Kenhy fescue is a new, improved variety of tall fescue which has recently been released by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service (see University of Kentucky publication AGR-60,  Kenhy A New Tall Fescue Variety ). Seed of this variety should become available to farmers in limited quantities in the summer 1977. The purpose of this report is to provide information on how this newly developed fescue variety produces as affected by time and rate of nitrogen application

Armstrong, George

Buckner, Robert C.

Gray, Paul

Wells, Kenneth L.

Wyatt, C. E.

English

University of Kentucky

University of KentuckyUKnowledgeAgronomy Notes Plant and Soil Sciences1-1977Growth Response of Kenhy Fescue to NitrogenFertilizerKenneth L. WellsUniversity of KentuckyRobert C. BucknerUniversity of KentuckyGeorge ArmstrongUniversity of KentukcyPaul GrayUniversity of KentuckyC. E. WyattUniversity of KentuckyRight click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_notesPart of the Agronomy and Crop Sciences CommonsThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in AgronomyNotes by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu.Repository CitationWells, Kenneth L.; Buckner, Robert C.; Armstrong, George; Gray, Paul; and Wyatt, C. E., "Growth Response of Kenhy Fescue toNitrogen Fertilizer" (1977). Agronomy Notes. 119.https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_notes/119UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKYCOLLEGE OF AGRICULTURELc:xington, Kentucky 40b06COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICEVOL. 10 NO. 1 January, 1977GROWTH RESPONSE OF KENHY FESCUE TO NITROGEN FERTILIZERK. L. Wells, R. C. Buckner, George Armstrong, Paul Gray, and C. E. WyattKenhy fescue is a new, improved variety of tall fescue which has recently beenreleased by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S.D.A.Agricultural Research Service (see University of Kentucky publication AGR-60, "Kenhy -A New Tall Fescue Variety"). Seed of this variety should become available to farmersin limited quantities in the summer 1977. The purpose of this report is to provideinformation on how this newly developed fescue variety produces as affected by time andrate of nitrogen application.Data reported are from 3-year studies conducted in western Kentucky (Graves Co.)on a Grenada soil, in central Kentucky (Franklin Co.) on an Elk soil, and in easternKentucky (Breathitt Co.) on an Allegheny soil. Seedings were made of Kenhy and Ky 31tall fescue at each site during the fall of 1970, and plots were managed for hay produc-tion during 1971-73. Soil tests were taken at each site and lime, phosphate, and potashwere applied as needed to adjust soil pH and supply adequate levels of phosphate andpotash. Treatments (shown in the tables) were replicated 3 times, and each site wasclipped 3 times per year. The nitrogen and clipping schedule was: (1) half the totalamount of nitrogen used was topdressed onto plots in mid-March of each year, (2) plotswere clipped the first time each year when se~d heads first started emerging from theboot (mid-~[ay), (3) they were allowed to regtow until mid-August when they were clippedthe second time, (4) the remaining half of nitrogen was topdressed immediately afterthe mid-August clipping, and (5) plots were then allowed to regrow until temperaturewas cold enough to stop further growth (mid-November), at which time they were clippedfor the third and final time each year. All nitrogen was applied as prilled ammoniumnitrate.Dry matter yields for each clipping are sholvu in Table 1. Although differencesin total annual dry matter yields were not great, there was a consistent trend forKenhy to outyield Ky 31 (Figure 1). The differences in dry matter production weregreater in favor of Kenhy during the summer growth period, a reflection of one of thegenetic improvements in Kenhy as contrasted to Ky 31 (Figure 2). The data also showhow use of early spring applied nitrogen can affect spring and summer production. Inaddition to greatly increasing growth during the spring period, summer growth was alsoincreased progressively from the 40 pound N to the 120 pound N rates applied in mid-March.Fall growth was also increased by the mid-August topdressing with nitrogen. Thisincreased fall growth from use of nitrogen coupled with a 2-3 fold increase in sugarcontent during late fall provides the basis for the "fescue stockpiling" program "hichhas developed in Kentucky.The College of Agriculture is an Equal e>pporrnnity Orgal1uation authorized to provide research, educational informationIJnd other services only to individuals and inst'futlOns thot function without regard 1o race, color, ux or n4tionaJ origin.UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING/\,,-, ,-2-In addition to improving growth of cool season grasses, addition of, nitrogento a grass sward improves content of protein in the herbage. Table 2 shows thetotal nitrogen content in the herbage of Kenhy and Ky 31 as affected by time andrate of nitrogen fertilizer. As the data indicate, there was little differencebetween-the two varieties in herbage content of total nitrogen. Protein productionper acre relates directly to dry matter yields and herbage nitrogen content. ,Whencrude protein production is calculated from yield and nitrogen content data, thereis little difference between the two varieties for total annual production (Figure 3),but summer production of crude protein (Figure 4) by Kenhy is consistently higherthan :,y 31, largely reflecting the better summer dry matter production. These studieshave shown that Kenhy fescue responds very similarly to Ky 31 fescue when fertilizedwith nitrogen, the largest difference being in somewhat better summer production ofdry matter by Kenhy.Kenneth L We lIs I Extens ion Special istin Agronomy~7, -or';> ( /'2 I) ;-,/ .'.. ,-~, "......... ".".~.": ( '. " .?'/,, , 'Table 1. Effect of Nitrogen on Dry Matter Yields (lbs/A) of Kenhy and Ky 31l ,._Tall Fescue (3-Yr Av.)1/-Total Ibs N/A/Yr--0 80 160 240 320LOCATION Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31- FIRST CLIPPING (MID-MAY) -Eastern Ky 1648 1547 3072 3096 3886 3763 3782 3823Central Ky 1255 1424 3396 3597 3426 3699 3344 1.016West Ky 1216 1369 3772 3287 3956 4197 4332 4274 4187 4102Av 3 sites 1373 1447 3413 3327 3756 3886 3819 4038- SECOND CLIPPING (MID-AUGUST) -Eastern Ky 2580 2373 3232 3080 3783 3791 4237 4114Central Ky 1477 1442 2358 2136 2536 2291 3525 3501West Ky 989 854 1776 1305 1706 1300 2973 2081 3213 2748l,~Av 3 sites 1682 1556 2455 2174 2675 2461 3578 3232- THIRD CLIPPING (MID-NOVEMBER) -•Eastern Ky 920 . 804 1376 1348 1916 2040 1916 1876Central Ky 821 605 2447 2220 2913 2916 3315 3281West Ky 583 370 1771 1697 p817 2250 2136 2299 2156 2410,/Av 3 sites 775 593 1865 1755 2555 2402 2456 2485- TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION (3 CLIPPINGS) -Eastern Ky 5148 4724 7680 7524 9585 9594 9935 9813Central Ky 3553 3471 8201 7953 8893 8906 10184 10798West Ky 2788 2593 7319 6289 8479 7747 9441 8654 9556 9260Av 3 sites 3830 3596 7733 7255 8986 8749 9853 97551) half topdressed in mid-March; half topdressed in mid-August immediately after 2ndclipping.•Table 2. Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrogen Content (%) of Kenhy and •Ky 31 Tall Fescue Herbage. :t\- Total lbs N/A/YJ.e/0 80 160 240 320LO CA.TI ON Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31 Kenhy Ky 31- FIRST CLIPPING (MID-MAY) -~astern Ky 1. 80 1. 70 1.86 2.00 2.41 2.43 2.69 2.58Central Ky 1. 61, 1.66 1.98 2.11 2.37 2.51 2.83 2.86Jest Ky 1. 63 1.61 1.95 1.85 2.06 2.03 2.51 2.58 2.69 2.68Av. 3 sites 1. 69 1. 66 1.93 1.99 2.28 2.32 2.68 2.67- SECOND CLIPPING (MID-AUGUST) -Eastern Ky 1. 61 1.66 1. 65 1. 62 1.68 1.65 2.00 1. 78Central Ky 1. 80 1.89 1.50 1.62 1.59 1.67 1.51 1.48i.Jest Ky 1.51 1. 58 1.52 1.48 1.42 1.48 1.41 1.55 1.49 1.62Av. 3 sites 1. 64 1.71 1. 56 1.57 1.56 1.60 1.64 1.60- THIRD CLIPPING (MID-NOVEMBER) - @),Eastern Ky 1.84 1. 74 1.98 1.94 2.27 2.29 2.75 2.60Central Ky 1. 58 1. 74 1. 68 1. 68 1.98 1.93 2.37 2.38i.Jest Ky 1.59 1.57 1.86 1. 74 2.10 2.04 2.41 2.34 2.67 2.37Av. 3 sites 1. 67 1. 68 1.84 1. 79 2.1'2 2.09 2.51 2.44U half topdressed in mid-March; half topdressed in mid-August immediately after 2ndclipping.oX•,/Gff'ecI ot !J\tll'b<j0'l ~~\rzo.tlon o\'}~\"W\\3aJ. \)~N\a:tte'\ ?Yot\uct\~ b~Y<e.V'l~':I CI.'O~ \('(' 3\ To..\l !="esc.ue..,f\qure \.~oooo J-----,~-----,-,----~,,4i0o ~ \~ •TotAl Nlt'<O~e~ App\laJ( L\,s NfA /'(, )7000; ',iI'-l n~ 'TotAl Dv~ N\o..tCe.....( Lb5/A /'(v) .\0000l ,"," ".'"~ec:c. at SpYlflST'f6,<,e:~\~ o(~\tr\~E.Jr') Of) Su.Mme~Gt\"C)\,).\~ ~KeV)~~ 0..'(\6 ~'( ~l To1l Klsc\J.e..o3000•/1000o +--------r,-------,-,-------"o ~ ~ 120Ro:te ot Nd:'(Cl3~ To?c\.\"ess~ lV\ Ml4-N\o.,{c..~(lb~ N/A)· . ,Tota.lC'(udfl Pro1Jl \'1)( Lbs/A /YIr)1'SODI;.t.fec.t oJf Nit\"05rLr) (.':e'f\:'lll1.at\fl\')0'(\ C't'udtt Pvot<LiV"l \'~ocl\j<:.t\oli') 'o~.\.{Q:.V"lhj and. t<~ 3\ To..ll ~<tscu.(l.1000;000-+---------..------,.------....,t~..o 80 160Total Nit:-rog~\') ~VphCld (Lbs /A IW)\00, ,E.~~ltd: (,\~ ~,(ltJg lO?c!l(C2.t,SI'OS orN\'l:;YOSe.'n flV\ Su.mYV\~-TI'Me. CYudeP-rot4l\V'I 'o~ ~V'I h~ 0.\(\ ~ It<y ~ \ lCll.l(~e~ue.,o,,/, , ". .o +------..,..,------.,...,--------.1o 40 eo 120Ro.'te. o~ t-.ktyo~el) Topd~e~ \'0 tJ\\4-/'I\axd)(L~ ~/A)

Growth Response of Kenhy Fescue to Nitrogen Fertilizer

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Growth Response of Kenhy Fescue to Nitrogen Fertilizer

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