ARS | Publication request: SEED PRODUCTION OF DIVERSE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS GERMPLASM WITH VARIOUS RESIDUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Submitted to: Crop Science Society Of America
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2002
Publication Date: January 1, 2002
Citation: Johnston, W.J., Johnson, R.C., Golob, C.T., Sitton, J.W. Seed production of diverse Kentucky bluegrass germplasm with various residue management systems. Crop Science Society of America. 2002. Abstract p. 145953.

Technical Abstract: Traditionally, Kentucky bluegrass seed production has included open-field burning following harvest to remove residue and stimulate seed production the following year. A burning ban implemented on grass seed production in Washington State. It is uncertain whether cultivars that maximized seed production with burning will maximize production under alternative residue management systems. In 1998 and 1999, three residue treatments (no residue, removal, residue baled, and residue burned) were established on seed production plots consisting of 21 core collection accessions, 9 commercial cultivars, and 17 selected accessions. In addition, turf plots with the same entries were evaluated for turfgrass quality factors. Compared to open-field burning, the average reduction in yield was 27% for the baled treatment and 62% when no residue was removed. However, several accessions from the baled treatments maintained yields that were similar to that of the burned treatments. A few accessions showed reasonably high turf quality with above average yield. Thus, it appeared that losses associated with non-thermal residue removal could be mitigated through germplasm selection and plant breeding.