Viability of five fairway turfgrasses with and without chemical inputs

Interest in low‐input alternative fairway turfs has increased because of restrictions. This study compared the volumetric soil water content (VSWC) and turf quality of five fairway turfs under reduced irrigation and low nitrogen. The main plots were ‘Epic’ strong creeping red fescue ( Festuca rubra ssp. rubra L., SCRF), ‘Vesper’ velvet bentgrass ( Agrostis canina L., VBG), ‘Shark’ creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L., CBG), ‘Diva’ Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L., KBG), and a 5:95 Vesper–Epic mixture (VBG–SCRF). Urea at annual N rates (0 and 98 kg ha –1 ) and three fungicide programs (none, integrated pest management, and full preventative) were applied. Turf quality and VSWC were assessed from June to September. Rating date interacted with all main factors in both years. On most 2010 dates, SCRF had lower quality (<3.1) than VBG–SCRF (<4.8) and VBG had higher quality than both (>5.1). In 2011, VBG and CBG were usually similar (>5.8), with acceptable quality all year. The KBG had acceptable quality (>5.0), declining in late 2011 through weed infestation of nonfertilized plots. In 2010, fertilized experimental units had lower VSWC (39.9%) than nonfertilized units (41.1%); VBG and KBG had higher VSWC than VBG–SCRF and CBG. Drought never occurred, as VSWC was above 20%. In 2011, the turf type × rating date interaction was significant. Creeping bentgrass had lower VSWC than at least one other turf type on 15 of 16 dates. Velvet bentgrass and VBG–SCRF provided the best turf quality of the grasses tested in this setting.