Impacts of Traffic and Moisture-Deficit on Performance of Overseeded and Colorant-Treated Bermudagrass Athletic Turf.

Year-round municipal water restrictions across the southwestern U.S. have created additional challenges for maintaining safe playing surfaces on recreational turf facilities.  Although winter overseeding has often been practiced in these areas, interest and use of colorants as an alternative to overseeding has grown in recent years due to water shortages and budget concerns.  The objective of this 2-year field study was to evaluate performance, quality, and spring transition of non-overseeded ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy) treated with turf colorant, overseeded with ‘Futura 2000’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), or overseeded with ‘Panterra’  intermediate ryegrass (Lolium hybridum). Turf plots were subjected to simulated traffic events and supplemental irrigation frequency of 0 and 4 events mo^-1.  Results from the initial season suggest once-weekly irrigation is sufficient for maintaining acceptable turf quality in overseeded bermudagrass. However, un-irrigated turf declined to unacceptable levels by early spring. Overseeding significantly reduced surface hardness compared to dormant or colorant-treated bermudagrass during winter, while levels of visible traffic injury to intermediate and perennial ryegrass cultivars did not differ during the initial season.