scholarly journals Performance of warm-season turfgrasses under different water regimes in the Mediterranean climate conditions of Southern Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Marchione ◽  
Mariano Fracchiolla
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Reference Evapotranspiration ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Scarce Water

In Mediterranean areas, very scarce rainfalls during the summer season are a limiting factor to the sowing and managing of turfgrasses. This work evaluates the response to different irrigation regimes (50 or 75% of reference evapotranspiration) of <em>Cynodon dactylon</em> (L.) Pers. cv <em>Transcontinental</em>, <em>Paspalum</em> <em>vaginatum</em> Swartz cv <em>Salam</em>, <em>Pennisetum</em> <em>clandestinum</em> (Chiov.) Hochst. cv <em>AZ1</em>, <em>Stenotaphrum</em> <em>secundatum</em> (Walt.) Kuntze cv <em>Palmetto</em> and <em>Zoysia</em> <em>japonica</em> Steud. cv <em>El</em> <em>Toro</em>. Performance of turfgrasses was evaluated in term of turf quality, colour index and ground cover. Only when rainfalls were scarce, water regime restoring the 75% of the evapotranspiration (ET<sub>o</sub>) showed significant effects. Under rainy conditions, the restoration of only the 50% of ET<sub>o</sub> was able to give highly acceptable values. The best performance was observed for <em>Z. japonica</em>, <em>C. dactylon</em> and <em>P. vaginatum</em>, whereas <em>P. clandestinum</em> and <em>S. secundatum</em> showed lower adaptability to water stress.

scholarly journals Aluminum Resistance among Seeded Bermudagrasses

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Liu
Keyword(s):  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Aluminum Toxicity ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Solution Culture ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Aluminum Resistance

Aluminum toxicity is a major limiting factor for turfgrass establishment and growth when soil pH is <5.0. Limited information on aluminum resistance is available among warm-season turfgrasses and these turfgrasses often grow in the areas with acid soil conditions. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate seeded bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) cultivars for the ability to tolerate a high level of aluminum and 2) to measure the extent of aluminum damage to the root systems. In total, 16 bermudagrass cultivars were evaluated under greenhouse conditions using a solution culture and an acid Tatum soil (Clayey, mixed, thermic, typic, Hapludult). The soil had pH 4.4% and 69% exchangeable aluminum. A concentration of 640 μm aluminum and a pH 4.0 was used for solution culture. The grasses were grown for 28 days in solution culture; 28 days in the acid Tatum soil; and 78 days in the acid Tatum soil before harvesting. Aluminum resistance was determined by measuring the longest root length, the longest shoot length, dry root weight, dry shoot weight, and shoot to root ratio in comparing the control to obtain the relative Al resistance among the cultivars. The results indicate that seeded bermudagrass cultivars differ in their aluminum resistance.

scholarly journals Effects of close cutting on ground cover and quality of a polystand of Manilagrass and cool season turfgrasses

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Nicola Grossi ◽  
Marco Fontanelli ◽  
Christian Frasconi ◽  
Luisa Martelloni ◽  
Michele Raffaelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Warm Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
The Other ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Zoysia Matrella ◽  
Turf Quality

Warm season turfgrasses can be grown successfully in the transition zone, but dormancy occurs to some extent during the winter. Overseeding with cool-season turfgrasses is necessary if winter dormancy of warm season turfgrasses is not tolerated. The increasing availability of zoysiagrass cultivars has enabled this genus to be considered suitable for low-maintenance golf courses, especially for golf tees and golf fairways. On the other hand, zoysiagrasses have the most rigid leaves of all turfgrass species, followed by bermudagrasses and by the other warm season turf species. Thus, to have a high mowing quality, mowers working constantly on zoysiagrasses require more sharpening than mowers working on other grasses. Rotary mowers are not suitable for mowing at low heights and often result in scalping, while reel mowers perform optimal mowing at a short height (below 2.5 cm) but require accurate management and frequent sharpening. Autonomous mowers have proven to produce a superior turf quality compared with traditional walk-behind rotary mowers, but no autonomous mower has ever been tested at a low mowing height on an overseeded warm season turfgrass. Because of this, the trial was carried out to simulate a golf tee overseeded with cool season turfgrasses, with low input fertilisation rates and with one of the most difficult turf species to mow; i.e. Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. The trial was carried out in San Piero a Grado (Pisa, Italy) from October 2016 to October 2018. After a two-year period the best turf quality was achieved with Festuca rubra L. ssp. cultivars among the overseeded species, especially during fall. In many cases turf quality increased after manila grass green up since the combination of both cool season and warm season species gave a higher quality to the turfgrass, due to the finer leaf texture and higher shoot density of some cool season species. Moreover, recovery of manila grass ground cover was satisficing. In conclusion, a polystand of manila grass and Festuca rubra ssp. could be suitable for golf tees with low-input management.

scholarly journals Steaming and Flaming for Converting Cool-season Turfgrasses to Hybrid Bermudagrass in Untilled Soil

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-689
Author(s):  
Marco Fontanelli ◽  
Michel Pirchio ◽  
Christian Frasconi ◽  
Luisa Martelloni ◽  
Michele Raffaelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Liquefied Petroleum Gas ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Chemical Application ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Photographic Survey ◽  
Different Doses

Turfgrass species can be classified into two main groups: cool-season and warm-season species. Warm-season species are more suited to a Mediterranean climate. Transplanting is a possible method to convert a cool-season to a warm-season turfgrass in untilled soil. It generally requires the chemical desiccation of the cool-season turfgrass. However, alternative physical methods, like flaming and steaming, are also available. This paper compares flaming, steaming, and herbicide application to desiccate cool-season turfgrass, for conversion to hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) in untilled soil, using transplanting. Two prototype machines were used, a self-propelled steaming machine and a tractor-mounted liquefied petroleum gas flaming machine. Treatments compared in this work were two flaming treatments and two steaming treatments performed at four different doses together with two chemical treatments with glufosinate-ammonium herbicide applications. The cool-season turfgrass species were tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The desiccation effect of the various treatments on cool-season turf was assessed by photographic survey 15 days after treatment. The percentage cover of hybrid bermudagrass was visually assessed at 43 weeks after planting. Steaming and flaming effects on both parameters were described by logistic curves. The highest doses of steaming and flaming almost completely desiccated cool-season turf, and similar hybrid bermudagrass cover was established by both the methods as the chemical application (50% to 60%). Thus both flaming and steaming may be considered as valid alternatives to herbicides aimed at turf conversion.

scholarly journals St. Augustinegrass accessions planted in northern, central and southern Italy: Growth and morphological traits during establishment

2018 ◽  
pp. 332-337
Author(s):  
Lisa Caturegli ◽  
Rokhsareh Ramazani ◽  
Marco Volterrani ◽  
Nicola Grossi ◽  
Simone Magni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Stenotaphrum Secundatum ◽  
The North ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Climatic Transition

The use of warm season turfgrasses is a consolidated trend in the climatic transition zone of Mediterranean countries, in particular St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) begins to be widespread in warm coastal areas. However, little is known about the performance of the different cultivars of this species in southern Europe. In 2016-2017 a trial was carried out in three locations in Italy, Padova, Pisa, and Palermo, located in the north, center and south of the country respectively. Four cultivars (Floratine, Captiva, Sapphire, Palmetto) and five ecotypes (CeRTES 201, CeRTES 202, CeRTES 203, CeRTES 204, CeRTES 205) were compared in terms of their growth characteristics and morphological traits during establishment. The results highlighted that stolon growth was significantly affected by the location, as well as green colour retention. Stolon growth rate, internode length and internode volume and turf quality were, however, significantly determined by the accession effect. The quality of the ecotypes was also in some cases comparable to that of the cultivars. In Padova, winterkill occurred in most of the accessions, while in Pisa and Palermo, all the entries survived. In conclusion, St. Augustinegrass is suitable for turf use in the central and southern coastal area of Italy.

Effect of Herbicide Treatments on Overseeded Putting Green Turf

Weed Science ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Warm Season Grass ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Putting Green ◽  
Untreated Check

Putting green turf containing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL. ‘Medalist IV’) overseeded on a bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. ‘Tifway’] was treated with single and sequential herbicide treatments during the spring and transition period from cool to warm season grass. Oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-Δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] at 2.2 or 4.4 kg/ha and butralin [4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-N-(1-methylpropyl)-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine] at 3.4 or 6.7 kg/ha reduced the quality of putting green turf immediately after treatment in early spring. Turf injury was greater with oxadiazon than with butralin. Two applications of MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) at 2.2 or 3.4 kg/ha resulted in a lower quality turf with less ryegrass when compared with the untreated check. Methazole [2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione] at 1.1 kg/ha severely injured ryegrass and resulted in a lower turf quality.

scholarly journals Effects of overseeding times on different warm-season turfgrasses: Visual turf quality and some related characteristics

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukru Sezgi Ozkan ◽  
Behcet Kir
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Winter Dormancy ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Paspalum Vaginatum ◽  
Cynodon Transvaalensis

The sustainability of warm-season turfgrass species in winter dormancy is a major concern in Mediterranean ecology. The concept of overseed a lawn has been still new for many developing countries such as Turkey as part of a regular maintenance. Therefore, a 2-year study was conducted at the experimental fields of Ege University, Izmir/Turkey during 2014-2016 years to compare the effects of four different overseeding times (September 15, September 30, October 15 and October 30) on four warm season turfgrass species (Cynodon dactylon cv. SR9554, Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis cv. Tifway-419, Paspalum vaginatum cv. Sea Spray and Zoysia japonica cv. Zenith) by measuring visual turf quality (1-9 score) and some related characteristics as texture (mm), cover (1-9 score), weed infestation (1-9 score) and colour (1-9 score). ‘50% cv. Troya+50% cv. Esquire’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) mixture was used for overseeding in trial. According to results, visual turf quality performance of 6.0 scores and above were obtained from all treatments. We concluded that October 15 should be most suitable time for overseeding applications. Additionally, L. perenne L. can be practiced successfully in Mediterranean region in order to eliminate the concerns of warm-season turfgrasses in the winter dormancy period observed in cold temperatures. Highlights - No gaps were formed in plots and high coverage degrees were maintained during overseeding periods in all treatments. - Homogeneous spring transition was occurred from Lolium perenne L. to warm-season turfgrass species in all overseeding times. - Visual turf quality performance of 6.0 scores and above which is acceptable level were obtained from all overseeding times. - Better results were obtained from overseeding applications on Paspalum vaginatum and Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis. - The different results among the warm-season turfgrass species can provide effective information for future research studies.

scholarly journals Performance and Transition Date of a Turf-type Annual Ryegrass in Comparison to Perennial Ryegrass and Fine Fescues

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.R. Nelson ◽  
J. Crowder ◽  
H.B. Pemberton
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Chilling Temperatures ◽  
Fine Fescue ◽  
Dark Green ◽  
Common Bermudagrass

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) has traditionally been used to overseed warm-season grasses in the southern U.S. when warm-season sods are dormant due to chilling temperatures. In this study we investigated overseeding turf-type annual ryegrass (two cultivars of L. multiflorum and one cultivar of L. rigidum) and chewing fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata) as well as perennial ryegrass onto a warm-season common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) sod. The objective was to compare turf quality, turf color, and transition date of turf-type annuals with perennials and other cool-season grasses. Results for turf quality indicated that the annual ryegrass cultivars `Axcella' and `Panterra' (L. multiflorum) compared very well with perennials through March; however, in April and May, perennials were superior for quality. `Hardtop' fine fescue is a hard fescue (F. ovina var. duriuscula). It was inferior to the annuals for turf quality from December to April when the annuals began to die. For turf color, annuals had a lower rating compared to dark green perennials such as `Premier II', `Derby Supreme', or `Allstar'. `Panterra' was darker compared to `Axcella' in March and April. Chewing fescue was intermediate in color compared to annuals and perennials. For turf height, `Axcella' was taller than `Panterra', which were both taller than the perennials, and the fine fescues were shorter than the perennials. For transition in the spring, the annuals had a shorter transition and died about 1 month earlier than the perennials. `Transtar' (L. rigidum) had an earlier transition than the other annuals. The perennials tended to have a longer transition period. The fescues had a very long transition period and were similar to the perennials.

scholarly journals Durum Wheat in Conventional and Organic Farming: Yield Amount and Pasta Quality in Southern Italy

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Fagnano ◽  
Nunzio Fiorentino ◽  
Maria Grazia D'Egidio ◽  
Fabrizio Quaranta ◽  
Alberto Ritieni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Climate Conditions

Five durum wheat cultivars were grown in a Mediterranean area (Southern Italy) under conventional and organic farming with the aim to evaluate agronomic, technological, sensory, and sanitary quality of grains and pasta. The cultivar Matt produced the best pasta quality under conventional cropping system, while the quality parameters evaluated were unsatisfactory under organic farming. The cultivar Saragolla showed the best yield amount and pasta quality in all the experimental conditions, thus proving to be the cultivar more adapt to organic farming. In all the tested experimental conditions, nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) occurrence was very low and the other mycotoxins evaluated were completely absent. These data confirm the low risk of mycotoxin contamination in the Mediterranean climate conditions. Finally, it has been possible to produce high-quality pasta in Southern Italy from durum wheat grown both in conventional and organic farming.

scholarly journals 115 Nitrogen fertilizer effects on above ground sward characteristics and beef heifer performance from native warm-season grass blends

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Caroline Chappell ◽  
Landon Marks ◽  
Katie Mason ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Sandra L Dillard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Canopy Light Interception

Abstract A 2-yr study was conducted at Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction, AL, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate on forage production characteristics, nutritive value, and animal performance of beef heifers grazing a mixture of native warm-season grasses (NWSG) including big bluestem, little bluestem, and indiangrass. Six, two-hectare plots were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (0 or 67 kg N ha-1 applied in early April; n = 3 replications per treatment). Paddocks were continuously stocked with four weaned Angus × Simmental beef heifers (initial BW 288 ± 7 kg) from late May/early June through mid-to-late August during 2018 (73 grazing d) and 2019 (70 grazing d), respectively. Put-and-take cattle were used to manage forage to a target of 38 cm. Forage mass and canopy heights were collected every two weeks during the trial. Visual ground cover ratings, canopy light interception, and botanical composition were measured at the beginning and end of the trial in each year. Hand-plucked samples were collected every two weeks during the grazing trial to determine forage nutritional value. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS 9.4, and differences were declared significant when P ≤ 0.05. Nitrogen fertilized NWSG had greater crude protein (P &lt; 0.0001), sward heights (P = 0.0003), and canopy light interception at the beginning of the season (P = 0.0049) compared to non-fertilized paddocks. However, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.05) among N-fertility treatments for mean forage mass, heifer ADG, or BCS across the 2-yr study. Botanical composition data indicated that indiangrass decreased from 64% to 61% (P = 0.0022) and weed pressure increased from 11% to 15% (P = 0.0064) across the summer grazing season. Canopy light interception decreased by 51% from early June to August in fertilized NWSG and 26% in unfertilized paddocks, respectively. These data illustrate that NWSG systems may provide a viable grazing system in the summer months under reduced N inputs.

scholarly journals The Water Needs of Grapevines in Central Poland

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
Barbara Jagosz ◽  
Stanisław Rolbiecki ◽  
Roman Rolbiecki ◽  
Ariel Łangowski ◽  
Hicran A. Sadan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Time Trend ◽  
Reference Evapotranspiration ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Central Poland ◽  
Crop Coefficients ◽  
Near Future

Climate warming increases the water needs of plants. The aim of this study was to estimate the water needs of grapevines in central Poland. Water needs were calculated using the crop coefficients method. Reference evapotranspiration was assessed by the Blaney–Criddle’s equation, modified for climate conditions in Poland. Crop coefficients were assumed according to the Doorenbos and Pruitt method. Water needs were calculated using the data from four meteorological stations. Rainfall deficit with the probability occurrence of normal years, medium dry years, and very dry years was determined by the Ostromęcki’s method. Water needs of grapevines during the average growing season were estimated at 438 mm. Upward time trend in the water needs both in the period of May–October and June–August was estimated. Temporal variability in the water needs was significant for all of the provinces. These changes were mainly impacted by a significant increasing tendency in mean air temperature and less by precipitation totals that did not show a clear changing tendency. Due to climate change, vineyards will require irrigation in the near future. The use of resource-efficient irrigation requires a precise estimate of the grapevines’ water needs. The study identified the water requirements for grapevines in central Poland.

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