This was the fifth and final year of data from the 1998 Fineleaf Fescue National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trial. It was replaced with a new trial in the fall of 2003. 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, May through October. The study is conducted in full sun. The plot size for each cultivar was 3 x 5 ft (15ft2). The plots, established in October 1998, were randomly arranged and replicated three times. The trial has been maintained at a 2-inch mowing height, fertilized with 3.5 lbs N/1000 ft2 during the growing season, and irrigated when needed to prevent drought. Preemergent herbicide was applied once in the spring of each year.
The visual quality was evaluated monthly in 2003 from May through July (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 2003 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. Spring greenup data were taken in April 2002 and were estimated using a 9 to 1 scale with 9 = green and 1 = dormant turf.
Table 1. The 2003 visual quality and other turf attribute ratings for cultivars in the 1998 Fineleaf Fescue Cultivar Trial.
| ---------------------Visual Quality------------------ | ||||||
| Fine Fescue Cultivar | Species | Greenup | May | Jun | July | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABT-HF1 | hard | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| ISI F1 12 | hard | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| SRX 3961 | hard | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| ABT-HF-2 | hard | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| ASC 172 | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| ASC 087 | strong creeping | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| AHF 008 | hard | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| AHF 009 | hard | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ASR 049 | slender creeping | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Attila E | hard | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Minotaur | hard x blue | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Intrigue | chewings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| DGSC 94 | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Ambassador | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Oxford | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |
| Pathfinder | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | |
| Defiant | hard | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Shademark | strong creeping | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Pick FF A-97 | hard | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Jasper II | strong creeping | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Salsa | strong creeping | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| 4001 | hard | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Pick Frc 4-92 | chewings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| BAR HF 8 FUS | hard | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Bridgeport | chewings | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| PST-EFL | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Pick Frc A-93 | chewings | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Shademaster II | strong creeping | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Discovery | hard | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Treazure (E) | chewings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| PST-4HM | chewings | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| PST-4MB | blue hard | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Bighorn | hard | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ISI Frr 5 | strong creeping | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| ISI Frr 7 | strong creeping | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Longfellow II | chewings | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ISI F1 11 | hard | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Quatro | sheep | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Reliant II | hard | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-HF-4 | hard | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| ABT-CHW-1 | chewings | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-CHW-2 | chewings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| SRX 52961 | strong creeping | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| SRX 52LAV | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| SR 5100 | chewings | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| SR 3200 | blue | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Osprey | hard | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-CHW-3 | chewings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-CR-2 | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-HF-3 | hard | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Nordic (E) | hard | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ABT-CR-3 | strong creeping | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| MB-82 | hard | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ACF 083 | chewings | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| ACF 092 | chewings | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| ASC 082 | strong creeping | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Dawson E+ | slender creeping | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Scaldis | hard | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Brittany | chewings | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Rescue 911 | hard | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Magic | chewings | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| BAR CHF 8 FUS2 | chewings | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| BAR CF 8 FUS1 | strong creeping | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| BAR SCF 8 FUS3 | slender creeping | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| PST-4FR | strong creeping | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| PST-47TCR | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Florentine | strong creeping | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Shadow II | chewings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Tiffany | chewings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| MB-63 | chewings | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Jamestown II | chewings | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Seabreeze | slender creeping | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Culombra | chewings | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| SR 6000 | tufted hairgrass | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Sandpiper | chewings | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Heron | hard | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Banner III | chewings | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Common creeping red | strong creeping | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Boreal | strong creeping | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| LSD | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.8 | |
 |
ISU Turfgrass:2004 Turfgrass Report | College of Agriculture |
Contents ©1995-2004, ISU Horticulture Department