Fine fescue is a group of several species in the genus Fesctuca , including chewings fescue, hard fescue, strong creeping red fescue, and slender creeping red fescue ( F. rubra ssp. littoralis ) ( Bonos et al., 2006 ). They are known for drought
Fine fescues ( Festuca sp.) are a group of cool-season turfgrass species that have a needle-like fine leaf texture and are well adapted to cool, humid regions of the world. They are also adapted to infertile, acidic soils; shade; and drought
). Drought stress is another major limiting factor for turfgrass growth, particularly during the summer months. The decline in TQ of fine fescues, which is commonly observed during the summer, is typically associated with heat, drought, or both and is
species. Fine fescues ( Fescue spp.) are considered to be among the best low-maintenance cool-season turfgrasses ( Bonos and Huff, 2013 ; Dernoeden et al., 1994 ) and provide a number of benefits for low-input turf uses. Fine fescues are generally
Fescue is one of the largest genera of the grass tribe Poaceae ( Clayton and Renvoize, 1986 ). Of the ≈100 fescue species used in the United States and Europe, six cool-season fine-leaf fescue species are commonly used as turfgrasses in temperate
Fine fescues are immune to two common graminicides, fluazifop-p-butyl and sethoxydim. This study was initiated to determine the tolerance of three fine fescues; chewings, hard, and creeping red, to clethodim alone or with a crop oil concentrate (COC) or non-ionic surfactant (NIS). Clethodim at 0.25 or 1.0 lb/a was applied on 23 Oct. 1995 and evaluated on 22 May and 9 July 1996. Clethodim at 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 lb/a, was applied on 31 May and evaluated on 9 July 1996. Applied in the fall at 0.25 lb/a alone or with NIS, clethodim had little effect on chewings or creeping red fescue. Some injury to hard fescue was evident on 22 May, but it recovered by 9 July. The addition of COC resulted in moderate injury to all three species, with only partial recovery by 9 July. Severe injury of all species from clethodim applied at 1 lb/a was evident on 22 May. The amount of recovery that occurred by 9 July was dependent on the spray additive used. With none, all of the grasses recovered fairly well. With NIS, moderate injury to hard fescue persisted; and with COC, unacceptable injury to all species persisted. Similar results were obtained when the treatments were applied in the spring. The 0.5 lb/a rate caused an intermediate degree of injury. Though none of the clethodim treatments totally killed any of the fine fescues, unacceptable injury was caused by the 0.5 and 1.0 lb/a rates, regardless of additive, and by the 0.25 lb/a + COC treatment.
Shaded environments present major obstacles for establishing high quality, persistent, and resistant turfs. Exogenous fructose applications are being examined as a potential method to counteract the effects of shade on turf. This work examines the effectiveness of fructose applications under different light levels on two fine leaf fescue cultivars: chewings fescue (Festucarubra var. commutata) `SR5100' and creeping red fescue (Festucarubra var. rubra) `Dawson'. The experiment was conducted at Michigan State University, East Lansing, inside a simulated dome environment. The experiment was a randomized complete-block design that began 21 Oct. 2004 with two main factors: light and fructose. There were three light treatments: ambient light (shaded); supplemental high light; and supplemental low light. Fructose (0% or 1.25% weight/volume), dissolved in water with an organosilicone adjuvant, was applied once per week. Quality and color ratings, clippings, core samples, density, and leaf reflectance were recorded. In addition, light response curves (LRC) were taken inside an Econoair®
growth chamber using a LI-COR-6400® on the fine fescues, kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) `Cynthia', and bermudagrass (Cyondon dactylon) `Princess'. Preliminary results show that fructose had no significant effect in each light treatment for turf quality and color. However, fructose had a significant impact on clipping weights and density. The LRC specified the required and potential carbon needs as well as indicated the threshold levels, respectively, by species. The impact of fructose alone and in combination with supplemental light on photosynthesis efficiency will be presented.
The N.T.E.P. fine fescue test was established in Sept. 1994 in the Turfgrass Experimental Plot Area of the Littlefield Ornamental Trial Garden on the Univ. of Maine campus. The test consisted of 59 cultivars seeded in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Following soil preparation, the Marlowe fine sandy soil was amended with lime and starter fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. Seeding was facilitated using a 5 × 3-ft plywood box to eliminate wind drift, and seed was raked in by hand. The study was conducted in a shade-free location with a maintenance fertility program of N at 0.6 lb/1000 ft2 per month of growing season using a slow-release commercial 20-5-15 fertilizer. Supplemental moisture was supplied as needed using an in-ground irrigation system. Mowing was initiated in May 1995 at a height of 2.5 inches and reduced to maintenance height of 2 inches for the duration of the 3-year test. Visual turf quality, turf density, color, weediness, and disease ratings were made monthly during each growing season and were statistically analyzed. Cultivars Darwin, NJ F-93, Columbra, Florentine, and the Banner II and III series were ranked as the best performers in the early- and late-season evaluations. BARFRR4ZBD, Jasper, Defiant, Silverlawn, Treazure, SR 5100, and Spartan were cultivars that performed well in early summer; however, during August, all cultivars showed depressed quality scores and no differences were observed. With the onset of true autumn conditions in October, the number of excellent performing cultivars approximated the same number observed in the spring. These results confirm that a number of fineleaf fescue cultivars are now available whose performance begins to rival Kentucky bluegrass under Maine conditions and will certainly provide better long-term turf than will perennial ryegrass.
We investigated mixtures of buffalograss [Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. `Texoka' and `Cody'] and fine fescue species (Festuca rubra ssp. rubra L. `Vista', F. ovina var. glauca Lam. `Minotaur', F. rubra ssp. commutata Gaud. `Jamestown II') or stream-bank wheatgrass [Agropyron riparium Scribn. & Smith `Sodar'; syn. Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & Smith) Gould subsp. lanceolatus] as a low-maintenance turf with low irrigation requirements and season-long green color and growth. Buffalograss plots in Logan, Utah, were overseeded with fine fescue and streambank wheatgrass at two seeding rates. Plots of fine fescue, wheatgrass, or buffalograss alone were also established. At 50% evapotranspiration (ETo) replacement, fine fescues dominated the mixtures with no differences due to seeding rates. Wheatgrass mixture plots were unacceptable in quality. Buffalograss control plots and mixtures were similar for turfgrass quality in August, and fine fescue controls and mixtures were similar in spring and fall. The mixtures performed well in the low-maintenance turf situation, but dominance of fine fescue over the buffalograss limits the potential of these specific mixtures.
Five species and 27 cultivars of fine-leaved fescues (Festuca sp.) were evaluated for low-maintenance utility turf in a variety of golf course conditions. Cultivar selection and management techniques varied across six sites in 4 years. Germination, tillering, rapidity of establishment, turf density, and general turfgrass quality were significantly different between both species and cultivars. Annual and seasonal decline and recovery of turf quality was also dependent on both species and cultivar. Greater differences exist within cultivars in some species than between species. Aspect, slope, soil disturbance, shade, seeding date, irrigation, fertility regime, mulch, and mowing influenced establishment and seedling development. Absence of endophytic fungi and development of diseases, insects, weeds, and post-germination disturbance markedly contributed to losses in turf quality, percent living cover, and increased erosion potential. Success and duration of fescue slope plantings are both positively and negatively correlated to various site characteristics and management techniques. Fescues are an appropriate choice in specific circumstances.