Regional Fine Fescue Cultivar Trial - Established 1998

Nick. E. Christians and Rodney A. St. John

This was the third year of data from the 1998 Fineleaf Fescue 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 79 fineleaf fescue selections. Cultivars are evaluated for quality each month of the growing season through October. The study is conducted in full sun. Three replications of the 3 x 5 ft (15 ft2) plots were established for each cultivar in October 1998. The trial has been maintained at a 2-inch mowing height, fertilized with 3.5 lbs N/1000 ft2 during the growing season, and has been irrigated when needed to prevent drought. Preemergence herbicide was applied once in the spring.

Visual quality was evaluated monthly in 2000 from May through October (Table 1). 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 visual quality ratings made on three replicated plots for the three studies. 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), spring greenup (Grn), and leaf texture (Leaf) also are included for the high-maintenance, irrigated and for the low-maintenance trials. 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. The 2000 visual quality1 and other turf attribute ratings2 for cultivars in the 1998 Fineleaf Fescue Cultivar Trial.

 

Cultivar

Species3

Gcol

Grn

Leaf

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Mean

1

SRX 3961

HF

7.7

6.7

7.7

6.0

6.7

7.3

6.7

7.3

6.7

6.8

2

ABT-HF1

HF

7.7

6.0

7.7

5.7

6.7

6.0

6.7

7.3

6.7

6.5

3

PST-4HM

CF

8.0

6.7

6.7

5.7

6.3

7.0

6.0

7.0

7.0

6.5

4

4001

HF

7.0

6.3

6.7

4.7

6.3

7.0

6.3

7.3

6.7

6.4

5

ABT-HF-2

HF

6.3

5.3

7.0

5.0

6.0

6.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

6.3

6

Oxford

HF

7.3

6.0

6.7

6.0

6.7

6.7

6.0

6.3

6.0

6.3

7

Scaldis II (AHF 008)

HF

7.7

5.3

7.3

5.0

6.3

6.7

5.7

7.3

7.0

6.3

8

BAR HF 8 FUS

HF

7.3

6.0

7.0

6.7

7.0

6.0

5.7

6.0

6.0

6.2

9

ISI FL 12

HF

7.7

6.3

7.3

5.7

5.7

6.3

6.7

6.7

6.3

6.2

10

Salsa

STF

6.0

7.0

6.7

5.7

6.0

6.3

5.0

6.7

7.3

6.2

11

Scaldis

HF

7.0

6.7

6.7

5.0

6.0

7.0

6.0

6.3

7.0

6.2

12

ISI FL 11

HF

6.7

5.3

7.3

4.7

6.3

6.7

6.0

6.7

6.0

6.1

13

Defiant

HF

7.3

7.0

6.7

5.3

6.7

6.3

5.0

6.3

6.3

6.0

14

Nordic (E)

HF

8.3

6.3

7.3

4.3

7.3

7.0

5.3

6.3

5.7

6.0

15

Pick FF A-97

HF

7.3

5.3

7.0

4.7

6.3

6.0

6.0

6.3

6.7

6.0

16

ABT-HF-4

HF

6.0

5.0

7.3

5.7

6.7

6.3

5.7

6.0

5.3

5.9

17

ASR 049

SCF

6.0

5.3

7.0

5.3

6.0

5.7

6.3

5.7

6.3

5.9

18

PST-4FR

STF

6.7

6.3

6.3

6.3

5.7

5.7

5.3

5.3

7.0

5.9

19

Stonehenge (AHF 009)

HF

7.0

6.3

7.0

5.3

7.0

7.0

5.0

6.0

5.0

5.9

20

MB-82

HF

6.3

5.3

7.3

4.7

6.0

6.0

6.7

6.0

5.3

5.8

21

PST-4MB

BHF

6.0

5.0

6.0

5.7

6.3

6.0

4.7

6.0

6.3

5.8

22

Discovery

HF

6.7

5.0

7.0

5.3

5.7

5.7

6.0

6.0

5.3

5.7

23

Heron

CF

6.3

6.0

7.0

5.3

6.0

6.3

4.7

5.7

6.3

5.7

24

Reliant II

HF

6.3

6.0

7.0

4.3

6.3

6.3

5.3

5.7

6.0

5.7

25

SR 3200

BF

5.7

5.0

5.7

6.0

6.3

6.0

4.3

5.7

5.0

5.6

26

ABT-HF-3

HF

6.3

5.0

6.3

4.7

6.3

6.0

4.0

6.3

5.7

5.5

27

Attila E

HF

6.0

5.3

6.7

5.3

5.7

5.0

5.7

5.7

5.3

5.4

28

ISI FRR 5

STF

5.7

5.7

6.7

5.3

6.3

4.7

5.0

5.3

6.0

5.4

29

Longfellow II

CF

6.3

5.7

7.0

5.3

7.3

5.0

3.7

5.3

6.0

5.4

30

Minotaur

HF X BF

5.3

5.0

6.3

5.7

6.0

5.7

4.3

5.7

5.0

5.4

31

Quatro

SF

7.0

6.0

7.0

5.0

6.0

6.0

5.7

5.0

5.0

5.4

32

Rescue 911

HF

6.3

4.7

6.0

4.7

5.7

5.3

5.7

5.7

5.3

5.4

33

SRX 52961

STF

5.3

6.0

6.0

6.3

6.0

5.0

4.3

5.0

5.7

5.4

34

BAR SCF 8 FUS3

SCF

5.7

5.0

6.7

4.7

5.7

5.0

5.3

5.7

5.7

5.3

35

Bighorn

HF

6.0

5.0

6.3

5.7

6.0

5.7

4.0

5.3

5.3

5.3

36

ABT-CHW-3

CF

6.3

5.7

7.0

5.3

6.3

4.7

3.7

5.3

6.0

5.2

37

ACF 092

CF

6.0

6.3

7.0

6.0

7.0

4.7

3.3

4.3

6.0

5.2

38

BAR CF 8 FUS1

STF

5.3

6.3

6.0

5.3

5.7

4.7

4.0

5.3

6.0

5.2

39

Osprey

HF

6.3

4.7

6.7

5.0

4.3

5.3

5.7

5.7

5.0

5.2

40

ABT-CR-3

STF

6.0

6.0

6.3

4.3

5.7

5.0

4.7

5.0

5.7

5.1

41

ISI FRR 7

STF

5.7

5.7

6.7

5.7

5.7

5.3

3.0

4.7

6.0

5.1

42

Jasper II

STF

5.7

6.0

6.7

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.7

5.3

5.7

5.1

43

ASC 087

STF

5.3

6.0

6.3

5.0

4.7

4.7

4.0

5.3

6.3

5.0

44

Dawson E+

SCF

6.7

5.3

7.3

4.7

5.7

5.0

4.0

5.7

5.0

5.0

45

PST-EFL

STF

5.3

6.3

6.3

4.0

5.3

5.0

4.7

5.0

6.0

5.0

46

ABT-CHW-2

CF

6.0

5.0

7.0

5.3

6.7

4.7

3.3

4.3

5.0

4.9

47

ABT-CR-2

STF

5.7

5.3

6.7

6.0

6.0

4.3

4.3

3.7

5.0

4.9

48

ACF 083

CF

6.3

7.0

7.3

5.0

5.7

5.0

3.7

5.3

4.7

4.9

49

Bridgeport

CF

6.0

5.7

7.0

5.3

5.3

4.0

4.3

4.7

5.7

4.9

50

DGSC 94

STF

5.0

6.3

6.3

5.3

5.3

4.7

4.0

4.7

5.7

4.9

51

MB-63

CF

5.3

6.7

6.0

6.0

5.3

4.0

4.0

4.3

5.7

4.9

52

PST-47TCR

STF

5.3

5.3

6.3

5.0

5.3

5.3

4.3

4.7

4.7

4.9

53

Seabreeze

SCF

6.0

6.7

7.0

5.0

5.7

4.3

4.3

5.3

5.0

4.9

54

BAR CHF 8 FUS2

CF

6.3

6.0

6.0

5.0

5.7

4.7

4.3

4.3

4.7

4.8

55

Pathfinder

STF

5.7

6.3

6.3

5.0

6.0

4.0

4.3

4.3

5.3

4.8

56

Shademark

STF

5.3

6.7

5.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

3.7

5.0

6.0

4.8

57

Shademaster II

STF

5.7

7.0

6.0

4.7

5.7

4.7

4.0

4.7

5.0

4.8

58

Shadow II

CF

6.0

6.3

7.3

5.7

6.3

4.3

3.0

4.0

5.3

4.8

59

ABT-CHW-1

CF

5.3

5.7

6.7

3.7

6.3

3.7

4.0

4.3

6.0

4.7

60

ASC 082

STF

5.3

5.7

6.7

5.3

4.7

4.0

4.0

4.7

5.3

4.7

61

Culombra

CF

5.3

6.0

6.0

5.3

5.7

4.3

3.7

4.3

5.0

4.7

62

Florentine

STF

5.3

5.3

6.3

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.7

4.3

4.7

4.7

63

Intrigue

CF

6.3

5.0

7.0

4.7

6.0

4.7

3.0

4.3

5.3

4.7

64

SRX 52LAV

STF

5.0

5.3

6.3

4.7

5.0

4.7

4.0

5.0

5.0

4.7

65

Tiffany

CF

7.0

6.3

7.0

5.7

5.3

3.7

3.7

4.3

5.7

4.7

66

Ambassador

CF

6.0

6.0

7.0

4.7

6.3

3.7

4.0

3.7

5.0

4.6

67

Boreal

STF

5.7

4.7

6.7

3.7

4.7

4.7

3.0

5.3

6.3

4.6

68

Sandpiper

CF

6.0

6.0

7.0

5.0

5.3

4.3

3.3

4.0

5.3

4.6

69

Treazure (E)

CF

6.3

6.7

6.7

5.0

5.7

4.0

4.0

4.0

4.7

4.6

70

Magic

CF

6.0

5.3

6.3

4.7

5.7

4.3

3.0

4.3

5.0

4.5

71

SR 5100

CF

6.3

6.0

7.0

4.7

5.3

3.7

3.7

4.3

5.3

4.5

72

Brittany

CF

6.3

5.3

7.0

5.3

5.3

4.0

3.3

3.7

4.7

4.4

73

Pick FRC A-93

CF

5.7

5.3

6.7

4.3

5.0

4.0

3.3

4.3

5.7

4.4

74

Banner III

CF

5.7

6.3

6.3

5.7

5.7

3.3

4.0

3.3

3.7

4.3

75

Common creeping red

STF

5.7

5.0

6.7

4.0

5.7

4.3

3.0

4.0

5.0

4.3

76

Pick FRC 4-92

CF

5.7

5.7

6.0

5.0

6.3

3.3

3.7

3.7

3.3

4.2

77

ASC 172

STF

4.3

5.0

6.3

5.0

4.3

3.0

3.7

4.0

4.7

4.1

78

Jamestown II

CF

5.7

6.3

6.7

4.3

5.0

3.3

3.3

4.0

4.3

4.1

79

SR 6000

TH

5.0

3.0

4.0

3.3

4.0

3.7

2.7

3.0

3.3

3.3

 

LSD0.05

 

1.3

1.9

1.3

1.8

2.0

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.9

0.9

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. Spring greenup (Grn) was determined using a 9 to 1 scale = with 9 = green and 1 = dormant. Leaf texture (Leaf) was assessed with a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = fine and 1 = coarse texture.

3BF blue fescue, BHF = blue hard fescue, CF = creeping fescue, HF = hard fescue, SF = sheep fescue, SCF = slender creeping fescue, STF = strong creeping fescue, TH = tufted hairgrass.