ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY GALE A BUCHANAN. DIRECTOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA CIRCULAR 262 AUGUST 1982

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CONTENTS
Page
MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................. RESULTS .......................................................

4
5

Northern Alabama ............ ..................... Central Alabama ................................... Southern Alabama ..................................
SUMMARY .....................................................

5 6 9
11

FIRST PRINTING 5M, AUGUST 1982

Information contained herein is available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.

Performance of
Tall Fescue Varieties in Alabama
J.F. PEDERSEN, C.S. HOVELAND, and R.L. HAALAND' 2

TALL FESCUE (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is the most widely grown grass species in the northern half of Alabama. It is also grown in the southern part of the State on wet sites and clay soils. The popularity of tall fescue is based on such factors as ease of establishment, long productive season, and tolerance to pests, soil acidity, poor drainage, and overgrazing. Poor animal performance and low winter forage production are two major problems associated with tall fescue in Alabama. The problem of poor animal performance is associated with fescue toxicosis, which is being investigated in another Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station project. Researchers have found a fungus (Acremonium coenophialumMorgan-Jones and Gams) growing within tall fescue on pastures where fescue toxicosis of cattle occurs. Poor winter production of the.variety Kentucky 31, which is grown on virtually all the tall fescue acreage in the State, is the source of the other major problem with tall fescue. Varieties that are more winter-productive are needed, particularly in central and southern Alabama.
'Respectively, Assistant Professor, former Professor, and former Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy and Soils. 2 The authors acknowledge the assistance of the following in carrying out the research reported: W.B. Webster and H. Calvert, II, Tennessee Valley Substation; L.L. Walker and H.C. Hoyle, Plant Breeding Unit; F.T. Glaze, Prattville Experiment Field (retired); L.A. Smith and H.W. Grimes, Jr., Black Belt Substation; and.E:L. Carden and F.G. Selman, Gulf Coast Substation.

V.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Seven tall fescue variety trials were conducted in Alabama during the years 1974-81. Tall fescue varieties were planted in rows 6 inches apart using plots 4 x 20 feet with four replications, in late September or October. Plots were harvested with a flail-type harvester two to five times each year. A sample of green forage was collected from each plot at each harvest and oven dried for dry matter determination. Yields are reported as pounds dry matter per acre. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied each year in September or October and again in February and April, making a total of 150 to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre annually. Lime, P, and K were applied according to soil test recommendations. Tall fescue varieties in the trials were: B-2-A tall fescue x ryegrass hybrid from Berger & Plate, Oregon. Clarine-Non-winter-dormant variety from France. Fawn-Developed at Oregon State University for spring vigor and high seed yield. Goar-Developed in southern California for early maturity and tolerance to high summer temperature. Hokuryo-A variety from the National Hokkaido Agricultural Experiment Station, Hokkaido, Japan. Jebel-Obtained from National Seed Development Organization, Cambridge, England. Kasba-Obtained from National Seed Development Organization, Cambridge, England. Kenhy-Tall fescue x ryegrass hybrid developed by USDAUniversity of Kentucky. This variety was selected for superior yield, digestibility, and palatability. Kentucky 31-Found growing on Suiter Farm in eastern Kentucky in 1931 where it had been growing since 1887. Most of the tall fescue in the United States originated from this source. Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free)-Seed harvested from Kentucky 31 fields at the Black Belt Substation in west central Alabama that were essentially free of A. coenophialum. Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-infected)-Seed harvested from Kentucky 31 fields at the Black Belt Substation in west central Alabama that were heavily infected with A. coenophialum. Missouri-96-Developed at the University of Missouri for fine leaves, higher animal intake, and some rust resistance. Triumph-Developed at Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station from Mediterranean germplasm for higher winter [41

production. It also has a more open sod, allowing better legume growth. Triumph seed should be available for fall of 1983 planting. Vejo-A variety from the University of Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Yamanami-A variety from the National Hokkaido Agricultural Experiment Station, Hokkaido, Japan.
RESULTS Northern Alabama

Tall fescue is well adapted in northern Alabama. At the Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina, on Decatur clay soil, first-year yields were high on all varieties except Vejo, table 1. During the second year, Triumph produced over twice the late winter (October 11-April 10) yield of Kentucky 31, table 2. In addition, Triumph produced more total yield than other varieties. Other tests have shown that Triumph has less cold tolerance than Kentucky 31, but once established, Triumph survived winters as well as other varieties.

TABLE 1. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY SUBSTATION, BELLE MINA, 1978-79 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1978)

Variety Kentucky 31 ............ Triumph ............... M issouri-96 ............. B-2 .................... Vejo ...................

Pounds of dry forage per acre March 21 April 10 May 15 June 27 August 10 230 bc* 686 a 260 bec 466 ab 59d 987 b 964 b 924 b 1,253 a 610c 3,263 a 2,069 b 2,966a 3,136 a 2,207b 1,305 a 1,569 a 1,202 b 891b 809c 1,432 a 1,358 a 1,090 b 298 d 359d

Total 7,217 a 6,646 ab 6,442 bec 6,044 c 4,044d

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.

TABLE 2. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY SUBSTATION, BELLE MINA, 1979-80 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1978)

Variety October 11 Triumph ......... .1,852 a* Kentucky 31 ........ 1,903 a Missouri-96 ......... 1,420 b B-2 ............... 609c Vejo ................ 936c

Pounds of dry forage per acre April 10 April 30 May 23 2,992 a 1,376 b 1,123 b 603c 266 d 1,200 a 1,405 a 1,307 a 976b 710 c 695 a 622 a 584 a 396a 465 a

Total 6,739 a 5,306 bc 4,434 c 2,584 d 2,377 d

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.

151

Central Alabama On a Cahaba fine sandy loam soil at the Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee, Triumph furnished more than three times the January to early March production and 1,500 pounds per acre more total forage than Kentucky 31 over a 4-year period, table 3. The additional dry forage produced by Triumph during January to early March came at a
TABLE 3. WINTER (JANUARY - EARLY MARCH) AND TOTAL ANNUAL FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, 4-YEAR AVERAGE, 1975-78 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1974)

Variety Triumph...................... Fawn......................... Kentucky 31................... Yamanami.....................
Goar..........................

Pounds of dry forage per acre Winter production (January-early March) 1,659 a* 790 b 517 c 742 b 876 b 437 c 372 c 8,076 a

Kenhy ....................... Hokuryo .....................

6,654 b 6,559 bc 6,294 bc 5,882 bc
,809 c

4,480 d

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 4. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE , 1978-79 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1978)

Variety
Triumph ...............

Pounds of dry forage per acre March 20 April 5 April 30 May 29 August 6

Total
8, 977 a

1,628 a*
933 c

819 a

1,635 b
2, 286 a

1, 466 a

Kentucky 31.............

718 a

Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free)........ 1,036 bc
Missouri-96 .............

1,007 bc
872 c

3,496 bc 9,044 a
4, 033 a

1,006 bc
844 c

802 a
774 a

2,141 a

1,916 a 1,032 bc

4,093 a
3,107 c

B-2.....................

564 b

2,183 a

1,014hce

7,835

8,944 a

466 d

5,071 c

b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 5. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PLANT BREEDING UNIT, TALLASSEE, 1979-80 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1978)

Variety

October 26 Triumph...........3,449 a Kentucky 31 3,737 a (BB fungus-free)
Kentucky 31.......

Pounds of dry forage per acre April 22 December 3 March 25

Total
10,273 a

1,299
0

a

1,840

a

3,685 a

2,963

1,000 b
855 c

698 b
696 b
590

b

2,848

2,922 b

8,357 ab

Missouri-96........

2, 081 c

824 c

b

B-2................

0

527 b

2,343 c

b

7,362

1, 228 d

5,838

b

c
I

1, 755 d

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.

[61

critical time of the year when feed supplies are generally short. Crown rust was a serious problem some years on Fawn and Goar in

these tests.
In a later trial at the Plant Breeding Unit, Triumph furnished more winter forage than other varieties over a 2-year period, tables 4 and 5.

Total yield of 41/2 tons per acre was obtained with Triumph in both
growing seasons.

At the Prattville Experiment Field on Lucedale fine sandy loam in
TABLE 6. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PRATTVILLE EXPERIMENT FIELD, PRATTVILLE, 1978-79 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1978)

Variety April 6 Triumph ......... Missouri-96 ....... Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ..... Kentucky 31 ...... Clarine ........... 1,359 a* 1,195 a 877 ab 842 b 506 be

Pounds of dry forage per acre April 27 June 14 916 a 946 a 910 a 875 a 745 a 1,700 a 1,533 a 1,720 a 1,630 a 1,534 a

Total 3,975 a 3,674 a 3,527 a 3,346 a 2,785 a

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 7. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PRATVILLE EXPERIMENT FIELD, PRATIVILLE, 1978-79 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1978)

Variety Triumph ............ Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ........ Clarine .............. Kentucky 31 ......... Missouri-96 ..........

Pounds of dry forage per acre December 7 March 14 April 7 April 28 June 13 3,827 a* 3,622 3,847 3,290 2,820 a a ab b 1,264 a 689 920 558 359 b ab bc c 1,713 a 1,377 1,260 1,384 1,213 bc c bc c 881 b 1,424 1,035 1,395 1,446 a b a a 451 c 543 450 567 665 bc c ab a

Total 8,136 a 7,655 7,512 7,194 6,503 a ab ab b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 8. THIRD-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PRATI-VILLE EXPERIMENT FIELD, PRATIVILLE, 1980-81 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1978)

Variety Triumph ............ Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ........ Kentucky 31 ......... Clarine .............. Missouri-96 ..........

Percent stand, January 6 100 . 100 95 100 80

Pounds of dry forage per acre January 6 March 26 April 27 410 b* 395 396 711 218 b b a c 1,752 a 1,014 b 676 c 974 bc 668 c 1,911 a 2,195 1,954 1,118 1,460 a a b b June 8 385 a 417 429 245 432 a a b a Total 4,459 a 4,020 ab 3,456 abc 3,047 cd 2,778 d

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at the 5 percent level. [7]

central Alabama, winter production of Triumph was generally much higher than that of Kentucky 31 over a 3-year period, tables 6, 7, and 8. Spring drought during the third year reduced yields. Stands of Missouri-96 were reduced by the third year. Crown rust was a
problem on Clarine.

In a later trial at the Prattville Experiment Field, winter production of Triumph was substantially higher than all Kentucky 31 entries, especially during the second year, tables 9 and 10. Establishment ofa pasture sod from A. coenophialum-infected Kentucky 31 seed from the Black Belt Substation was faster than from commercial Kentucky 31 seed, resulting in somewhat more early production, table 9. By the end of the second year, however, there was no difference in forage yield among the three Kentucky 31 seed sources, table 10. Again, Clarine was observed to be susceptible to crown rust. Establishment was slow on Sumter clay at the Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction, in west central Alabama, causing relatively
TABLE 9. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PRATTVILLE EXPERIMENT FIELD, PRATTVILLE, 1979-80 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1979)

Variety March 14 Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-infected) . Triumph ......... Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ..... Clarine ........... Kentucky 31 ...... Kasba ............ Jebel ............ 538 ab* 693 a 310 556 251 460 492 c ab c ab b

Pounds of dry forage per acre April 28 June 13 April 7 1,473 a 1,335 ab 1,394 1,211 1,230 1,046 991 ab bc bce ed d 1,418 a 1,016 b 1,460 1,058 1,383 835 878 a b a b b 997 a 1,118 a 915 1,126 1,002 551 574 a a a b b

Total 4,426 a 4,162 a 4,079 3,951 3,866 3,072 2,935 a a a b b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 10. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT PRATTVILLE EXPERIMENT FIELD, PRATTVILLE, 1980-81 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1979)

Variety

January 6 a* ab ab ab bc c c

Pounds of dry forage per acre March 26 April 21 June 9 2,303 a 1,130 b 1,377 b 1,182 1,157 1,164 1,249 b b b b 1,980 bc 2,411 a 1,739 c 2,245 2,266 1,137 984 ab ab d d 568 a 466 b 432 bc 378 402 261 264 cd bc d d

Total 6,521 a 5,226 b 5,070 b 5,047 5,007 3,448 3,269 b b c c

.1,669 Triumph ......... Kentucky 31 (BB 1,219 fungus-free) ..... Clarine ........... 1,521 Kentucky 31 (BB 1,243 fungus-infected) . Kentucky 31 ...... 1,182 Kasba ............. 886 Jebel ............ 772

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level. [8]

TABLE 11. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT BLACK BELT SUBSTATION, MARION JUNCTION, 1978-79 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1978)

Variety Clarine ................. Triumph ............... Kentucky 31 ............ Missouri-96 .............

May 3 2,404 2,604 2,635 2,222 a* a a b

Pounds of dry forage per acre May 24 520 838 337 392 a a a a

Total 3,224 2,987 2,972 2,614 a ab ab b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 12. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT BLACK BELT SUBSTATION, MARION JUNCTION, 1979-80 (PLANTED SEPTEMBER 1978)

Variety Clarine ........... Triumph ......... Kentucky 31 ...... Missouri-96 .......

Pounds of dry forage per acre October 1 December 10 April 1 April 22 May 21 2,459 1,772 2,215 1,090 a* a a b 978 640 426 354 a b bc c 2,908 a 3,098 a 2,040 b 2,100 b 1,409 1,363 1,782 1,732 b b a a 691 711 787 681 a a a a

Total 8,462 7,514 7,276 5,896 a ab ab b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.

low first year forage yields, table 11. However, good yields were obtained the second year, table 12. Clarine and Triumph produced more forage from December 10 to April 1 than Kentucky 31 and Missouri-96. Autumn production of Missouri-96 was substantially lower than the other entries. Clarine was observed to be susceptible to crown rust. Southern Alabama In the planting on Marlboro fine sandy loam at the Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope, in southwestern Alabama, seedling vigor of commercial Kentucky 31 was less than other entries. First-year yields ofcommercial Kentucky 31 were also less than other entries, table 13. Good stands were obtained for all entries. During the second year, autumn and winter production ofTriumph was much higher than that of all entries of Kentucky 31, table 14. Clarine autumn production equalled Triumph, but winter production was less. Clarine was observed to be highly susceptible to rust. Total forage yield of the A. coenophialum-infected Kentucky 31 was higher than the A. coenophialum-free Kentucky 31 during 1979-80, but not during 1980-81. No explanation can be given for this difference. Grass samples collected during the spring of 1981 showed a heavy infection [9]

TABLE 13. FIRST-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT GULF COAST SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, 1979-80 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1979)

Variety March 6

Pounds of dry forage per acre April 9

Total

Triumph ............... Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-infected) ....... Kasba .................. Jebel .................. Clarine ................. Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ........... Kentucky 31 ............

2,126 a* 2,064 2,095 2,139 2,111 a a a a

2,431 a 2,326 ab 2,164 abc 2,060bc 1,973 c 2,295 ab 1,871 c

4,557 a 4,390 a 4,259 ab 4,199ab 4,084 ab 3,934 b 2,860 c

1,639 ab 989 b

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level.
TABLE 14. SECOND-YEAR FORAGE YIELD OF TALL FESCUE VARIETIES AT GULF COAST

SUBSTATION, FAIRHOPE, 1980-81 (PLANTED OCTOBER 1979)

Variety Triumph ......... Clarine ........... Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-infected) .
Kentucky 31 (BB fungus-free) ..... Kentucky 31 ...... Kasba ............

Pounds of dry forage per acre October 31 December 29 April 2 May 8 1,048 a* 845 ab 805 ab 618 567 284 99 bc bc cd d 1,823 a 1,796 a 1,344 b 1,165 968 1,010 571 b bc b cd 3,388 a 2,263 b 1,974 bc 1,522 1,557 1,771 1,525 c c c c 782 de 998 cd 1,448 ab 1,572 1,207 645 627 a bc e e

Total 7,041 a 5,902 b 5,571 bc 4,877 4,299 3,710 2,822 cd de ef f

Jebel ............
percent level.

*Means within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5

of A. coenophialumfungus in the original A. coenophialum-infected seed, while forage from the A. coenophialum-freeseed was still free of the fungus. Triumph has also been found to be free of A. coenophialum to date.

[101

SUMMARY Seven tall fescue variety trials were conducted at five locations in Alabama for 2 to 4 years. Triumph and Kentucky 31 yields were generally acceptable at all locations in the State. However, past experience has shown that tall fescue persistence over many years on sandy upland soils in southern Alabama would be expected to be poor. Triumph tall fescue was the most productive variety at all locations, with winter production being considerably higher than that of Kentucky 31. Annual yields of Triumph averaged from 3 to over 4tons of dry forage per acre, generally exceeding that of Kentucky 31. Triumph tall fescue was winter hardy throughout the State after the establishment year. However, other work has shown that late plantings of Triumph in northern Alabama may suffer winter stand losses. Thus, it is essential to plant this variety in September to obtain well established plants for winter survival. For superior winter production, Triumph is the recommended variety. Other varieties appear no better than Kentucky 31. No consistent differences in forage yield due to infection of tall fescue by A. coenophialum were shown in this report. However, research reported previously has shown lowered cattle performance to be associated with the presence of this fungus.

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® Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn.
E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter.
1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Tennessee Vatley Substation, Belte Mina. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossvilte. North Atabama Horticulture Substation, Cultman. Upper Coastat Plain Substation, Winfietd. Forestry Unit, Fayette County Foundation Seed Stocks Farm, Thorsby. Chilton Area Horticutture Substation. Clanton. Forestry Unit. Coosa County Piedmont Substation, Camp Hiti. Plant Breeding Unit, Tatlassee. Forestry Unit, Autauga County. Prattvitte Experiment Fietd, Prattvitle. Btack Belt Substation, Marion Junction. The Turnipseed-tkenberry Ptace, Union Springs. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden. Forestry Unit, Barbour County. Monroevitle Experiment Field, Monroeville. Wiregrass Substation, Headland. Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton. Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Covington and Escambia counties. 21. Ornamental Horticulture Field Station, Spring Hitl. 22. Gutf Coast Substation, Fairhope.