VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Festuca arundinacea | Tall Fescue 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
The herbage of mature tall fescue tends to be coarse, but it is taken by
all livestock when it is young, green, and succulent [57].  Tall fescue
is a commonly planted cool-season forage grass [27].

Songbirds consume tall fescue seeds; both seeds and foliage are used by
small mammals [75].

Animals grazing tall fescue infested with the endophytic fungus
Acremonium coenophialum [5] may develop "fescue foot," a serious disease
which affects cattle, horses, and sheep.  All parts of the plant,
whether green or dry, may contain the alkaloid poison at any time of
year.  Symptoms include poor weight gain, lower pregnancy rates, and
decreased milk production.  Lameness and gangrene in the extremities
occur in infected cattle [5,66].  No alkaloids have been found in meat
or milk from animals eating endophyte-infected tall fescue [5].

According to Burchick [7], tall fescue may present "reproductive
problems" to wildlife, particularly rabbits.


PALATABILITY : 
Tall fescue is palatable to livestock when the leaves are young.
However, it becomes somewhat coarse, tough, and unpalatable with age
[65].  Management and fertilization extend the season of palatability
[77].  Some commercially available varieties are more palatable than
others.  Livestock prefer tall fescue uninfected with endophytic fungus
and eat more of it [61,77].

Tall fescue palatability for elk has been reported as poor [75], and elk
may show a preference for other grasses [61].  However, elk ate tall
fescue in the Mount St. Helens area during October and November 1985.
Forbs and shrub species dominated their summer diet, but grasses were
selected in greater proportion than their relative abundance in the
fall.  Tall fescue was a predominant choice [46].

Reports of tall fescue palatability for deer vary.  Some authors report
poor palatability [61,75].  In the White River Basin of southern
Missouri, tall fescue was widely available, but deer consumption from
April through September was low [52].  However, in Madera County,
California, tall fescue ranked third of 14 forage species in deer
preference early in the season (March).  Tall fescue remained high in
preference throughout the summer months and provided year-round green
feed [58].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 

Tall fescue energy value is rated fair; protein value is rated poor [16].

Nutritive value of tall fescue for cattle is less than that of
orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), or
intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia) [29].

Tall fescue nutritive value drops during its summer dormant period.  In
southwestern Missouri steers eating spring-baled tall fescue in the
summer gained an average of 0.70 pound (0.3 kg) per day from June to
September.  Steers grazing tall fescue left standing in the field lost
on average almost a pound (0.45 kg) a day from June to August.  In
contrast, steers grazing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) from late May to
late August gained an average of 1.43 pounds (0.65 kg) per day [27].

White-tailed deer in the Ozarks of southern Missouri eat tall fescue.
Tall fescue is most abundant in late spring, summer, and fall.  Forage
samples were collected in the White River Basin of southern Missouri
from fertilized and unfertilized fescue stands during May, July,
September, and November.  Protein did not vary significantly with
respect to fertilizer treatment.  The following mean nutritive values
and dry matter digestibility of tall fescue forage were reported for
combined fertilized and unfertilized samples [52]:

   Harvest Date                       Percent
                   Protein      Ca       P      ADF*      DMD**

     May             16.2      0.31     0.29    30.7      61.3
     July             9.1      0.43     0.21    35.2      51.4
     September        9.3      0.36     0.26    37.5      50.9
     November         9.5      0.29     0.25    31.0      55.9

*  ADF:  acid detergent fiber
** DMD:  dry matter digestibility

Tall fescue in May had a crude protein content value higher than
adequate for reproduction of white-tailed deer and only slightly below
that yielding good growth and antler production.  The protein values in
other measured months were adequate to obtain some growth but retard
antler development.  Tall fescue is most valuable for deer in early
spring and late fall when protein, acid-detergent fiber, and dry matter
digestibility are at their most desirable levels [52].

The following wildlife food values have been reported for tall fescue
[16]:

                           Utah      Wyoming

      Elk                  good       good
      Mule deer            fair       poor
      White-tailed deer    ----       fair
      Pronghorn            fair       poor
      Upland game birds    good       ----
      Waterfowl            good       ----
      Small nongame birds  good       ----
      Small mammals        good       ----


COVER VALUE : 
Tall fescue cover value is reported as follows [16]:

                           Utah      Wyoming

      Upland game birds    good       good
      Waterfowl            good       poor
      Small nongame birds  good       good
      Small mammals        good       good


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Tall fescue is useful in rehabilitation work.  It produces coarse, tough
roots which prevent erosion and decrease soil density [29].  Tall fescue
is an excellent soil improver, especially on heavy soils; its roots open
up the soil below the 6 inch (15 cm) level.  The root system is
partially renewed each year, leaving behind large amounts of organic
matter in the soil [65].

Tall fescue makes ground cover which has high "wearing ability" [29].
It provides good cover for areas where a long-lived, tenacious,
deep-rooted grass is needed, such as airports, playgrounds, parking
lots, cuts and fills, eroding gullies, and waterways and dikes
[19,60,65,75].  Tall fescue is also used for medium to long-term
watershed protection [73].

On the east slope of the Sierra Nevada, tarweed (Madia spp.) has
replaced native perennial vegetation on meadow and sagebrush ranges.  On
moist and poorly drained areas tall fescue performed best of 40
different grasses and legumes seeded for revegetation of
tarweed-infested areas [13].

Tall fescue is the most used and versatile of the grasses suited for
reclamation of surface mines in the eastern United States.  However,
tall fescue stands usually do not thrive unless planted with a legume or
fertilized occasionally [73].

In west-central Illinois tall fescue was planted on 30-year-old
strip-mined coal spoils amended with dry sewage sludge and on similar
unamended sites.  By the end of the second growing season, tall fescue
produced significantly (p<.05) more biomass on amended sites than on
unamended sites.  Amended sites averaged 625 g/sq m biomass for spring
planting and 613 g/sq m for fall planting.  Unamended sites averaged 313
g/sq m for spring planting and 222 g/sq m for fall planting.  No
significant differences occurred between spring and fall plantings [55].

Tall fescue can be used to revegetate acid mine spoils having excess
manganese, but it does not tolerate high aluminum concentrations.  Tall
fescue was found to be tolerant of pH 4 to 6 and manganese at 4 to 64
ppm.  However, concentration of 4 ppm aluminum severely inhibited top
and root development of tall fescue [23].

Tall fescue produces allelopathic compounds which adversely affect many
plant species.  In Pennsylvania tall fescue hindered woody plant growth
and survival on strip-mined sites.  On low-fertility acid mine sites
several years of tall fescue control was necessary to ensure adequate
survival of silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) and northern arrowwood
(Viburnum recognitum).  Tall fescue also significantly (p<.05) decreased
black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) live plants per plot, average plant
height, and canopy cover [34,35].  After 4 years an established
unfertilized tall fescue stand on coal mine spoils in Kentucky had
greatly retarded growth of planted sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis).  However, survival of the trees
was not affected [72].

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) seedling growth is reduced by tall fescue
leachates; established trees suffer higher mortality and crown dieback
when growing with tall fescue [71].  In Sullivan County, Indiana, tall
fescue ground cover reduced survival of black walnut and northern red
oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings on a reclaimed coal mine site and an
unmined site.  The tree seedlings suffered severe stem dieback on plots
with no groundcover control.  When tall fescue was chemically
controlled, survival and height growth of both tree species were greater
[3].

Tall fescue seed was added to the seedbank in topsoil derived from a
native species forest community in Anderson County, Tennessee.  The
topsoil was spread in a thin layer over mine spoils from a coal seam in
Campbell County, Tennessee.  The resulting community produced less total
biomass and less total biomass in native species than a control
community without tall fescue.  The community containing tall fescue
also had fewer native species and lower populations of native plants
than the community without tall fescue [74].

Tall fescue persistence has not been consistent in revegetation efforts.
Tall fescue was seeded on tripoli quarries in the Ozark Highlands of
eastern Oklahoma.  Twenty years after initial establishment of a dense
stand of tall fescue on newly graded and filled quarries, tall fescue
had disappeared.  Plant succession on the quarries had moved toward oak
(Quercus spp.)-hickory (Carya spp.)/tallgrass prairie savanna.  Tripoli
minesoil, at pH 4.0 to 5.6, was substantially below the optimum pH for
tall fescue.  The tripoli soils were also deficient in nitrogen and
phosphorus.  Low nitrogen levels were probably a factor in the
replacement of tall fescue by native prairie grasses.  Tall fescue was
also temporary vegetation on highway corridors in the Piedmont region;
it was short-lived without nitrogen fertilization.  At other sites tall
fescue has been one of the most easily established and persistent
cool-season grasses on mine spoils [56].

Because of the density of tall fescue root mats and because of
allelopathic substances produced, tall fescue should probably not be
used for wetland mitigation, reforestation, or rehabilitation with
intent of managing for wildlife and plant diversity [7].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Tall fescue has been successfully used as a cover crop in established
irrigated orchards where shade is not dense [29].

Tall fescue has been used to control musk thistle (Carduus nutans) in
Virginia.  The more extensive root system of tall fescue reduces musk
thistle root and stem size as well as bud production [43].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Several varieties of tall fescue are available commercially [29].

Endophyte-free tall fescue seed is available.  However, uninfected tall
fescue is more difficult and expensive to establish and maintain than
infected tall fescue, and it is prone to fail under stress such as
drought.  Insects prefer uninfected tall fescue and survive and
reproduce better when consuming it [5].  Infected tall fescue is more
widely adapted, has a longer growing season, greater resistance to
pests, is more successful under adverse growing conditions including
drought, poor soils, and a wider range of soil pH than is uninfected
tall fescue [5].

Tall fescue is in the spring or fall in the eastern United States [73].
In the South and Midwest, tall fescue may remain productive through
drought periods; its extensive root system enables it to obtain moisture
from the subsoil [77].  However, tall fescue is intolerant of protracted
drought [75].  Near Amarillo, Texas, tall fescue persisted under
irrigation but died out under dryland conditions [59].

Tall fescue has good competitive ability against other species in
mixtures; tall fescue stands are easily established and develop rapidly
[61].  Tall fescue is sometimes seeded alone, but is more commonly
seeded with legumes such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover
(Trifolium repens), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), purple
crownvetch (Coronilla varia), or sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata),
which supply nitrogen [75].  However, tall fescue allelopathic compounds
inhibit the growth of other plants, making it difficult to maintain
legumes in the mixtures.  Tall fescue growth can be reduced by some
other species.  Sericea lespedeza residues reduce tall fescue
germination, seedling growth, aboveground biomass, and nitrogen
concentration [38,39].

Tall fescue responds well to nitrogen fertilization [75], although
fertilization increases alkaloid production [27].

Tall fescue is used to convert tree and brush stands to grasslands in
the Ozarks [51].  Tall fescue sod interferes with hardwood seedling
growth through allelopathy and competition for water, nutrients, and
light [70].  In Illinois old fields tall fescue produced greater height
declines, dieback, and mortality among planted black walnut than
occurred in fields with tall fescue removed.  The effect was seen in
stands with tree seedlings and in 17-year-old black walnut stands [50].

Tall fescue can be invasive in native vegetation.  It is encroaching on
the Clymer Meadow Preserve, a native prairie in northeastern Texas.
Tall fescue typically spreads by establishing in wet or disturbed areas
along roads, in eroded patches, and in damp hollows.  It grows through
the winter, shades out other plants, and begins spreading.  It now
covers as much as 40 percent of the ground in test plots at Clymer
Meadow.  Tall fescue has devastated many other prairie remnants in Texas
and to the north [11].

Tall fescue has good tolerance to grazing.  Periodic close grazing will
induce regrowth and prolong the period of palatability [75].  In the
Pacific Northwest and Great Basin states, sheep graze tall fescue stands
in the wet winter months [29].

Tall fescue grows best in cooler seasons [77] and stays green into late
fall.  It withstands high temperatures and maintains some production
during the summer but it does not produce good quality forage under
these conditions [61,77].  Tall fescue can be grazed earlier than
warm-season grass range, which lengthens grazing season and carrying
capacity [42].

The level of tall fescue endophyte infection tends to increase in a
field over time as infected plants outcompete uninfected plants.
Management for grazing can include favoring other species to dilute the
effect of the toxins on animals.  The endophyte is concentrated in the
seedheads of tall fescue [5].

Tall fescue does not appear to be affected by atrazine [54].  However,
tall fescue can be effectively controlled with the herbicide fluazifop
[7].

Tall fescue can cause hayfever [16].

Related categories for Species: Festuca arundinacea | Tall Fescue