Cover Sources Vary in Temperature, Light and Moisture Penetration, and Weight

Turfgrass managers sometimes apply covers to manipulate the grass and soil environment. This study was conducted to determine how various cover compositions and colors affect winter temperatures under cover, light and moisture penetration, and the wet and dry weights of the covers in the field. Seven cover sources including an interwoven translucent polyethylene, gray, white or orange nonwoven geotextiles, black and white woven polypropylene, and aluminized high-density polyethylene strips were tested in Blacksburg, VA. Covers were installed from December-March of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to evaluate long term winter surface temperature moderation of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x transvaalensis Burtt-Davy, ‘Patriot’. Cover effects on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and moisture penetration (measured as % change in soil volumetric water content [%SVWC] at 5 cm soil depth under cover prior to and following a minimum 1.25 cm rain event), as well as the dry and wet weights of covers in the field prior to and after 0.1 cm irrigation were collected in spring 2016. All covers had significantly higher mean minimum extreme low temperatures than the uncovered control in 2013-14, while in 2014-15 all covers sources except for the interwoven translucent polythethylene and aluminized high-density polyethylene strips were greater than the control. The interwoven translucent polyethylene had the highest PAR transmission of standard turfgrass covers and was always in the top statistical category for mean maximum and daily range temperatures. Orange nonwoven geotextile had the greatest dry and wet weights and Gray and Orange geotextiles had the lowest change in %SVWC on a 3% sloped native soil. Understanding differences in cover parameters will aid turfgrass managers in making selections best suited to their needs.