Festuca (campestris)

Mark E. Majerus USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center 99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189 Bridger, Montana 59014-9718 (406) 662-3579 (406) 662-3428 (fax) mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass
Scientific Name:	Festuca campestris
Common Name:	Rough Fescue
Species Code:	FECA4
Ecotype:	See
General Distribution:	Prairies, hillsides, and open woods; and meadows; British Columbia to southeast Oregon, east to Newfoundland and to North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Propagation Goal:	seeds
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Harvest yields vary due to weather and age of stand. Average annual production is 29 kg/ha (26 lb/ac).
Propagule Collection:	Seed Collection: Wildland collection occurs mid July to early August when caryopsis are light tan, at the hard dough stage, and not yet shattering (natural dispersal) from the compressed panicle; easily hand-harvested. One collection hour/person will yield an average 1,073 grams (37.8 oz) clean seed (ranges 141 to 1,337 grams and varies by year, stand density and collector experience).
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Seed is spread out on a tarp in a dry, sheltered environment and turned daily for approximately 3-5 days, until no moisture or warmth is detected. After drying, material is processed with a Wintersteiger plot combine at concave 1/4 open, speed 900 rpm, and low sind. Seed is threshed with a hammermill through a 8/64" round hold screen, and air-screen processed on a Clipper M2B or Eclipse cleaner over a 8/64" round hole screen. Due to a medium sized seed, absence of awns, fluff, or other seed debris, and reasonable seed flow, this species is relatively easy to clean. Larger seed lots are processed most efficiently with mechanized cleaning equipment, and smaller seed lots usually require more hand labor. Seeds/Kg: 600,400. Puity: 100%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: None required.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Seedbed is firm and free of weeds with good field moisture to 4" depth. Seed Propagation Method: Direct seeding.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: Spring or fall. Sowing/Planting Technique: 25-30 pure live seed/ft (0.3 m) row, irrigated 91-cm (36-in) row spacing, seeded with two-row spacing, double-disk planter with depth bands, optimum seeding depth 0.6 cm (0.25 in). Establishment Phase: Soil surface is kept moist throught the 14 day germination and emergence period (also helps prevent soil crusting); lower rates of Buctrilr or bromoxynil are applied at 3-5 leaf stage to control broadleaf weeds. Fertilizer application is not recommended the first year, as it generally stimulates weed growth and competition.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 growing seasons.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: Spring to fall; broadleaf weed control with herficides must occur prior to boot stage; soil moisture is critical during boot stage, milk stage of seed development, and post harvest to pre-freezeup - no irrigation is applied during flowering pollination); fertilizer is broadcast at 100 lbs actural N/40 lbs actual P/acre in mid-September.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	2 to 3 growing seasons.
Hardening Phase:	N/A.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Cultivated harvest occurred early July, with a mean harvest date of July 6 at the Bridger Plant Materials Center. A John Deer swather is used to cut stems into windrows for direct combining, or, to minimize seed loss, a temporay "diaper" - a heavy piece of plastic or canvas clipped under belt draper - is attached for direct catchment. Seed Storage: Seed is placed in plastic seed bags and stored in a cool, dry environment. Seed dormancy: Classified as physiological dormancy.
Length of Storage:	<b>Storage Duration:</b> 5-7 years.
Other Comments:	Ecotype: 1 Glacier National Park accession periodically collected and produced from 1993 to 1995. Elevation is 1,402 m (4,600 ft). Other Comments: Rough fescue produces a viable seed crop every 3-4 years in the wild.
References:	Manual of the Grasses of the United States, A.S. Hitchcock, Second Edition, Two Volumes, Dover Publications, Inc., 1970. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, C.L. Hitchcock and A. Cronguist, University of Washington Press, 1973. Seeds: Ecology, Biography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, C.C. Baskin and J.M. Baskin, Academic Press, 2001.

Citation:

Winslow, Susan R.. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Festuca campestris seeds USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.