The highest-yielding variety was Passerel with a total dry matter yield of 7,199 pounds per acre. Because of a relatively dry fall and winter, the test at Raymond was harvested only three times. February, April, and May were extremely dry with about 6 inches of total rainfall. 4N LATE, with 6,944 pounds per ac re. A study was established in 1996 to evaluate selected varieties of four species of cool-season perennial grasses.
Fescue is considered the best adapted cool-season perennial grass for Mississippi.
Earlier varieties of orchard grass have not been persistent under Mississippi conditions. Little is known about tall oat grass. Prairie brome is being promoted as a perennial, but under Mississippi environmental conditions, it will respond as a reseeding annual. Five other varieties produced yields that were not significantly different from the highest-yielding variety. A new experiment to evaluate cool-season grasses established at Mississippi State included eight perennial ryegrass varieties.