Yellow Jacket Seed Coating Improves Establishment of ‘Prosper’ Summer-Dormant Tall Fescue

Abstract

Establishment of summer-dormant tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] pastures may be difficult in the Southern Great Plains because of insufficient autumn precipitation. We determined the effects of seeding rates, seed coating with Yellow Jacket, and supplemental irrigation during establishment on seedling dry matter (DM) and aboveground biomass DM of summer-dormant tall fescue cv. Prosper at Vernon, TX, during two growing seasons. Seeding rates affected seedling DM differently in the full and reduced supplemental irrigation systems and had a significant effect on aboveground biomass DM only in the first growing season. Seed coating increased seedling DM regardless of supplemental irrigation amount and it increased aboveground biomass DM only in the reduced supplemental irrigation system during the first growing season. Results indicate that Yellow Jacket seed coating may improve establishment and productivity of summer-dormant tall fescue in the first growing season, especially with limited soil moisture.