Evaluating Experimental and Commercially Available Bermudagrass Varieties for Divot Recovery Rate.

Bermudagrasses (Cynodon spps.) are the most commonly utilized turfgrass species throughout the southern United States. Bermudagrasses are used on golf courses and sports fields due to their high recuperative potential. The displaced turf and soil during a golf club stoke results in a divot. The recuperative ability of turfgrass from divot injury is a very important criterion for the selection of turfgrasses for golf courses. Thirty-nine cultivars of Bermudagrass were evaluated for divot recovery rate. Commercially available cultivars included ‘Numex-Sahara’, ‘Celebration’, ‘Rivera’, ‘Yukon’, ‘Princess-77’ and ‘North shore’ and were considered standards. The trial was maintained under golf course fairway conditions and divot injury was simulated using a motorized divot making device. Three sets of divots were made from May to September in 2014 and 2015. Divot recovery was assessed through analyzing bermudagrass recovery in the divots over time through digital image analysis (DIA). Digital images were taken semi- weekly starting from the first day of injury until the divots reached 100% live cover based on DIA.  Non-linear extinction curve regression models were fit to the recovery response data from each cultivar. Using the regression models the predicted number of days to reach 50 and 95% recovery were developed for each replicate and these values were subjected to analysis of variance and when appropriate, means separation using Fisher’s protected least significant difference test. Significant differences were found amongst the entries in both years of the trial with respect to divot recovery rate. The results of this research will help in comparative ranking of the experimental and commercial lines for increased divot recovery and will aid product developers in decision making concerning possible commercializing of the experimental cultivars tested.