Smith Seed Services
Survivability
Shield was specifically bred from germplasm known to have high survivability in hot, humid regions crossed with plants highly resistant to gray leaf spot, stem rust and other disease. Further screenings have produced a ryegrass you can plant with confidence. Great turf that will endure the elements and stand tuff against disease.
Rutgers University
Gray Leaf Spot
Adelphi, NJ 2015
| Variety | Resistance |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 8.7 |
| Shield | 8.0 |
| Overdrive 5G | 8.0 |
| Amazing A+ | 7.0 |
| Green Supreme | 7.0 |
| Rutkus | 6.7 |
| Haven | 6.3 |
| Revenge GLX | 4.7 |
| Monterey 4 | 2.3 |
| Replay | 2.3 |
| Sunrise | 2.3 |
| Goalkeeper II | 2.0 |
| Palmer III | 2.0 |
| Lsd | 1.6 |
Quality Turf
Shield is ideal for use on home lawns, high traffic areas, athletic fields, fairways, and other locations where attractive, disease resistant perennial ryegrass is desired. Shield can easily be combined with elite bluegrasses, fine and tall fescues.
Rutgers University
Turf Quality
Adelphi, NJ 2015
| Variety | Quality |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 6.9 |
| Shield | 6.7 |
| Overdrive 5G | 6.4 |
| Amazing A+ | 5.8 |
| Rutkus | 5.6 |
| Green Supreme | 5.5 |
| Revenge GLX | 4.7 |
| Haven | 4.5 |
| Monterey 4 | 3.6 |
| Replay | 2.8 |
| Sunrise | 3.4 |
| Palmer III | 2.9 |
| Goalkeeper II | 2.6 |
| Lsd | 0.8 |
National Trials
Shield is currently being evaluated throughout the country under the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). The first year report shows good turf quality throughout the country, as well as good resistances to crown rust, pink snow mold, winter kill and drought.
NTEP
Performance Data
2016-2017
| Categories where Shield is statistically equal to the highest rated entry | Locations where Shield is statistically equal to the highest rated entry | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Rust, NJ | X | Fresno, CA | X |
| Pink Snow Mold, UT | X | Storrs, CT | X |
| Winter Kill, MN | X | Ames, IA | X |
| Drought, UT | X | Lexington, KY | X |
| Divot Recovery, KY | X | East Lansing, MI | X |
| Traffic, Blacksburg, VA | X | St. Paul, MN | X |
| Traffic, Corvallis, OR | X | Mead, NE | X |
| Seedling Vigor | X | Corvallis, OR | X |
| Ground Cover Spring | X | Blackburg, VA | X |
| Ground Cover Fall | X | Madison, WI | X |
| Establishment | X | Quality Group 1 | X |
| Quality Group 2 | X | ||
| Quality Schedule B | X | ||
| Quality Transition | X | ||
| Quality North Central | X |
Planting Information
For ideal turf, plant Shield on fertile, neutral pH soils during the cooler seasons of the year, such as spring and fall. If needing to plant during other times, plan on additional overseeding.
| Seeding Rate – New Plantings (green) (lbs/1000 sq. ft.) | Seeding Rate – Overseeding (blue) (lbs/1000 sq. ft.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Home Lawns | 5–8 | 5–8 |
| Athletic Fields | 9–15 | 12–18 |
| Greens | – | 25–35 |
| Tees | 9–15 | 12–18 |
| Fairways | 225–350* | 300–425* |
| *rates in lbs/acre | ||
