Last updated 6/25/98 |
Table of Contents
Clark Throssell
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the performance of 96 varieties of perennial ryegrass under low mowing height, high maintenance conditions.
Perennial ryegrass is used for golf course tees and fairways and some highly maintained athletic fields because it can tolerate relatively short mowing heights and traffic while providing a good playing surface. Turfgrass managers can improve turf quality, reduce disease outbreak, and lower maintenance costs by planting varieties that perform well at their location. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of perennial ryegrass varieties to aid turfgrass managers in cultivar selection.
Ninety-six varieties of perennial ryegrass were seeded on 4 Sep 1994 at the rate of 5.4 lbs seed per 1,000 sq. ft. on a silt loam soil at the Purdue Agronomy Research Center. A starter fertilizer was applied immediately prior to seeding at the rate 0.2 lbs N, 1.0 lbs P2O5 and 0.2 lbs K2O per 1,000 sq. ft. After establishment the experiment was fertilized with 4.0 lbs N per 1,000 sq. ft. per year using a 4:1:2 nutrient ratio fertilizer. Rates in lbs N per 1,000 sq. ft., and dates of application were 1.0 lbs N in late May, 0.5 lbs N in July, 1.0 lbs in mid-Sep, and 1.5 lbs N in early Nov. Turf was mowed three times per week with clippings returned and irrigated to prevent any sign of drought stress. A pre-emergence herbicide was applied each spring to control crabgrass and a postemergence herbicide was applied each fall to control broadleaf weeds. No insecticides or fungicides were applied during the experiment.
Data collected in 1994 were seedling vigor and turf density to assess rate of establishment. In 1995, 1996, and 1997 data collected included spring greenup, genetic color, leaf texture, disease incidence, and monthly quality ratings from Apr to Nov. All data taken were visual observations of turf characteristics and performance. Visual quality ratings were taken using a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 = no living turf, 5 = acceptable turf, and 9 = ideal turf.
- Visual quality ratings in 1995 were lower than 1996 and 1997 due to the extremely hot summer in 1995.
- There are many excellent varieties to select from when seeding perennial ryegrass (Table 1).
- Some of the top performing varieties from 1994-97 were J-1706, Brightstar, SR 4400, Calypso II, Premier II, Accent, Omni, LRF-94-C8, Top Hat, and ISI-MHB.
Table 1. Average yearly visual quality ratings for perennial ryegrass varieties for 1995, 1996, 1997, and the three year average visual quality ratings. |
| Visual Quality ratings |
| Variety | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | Three-year average |
| J-1706 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| Brightstar (PST-2M3) | 5.6 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 6.8 |
| SR 4400 (SRX 4400) | 6.0 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| Calypso II | 5.7 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.7 |
| Premier II (BAR USA 94-II) | 5.8 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.7 |
| Accent | 6.0 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| Omni | 5.7 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.7 |
| LRF-94-C8 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| Top Hat | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| ISI-MHB | 6.0 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| Panther (ZPS-PR1) | 5.8 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Caddieshack (MED 5071) | 5.8 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Chaparral (PST-2DLM) | 5.5 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| Brightstar | 5.8 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.6 |
| Repell III (LRF-94-C7) | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| Imagine | 5.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.5 |
| R2 (ISI-R2) | 5.6 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| Wind Dancer (MB 46) | 5.4 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| Laredo | 5.7 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| PST-2R3 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| SR 4200 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| WX3-93 | 5.6 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| Prelude III (LRF-94-B6) | 5.6 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| Palmer III (LRF-94-MPRH) | 5.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| Catalina (PST-GH-94) | 5.7 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| Secretariat (RPBD) | 5.4 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Prizm | 5.6 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
| Head Start (Pick PR 84-91) | 5.5 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
| MB 45 | 5.3 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
| MVF-4-1 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Top Gun (J-1703) | 5.4 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.4 |
| Line Drive (MB 47) | 5.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.4 |
| Pennant II (MB 42) | 5.3 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Manhattan III | 5.3 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.4 |
| Esquire | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| Passport (PST-2FF) | 5.6 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.4 |
| Blackhawk (TMI-EXFLP94) | 5.5 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
| Omega3 (ZPS-2DR-94) | 5.4 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Blazer III (Pick 928) | 5.6 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.3 |
| Pick Lp 102-92 | 5.5 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| Divine | 5.4 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| PS-D-9 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Stardance (PST-2FE) | 5.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Wind Star (PST-28M) | 5.4 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Mardigras (ZPS-2NV) | 5.2 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.2 |
| Saturn II (ZPS-2ST) | 5.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Majesty (MB 43) | 5.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Vivid | 5.4 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| Stallion Supreme (PSI-E-1) | 5.3 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| SR 4010 (SRX 4010) | 5.3 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| MB 44 | 4.9 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| APR 124 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.2 |
| Cutter | 5.4 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Riviera II | 5.1 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Edge | 5.4 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| Quickstart | 5.6 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| Citation III (PST-2DGR) | 4.8 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.1 |
| Precision | 5.0 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.1 |
| Navajo | 5.1 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| WVPB-93-KFK | 5.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.1 |
| Wizard (MB 41) | 4.9 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.0 |
| BAR Er 5813 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.0 |
| Saturn | 5.2 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| Excel (MB 1-5) | 5.1 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| Dancer | 5.0 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| Advantage | 5.0 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Nobility | 5.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Express | 5.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.0 |
| APR 106 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Academy (PC-93-1) | 4.9 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Assure | 4.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.0 |
| APR 066 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
| APR 131 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Legacy II (LESCO-TWF) | 4.7 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| DLP 1305 | 4.9 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 5.9 |
| Nine-O-One | 4.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| Night Hawk | 4.9 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| Koos 93-6 | 4.9 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| Pegasus | 4.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| Williamsburg | 4.9 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| WX3-91 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| Roadrunner (PST-2ET) | 4.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Koos 93-3 | 4.8 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Achiever | 5.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| Morning Star | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.7 |
| Stallion Select | 4.7 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.7 |
| WVPB-PR-C-2 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| WVPB 92-4 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| Elf | 4.7 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| CAS-LP23 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 5.6 |
| PST-2CB | 4.4 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.6 |
| DSV NA 9402 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.4 |
| Figaro | 4.2 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Pennfine | 4.4 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.9 |
| DSV NA 9401 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 |
| Linn | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Visual quality ratings were taken using a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 = no living turf, 5 = acceptable turf, and 9 = ideal turf. |
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