Variety traits

Plant height — Meadow fescue

Festuca pratensis Huds.

An important morphological trait measured as the length of the stem with the panicle at full heading. It varies from 40 to 120 cm and determines productivity for haymaking, lodging resistance, and competitive ability in swards.

In the reference 38 varieties crop Meadow fescue, where this is mentioned in the description.

During variety testing of meadow fescue, plant height is determined as the length of the longest stem including the inflorescence during the period of full heading or flowering. The biological range of the trait is from 40 to 120 cm, with specific breeding indicators for varieties falling within the 75–85 cm range.

Plant height is a key criterion for productivity, as tall-growing forms provide a higher dry matter yield for haymaking. At the same time, excessive stem growth increases the risk of lodging under unfavorable weather conditions or excess nitrogen, which complicates harvesting and reduces forage quality.

The trait also influences seed yield formation and the competitive ability of the crop within perennial grass mixtures. In breeding, the selection of optimal height aims to find a balance between high dry matter mass and agronomic manageability that prevents crop lodging.

General information about the subject — on the page Plant height.

Sources8

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.