Quality of Tall Fescue Forage Affected by Mefluidide

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. “Ky 31”) was treated with mefluidide {N-[2, 4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amino]phenyl]acetamide) at 0, 0. 28, and 0. 56 kg/ha on 29 April in 1975 and 1976. Forage was sampled 20 May in 1975 through 24 June 1976, and cellulose, total sugar, and crude protein content and dry matter yield were determined. Within 14 days after mefluidide treatment, percent cellulose was decreased, whereas percent sugar and crude protein were increased in tall fescue. Dry matter yields obtained 21 days after treatment were reduced by mefluidide treatments. Yield reduction was the result of inhibition of floral development by the mefluidide application. However, by the second harvest date in both years, mefluidide treatments did not affect yields.