Chewing, strong and slender creeping red fescue response to sowing time and method

Diversity of morphological features of red fescue genotypes can induce different responses to the sowing time/method. This study was aimed at (1) assessing combined effect of sowing time/method (April, middle of July, end of July or middle of August in pure sowing and April within spring barley) and variety (F. rubra ssp. rubra – strong creeping, ssp. trichophylla – slender creeping and ssp. commutata – chewing) on plant characteristics and seed yield (SY) in the first and second production year (PY); (2) analyzing correlation among morphological features and SY. Two-replicate field experiments were carried out in Poland (53°09’ N; 17°35’ E). Genotypic effects were similar in two PYs. Highest SY was in strong creeping variety, and lowest in chewing. Only in first PY, in all varieties, the highest SY was obtained with pure sowing in April, and July, while intercrop sowing reduced yield. With sowing in August, red fescue produced 0-2 tillers during the establishment year, which caused a reduction in generative tiller density (GTD) and SY in the first PY. Considering total SY from two PYs, strong and slender creeping varieties were similar in all sowing time/methods. Chewing fescue SY was lower with pure sowing in August than April and July, but it was similar to intercrop in barley. GTD and spikelets per panicle had the largest positive direct effect on SY in both PY. Thousand seed weight had a positive, direct effect on SY only in the first PY.