Rough Fescue Response to Season and Intensity of Defoliation

Abstract

Rough fescue (Festuca scabrella Torr.) was subjected to 10 clipping regimes which varied in time or intensity of defoliation. The experiment was repeated at 2 sites for 3 consecutive years. Plant survival and vigor were evaluated the summer following defoliation. Clipping treatments involving weekly defoliation to a 5-cm stubble height from mid May to late June resulted in the greatest injury. Reduced injury occurred when clipping ceased in May or when 10 or 15 cm of herbage was retained. Season long defoliation to 20 cm or clipping only in the fall caused no apparent damage. Cutting in the fall plus spring resulted in greater injury than spring clipping alone on plants clipped from mid May to late June but a fall clipping effect was not observed consistently on plants clipped in May plus fall.