1998 Fine Fescue Cultivar Trial

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

This was the fourth full 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. The plot size for each cultivar was 3 x 5 ft (15ft²). The plots were randomly arranged and replicated three times and were established 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. Preemergent herbicide was applied once in the spring of each year.

The visual quality was evaluated monthly in 2002 from May through October (Table 1). The values listed under each month in Table 1 are the averages of visual quality ratings made on three replicated plots. Visual quality was based on a scale of 9 to 1: 9 = best quality, 6 = lowest acceptable quality, and 1 = worst quality. The yearly average of the monthly data for each cultivar was calculated and is listed in the last column (Mean). The first cultivar listed in Table 1 had the highest average visual quality rating for the entire 2002 season. The cultivars are listed in descending order by average quality. The last row states the LSD (least significant difference), which is a statistical measurement of how widely the datum in each column must vary before they are considered to be different from one another.

Data for genetic color (Gencolor) and leaf texture (Leaftex) were also collected in June 2002. 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. Spring greenup data were taken in April 2002 and were estimated using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = green and 1 = dormant turf.

This trial will be replaced with a new Fine Fescue Cultivar Trial in the Fall of 2003.

Table 1. The 2002 visual quality and other turf attribute ratings for cultivars in the 1998 Fineleaf Fescue Cultivar Trial.

				-----------------------------Quality-----------------------------
Fine Fescue Cultivar	GREENUP	GENCOLOR	LEAFTEX	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	MEAN
	--------------------------------------------------------------9-1; 9 Best-----------------------------------------------------------
ABT-HF1	6.0	7.7	7.0	6.3	8.0	7.3	7.0	7.0	6.7	7.1
SRX3961	6.7	7.7	7.7	5.7	7.7	7.7	7.0	7.3	6.0	6.9
BERKSHIRE(4001)	6.3	7.7	7.0	6.3	7.3	7.3	6.3	7.0	6.7	6.8
CHARIOT(CISFL12)	6.0	7.3	7.3	6.3	7.7	7.7	6.0	6.3	7.0	6.8
NORDIC(E)	6.7	8.3	7.7	6.3	8.3	7.7	6.0	6.3	5.3	6.7
OXFORD	6.0	8.0	7.3	6.0	7.3	7.0	6.3	7.0	6.3	6.7
PST-4HM	7.0	8.0	6.7	6.7	7.3	7.3	6.3	6.7	5.7	6.7
RELIANTII	6.0	8.0	6.7	6.0	7.3	7.3	6.7	6.3	6.7	6.7
ABT-HF-2	5.3	7.3	6.3	6.3	7.0	7.7	6.3	6.0	6.0	6.6
DISCOVERY	5.3	7.7	7.3	6.3	7.3	7.3	6.3	6.3	6.0	6.6
OSPREY	4.3	7.7	6.7	6.0	8.0	6.7	6.7	6.3	6.0	6.6
PICKFFA-97	5.7	7.3	6.7	6.3	7.0	7.7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
EUREKAII(CISFL11)	5.0	7.0	6.7	6.3	7.0	6.7	6.0	6.0	6.3	6.4
SALSA	6.3	7.3	7.0	5.3	6.3	5.3	7.7	7.0	6.7	6.4
SCALDISII(AHF008)	5.0	7.0	6.3	5.7	7.0	7.3	6.0	6.7	6.0	6.4
DEFIANT	6.3	7.7	6.7	6.3	6.3	6.7	6.3	6.0	6.0	6.3
HARDTOP(BARHF8FUS)	6.0	7.3	7.0	6.0	7.3	6.3	5.7	6.0	6.3	6.3
PST-4MB	4.3	6.0	6.0	6.7	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.0	6.0	6.3
SCALDIS	6.0	6.7	6.3	6.0	7.0	6.7	6.0	6.3	6.0	6.3
STONEHENGE(AHF009)	6.0	7.3	6.7	6.0	6.7	6.0	6.7	6.3	6.3	6.3
ABT-HF-3	5.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.7	6.3	6.0	6.0	6.3	6.2
MB-82	5.0	7.7	7.3	5.7	7.3	6.3	5.7	6.0	6.3	6.2
ABT-CR-2	6.0	6.0	6.7	5.7	6.0	5.3	7.0	6.0	6.3	6.1
ABT-HF-4	4.0	6.0	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.7	6.0	5.3	6.0	6.1
ATTILAE	6.3	7.7	6.3	5.3	6.7	7.0	6.0	6.3	5.3	6.1
MINOTAUR	4.7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.3	6.7	5.7	5.7	6.0	6.1
PST-4FR	6.0	6.7	6.3	5.3	6.0	5.3	7.0	6.3	6.0	6.0
SRX52961	6.0	6.3	6.7	5.7	5.3	5.7	6.7	6.3	6.3	6.0
WRIGLEY(ACF092)	7.0	6.0	7.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	6.7	6.3	6.0	6.0
LONGFELLOWII	5.7	5.7	6.7	6.0	5.7	5.3	6.3	6.0	6.0	5.9
ABT-CHW-3	5.0	7.0	7.0	6.0	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.7	6.0	5.8
AMBASSADOR	6.3	6.3	7.0	6.3	6.0	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.8
BIGHORN	5.0	6.0	6.3	5.7	6.3	5.7	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.8
PATHFINDER	6.3	6.3	6.7	5.7	5.0	5.3	6.7	5.7	6.3	5.8
ABERDEEN(PST-EFL)	6.3	7.0	6.7	4.7	6.0	5.3	7.0	5.3	6.0	5.7
ABT-CR-3	6.0	6.0	7.0	5.0	5.7	4.7	6.7	6.3	6.0	5.7
CINDYLOU(CISFRR7)	5.0	6.3	6.3	5.0	6.0	5.3	6.7	6.0	5.3	5.7
DGSC94	6.3	6.3	6.7	5.7	5.0	4.7	6.7	6.0	6.0	5.7
JASPERII	5.7	6.0	6.7	5.0	5.0	5.0	6.7	6.3	6.3	5.7
TREAZURE(E)	7.3	6.7	6.7	5.0	5.3	5.3	6.3	5.7	6.3	5.7
BRIDGEPORT	5.7	5.3	6.7	4.3	5.7	6.0	5.7	5.7	6.0	5.6
INTRIGUE	4.7	6.7	6.7	4.7	5.7	5.3	6.7	5.7	5.7	5.6
JAMESTOWNII	6.0	6.3	6.7	5.3	6.0	5.3	6.0	5.7	5.3	5.6
MAGIC	5.0	6.0	6.7	5.7	6.0	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.3	5.6
NAVIGATOR(CISFRR5)	5.3	6.7	7.0	4.7	5.0	5.0	7.0	5.7	6.3	5.6
QUATRO	5.7	7.3	7.3	5.7	6.3	6.0	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.6
ROSE(ASC087)	6.3	7.0	6.0	5.0	5.3	4.7	6.3	5.7	6.3	5.6
SHADEMASTERII	6.0	6.7	6.7	5.0	5.0	5.0	6.7	5.7	6.0	5.6
SR3200	5.3	6.0	6.0	5.3	6.0	5.7	5.3	6.0	5.3	5.6
SR5100	6.3	5.7	6.7	5.7	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.6
ABT-CHW-1	6.7	6.0	7.0	6.0	5.0	5.3	5.7	5.3	5.7	5.5
ASC172	4.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	5.7	4.7	5.7	5.3	5.7	5.5
BARCHF8FUS2	5.7	5.7	6.3	5.3	4.7	5.0	7.0	5.0	6.0	5.5
CULOMBRA	5.3	6.0	7.3	5.0	6.0	5.3	6.0	5.0	5.7	5.5
INVERNESS(PST-47TCR)	4.7	6.0	6.3	5.0	5.3	4.0	6.3	6.0	6.3	5.5
ABT-CHW-2	4.7	6.3	6.7	5.3	5.7	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.7	5.4
ACF083	7.0	5.7	6.7	5.7	4.7	5.0	6.7	5.0	5.7	5.4
ASR049	5.3	6.7	6.7	4.3	4.3	5.0	5.7	6.0	7.3	5.4
BARGENAIII(BARCF8FUS1)	6.0	6.0	6.3	4.3	4.7	4.3	6.7	6.3	6.3	5.4
BOREAL	4.0	6.0	6.3	5.0	5.0	4.3	6.7	5.3	6.0	5.4
COMMONCREEPINGRED	4.7	7.0	6.0	4.3	5.7	5.0	6.7	5.0	5.7	5.4
FLORENTINE	5.0	5.3	6.3	4.7	4.7	4.3	7.0	6.0	6.0	5.4
MB-63	7.0	5.7	6.7	5.7	5.0	5.0	5.7	5.3	5.7	5.4
RESCUE911	4.7	7.0	7.0	5.3	6.0	5.3	5.0	5.0	6.0	5.4
SEABREEZE	7.0	6.7	6.0	4.3	5.0	5.0	6.3	5.3	6.7	5.4
SHADOWII	7.0	6.3	7.0	5.7	5.0	5.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.4
TIFFANY	6.3	6.0	7.0	4.7	5.0	5.3	5.7	6.0	6.0	5.4
DAWSONE+	4.7	6.7	7.0	4.3	5.0	4.3	5.7	6.0	6.7	5.3
SR5210(SRX52LAV)	6.0	6.0	6.0	5.3	4.7	4.3	6.3	5.3	5.7	5.3
ASC08	5.7	6.0	6.0	5.0	5.0	4.3	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.2
BARSCF8FUS3	4.7	6.7	7.0	4.3	5.0	4.3	6.0	5.3	6.0	5.2
PICKFRCA-93	5.3	5.7	7.0	5.3	4.7	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.2
SILHOUETTE(PICKFRC4-92)	5.0	6.3	6.7	5.0	5.0	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.2
BRITTANY	4.7	6.3	7.0	5.7	5.7	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.3	5.1
HERON	5.7	5.7	6.7	4.7	5.0	4.7	4.7	5.3	6.0	5.1
SANDPIPER	6.0	6.0	6.0	4.0	4.7	4.7	6.0	6.3	5.0	5.1
SHADEMARK	6.3	5.3	6.7	5.0	4.7	4.0	6.3	5.0	5.7	5.1
BANNERIII	6.0	6.0	6.7	5.0	4.3	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.3	4.8
SR6000	3.0	7.0	4.7	4.7	4.7	4.0	4.3	4.0	4.3	4.3
LSD	2.7	0.9	1.2	1.1	1.0	1.1	1.7	1.9	2.1	0.6

ISU Turfgrass:2003 Turfgrass Report

College of Agriculture

Contents ©1995-2003, ISU Horticulture Department