This is the fifth and final year of data from the fairway height bentgrass cultivar trial established in the fall of 1998. It was terminated after data collection in July 2003, and a new trial was established in the fall of 2003. The area was maintained at a 0.5 inch mowing height. This is a National Turfgrass Evaluation (NTEP) trial and is being conducted at several research stations in the U.S. It contains 26 of the newest seeded cultivars and a number of experimentals. The cultivars are maintained with 4 lbs of N/1000 ft2/growing season. Fungicides are used as needed in a preventative program. Herbicides and insecticides are also applied as needed.
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.
Data for genetic color (Gen Color) and leaf texture (Leaf Tex) were also collected in June 2003. 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 (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 was replaced with a new fairway height bentgrass trial in the fall of 2003.
There was serious winter damage to creeping bentgrass cultivars in Iowa in the spring of 2003. The greenup and May data are the best indication of which cultivars survived the winter well and which ones were most severely damaged. Most plots had recovered by June and July. The winter damage had a major effect on the mean quality ratings for this year.
Table 1. 2003 visual quality and other ratings for the Fairway Height Bentgrass Cultivar Trial.
| ----------------Visual Quality---------------- | ||||||||
| Bentgrass Cultivar | Species | Gen Color | Greenup | Leaf Tex | May | Jun | July | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PST-9HG | colonial | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Penncross | creeping | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Princeville | creeping | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| ABT-Col-2 | colonial | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Seaside | creeping | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Tiger | creeping | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| SRX 7MOBB | colonial | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| SR 7100 | colonial | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Golfstar | Idaho | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| PST-9PM | colonial | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Penneagle | creeping | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Grand Prix | creeping | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Trueline | creeping | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| L-93 | creeping | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Century | creeping | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Imperial | creeping | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| ISI At-5 | colonial | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| SRC 7MODD | colonial | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Providence | creeping | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| SRX 1BPAA | creeping | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| SR 1119 | creeping | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| PST-OVN | creeping | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Seaside II | creeping | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Penn G-6 | creeping | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Backspin | creeping | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| SRX 1120 | creeping | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| LSD | NS | 1.4 | NS | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.5 | |
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ISU Turfgrass:2004 Turfgrass Report | College of Agriculture |
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