

7.3

50

Challenger

7.7

8.7

7.0

7.7

7.3

51

Rambo (J-2579)

8.3

8.3

7.0

7.7

7.3

52

SR 2100

8.0

8.0

7.0

7.7

7.3

53

SR 2109

7.7

8.7

6.3

8.3

7.3

54

Ba 75-490

6.7

8.0

6.7

7.7

7.2

55

Ba 76-197

7.3

8.3

6.7

7.7

7.2

56

BAR VB 3115B

7.3

8.3

6.0

8.3

7.2

57

BAR VB 6820

7.0

7.7

7.7

6.7

7.2

58

Baronie

7.3

8.0

6.7

7.7

7.2

59

Bartitia

7.0

7.7

7.7

6.7

7.2

60

Blacksburg

7.0

7.7

8.3

6.0

7.2

61

Champagne (LTP-621)

7.3

8.0

7.0

7.3

7.2

62

Explorer (Pick-3561)

7.0

8.0

7.3

7.0

7.2

63

Goldrush (Ba 87-102)

8.3

8.3

7.0

7.3

7.2

64

HV 130

7.0

8.0

7.3

7.0

7.2

65

LTP-620

7.3

7.7

6.7

7.7

7.2

66

Misty (Ba 76-372)

8.3

8.3

6.3

8.0

7.2

67

PST-BO-165

7.7

8.0

6.7

7.7

7.2

68

America

7.0

8.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

69

Ascot

7.3

8.3

7.0

7.0

7.0

70

Chicago (J-2582)

7.0

7.7

7.3

6.7

7.0

71

Nimbus

7.7

8.3

7.0

7.0

7.0

72

NJ-54

7.3

7.7

7.0

7.0

7.0

73

Serene (PST-A7-245A)

7.3

8.3

6.3

7.7

7.0

74

VB 16015

7.3

7.7

7.0

7.0

7.0

75

Bluechip (MED-1991)

7.0

8.0

7.0

6.7

6.8

76

Classic

6.7

8.0

6.0

7.7

6.8

77

Eclipse

6.7

8.0

6.3

7.3

6.8

78

Jefferson

7.0

7.7

6.0

7.7

6.8

79

LKB-95

7.0

8.0

6.0

7.7

6.8

80

NJ-GD

7.0

8.0

6.3

7.3

6.8

81

Princeton 105

7.3

7.3

6.0

7.7

6.8

82

Bariris (BAR VB 5649)

7.0

8.3

7.0

6.3

6.7

83

Baron

6.7

8.0

7.0

6.3

6.7

84

Baruzo

6.7

7.7

6.7

6.7

6.7

85

Blackstone (PST-638)

6.0

8.3

8.0

5.3

6.7

86

Envicta (Ba 75-173)

6.7

7.3

6.7

6.7

6.7

87

SRX 2205

7.0

7.3

7.0

6.3

6.7

88

Caliber

6.3

7.0

6.3

6.7

6.5

89

Cardiff

7.0

7.3

7.0

6.0

6.5

90

Coventry

6.7

8.0

7.0

6.0

6.5

91

Marquis

6.7

8.0

7.0

6.0

6.5

92

Raven

6.7

7.3

7.7

5.3

6.5

93

BAR VB 233

6.7

8.0

7.3

5.3

6.3

94

HV 242

7.0

8.0

6.3

6.3

6.3

95

J-1555

6.0

8.0

6.7

6.0

6.3

96

Kenblue

6.3

7.0

6.3

6.3

6.3

97

Shamrock

7.0

7.7

6.3

6.3

6.3

98

Allure

5.3

7.7

7.3

5.0

6.2

99

Compact

6.3

7.7

6.7

5.7

6.2

100

MED-1580

5.0

7.7

7.0

5.0

6.0

101

Limousine

6.3

8.0

7.0

4.7

5.8

102

Platini

6.0

8.0

5.7

5.3

5.5

103

ZPS-309

4.7

8.0

6.0

4.0

5.0

 

LSD0.05

2.7

1.4

1.1

2.8

1.6

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

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

 

 

 

 

Table 2. Establishment year percentage turf coverage1 data for the 2000 NTEP High-maintenance Kentucky Bluegrass Trial.

 

 

Cultivar

 

% turf cover

1

Midnight

53.3

2

Baron

60.0

3

Lily

66.7

4

Limerick

60.0

5

Bodacious

50.0

6

Bedazzled

56.7

7

Boomerang

56.7

8

Eagleton

66.7

9

HV 140

63.3

10

Pp H 6370

53.3

11

Pp H 6366

56.7

12

Pp H 7929

53.3

13

Pp H 7832

50.0

14

Pp H 7097

53.3

15

A96-402

60.0

16

A97-1336

60.0

17

Shamrock

56.7

18

Wellington

60.0

19

Wildwood

70.0

20

Hallmark

70.0

21

A93-200

60.0

22

H94-293

56.7

23

Coventry

60.0

24

PST-1701

56.7

25

PST-B5-125

63.3

26

PST-604

60.0

27

PST-108-79

53.3

28

PST-1QG-27

66.7

29

PST-161

53.3

30

PST-B5-89

53.3

31

Brilliant

60.0

32

PST-222

50.0

33

A98-739

53.3

34

PST-York Harbor 4

63.3

35

PST-1BMY

66.7

36

A97-1439

63.3

37

A97-1449

60.0

38

Apollo

66.7

39

A97-1432

60.0

40

HV 238

53.3

41

Pick-232

60.0

42

A97-1567

66.7

43

PST-1804

63.3

44

B3-185

53.3

45

B5-43

56.7

46

B5-45

46.7

47

IB7-308

40.0

48

H92-203

50.0

49

B3-171

56.7

50

B5-144

50.0

51

PST-B4-246

53.3

52

PST-H6-150

53.3

53

Alpine

53.3

54

Pick 453

63.3

55

Pick 417

53.3

56

Limousine

63.3

57

Quantum Leap

50.0

58

Envicta

66.7

59

Goldrush

63.3

60

Misty

63.3

61

Ascot

53.3

62

BH 00-6002

56.7

63

Fairfax

53.3

64

Abbey

63.3

65

BH 00-6003

46.7

66

Ba81-058

66.7

67

Raven

70.0

68

Ba83-113

50.0

69

Marquis

60.0

70

Ba 84-140

56.7

71

Ba 82-288

60.0

72

Chateau

46.7

73

Ba 00-6001

46.7

74

CVB-20631

46.7

75

Chelsea

56.7

76

A97-1409

63.3

77

A96-451

56.7

78

Julius

56.7

79

Allure

50.0

80

A97-1330

66.7

81

H92-558

66.7

82

Julia

63.3

83

Brooklawn

53.3

84

Boutique

63.3

85

NA-K991

46.7

86

NA-K992

56.7

87

Showcase

56.7

88

Arcadia

56.7

89

SRX 2394

60.0

90

SRX 26351

56.7

91

SRX 27921

53.3

92

Sonoma

53.3

93

Bordeaux

53.3

94

Cabernet

60.0

95

Champagne

56.7

96

A96-427

60.0

97

A97-1715

63.3

98

Jewel

56.7

99

Unknown

56.7

100

Blue Knight

53.3

101

DLF 76-9032

53.3

102

DLF 76-9034

50.0

103

DLF 76-9036

60.0

104

DLF 76-9037

63.3

105

SI A96-386

53.3

106

SRX 2114

60.0

107

SRX 2284

60.0

108

Pro Seeds-453

53.3

109

SRX OG245

56.7

110

99AN-53

66.7

111

A98-881

56.7

112

Jefferson

63.3

113

A98-407

43.3

114

A98-1028

50.0

115

A98-183

50.0

116

A98-1275

46.7

117

A98-296

66.7

118

A98-304

60.0

119

A98-139

66.7

120

A98-365

46.7

121

Kenblue

70.0

122

Princeton 105

60.0

123

Impact

63.3

124

Total Eclipse

56.7

125

Odyssey

56.7

126

Chicago II

53.3

127

NuGlade

56.7

128

J-1515

53.3

129

J-2487

56.7

130

J-1368

66.7

131

J-1838

56.7

132

J-2561

53.3

133

J-2885

50.0

134

J-1513

50.0

135

Everest

53.3

136

J-1420

50.0

137

J-1648

56.7

138

J-2890

50.0

139

Everglade

56.7

140

J-2695

56.7

141

J-1665

56.7

142

J-1880

56.7

143

Rugby II

53.3

144

Award

56.7

145

Rambo

60.0

146

Freedom II

53.3

147

Liberator

63.3

148

GO-9LM9

66.7

149

Pick 113-3

60.0

150

Langara

63.3

151

A96-739

60.0

152

PST-H5-35

60.0

153

PST-B3-170

56.7

154

B4-128A

60.0

155

PST-731

56.7

156

Washington

76.7

157

A96-742

46.7

158

A97-857

56.7

159

BAR Pp 0468

53.3

160

BAR Pp 0471

53.3

161

BAR Pp 0566

60.0

162

BAR Pp 0573

63.3

163

Bartitia

66.7

164

Baritone

66.7

165

Bariris

60.0

166

Barzan

43.3

167

Baronie

73.3

168

Unique

60.0

169

Serene

70.0

170

Moonlight

60.0

171

Blackstone

63.3

172

Rita

70.0

173

Northstar

60.0

 

LSD0.05

13.6

These data represent the percentage area covered by turf in October, 2000.