Agronomic feasibility of producing seed of tall fescue in the Peace River region

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
• Main Authors: Fairey, N. A., Lefkovitch, L. P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1993
• Subjects: Horticulture; Plant Science; Agronomy and Crop Science; Canada; Peace River
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjps93-015; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjps93-015

The geographic distribution of a species may be extended by the availability of improved crop genotypes. Many tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) genotypes have been developed for amenity, forage and soil-conservation purposes to supply the expanding market in the United States. A study was conducted to determine the agronomic feasibility of producing seed of tall fescue in the Peace River region of Canada (50–60°N) in order to facilitate diversification of the region’s forage seed industry. Eleven cultivars were evaluated at three locations over two production years. Over the 6 site-yr, Kentucky 31, a cultivar that has been in use for about a century, produced 429 kg ha −1 seed, significantly less than the average of the other 10 cultivars 684 kg ha −1 . Seed yields of these 10 cultivars, averaged over the 6 site-yr, varied from 534 to 794 kg ha −1 but did not differ significantly. There was a significant site effect on seed yield, but the cultivars produced consistently at each site in each year. Yield improvements over that of Kentucky 31 were associated with superior winter survival. Current cultivars of tall fescue can survive and produce economically feasible seed yields at latitudes as high as 58°N in the Peace River region, 8° farther north than the previously suggested demarcation limit of adaptation for the species in Canada. Key words: Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, seed production, geographic distribution, northern limit, winter survival