Determining Optimum Watering Regimes for Establishment of Kentucky Bluegrass Sod and Fine Fescue Sod.

Turfed areas along roadsides are vital for protecting urban and rural environments.  Turfgrass sod is often used in establishment to immediately protect soil and bodies of water from erosion and surface run-off.  Despite the significant cost of establishing sodded areas along roadsides, limited information is available on optimum watering regimes to hasten their establishment.  The objective of this study was to identify the optimum watering regime for two sod types, Kentucky bluegrass and salt-tolerant MNST-12 (80% fine fescue, 20% Kentucky bluegrass), which are commonly used for establishment by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  This study was conducted from April to July in 2015 and 2016 under an automatic rain-out shelter located in St. Paul, MN.  Seven irrigation regimes (treatments) were evaluated, and included: pre-wetting soil only at establishment, pre-wetting soil followed by irrigating to replace 60% evapotranspiration (ET), pre-wetting soil followed by irrigating to replace 100% ET, no pre-wetting soil at establishment but 2.5 cm applied immediately after establishment, no pre-wetting soil but irrigating to replace 60% ET, no pre-wetting soil but irrigating to replace 100% ET, and finally no pre-wetting soil but irrigating 0.45 cm daily for the first 10 days after establishment followed by 2.5 cm weekly. Data collection consisted of a sod depth measurement and weekly measurements of volumetric soil water content, visual turf quality ratings, pictures taken for image analysis through dry-down and subsequent recovery from supplemental irrigation.  Finally, turf shear strength and root mass and depth measurements were evaluated 3 months after establishment.  Data will be presented and discussed.

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Turfgrass Management

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