Tall fescue

In our efforts to detect and isolate the allelcpathic agents from tall fescue and several other grass species, we extracted the detached plant material with water and/or organic solvents. Either solvent extraction method yielded extracts that were inhibitory to the seed germination and seedling growth in our bioassay systems. 

Our research on allelopathy in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was begun to determine if growth inhibitors were present, if tall fescue had an inhibitory effect on plants growing in association with it, and finally to identify the chemicals responsible for inhibition. 

We began to explore the possibility of growth inhibitors in tall fescue because we noted that fields of tall fescue frequently had no other plant species growing with them. 

Toxicity of Tall Fescue Leachates to Rape (Brassica nigra L.) and Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus comlculatus L.)... 

Plants of Kentucky tall fescue were dug from the field in July, and the soil was washed from the roots. Tops and roots were separated... 

In order to determine if inhibiting substances were present in soil in which tall fescue was growing, soil was dug from the field on March 20. Fescue roots were separated from the soil and saved along with leaves. Two hundred grams (fresh weight) each of fescue leaves and roots were leached overnight in 1,000 ml of ethanol and then filtered. Four hundred grams of the fescue soil was extracted... 

The crabgrass Infestations in the greenhouse showed differences according to genotype of tall fescue and followed the observations in the field with one exception (Table V). The genotype from "Fawn ... 

Table V. Number of crabgrass seedlings per pot In soil collected from field plots containing tall fescue genotypes ...

Table VI. Percent germination of birdsfoot trefoil and red clover seeds exposed to leaf extracts of tall fescue genotypes ...

An additional study was done to determine the effects of tall fescue leachates on the growth of birdsfoot trefoil. The genotypes 237, 360 and 698 appeared to have the greatest inhibition on germination in the previous test so leaves of these plants were cut from the roots and soaked in distilled water for 24 hours. Ratios of 3, 5 and 10 g of leaves per 100 ml of distilled water were used. 

Extract of Kentucky 31 tall fescue was prepared by soaking 75 g fresh fescue leaves for 24 hours in 500 ml of distilled water. The extract was filtered and fractionated through cation and anion exchange columns according to the procedure described by Williams (6), Boland (7 ) and Boland and Garner (8). The extract was first... 

Table VIII. The effect of three fractions separated from extracts of tall fescue (pH 5.5) ...

The site in Madera, CA, consisted of a tall fescue/rye mix. The Florida site, located in Keystone Heights, consisted of Bermuda grass. The Pennsylvania site, in Germansville, consisted of bluegrass. Thus, this study was performed on three major grass varieties in three distinctly different temperature zones in the U.S. 

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Czern L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacae), birds foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and kenaf (Hibiscus cannibinus) have been used to reduce soil Se levels near Los Banos, California. Total Se concentrations in soil depths from 0 to 60 cm were lower in all cropped plots than in the bare plots after four years (Banuelos, 2000). The efficiency of Se lost from the soil after four years for each of the four crop rotations was in the range of 17-60% (Banuelos, 2000). The cropped plots with only tall fescue had 25% lower soil Se concentrations after four... 

Tall fescue, Festuca sp. shoot Maryland various distances from highway ... 

Parrott S (2005) The quiet revolution push-pull technology and the African farmer. Gatsby Occasional Paper, Gatsby Charitable Foundation, London, p 26 Pedersen GA, Brink GE (1988) Compatibility of five white clover and five tall fescue cultivars grown in association. Agron 1 80 755-758... 

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