Evaluation of Putting Green Bermudagrass Performance Under Tree Shade.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) is a warm-season turfgrass species predominantly used on golf courses, athletic fields, and ornamental lawns across the southern region of the United States. Attributes such as very good wear tolerance, drought resistance, very dense, high-quality turfgrass cover and adaptation to a broad range of soil fertility, pH, and soil textures widen the popularity of bermudagrasses for putting greens. Despite these many characteristics, bermudagrasses have relatively poor performance under shade, thus the use of bermudagrass is limited to the areas exposed to adequate light quantity and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate experimental and commercialized putting green bermudagrass entries under natural tree shade. A field study was carried out on the premises of the Oklahoma State University Turfgrass Research Center in Stillwater, OK. A row of deciduous trees (Platanus occidentalis) parallel to the east side of the research site provided shade to the putting green area. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design with eight cultivars and six replicates. Variables including turf quality, percentage coverage, root biomass, and thatch accumulation were collected throughout in 2014. Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was monitored on each block throughout the study period. Results from this research will help in identifying putting green bermudagrasses with improved shade tolerance.