Evaluation location: Oklahoma, United States
Festuca arundinacea accessions were planted in the greenhouse in August, 1997 and subsequently transplanted to the field in mid-October, 1997. The field was located on The Noble Foundation Headquarters Farm in Ardmore, OK (34 09 N, 97 05 W); soil type was a Konsil loamy fine sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Ultic Paleustalfs). Plots consisted of a row of ten plants representing an accession; accessions were replicated twice where sufficient number of seedlings were available. Plants were spaced approximately 2 feet apart within a row, with approximately 2.5 feet between rows. The tall fescue planting consisted of approximately one acre and was part of an approximately 5 acre field. Plots were grazed by beef cattle from April 9 to April 23, 1998 to a stubble height of approximately 5 cm. Grazing continued periodically until June 5, 1998 so as to maintain stubble height at 5 cm. Dry and hot conditions induced dormancy from June until October, 1998. In November, 1998, surviving plants were assigned a vigor rating, with 1 being least vigorous, 9 being most vigorous. This data is the 1998 data. Two heifers grazed the five acre field from December, 1998 to March 23, 1999, after which time they were confined to the one acre tall fescue planting. Plants were grazed to maintain a stubble height of about 5 cm. Heifers were removed on June 14, 1999; one heifer grazed the area from June 23 - July 13 to maintain stubble height. Vigor ratings were taken in November, 1999 following the same procedures as for 1998.