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Water Quality and Growth Regulator Effects On Bermudagrass Managed Under Irrigation Stress.

Poster Number 516

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Hall, Third Floor

Reagan Wesley Hejl1, Benjamin G. Wherley2 and Richard H. White2, (1)Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
(2)Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Water Quality and Growth Regulator Effects on Bermudagrass Managed Under Irrigation Stress

Reagan Hejl, Benjamin Wherley, and Richard White

As the need for landscape and golf course water conservation increases, use of poor-quality irrigation water combined with deficit irrigation practices become commonplace.  Information is lacking concerning the relationship between water quality and minimal irrigation requirements, as well as the extent to which plant growth regulators may aid in ameliorating warm-season turfgrass quality under irrigation stress.  The objectives of this 10-week greenhouse lysimeter study were to 1) characterize growth and quality response of 'Tifway' bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. traansvalensis Burt Davy) to irrigation replacement of 100, 50, and 30% of actual turfgrass evapotranspiration (ETa), 2) determine whether application of trinexapac-ethyl (TE) aids turf quality under water stress, and 3) determine whether minimal irrigation requirements are impacted by water quality (reverse osmosis, sodic, and saline). During the initial study, there was not a strong relationship between water source and turf quality, however plants receiving sodic irrigation exhibited somewhat greater consumptive water use rates.  Untreated turf receiving 30% x ETa gradually declined to unacceptable quality levels; however, decreased leaf firing and improved turf quality resulted from TE application.

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Turfgrass Physiology and Pathology

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