TALL FESCUE VARIETY QUALITY AND YIELD COMPARISON IN THEIR FOURTH PRODUCTION YEAR. Mylen Bohle, Peter Ballerstedt, and Steve James.

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1 TALL FESCUE VARIETY QUALITY AD YIELD COMPARISO I THEIR FOURTH PRODUCTIO YEAR Mylen Bohle, Peter Ballerstedt, and Steve James Abstract Eight tall fescue cultivars were established in August 1987 at the Powell Butte research site the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center. Mozark was the top yielder in 1991, while Tandem (now bluegrass), which equaled Mozark the first two years, was the poorest yielder (3.33 ton/ac less). Fawn, the check variety, had the lowest yields but it was only significantly lower from the top 2 yielding cultivars. Differences were observed between varieties for different quality variables. There were many quality differences between varieties for the individual 3 cuttings. All varieties were classed as good, premium, and premium for the three cuttings, respectively, based on USDA grass quality guidelines (protein). Introduction Grass hay and pasture are important agricultural crops in central Oregon either as pure stands, or in mixtures with alfalfa and clovers. Grass forage is important for many producers for the local, regional, and export hay markets, as well for untilization in grass pastures for the grazing livestock. While forage quality is important, lack funding in the past has not allowed any replicated tall fescue variety quality research. A grass variety trail was conducted from 1968 to 1972 at Redmond, Oregon. Species in that trial included, ranked in the order most to least productive, orchardgrass, timothy, bromegrass, meadow foxtail, intermediate wheatgrass, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. There was no quality information generated from that trial. This 1987 tall fescue variety trail was initiated because many new varieties had been introduced since There is also very little local information in Central Oregon on comparisons Tall fescue variety quality. So a decision was made to test one year tall fescue production from the 1991 production year the 1987 tall fescue variety trial planted at COARC, Powell Butte, Oregon. In the past, variety recommendations were made on the basis yield performance only, so quality analysis was conducted to determine if quality differences between varieties would alter variety recommendation in orchardgrass, though only based on one years comparison data. Producers, buyers, and local crop consultants will benefit from the quality comparison information. Material and Methods on-coated, non-treated seed eight tall fescue cultivars was hand broadcast at the rate 18 lb/acre into 6 x 20 ft, plots on August 21 and 22, The seed was raked in and rolled with a corrugated roller. The trial design was a randomized complete block with 4 replications. Tall fescue grass names and sources each variety planted at Powell Butte, Oregon are in Table 1.

2 Table 1. names and seed source for the 1987 planted tall fescue variety trial planted at the Central Oregon Ag Research Center, Powell Butte in Source* 1 Forager Cenex/Land O Lakes 2 Syn W Cenex/Land O Lakes 3Mozark International Seeds, Inc. 4 Martin International Seeds, Inc. 5 FA Turf Seed, Inc. 6 Tandem Turf Seed, Inc. 7 Johnstone Willamette Seed & Grain 8 Fawn CHECK Table 2. Soil test results values from samples taken on June 1, 1987, at the Central Oregon Ag Research Center, Powell Butte site. Soil Depth (in.) ph P (ppm) K (ppm) -O 3 (ppm) A broadcast fertilizer application at 410 lb/ac ( P 2 O 5 0 K 2 O 61.5 S lb/acre) was incorporated into the seedbed in August 17, 1987 prior to planting. On April 4, 1988, 500 pounds/acre ( P 2 O 5 0 K 2 O 75 S lb/acre) was top-dressed for the 1988 season. The rest the fertility program is presented in Table 3. Table 3. Fertilizer applications in lb/acre nitrogen and sulfur for the tall fescue variety trial planted in August, 1987, at the COARC, Powell Butte. 1 st Cut 2 nd Cut 3 rd Cut Year S S S S (lb/acre) (lb/acre) (lb/acre) (lb/acre) 1987 (establish) /A /A Plot size harvested in 1991was 3.5 x 15 ft. s were converted to tons per acre after a sample was taken from each plot and oven dried to determine dry matter. Moisture and quality samples were dried at 149 F. and all quality variable results are reported on an oven dry weight basis. Forage samples were ground with a Wiley mill with a 1.0 mm screen. The samples were then reground in a Udy mill with a 0.5 mm screen. The samples were submitted for IRS quality prediction analysis at the Klamath Experiment Station in The IRS has not been calibrated for every variable that was analyzed. o chemical analyses were performed on any the tall fescue samples. IRS provides good relative values between cuttings and varieties.

3 Term Definitions are as follows: TD = total digestible nutrients (Penn State calculation) TD CA = total digestible nutrients (California calculation) TD TRIST = total digestible nutrients (Tristate calculation) RFV = relative feed value Moist. = moisture % = Dry matter % = crude protein % AV = available protein % D = digestible protein % EL = net energy lactation EE = energy estimate (therms per cwt. weight) ME = metabolizable energy EM = net enrgy maintenance EG = net energy gain D = digestible dry matter % I = dry matter intake % DF = neutral detergent fiber % ADF = acid detergent fiber % ADP = available digestible protein % DFD = 48 hour in vitro DF digestibility as % DF FC = non fibrous carbohydrate (% ) TDL total digestible nutrients for alfalfa, clovers, and legume/grass mixtures RFQ = relative forage quality Definition calculation equations: TD = ( * EL) TD CA = ( (.7515 * ADF)) * 0.9 TD TRIST = ( ( * protein)) ( * ADF) RFV = (I * D) / 1.29 Moist. = dry matter AV = (1.16 * protein) (1.6 * ADP) D = (0.68 * protein) (1.28 * ADP) EL = ( * ADF) EE = 82.6 * EL ME = * TD EM = (1.37 * ME) ( * ME *ME) + (0.051 * ME * ME * ME) EG = (1.42 * ME) - ( * ME * ME) + ( * ME * ME *ME) D = (0.779 * ADF) I = 120 / DF If (AV > ) AV = If (D > ) D = DFD = ddf 48 hour / DF * 100 FC = 100 ((DF 2) Ash) TDL = (FC * 0.98) + ( * 0.93) + (1.5 * 0.97 * 2.25) + ((DF 2) * (DFD / 100)) 7

4 I1 = (((( * 1350) / (DF / 100))) + ((DFD 45) * 0.374)) / 1350 * 100 RFQ = (I1 * TDL) / 1.23 Lb uptake per ton = uptake / (ton/acre) 1 lb uptake = lb (yield) = pounds yield/acre / pounds uptake /acre Lb fertilizer per ton = pounds fertilizer applied / tons yield 1 lb fertilizer = lb = pounds yield/acre / pounds fertilizer /acre uptake = total yield (lb/acre) * percent use efficiency = uptake / applied Extra uptake = total uptake total applied yield = percent protein * yield (lb acre) ADF yield = (100 ADF) * yield (lb/acre) TD yield = TD * yield (lb/acre) D yield = D * yield (lb/acre) Table 4. USDA grass hay quality guidelines. Quality Designation Crude Premium > 13 Good 9-13 Fair 5-9 Low < 5 The tall fescue variety trial (field trial work) was partially supported by testing fees collected from Cenex/Land O Lakes, International Seeds, Inc., Turf Seed, Inc. and Willamette Seed and Grain. MSTAT statistical stware (Michigan) was used for AOVA s and separation means. Results and Discussion The yield results for 1988 Tall Fescue variety trial are published in Central Oregon Crop Research , OSU Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 847, October, The yield results from 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992 are also published in the Central Oregon Crop Research , OSU Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 922, October, Quality (and yield again) results presented in this article are only from and s for Other Variables fourth year (1991) yield (), pounds uptake to produce 1 ton, 1 pound uptake to produce pounds, pounds fertilizer to produce 1 ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, total uptake, use efficiency, and total extra uptake results for the tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, Oregon, are presented in table 5. Differences between the varieties were observed for all the variables, with the exception pounds uptake to produce one ton, and 1 lb uptake to produce pounds. Mozark and Syn W were the top total yielding varieties. There was a total yield range 3.98

5 ton/acre ( Tandem ) to 7.31 ton/acre (Mozark) in Tandem had the lowest yields, because stand reduction problems after the second production season. Beginning in the third year; bluegrass started to replace the stand. o total yield difference between Fawn, ranked 7 th, to Forager, ranked 3 rd, were observed. Fawn tended to have the highest fertilizer requirement to produce a ton, which was not different though from some the other tall fescue entries. Mozark and Syn W required significantly less pounds fertilizer to produce a ton than Fawn, probably because yield potential. Tandem (bluegrass) had the highest overall pounds to produce 1 ton requirement, significantly more so, because its low yields and the intrusion bluegrass. There was an inverse relationship with fertilizer needed vs. produced, based on the amount fertilizer applied (280 lb/acre ); Tandem (bluegrass) had the lowest produced and Mozark the most from a pound fertilizer. The same relationship with some differences occurred between the varieties and total uptake, total use efficiency, and extra uptake greater than applied. yield (yield potential) plays a major role in these variables and their interaction. Tandem (bluegrass) was less in -uptake than all the other entries.there were also differences in -uptake between the remaining tall fescue varieties. Mozark, Syn W, and Forager varieties, were higher in -uptake than the rest the entries., ADF, TD, D yields, total Ca uptake, total K uptake, total and Mg uptake results are presented in table 6. The relationship and ranking varieties was the same for total protein yield, ADF yield, TD yield, and D yield as in the previous discussion on -uptake. Tandem (bluegrass) was significantly lower yielding for these variables. Calcium, K, and Mg uptake generally had similar relationships to -uptake, due mostly to yield. An example exception is Mozark, which had higher yields than Syn W, yet Syn W had higher Ca uptake. Johnstone and FA had less Ca uptake than the rest the tall fescue entries.

6 Table 5. season yield (), pounds uptake to produce 1 ton, 1 pound uptake to produce pounds, pounds fertilizer to produce 1 ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, total uptake, use efficiency, and total extra uptake > fertilizer applied results for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, Oregon. (Table sorted by yield from high to low) Entry # / (t/ac) Lb Of per ton 1 lb = lb Lb Fert per ton 1 lb Fert = lb Use Eff. Extra 3 Mozark Syn W Forager Johnstone FA Martin Fawn Tandem Mean PLSD S S PLSD S S PLSD S S Prob. > F CV % Table 6. season protein yield, total ADF yield, total TD yield, total D yield, total Ca uptake, total K uptake, total and Mg uptake results for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, Oregon. (sorted by ADF yield) Entry # / ADF TD D Ca P K Mg 3 Mozark 1,821 9,946 8,714 9, Syn W 1,798 9,906 8,750 9, Forager 1,812 9,422 8,305 8, Johnstone 1,719 9,274 8,160 8, FA ,646 9,072 7,982 8, Martin 1,639 8,977 7,902 8, Fawn 1,650 8,974 7,920 8, Tandem 970 5,613 4,970 5, Mean 1,632 8,898 7,838 8, PLSD , PLSD PLSD Prob. > F CV %

7 First Cutting First cutting yield, dry matter, moisture, protein, ADF, DF, TD, D, I, and RFV data are presented in Table 7. Mozark and Syn W were the two highest yielding varieties, and Mozark was almost, significantly higher yielding than Syn W. There was no difference in yield between Syn W, 2 nd highest yielding, and FA-273, 7 th highest out the 8 entries. Tandem was significantly lower yielding than the rest the entries. There were differences between varieties for percent dry matter and moisture. There were no differences between entries for percent protein, so all the entries would have been placed in the good quality class based on the USDA grass quality guidelines (table 4). There were digestibility quality differences between the entries. Tandem (bluegrass) had significantly lower percentage ADF, DF, and the highest percentage TD, D, I, and the highest RFV than most the other entries. Mozark, the highest yielding entry, had the lowest overall quality. Syn W, the 2 nd highest yielding entry also had the 2 nd highest overall quality. Based on RFV ranking high to low, the entries were ranked Tandem, Forager and Syn W, Fawn, Martin, Johnstone, FA , and Mozark. Table 7. First cutting yield,, moisture, protein, ADF, DF, TD, D, I, and RFV results for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (sorted by total yield) Entry # / (t/ac) Moist. ADF DF TD D I RFV 3 Mozark Syn W Martin Johnstone Fawn Forager FA Tandem Mean PLSD S 2.4 S PLSD S PLSD S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

8 First cutting use efficiency, extra uptake, pounds uptake to produce a ton, 1 pound uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces ton, 1 pound fertilizer to produce pounds, protein yield, ADF yield, TD yield, and D yield are presented in Table 8. Mozark, in general, had significantly better numbers in all the variables, compared to the rest the entries, with the exception Syn W. potential is the major reason for this ranking. There were no differences for lb uptake to produce one ton and 1 lb uptake produces pounds. Tandem had significantly lower values in all the variables, than the rest the entries. Table 8. First cutting use efficiency, extra uptake, lb uptake produces 1 ton, 1 lb uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces 1 ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, protein yield, ADF yield, TD yield, and D yield results for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (sorted by use efficiency) Entry # / Use Eff. > Fert Extra Lb = ton 1 lb = lb Lb Fert = ton 1 lb Fert = lb ADF TD D 3 Mozark ,046 3,551 3,801 2 Syn W ,707 3,288 3,463 4 Martin ,429 3,031 3,209 7 Johnstone ,415 3,013 3,199 8 Fawn ,301 2,918 3,090 1 Forager ,291 2,921 3,073 5 FA ,180 2,800 2,983 6 Tandem ,378 2,124 2,212 Mean ,343 2,956 3,129 PLSD S S PLSD S S PLSD S S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

9 First cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, K uptake, percent Mg, and Mg uptake are presented in Table 9. There were differences between varieties for uptake, percent P, P uptake, Ca uptake, K uptake, and percent Mg, and Mg uptake. Mozark and Syn W were the highest ranking varieties for uptake, P uptake, K uptake, and Mg uptake. Tandem was the lowest ranking entry in these same variables, but had the highest percent P and Mg. Table 9. First cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, percent Mg, and Mg uptake results for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (table was sorted by uptake) P P Ca Ca K K Mg Mg 3 Mozark Syn W Martin Johnstone Fawn Forager FA Tandem Mean PLSD 0.01 S 21.3 S 3.2 S S S 39.8 S S PLSD 0.05 S 15.6 * 2.3 S 4.7 S 29.2 S S PLSD 0.10 S 12.9 * 1.9 S 3.9 S 24.2 * * Prob. > F CV % * significant but error mean square was too small (<0.000) to run PLSD s = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

10 First cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG are presented in Table 10. Tandem (bluegrass), the poorest performing entry for yield, in general, had the best energy (EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG). Mozark, the highest yielding entry, had the lowest energy. Table 10. First cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table was sorted by EE) ADP AV D EL EE ME EM EG 6 Tandem Forager Syn W Martin Fawn Johnstone FA Mozark Mean PLSD 0.01 S S S * * * PLSD 0.05 S S S * * * PLSD S S * * * Prob. > F CV % * significant but error mean square was too small (<0.000) to run PLSD s = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

11 Second Cutting Second cutting yield, percent, percent moisture, percent protein, percent ADF, percent DF, percent TD, percent D, percent I, and RFV are presented in Table 11. There was no significant difference in yield between the top 5 entries ( Syn W to FA-273). Tandem was significantly lower yielding than all the other entries. There were differences between varieties in percent dry matter and percent moisture. There were no quality differences between varieties for protein, ADF, DF, TD, D, I, and RFV. All the entries made premium quality based on the USDA grass hay quality guidelines (table 4). Table 11. Second Cutting total yield, percent, percent moisture, percent protein, percent ADF, percent DF, percent TD, percent D, percent I, and RFV for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (table sorted by yield) (t/ac) Moist. ADF DF TD D 2 Syn W Mozark Forager Johnstone FA Fawn Martin Tandem Mean PLSD S S S S S S S S S PLSD S S S S S S S PLSD S S S S S S S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high I RFV

12 Second cutting use efficiency, extra uptake (greater than fertilizer applied), pounds uptake to produce ton, 1 pound uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces one ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, protein yield, TD yield, and D yield are presented in Table 12. There were significant differences between the entries for use efficiency, and extra uptake, though there are no differences between the top 5 varieties for use efficiency and extra uptake. There was a large difference in use efficiency range percent (Forager) to a low 57.6 percent (Tandem). Tandem (bluegrass) was significantly lower in use Efficiency and extra uptake compared to the other entries. There were differences between varieties for ADF yield, TD yield, and D yield; Tandem was significantly lower than the rest the entries. Tandem produced only about half the per pound fertilizer applied compared to the other entries. Bluegrass varieties have much lower yield potential in the summer. Fawn and Martin were also less efficient in production for each pound fertilizer applied compared to the Syn W. Table 12. Second cutting use efficiency, extra uptake (greater than fertilizer applied), pounds uptake to produce ton, 1 pound uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces one ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, protein yield, TD yield, and D yield for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by use efficiency.) Entry # / Use Eff. Extra Lb = ton 1 lb = lb Lb Fert = ton 1 lb Fert = lb ADF TD D 1 Forager Syn W Mozark Johnstone FA Fawn Martin Tandem Mean PLSD S S PLSD S S PLSD S S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

13 Second cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, K uptake, percent Mg, and Mg uptake are presented in Table 13. There were no significant differences for percentage, percentage P, percentage K and percentage Mg. There were significant differences for uptake, though there were no differences between the top 5 varieties (Forager to FA-273). Tandem had significantly less uptake than all the other varieties. There were no differences between Martin, ranked 7 th, and Mozark, ranked 3 rd for uptake. There were differences between varieties for P uptake, percent Ca, K uptake, and Mg uptake. Mozark and Johnstone had significantly lower percent calcium than the rest the entries. Tandem had significantly lower P, Ca, and K uptake than the rest the entries. Table 13. Second cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, percent Mg, and Mg uptake for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by uptake.) P P Ca Ca K K Mg Mg 1 Forager Syn W Mozark Johnstone FA Fawn Martin Tandem Mean PLSD 0.01 S 21.4 S S 38.3 S 1.8 PLSD 0.05 S 15.7 S S 28.1 S 1.3 PLSD 0.10 S 13.0 S S 23.3 S 1.1 Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

14 Second cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG are presented in Table 14. There were no differences between the varieties for any these quality variables. Table 14. Second cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by EE) ADP AV D EL EE ME EM EG 5 FA Fawn Syn W Tandem Johnstone Forager Martin Mozark Mean PLSD 0.01 S S S S S S S S PLSD 0.05 S S S S S S S S PLSD 0.10 S S S S S S S S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high

15 Third cutting yield, percent, percent moisture, percent protein, percent ADF, percent DF, percent TD, percent D, percent I, and RFV are presented in Table 15. Tandem was significantly lower yielding than all other entries; there were no differences between the other entries. There were no differences for moisture or dry matter. Five the 8 entries had the same percent protein, statistically; while FA-273, Syn W, and Martin had somewhat significantly lower percent protein compared to the other entries. All the entries made premium quality class based on the USDA grass hay quality guidelines (table 4). All the entries have equal digestibility; there were no differences between varieties for ADF, TD, D, I, and RFV. Table 15. Third Cutting yield, percent, percent moisture, percent protein, percent ADF, percent DF, percent TD, percent D, percent I, and RFV for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by yield) Entry # / (t/ac) Moist. ADF 1 Forager FA Syn W Martin Johnstone Mozark Fawn Tandem Mean PLSD S S S S S S S S S PLSD S S S S S S S S S PLSD S S 1.0 S S S S S S Prob. > F CV % = MSTAT does not print out a Prob. > F number when very high DF TD D I RFV

16 Third cutting use efficiency, extra uptake (greater than fertilizer applied), pounds uptake to produce ton, 1 pound uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces one ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, protein yield, TD yield, and D yield are presented in Table 16. Tandem had significantly lower use efficiency, lower extra uptake, than the other entries. There were no differences between the other 7 tall fescue varieties. FA-273, Syn W, and Martin had significantly lower pounds uptake to produce a ton dry matter. Johnstone, Mozark and Tandem had lower pounds produced by a pound uptake, than the rest the varieties. It took more lb fertilizer to produce a ton for Tandem and produced less from a pound Fertilizer than the other entries, because the lower yield potential. All the varieties were over fertilized, though Tandem was significantly more so, than the other entries. Tandem had significantly lower protein yield, ADF yield, TD yield, and D yield, than the other 7 varieties, but there were no differences between the other varieties. Table 16. Third cutting use efficiency, extra uptake (greater than fertilizer applied), pounds uptake to produce ton, 1 pound uptake produces pounds, pounds fertilizer produces one ton, 1 pound fertilizer produces pounds, protein yield, TD yield, and D yield for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by use efficiency.) Entry # / Use Eff > Fert Extra lb = ton 1 lb = lb lb. Fert = ton 1 lb Fert = lb ADF TD D 1 Forager ,689 2,402 2,502 7 Johnstone ,531 2,259 2,357 3 Mozark ,508 2,238 2,335 5 FA ,589 2,299 2,417 2 Syn W ,594 2,317 2,414 8 Fawn ,438 2,175 2,270 4 Martin ,531 2,256 2,357 6 Tandem ,634 1,455 1,523 Mean ,439 2,175 2,272 PLSD 0.01 S S S S S PLSD S S PLSD Prob. > F CV %

17 Third cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, K uptake, percent Mg, and Mg uptake are presented in Table 17. Percent was significantly different between varieties, which course is the same as percent protein. Tandem had significantly less uptake, P uptake, Ca, percent K, K uptake, Mg uptake, and greater percent Mg than the other entries; there were no differences between the other tall fescue entries, with the exception a minor, yet significant difference for Ca uptake. There were differences between varieties for percentage calcium predicted. Table 17. Third cutting percent, uptake, percent P, P uptake, percent Ca, Ca uptake, percent K, percent Mg, and Mg uptake for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (Table sorted by uptake) Entry # / P P Ca Ca K K Mg Mg 1 Forager Johnstone Mozark FA Syn W Fawn Martin Tandem Mean PLSD 0.01 S S S S S S PLSD 0.05 S 16.6 S S 1.0 PLSD S * 0.9 Prob. > F CV % * error mean square was too small (<0.000) to run PLSD s.

18 Third cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG are presented in Table 18. There were no differences between the varieties for any these quality variables with the exception for percent AV protein and percent D protein. Table 18. Third cutting ADP, percent AV protein, percent D protein, EL, EE, ME, EM, and EG for the 1991 tall fescue variety trial planted in 1987 at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. (sorted by EE) / Line ADP AV D EL EE ME EM EG 1 Forager Syn W Mozark Johnstone Fawn Martin Tandem FA Mean PLSD 0.01 S S S S S S S S PLSD 0.05 S S S S S S S S PLSD 0.10 S S S S S S Prob. > F CV %

19 Summary and Conclusions A tall fescue variety trial was conducted during at the Powell Butte research site the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center. This report provides yield and quality evaluation data and statistical analyses for the 8 tall fescue entries for the 1991 production season. data for the entire trial have been previously reported in other publications. Stand longevity was good for all cultivars except Tandem. By the 4 th year, Tandem had been fully replaced by volunteer bluegrass. During the 1991 production year, there was a yield range 0.88 ton/acre among the remaining 7 entries (after removal Tandem). There were few significant differences among entries. Mozark was the top yielder (7.31 ton/acre) and Fawn was the lowest yielding cultivar (6.43 ton/acre), which was significantly different. Quality analyses were performed by IRS at the Klamath Experiment Station. This technique allows many quality parameters to be estimated simultaneously for use in ration formulation. o traditional chemistry analyses were performed. Significant differences among varieties for digestible yield and energy were found only for first cutting and totals. These differences followed the same ranking as for yield data. USDA grass hay quality guidelines placed all entries in the same classification; good for the first cutting and premium for cuttings 2 and 3. On the basis this 1 year analysis yield and quality for this tall fescue variety trial, selection varieties should be made primarily on the basis yield potential. However, some consideration should be given to leaf smoothness and fineness (due to their affect on palatability and intake) and on protein and fiber measures (due to their affect on digestibility). Based on these considerations, it would be impossible to separate any the top 3 yielding cultivars and top 5 cultivars for quality measures, since they were not significantly different (at P = 0.05% level). In fact, the lowest yielding cultivar yielded 87% the top yielding cultivar and for quality evaluation, the lowest cultivar was 90.6% the top cultivar.