VARIETY-SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT FOR SEED PRODUCTION OF CREEPING RED FESCUE (Festuca rubra L. var. rubra)
A study was conducted in the Peace River region of Canada with three varieties (Boreal, Jasper, Jasper E) of creeping red fescue to determine variety specific management practices for seed production. Experimental treatments included four methods of establishment (Broadcast; 12"/30cm rows; 6"/15cm rows; 6"/15cm rows with sulfur [50 lb ac-1 (56 kg ha-1) SulFer 0 0 0 95]), three methods of post harvest management (flail mowing and residue removal; disc mowing and residue removal; short duration, intensive grazing with sheep) plus crop residue removal at seed harvest, and 10 nitrogen (N as 34 0 0) fertilizer treatments. Seed yield was greatest over two consecutive production years when sown on 12"/30cm rows. In the first, second and combined production years, Boreal produced 655, 372 and 1027 kg ha-1, respectively; for the corresponding production years, Jasper produced 56, 65 and 60% of Boreal, and Jasper E produced 58, 76 and 65% of Boreal. For the year subsequent to the application of the post harvest treatments, the effects of flail and disc mowing were similar (360 versus 347 kg ha-1 seed, respectively) but grazing reduced seed yield to 188 kg ha-1. A repeated fall application of 50 to 70 lb ac-1 (56 to 78 kg ha-1) N, in the establishment year and after the first year = s seed harvest, is sufficient to maximize the combined seed yield over two consecutive production years.