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Tall Fescue Turf as Affected by Mowing Height
Author(s) -
Burns Robert E.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800020017x
Subject(s) - festuca arundinacea , agronomy , pasture , yield (engineering) , festuca rubra , significant difference , fertilizer , environmental science , biology , mathematics , poaceae , statistics , materials science , metallurgy
Tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a common turf and pasture grass in much of the United States. In an effort to determine the optimum cutting height for both uses, plots in a good stand of established tall fescue were mowed at 1.3, 2.5, 4, and 5 cm, when they reached a height 50% greater than the mowed height. The influence of cutting height on seasonal and total yield, appearance, density, and ground cover was determined. One‐half at each plot was overseeded with fescue immediately prior to the test and also in the fall of the first year. In the first year, total yield was higher when mowed at the two lower cutting heights. There was no difference in yields the second year and overseeding had little effect on yield. Both cover and plant density were usually greater at the two intermediate cutting heights and in the overseeded plots when compared with non‐overseeded plots. At the end of 4 years there was no difference in turf cover due to mowing height. This research indicates that with adequate fertilizer tall fescue can do well when maintained at low heights.