Cool season turfgrass quality as related to evapotranspiration and drought
Date
1984
Authors
Minner, David Drew, author
Butler, Jackie D., advisor
Moore, Frank D., III, committee member
Wallner, Stephen J., committee member
Danielson, Robert E., committee member
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Irrigation is required in semi-arid regions to produce acceptable turf (at least 70 percent live biomass). This study was conducted to provide turfgrass water management information. Irrigation amount and frequency to produce acceptable Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) or to insure recovery when water eventually became available was determined. Deficit irrigation effects were studied using sand filled weighing lysimeters. Grass watered at 100 percent irrigation every 2 days (maximum ET) used 4 to 8 percent more water than that irrigated every 7 days. Acceptable Kentucky bluegrass was produced when grass was watered every 2 days and ET was 77 percent of maximum. Lysimeter turf quality was acceptable when the average soil moisture tension was 0.9 to 1.5 bars. 'Merion' Kentucky bluegrass, grown in field plots on clay loam soil, was watered at 100, 75, 50, 25 and 10 percent every 2, 4, 7, or 14 days. Kentucky bluegrass appearance improved as water amounts increased and irrigation interval decreased. Average soil moisture tensions between 4.5 and 1.4 bars produced acceptable turf. Irrigation at 75 percent every two days provided acceptable turf during July and August, however, only 25 percent irrigation was needed during this time to provide acceptable turf after an irrigated recovery period in September. Four grasses were grown on sand in lysimeters to determine their water use. When soil moisture did not restrict ET, water use was greatest by tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and lowest for fine fescue (Festuca sp. L.), while Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were intermediate in water use. These grasses provided acceptable turf during most of July and August with 75 percent irrigation. Drought tolerant cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fine fescue were identified by withholding irrigation during two summers except for a recovery period in September. 'Majestic' and 'H-7' Kentucky bluegrass and 'Aristocrat', 'Bellatrix', 'Citation' and 'Yorktown' perennial ryegrass had the best drought tolerance. None of the fine fescues produced suitable turf under severe drought conditions.
Description
Covers not scanned.
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Subject
Turfgrasses
Plant-water relationships