The effect of plant density (row spacing / seeding rate), cultivar choice, nitrogen (N) fertilization and close?down date on the number of reproductive tillers surviving to maturity in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was examined over a two?year period. A low proportion of reproductive tillers survived to maturity during both seasons. Reproductive tillers surviving to maturity were mostly from the older tiller population groups. The July and August close?down dates had more (1.44±0.36 tillers) surviving reproductive tillers than the September and October close?down dates. More reproductive tillers survived to maturity in Cajun (1.36±0.5 tillers) than in Roa. Row spacing / seeding rate did not appear to influence the number of surviving reproductive tillers per quadrat. Management factors are important in affecting tall fescue seed yields, but the importance of environmental factors must not be ignored.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.