Managing Water Use By Warm-Season Turfgrasses in a Drying Climate

Turfgrass managers in many regions of the world are under increasing pressure to restrict water use. As one example, south-western Australia is experiencing declining rainfall due to a changing climate. Turfgrass areas are important for mental and physical health, but fit-for-purpose surfaces with minimal environmental impacts are expected. Industry best practices based on scientific evidence will contribute to efficient use of water resources. This keynote address will present outcomes from research by us, and others, on factors influencing turfgrass water use and irrigation requirements. The focus will be on warm-season turfgrasses during hot and dry summers and will consider: variation in water use amongst species, soil water repellence and use of soil wetting agents, the influence on water use of nitrogen nutrition and of mowing height. Turfgrass growth and color, as related to water and other factors, will also be discussed.