Quantifying a Daily Light Integral for Bermudagrass Putting Green Establishment.

Quantifying a Daily Light Integral for Bermudagrass Putting Green Establishment

Hodges, B.P., C.M. Baldwin, B.R. Stewart, M. Peterson-Tomaso, and E. K. Blythe

Golf course superintendents in the transition zone are considering a putting green species conversion from creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) to bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis). While this conversion eliminates the financial burden of summer stress management, a major constraint will be successful establishment in a reduced light environment (RLE) due to the poor shade tolerance of bermudagrass. Currently, no research studies exist determining the light requirement for bermudagrass putting green establishment. Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine a daily light integral (DLI) requirement for successful bermudagrass putting green establishment. A field trial will be initiated in June 2013 at the Foil Plant Science Research Center in Starkville, MS. Four bermudagrass cultivars ('Champion', 'TifEagle', 'MiniVerde' and 'MSU-285') and one zoysiagrass (Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.) cultivar (‘Diamond') will be established under full-sunlight (control), 37%, 55%, and 80% full-day shade using a neutral density, polyfiber black shade cloth. Data collection will include percent establishment using digital image analysis, turfgrass color using a GreenSeeker NDVI sensor, shoot chlorophyll concentration, turfgrass quality, and daily light integrals will be generated using quantum light meters and data loggers. A randomized complete block split-plot design with three blocks, cultivar as the main plot factor, and shade as the split-plot factor will be used. Results will determine the amount of light necessary to successfully establish a new bermudagrass putting green.