scholarly journals Seed Ratios for Optimum Turf Quality of Mixtures of Kentucky Bluegrass, Creeping Red Fescue, and Alkaligrass Subjected to Deicing Salts

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 712-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Longyi Yuan ◽  
Deying Li ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Wenjing Xiao

Deicing salts often are applied to sidewalks and roadways to enhance pedestrian and driving safety during freezing weather. For example, in eastern North Dakota, average annual snow days and amount are 29 days and 40 inches, respectively. This study was conducted in Fargo, ND, to investigate the population dynamics of turfgrass mixtures composed of kentucky bluegrass [KB (Poa pratensis)], creeping red fescue [RF (Festuca rubra)], and alkaligrass [ALK (Puccinellia sp.)] with the goal of optimizing turf quality by selecting seed ratios containing these species in home lawn mixtures and subject to frequent applications of deicing salts. A total of 21 mixtures were generated based on simplex-lattice design with KB, ALK, and RF contributing to 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of their respective full-seeding rate of 150, 150, and 300 lb/acre, respectively, after pure live seed (PLS) adjustment. The mixtures were tested at annual deicing salt rates of 0, 160, 320 lb/acre, which represent typical application. The results showed that the botanical component of the stands of grasses shifted over a 2-year period for all salt levels. Despite the good salinity tolerance of ALK reported elsewhere, it did not contribute to the improvement of turf quality in mixtures receiving deicing salts at 320 lb/acre per year. Therefore, ALK is not recommended for lawn, but mixing KB and RF in 48% and 52% of their respective full-seeding rates was recommended for areas adjacent to deicing salt applications.

1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. CORDUKES ◽  
A. J. MACLEAN

Addition of CaCl2∙2H2O at the rate of 2,000 ppm to give a conductivity of 7.2 mmhos/cm in a saturated paste extract of three soils varying in texture from sand to clay loam had no apparent effects on the quality of turf of Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., creeping red fescue, Festuca rubra L., and perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., grown in pot tests. When the rate was increased to 8,000 ppm and the conductivity to about 20 mmhos/cm, the turfgrass deteriorated markedly in the clay loam and the sandy loam and to a lesser degree in the sand. All species reacted similarly to the detrimental effect of salt in the soils, and the deterioration in turf quality was accompanied by a decline in root production. The concentration of chloride in leaf tissue usually increased with increasing amounts of salt in the soils and tended to be highest in perennial ryegrass and lowest in creeping red fescue. At the higher rates of salt addition, the amounts of chloride in the turfgrass tended to be lower on the sand than on the other soils.


1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Johnson-Cicalese ◽  
C.R. Funk

Studies were conducted on the host plants of four billbug species (Coleoptera:Curculionidae: Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal, S. venatus Chitt., S. inaequalis Say, and S. minimus Hart) found on New Jersey turfgrasses. A collection of 4803 adults from pure stands of various turfgrasses revealed all four billbugs on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and S. parvulus, S. venatus, and S. minimus on Chewings fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud.). Since the presence of larvae, pupae, or teneral adults more accurately indicates the host status of a grass species, immature billbugs were collected from plugs of the various grass species and reared to adults for identification. All four species were reared from immature billbugs found in Kentucky bluegrass turf; immatures of S. venatus, S. inaequalis, and S. minimus were found in tall fescue; S. venatus and S. minimus in perennial ryegrass; and S. inaequalis in strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra). A laboratory experiment was also conducted in which billbug adults were confined in petri dishes with either Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon Pers.). Only minor differences were found between the four grasses in billbug survival, number of eggs laid, and amount of feeding. In general, bermudagrass was the least favored host and the other grasses were equally adequate hosts. The results of this study indicate a need for updating host-plant lists of these four billbug species.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Gossen ◽  
J. J. Soroka ◽  
H. G. Najda

Little information is available on the management of turfgrass species for seed production in the Canadian prairies. The objective of these studies was to assess the impact of residue management and row spacing on seed yield under irrigation. A factorial experiment was seeded at Saskatoon, SK, in 1993 to assess the impact of burning or scalping (very close mowing with residue removal) vs. mowing, and 20- vs. 40-cm row spacing on seed yield of Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) (Poa pratensis), creeping red fescue (CRF) (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) and creeping bentgrass (CBG) (Agrostis palustris). Also, a residue management trial on KBG was seeded at Brooks, AB, in 1993. At Saskatoon, yield was higher at 20-cm spacing across all three species in 1994, but spacing had no impact on winter survival, stand density, tiller growth or yield in subsequent years. Burning and scalping consistently resulted in earlier spring green-up, a higher proportion of fertile tillers, and higher seed yield than mowing. Even with residue management, yield declined after one harvest in CBG and CRF, and after two harvests in KBG. At Brooks, residue management had a similar impact on yield of KBG. A second trial at Brooks examined the impact of row spacing (20, 40, 60 cm) and seeding rate (0.5 to 6 kg seed ha-1) on KBG. Seed yield was highest at 40-cm spacings in 1994, at 60 cm in 1995, and at 40 to 60 cm in 1996. Seeding rate did not have a consistent effect on yield. We conclude that a combination of residue management and 20- to 40-cm spacings provide the highest, most consistent seed yields for these turfgrass species in this region. Key words: Burning, clipping, turfgrass, seed production, row spacing, Poa, Festuca, Agrostis


HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xunzhong Zhang ◽  
Wenli Wu ◽  
Erik H. Ervin ◽  
Chao Shang ◽  
Kim Harich

Plant hormones play an important role in plant adaptation to abiotic stress, but hormonal responses of cool-season turfgrass species to salt stress are not well documented. This study was carried out to investigate the responses of hormones to salt stress and examine if salt stress-induced injury was associated with hormonal alteration in kentucky bluegrass (KBG, Poa pratensis L.). The grass was grown in a growth chamber for 6 weeks and then subjected to salt stress (170 mm NaCl) for 28 days. Salt stress caused cell membrane damage, resulting in photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll (Chl), and turf quality decline in KBG. Salt stress increased leaf abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA/cytokinin (CK) ratio; reduced trans-zeatin riboside (ZR), isopentenyl adenosine (iPA), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), but did not affect gibberellin A4 (GA4). On average, salt stress reduced ZR by 67.4% and IAA by 58.6%, whereas it increased ABA by 398.5%. At the end of the experiment (day 28), turf quality, Pn, and stomatal conductance (gs) were negatively correlated with ABA and ABA/CK ratio, but positively correlated with ZR, iPA, and IAA. Electrolyte leakage (EL) was positively correlated with ABA and ABA/CK and negatively correlated with ZR, iPA, IAA, and GA4. GA4 was also positively correlated with turf quality and gs. The results of this study suggest that salt stress-induced injury of the cell membrane and photosynthetic function may be associated with hormonal alteration and imbalance in KBG.


Weed Science ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasanta C. Bhowmik

A red fescue (Festuca rubraL.)- Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL.) turf was treated annually with amidochlor {N-[(acetylamino)methyl]-2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)acetamide} at 2.2, 2.8, and 3.4 kg ai/ha, mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] acetamide} at 0.4 kg ai/ha, and ethephon [(2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid] at 5.6 kg ai/ha for three consecutive years. Recuperative potential of treated turfgrass was determined in the field and in a greenhouse study. Amidochlor and mefluidide treatments injured turfgrass (11 to 64%) four weeks after application. However, turfgrass recovered after eight weeks. Amidochlor at 2.8 to 3.4 kg/ha and mefluidide at 0.4 kg/ha suppressed (75 to 100%) seedhead development. Ethephon at 5.6 kg/ha was ineffective. Turfgrass recovered normally each spring after amidochlor treatments, with no delay in spring green-up. Root length, root weight, and root:shoot weight ratio of the plugs from the greenhouse study were unaffected by three consecutive annual applications of amidochlor, mefluidide, and ethephon. One annual spring application of amidochlor, mefluidide, and ethephon for three consecutive years caused no adverse effects that would limit their use on red fescue-Kentucky bluegrass turf.


Weed Science ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 421-423
Author(s):  
J. M. Hodgson

Herbicides were evaluated for selectivity between three tall coarse grasses and three short fine grasses. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceaL.), quackgrass [Agropyron repens(L.) Beauv.], and smooth brome (Bromus inermisLeyss) were consistently more susceptible to amitrole-NH4CN (3-amino-s-triazole-ammonium thiocyanate) than three desirable short grasses, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL.), creeping red fescue (Festuca rubraL.), and redtop (Agrostis albaL.). Reed canarygrass and redtop were more susceptible to dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid) than creeping red fescue. Amitrole-NH4CN and dalapon combinations were more toxic to reed canarygrass, smooth brome, and redtop than creeping red fescue. Pyriclor (2,3,5-trichloro-4-pyridinol) was quite toxic to all grasses with Kentucky bluegrass showing the most tolerance. When TCA (trichloroacetic acid) was combined with amitrole-NH4CN results were similar to the dalapon combination but overall toxicity was reduced.


1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Christopher Hall ◽  
C. Ken Carey

Effects of linuron on annual bluegrass control and Kentucky bluegrass cultivar tolerance were studied in field and growth chamber experiments. In controlled environment experiments, linuron at 0.06, 0.12, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 kg ai ha-1 was applied to pure stands of annual bluegrass and eight Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Linuron at the two highest rates controlled annual bluegrass, reducing the clipping dry weight by more than 85% 4 wk after treatment, and by 65 to 92% 6 wk after treatment. Growth of Kentucky bluegrass was reduced with the most severe reduction occurring 2 wk after linuron application. All cultivars exhibited normal growth 8 wk after treatment. In field experiments, linuron at rates from 1.5 to 2.0 kg ai ha-1 controlled annual bluegrass in old (> 5 yr) Kentucky bluegrass stands, and in 16 cultivars of 1-yr and 2-yr-old Kentucky bluegrass stands, with little or no damage. At rates of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 kg ai ha-1 linuron, damage to newly seeded cultivars was moderate to severe. However, 6 to 7 wk after linuron application to newly seeded cultivars, stand density and turf quality were equivalent to untreated checks.


2016 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Shaun Bushman ◽  
Lijun Wang ◽  
Xin Dai ◽  
Alpana Joshi ◽  
Joseph G. Robins ◽  
...  

Much of semiarid western North America is salt affected, and using turfgrasses in salty areas can be challenging. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is relatively susceptible to salt stress, showing reduced growth, osmotic and ionic stress, and eventual death at moderate or high salt concentrations. Considerable variation exists for salt tolerance among kentucky bluegrass germplasm, but gaining consistency among studies and entries has been a challenge. In this study, two novel kentucky bluegrass accessions recently reported as salt tolerant (PI 371768 and PI 440603) and two cultivars commonly used as references (Baron and Midnight) were compared for their turf quality (TQ), stomatal conductance (gS), leaf water potential (ψLEAF), electrolyte leakage (EL), and accumulation of inorganic ions under salt stress. TQ, ψLEAF, and EL were highly correlated with each other while only moderately correlated with gS. The tolerant accessions showed higher ψLEAF and lower EL than the cultivars Midnight and Baron at increasing salt concentrations and over 28 days of treatment. The accumulation of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) in the leaves was highly correlated and did not vary significantly among the four entries. Genes involved in ion transport across membranes, and in antioxidant activities, were significantly induced on salt stress in the tolerant accessions relative to the susceptible. These data indicate the ability of tolerant accessions to ameliorate oxidative stress and prevent EL, and confirmed the tolerance of germplasm previously reported on while indicating mechanisms by which they tolerate the salt stress.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shah Saud ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Shah Fahad ◽  
...  

Drought stress encumbers the growth of turfgrass principally by disrupting the plant-water relations and physiological functions. The present study was carried out to appraise the role of silicon (Si) in improving the drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL.). Drought stress and four levels (0, 200, 400, and 800 mg L−1) of Si (Na2SiO3·9H2O) were imposed after 2 months old plants cultured under glasshouse conditions. Drought stress was found to decrease the photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf water content, relative growth rate, water use efficiency, and turf quality, but to increase in the root/shoot and leaf carbon/nitrogen ratio. Such physiological interferences, disturbances in plant water relations, and visually noticeable growth reductions in Kentucky bluegrass were significantly alleviated by the addition of Si after drought stress. For example, Si application at 400 mg L−1significantly increased the net photosynthesis by 44%, leaf water contents by 33%, leaf green color by 42%, and turf quality by 44% after 20 days of drought stress. Si application proved beneficial in improving the performance of Kentucky bluegrass in the present study suggesting that manipulation of endogenous Si through genetic or biotechnological means may result in the development of drought resistance in grasses.


HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1876-1881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Chai ◽  
Xinqing Shao ◽  
Jianquan Zhang

Understanding turfgrass response to silicon (Si) application under salinity conditions is important to find a way to improve turfgrass salt tolerance for turf management. The objective of the study was to investigate effects of increasing amendment concentrations of Na2SiO3 on turf growth and distribution of Na+ and K+ in seedlings of kentucky bluegrass (KBG) (Poa pratensis L.) under salinity stress. This growth chamber experiment was consisted of a control (no salinity and no Si) and five Si amendment treatments (0, 0.24, 0.48, 0.72, and 0.96 g Si/kg saline soil) under 10 g·kg−1 salinity conditions. Seed germination rate was significantly increased after 12 d under 0.48 g·kg−1 Si treatment. Plant height and canopy coverage were increased under 0.72 g·kg−1 Si treatment after 40 and 44 d of treatment, respectively, and tiller number was increased under 0.96 g·kg−1 Si treatment compared with 0 Si under saline conditions. With the supplement of Si at 0.48 to 0.96 g·kg−1, the ratio of Na+/K+ in shoots was decreased and individual leaf area was increased compared with 0 Si under saline conditions. The increase in individual leaf area was mainly the result of the increase in the leaf blade length. The concentration of K+ in shoots was significantly increased, whereas the concentrations of Na+ in roots were significantly decreased under all Si amendment treatments. The content of K+ was higher in shoots than in roots, but the ratio of Na+/K+ in roots was higher than in shoots in all Si amendment treatments. The results indicate that under saline conditions, Si induced the transfer of K+ from roots to shoots but inhibited the absorption and transfer of Na+, which may contribute to better turf quality and growth with Si treatment under saline conditions.


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