Influence of Cultivation and Mowing Height on Tall Fescue Conversion to ‘Sharp's Improved Ii' Buffalograss.

Transitioning cool-season turfgrass to low input species, such as buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloid (Nutt.) Engelm.], for water conservation has been growing in popularity. Minimal data exists examining the best cultural practice and mowing height for non-presoaked seeding of buffalograss into preexisting tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.)]. Experiments were initiated 30 May 2015 at Rocky Ford Research Center (RF) in Manhattan, KS and John C. Pair Horticulture Center (JP) in Haysville, KS. Experimental design was a 3 x 4 factorial randomized complete block with four replications using 1.5 x 3 m plots. Plots were sprayed with glyphosate (1.1 kg ha¹) 4 and 2 weeks prior to seeding to ensure complete tall fescue control. Mowing height treatments included 3.2 cm, 4.5 cm, and 6.4 cm. Cultural practices included verticutting, aerification, slit-seeding, and a non-treated check for comparison. Non-presoaked ‘Sharp’s Improved II’ buffalograss was seeded at 193.5 kg/ha. Irrigation (0.64 cm) was applied 3x weekly. Collected data included light box pictures for digital image analysis (DIA) of green cover (0-100%), visual buffalograss green cover (0-100%), visual weed cover (0-100%), turfgrass color (1-9), and turfgrass quality (1-9). Data was collected every 14 days after seeding (DAS). Data was subjected to ANOVA in SAS and means were separated according to Fisher’s Protected LSD at 0.5 significance level.  A treatment by location interaction prevented pooling across locations. The main effect of cultural practices was the only significant effect. All cultural practice treatments resulted in greater buffalograss establishment compared to the non-treated control. Slit-seeding resulted in the greatest buffalograss cover (81%) 8 WAS at JP. Slit-seeding and aerification at 8 WAS significantly increased buffalograss establishment compared to the non-treated control (30%) at RF, resulting in 86 and 73 % buffalograss cover, respectively.  Regardless of mowing height, slit-seeding and aerification cultural practices resulted in the most successful transition from tall fescue to buffalograss.