399-8 Ideal Irrigation Management for Establishing Cool-Season Grasses.

Poster Number 605

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Stress Tolerance, Diseases, Cultural Practices, and Environment
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Long Beach Convention Center, Exhibit Hall ABC
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Matteo Serena, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM and Bernd Leinauer, PO Box 30003, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Poster Presentation
  • Establishment using different irrigation amounts.pdf (795.2 kB)
  • Information is lacking on the appropriate amount of irrigation needed to establish cool-season grasses from seed. Moreover, several municipalities limit days to water lawns, raising concerns about the success of the establishment. A study was conducted at New Mexico State University, in Las Cruces, during 2012 and 2013 to investigate the effect of 3 irrigation levels [60%; 120% and 180% potential evapotranspiration (ET0)] and two irrigation schedules [daily (D) and every second day (ODD)] on the establishment of several varieties of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.). Plots were seeded on September 25th 2012, and fertilized monthly with 5g N m-2. Digital image analysis was used to measure percentage of cover on a bi-weekly interval. Sensors were installed at 5cm depths to record temperature and soil moisture content. A sigmoidal model was used to estimate the days after seeding to reach 50% (DAS50), and 95% coverage (DAS95). Irrigation schedule did not significantly affect establishment, indicating that irrigating every other day had no negative effect. Perennial ryegrass was the fastest grass to reach 50 and 95 % coverage, regardless of the variety. This was followed by tall fescue, then Kentucky bluegrass, which was the slowest to reach both 50 and 95% coverage. Generally tall fescue established (DAS50 and DAS95) equally fast at 120 and180% of ET. Grasses under lowest ET treatment (60%) were the slowest to establish. Kentucky bluegrass established fastest when irrigated at 120% ET followed by 180% and 60% ET. Perennial ryegrass establishment was not affected by irrigation level. Our results indicate that irrigation levels differ in their effect on speed of establishment of cool-season grasses.
    See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
    See more from this Session: Stress Tolerance, Diseases, Cultural Practices, and Environment