Publication Date
1997
Description
Open-field burning of post-harvest residue from Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed fields is being phased out in Washington, USA and may be banned in Idaho. Burning encourages early fall regrowth and timely completion of fall floral induction. Cultivars have different floral induction requirements and respond differently to mechanical residue removal. Our objective was to determine if length of fall floral induction requirement was related to seed yield when post-harvest residue was removed by crewcut vacuum sweeping. Floral induction requirements were not related to first-or second-year seed yields. Third-year seed yield of cultivars with long floral induction requirements declined more than third-year seed yields of cultivars with short floral induction requirements. Turf type, aggressive cultivars usually have longer floral induction requirements than non-aggressive cultivars. Exceptions suggest that turf type cultivars with short floral induction requirements can be developed. Cultivar selection will be important for sustained yields with mechanical residue removal.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Kentucky Bluegrass Floral Induction and Cultivar Response to Mechanical Removal of Harvest Residue
Open-field burning of post-harvest residue from Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed fields is being phased out in Washington, USA and may be banned in Idaho. Burning encourages early fall regrowth and timely completion of fall floral induction. Cultivars have different floral induction requirements and respond differently to mechanical residue removal. Our objective was to determine if length of fall floral induction requirement was related to seed yield when post-harvest residue was removed by crewcut vacuum sweeping. Floral induction requirements were not related to first-or second-year seed yields. Third-year seed yield of cultivars with long floral induction requirements declined more than third-year seed yields of cultivars with short floral induction requirements. Turf type, aggressive cultivars usually have longer floral induction requirements than non-aggressive cultivars. Exceptions suggest that turf type cultivars with short floral induction requirements can be developed. Cultivar selection will be important for sustained yields with mechanical residue removal.
