Fescue Grasses Differ Greatly in Adaptation, Winter Hardiness, and Therefore Usefulness in Southcentral Alaska

Abstract

This report summarizes agronomic research with several species of fescue (Festuca spp.) conducted over recent decades at the Matanuska Research Farm (61.6°N) near Palmer in southcentral Alaska. Cultivars and strains within five species of fescue from Alaska, Canada, the conterminous states, and Europe were evaluated for winter hardiness and for forage production in comparison with two standard, non-fescue forage cultivars. Certain aspects of physiological behavior associated with winter hardiness were compared in red fescue cultivars of diverse latitudinal adaptation.