Shade Adaptation Study - 2000

Nick E. Christians, Barbara R. Bingaman, and Gary M. Peterson

The first shade adaptation study was established in the fall of 1987 to evaluate the performance of 35 species and cultivars of grasses. The species include chewings fescue (C.F.), creeping red fescue (C.R.F.), hard fescue (H.F.), tall fescue (T.F.), Kentucky bluegrass (KBG), and rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis).

A new shade trial was added in the fall of 1994 to evaluate the performance of cultivars of chewings fescue (C.F.), creeping red fescue (C.R.F.), hard fescue (H.F.), tall fescue (T.F.), Kentucky bluegrass (KBG), rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis), and Poa supina.

The trials are located under the canopy of a mature stand of Siberian elm trees (Ulmus pumila) at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station north of Ames, Iowa. Grasses are mowed at a 2-inch height and receive 2 lb N/1000ft2/year. No weed control has been required on the area, but the grass has been irrigated during extended droughts.

Monthly quality data are collected from April through October (Tables 1 and 2). Visual quality is based on a scale of 9 to 1: 9 = best quality, 6 = lowest acceptable quality, and 1 = worst quality.

 

Table 1. 2000 Visual quality1 data for culitvars in the 1987 Shade Trial in descending order for mean quality.

 

Cultivar

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Mean

1

Victor (C.F.)

7.0

7.0

7.0

6.7

6.7

6.0

6.7

6.7

2

BAR Fo 81- 225 (H.F.)

5.3

5.7

7.0

7.0

7.3

6.7

7.0

6.6

3

Waldina (H.F.)

5.7

6.3

6.7

7.0

7.0

6.7

6.3

6.5

4

Shadow (C.F.)

6.3

6.7

6.0

6.0

6.3

6.0

6.7

6.3

5

ST-2 (SR 3000) (H.F.)

5.0

6.0

6.3

6.3

6.7

6.0

6.3

6.1

6

Banner (C.F.)

6.7

6.3

7.0

5.7

5.7

4.7

5.7

6.0

7

Agram (C.F.)

6.3

6.0

6.7

5.7

5.7

5.3

6.0

6.0

8

Jamestown (C.F.)

6.7

5.7

6.3

5.7

6.0

5.0

5.7

5.9

9

Waldorf (C.F.)

6.0

6.0

6.0

5.7

5.7

5.7

5.7

5.8

10

Mary (C.F.)

6.0

5.7

6.3

5.3

5.7

5.0

6.0

5.7

11

Atlanta (C.F.)

5.3

5.0

6.0

5.7

6.0

5.3

6.0

5.6

12

Pennlawn (C.R.F.)

6.0

6.3

5.3

5.3

5.7

5.0

4.0

5.4

13

Estica (C.R.F.)

4.7

5.0

4.7

5.7

6.3

5.7

5.7

5.4

14

Biljart (H.F.)

5.0

5.3

4.7

5.7

6.0

5.7

5.0

5.3

15

Ensylva (C.R.F.)

6.0

5.7

5.0

5.3

5.3

4.7

5.3

5.3

16

Rebel II (T.F.)

5.7

6.3

5.3

5.3

4.7

4.7

5.3

5.3

17

Reliant (H.F.)

5.0

5.3

5.3

5.0

5.7

5.3

5.0

5.2

18

Rebel (T.F.)

5.7

5.3

5.0

4.7

4.3

5.3

5.0

5.0

19

Spartan (H.F.)

4.0

5.0

5.3

5.3

5.3

5.0

5.3

5.0

20

Koket (C.F.)

4.7

4.7

4.7

5.0

4.7

4.3

5.7

4.8

21

Scaldis (H.F.)

4.3

4.0

4.0

4.7

5.0

4.7

6.3

4.7

22

Wintergreen (C.F.)

4.7

4.7

5.3

5.3

4.7

4.0

4.3

4.7

23

Highlight (C.F.)

4.7

4.3

4.7

4.0

4.7

3.3

4.3

4.3

24

Bonanza (T.F.)

5.3

4.3

3.7

4.0

4.0

3.7

4.3

4.2

25

Arid(T.F.)

4.7

4.3

3.7

4.0

3.3

3.7

4.7

4.0

26

Apache (T.F.)

4.7

4.0

3.0

3.3

4.0

3.0

3.3

3.6

27

Falcon(T.F.)

4.0

3.7

3.7

3.3

3.7

3.3

3.7

3.6

28

Midnight (KBG)

3.0

2.7

3.7

3.7

3.7

2.3

2.7

3.1

29

Sabre (P. trivialis)

2.3

3.0

4.0

3.3

3.3

1.3

2.0

2.8

30

Ram I (KBG)

2.7

2.3

2.3

2.7

2.7

2.0

2.3

2.4

31

Nassau (KBG)

2.3

2.0

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.7

2.0

2.3

32

Bristol (KBG)

2.0

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.0

1.7

3.3

2.1

33

Coventry (KBG)

2.3

2.0

2.3

2.3

1.7

1.7

2.0

2.0

34

Glade (KBG)

1.7

1.3

2.0

1.7

1.3

1.7

2.7

1.8

35

Chateau (KBG)

2.0

1.7

1.3

1.7

1.3

1.3

2.0

1.6

 

LSD0.05

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.4

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

 

Table 2. 2000 visual quality1 data for cultivars in the 1994 Shade Trial in descending order for mean quality.

 

Cultivar

April

May

June

July

August

Sept

Oct

Mean

1

Southport (C.F.)

5.3

4.7

5.0

5.7

5.7

5.3

5.0

5.2

2

Waldina (H.F.)

4.0

4.0

5.0

5.3

5.0

5.7

5.0

4.9

3

Victory (C.F.)

5.3

4.7

5.0

4.7

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.9

4

Banner (C.F.)

5.3

4.7

4.7

5.0

4.7

4.0

5.7

4.9

5

Banner II (C.F.)

5.0

4.0

4.7

5.3

4.3

5.0

5.7

4.9

6

Shenandoah (T.F.)

5.0

5.0

4.3

5.3

5.0

5.0

4.3

4.9

7

SR 5100 (C.F.)

4.3

4.7

5.3

6.3

5.3

4.3

3.0

4.8

8

Silvana (H.F.)

4.0

4.0

4.7

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.7

4.6

9

Bridgeport (C.F.)

4.3

4.3

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.6

10

Molinda (C.F.)

4.0

4.0

4.7

5.0

4.3

5.0

3.7

4.4

11

Shadow (C.F.)

4.0

3.7

4.3

5.0

4.3

4.7

3.7

4.2

12

Midnight (KBG)

3.3

4.0

4.7

4.3

4.3

3.7

4.0

4.0

13

Nordic (H.F.)

3.0

3.0

3.3

5.0

5.0

4.3

4.3

4.0

14

Polder (P. trivialis)

5.7

5.0

3.7

4.0

3.0

2.3

3.7

3.9

15

Arid (T.F.)

4.3

3.3

3.7

4.3

4.0

4.0

3.7

3.9

16

Flyer (C.R.F.)

3.3

3.3

3.0

4.0

3.7

2.3

3.7

3.3

17

Saber (P. trivialis)

3.0

2.7

3.7

4.0

3.3

2.0

3.7

3.2

18

Rebel II (T.F.)

3.3

3.0

3.3

3.3

2.7

3.7

3.3

3.2

19

Adobe (T.F.)

3.3

2.7

2.7

3.0

2.7

4.0

4.0

3.2

20

Bonanza (T.F.)

2.7

2.7

3.0

3.7

3.0

3.0

3.7

3.1

21

Bonanza II (T.F.)

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.7

3.3

2.3

3.3

3.0

22

Mirage (T.F.)

2.7

2.7

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.7

3.3

2.9

23

Cypress (P. trivialis)

2.7

2.7

3.3

2.7

2.7

2.0

2.7

2.7

24

Coventry (KBG)

3.0

2.3

2.7

2.7

2.0

2.3

3.0

2.6

25

Spartan (H.F.)

2.3

2.0

2.0

3.0

3.7

2.7

2.7

2.6

26

Aztec (T.F.)

2.0

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.0

4.3

2.5

27

Glade (KBG)

2.7

2.0

2.0

2.7

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.3

28

Rebel (T.F.)

2.3

2.7

1.7

2.7

2.3

2.0

2.3

2.3

29

Falcon II (T.F.)

2.0

1.3

2.0

2.3

2.7

2.0

3.0

2.2

30

Buckingham (KBG)

1.7

1.7

1.7

2.0

1.7

1.7

3.3

2.0

31

Ascot (KBG)

1.7

1.3

2.0

2.3

2.0

1.7

2.7

2.0

32

Bonsai (T.F.)

1.7

1.7

2.0

2.0

2.0

1.7

2.7

2.0

33

Bristol (KBG)

1.7

1.0

1.3

2.3

1.3

1.7

2.0

1.6

34

Supranova (P. supina)

1.3

1.0

1.3

1.7

1.3

1.3

2.3

1.5

35

Brigade H. F.

1.3

1.0

1.0

2.0

1.3

1.3

2.3

1.5

 

LSD0.05

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.9

NS

1.4

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

NS = means are not significant at the 0.05 level.

 

Table 3. The average quality ratings for grasses in the 1987 Shade Trial: 1993 - 2000.

 

Cultivar

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Ave.*

 

Victor (C.F.)

7.2

7.1

6.6

6.6

7.1

7.0

6.8

6.7

6.54

 

BAR FO 81-225 (H.F.)

5.5

6.1

6.5

5.7

5.9

5.8

6.6

6.6

6.14

 

Waldorf (C.F.)

5.9

6.2

5.8

6.1

6.6

6.1

6.0

5.8

6.14

 

ST-2 (SR 3000) (H.F.)

5.7

6.1

6.1

5.5

5.8

5.1

5.7

6.1

6.11

 

Mary (C.F.)

6.7

6.6

6.7

6.3

6.2

5.8

5.9

5.7

6.08

 

Shadow (C.F.)

6.6

6.6

5.9

5.9

6.6

6.3

6.0

6.3

6.04

 

Jamestown (C.F.)

6.5

6.6

6.2

5.9

6.1

6.1

6.1

5.9

6.02

 

Waldina (H.F.)

5.5

5.8

5.8

5.1

5.9

6.4

6.6

6.5

5.99

 

Atlanta (C.F.)

5.8

5.7

5.5

6.7

6.6

5.9

6.1

5.6

5.92

 

Banner (C.F.)

6.0

5.6

5.3

6.2

6.3

5.7

5.8

6.0

5.76

 

Pennlawn (C.R.F.)

6.3

5.5

5.5

5.9

6.2

5.8

5.3

5.4

5.76

 

Estica (C.R.F.)

6.6

6.1

5.6

4.3

4.3

5.2

4.9

5.4

5.68

 

Rebel (T.F.)

6.9

5.9

5.7

4.6

4.5

5.3

4.8

5.0

5.68

 

Agram (C.F.)

5.4

5.3

5.1

5.5

5.6

6.0

6.0

6.0

5.56

 

Biljart (H.F.)

5.0

5.1

5.1

4.8

5.1

4.4

4.8

5.3

5.54

 

Rebel II (T.F.)

6.1

6.2

5.1

4.3

4.1

5.4

5.1

5.3

5.53

 

Sabre (P.T.)

7.4

6.2

4.8

4.9

5.0

5.4

4.9

2.8

5.50

 

Bonanza (T.F.)

6.3

6.2

5.2

4.2

4.1

4.2

3.8

4.2

5.39

 

Wintergreen (C.F.)

5.0

5.0

5.0

6.0

5.9

5.3

5.3

4.7

5.38

 

Ensylva (C.R.F.)

5.9

5.4

4.4

5.3

4.9

5.2

5.3

5.3

5.27

 

Falcon (T.F.)

6.5

6.3

5.2

4.2

4.2

4.2

3.7

3.6

5.27

 

Spartan (H.F.)

4.7

5.1

4.9

5.0

4.8

4.6

4.2

5.0

5.21

 

Apache (T.F.)

6.3

5.4

5.3

3.7

3.2

4.2

3.8

3.6

5.20

 

Koket (C.F.)

5.2

5.7

4.6

4.6

5.4

5.6

4.9

4.8

5.14

 

Arid (T.F.)

6.7

5.6

4.7

2.9

2.7

4.0

4.3

4.0

5.11

 

Scaldis (H.F.)

4.6

4.4

4.8

4.1

4.6

3.7

3.8

4.7

4.80

 

Highlight (C.F.)

5.0

4.8

4.7

4.9

5.1

5.2

4.4

4.3

4.72

 

Reliant (H.F.)

4.2

4.9

4.8

4.9

5.0

5.4

5.3

5.2

4.55

 

Midnight (K.B.)

6.4

4.6

4.4

4.0

3.9

4.6

3.9

3.1

4.40

 

Coventry (K.B.)

6.0

4.7

3.8

3.9

3.5

3.4

2.9

2.0

4.37

 

RAM I (K.B.)

5.9

4.3

3.3

2.8

2.7

3.2

2.9

2.4

4.23

 

Chateau (K.B.)

5.2

4.1

3.0

2.2

1.9

2.1

2.2

1.6

3.90

 

Glade (K.B.)

5.3

3.3

2.8

2.8

2.3

2.7

1.8

1.8

3.76

 

Bristol (K.B.)

5.0

4.1

3.6

2.8

2.4

3.1

2.2

2.1

3.61

 

Nassau (K.B.)

4.3

3.3

2.4

2.1

2.0

2.4

2.2

2.3

3.10

Quality Based on a 9 to 1 scale: 9 = best quality, 6 = lowest acceptable quality, and 1 = poorest quality.

*Average includes 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992 data (not listed).

C.F. = chewings fescue, C.R.F. = creeping red fescue, H.F. = hard fescue, K.B. = Kentucky bluegrass, P.T. = Poa trivialis ,

T.F. = tall fescue. P.S. = Poa supina.