Variety traits

Maturity group — meadow fescue

Festuca pratensis Huds.

Classification of meadow fescue varieties based on development rates and the timing of vegetation phases, which determines the harvesting schedule for forage or seed production.

In the reference 66 varieties crop Meadow fescue, where this is mentioned in the description.

The assessment of the maturity group for meadow fescue is based on phenological observations regarding the timing of spring regrowth, stem elongation, heading, flowering, and seed maturation relative to standard varieties. Varieties are categorized from early to late maturing, using an international scoring scale of 1 to 9, where lower values correspond to more rapid development.

This trait determines the strategy for stand utilization and seed production. Early-maturing varieties require an earlier first cut, as delaying harvest leads to a reduction in protein content and an increase in fiber fraction. Agronomists use maturity groups to design green forage supply chains and to schedule seed harvesting operations to prevent seed shattering.

General information about the subject — on the page Maturity group.

Sources6

Varieties of Meadow fescue mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.