Drought Stress Reductive Effects of Civitas on Zoysia and Bermuda.

Civitas has been shown to improve bentgrass turf quality while inhibiting disease.  The objective of this study was to record any improvement in turf qualities of zoysia and bermuda during nutrient and soil moisture stress in the transition zone.  A split-split plot design was employed where soil moisture was the whole plot with three levels approximating 85%ET, 50%, and 5%ET, nitrogen level was the subplot with three levels at 0, 0.5, and 1 kg/M N, and Civitas, with or without, was the sub-subpot.  Over two years with zoysia and one year with bermuda, it was found the Civitas increased turf quality, shoot density, and clipping weight of both species.  Especially with zoysia, the typical reduction in turf quality from early to late autumn by the tanning of its understory canopy was significantly reduced.  Interactions among factors showed that Civitas preserved turf quality at the lower levels of nitrogen and soil moisture.  These effects impact turf management where less nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation would be needed to maintain zoysia and bermuda turf at the same level of turf quality by using Civitas.