Overseeding and Pigment Impacts on Bermudagrass Spring Transition.

Fall and winter pigment applications as an alternative to winter overseeding on dormant bermudagrass has become more prevalent across the southern US.  Field and greenhouse research was conducted during 2014 and 2015 to evaluate the effects of repeated fall/winter pigment applications compared to winter overseeding on turf quality, light penetration, bermudagrass transition, and heavy metal accumulation in soils and plant tissues.  Repeated applications of pigments over two seasons did not result in excessive levels of heavy metals in soil or turf, nor did they impact transition relative to untreated dormant bermudagrass.  Differences in light penetration between non overseeded, pigment-applied, and overseeded turf may help to explain observed differences in rates of bermudagrass transition.