EFFECTS OF CLETHODIM ON SEEDHEAD DENSITY, FORAGE YIELD, AND QUALITY OF TALL FESCUE (FESTUCA-ARUNDINACEA)

Clethodim was applied to tall fescue to determine the effects of appli cation timing (fall, early spring, mid-spring), rate (0, 5.6, 11.2, or 22.4 g ai ha-1), and use of crop oil (0 or 2.3 L ha-1) on seedhead de nsity and forage yield and quality of tall fescue. Increasing the rate of clethodim or adding crop oil reduced seedhead density and forage y ield, and generally improved forage quality. There was no effect of ap plication date in 1988 and 1990, but seedhead density and forage yield decreased from the November to the March application date in 1989.