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Performance of turfgrass under supplemental irrigation and rain‐fed conditions in the C entral G reat P lains of USA
Author(s) -
Islam M. Anowarul,
Obour Augustine K.,
Krall James M.,
Cecil Jack T.,
Nachtman Jerry J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
grassland science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.388
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1744-697X
pISSN - 1744-6961
DOI - 10.1111/grs.12018
Subject(s) - bouteloua gracilis , cultivar , festuca arundinacea , irrigation , agronomy , poa pratensis , randomized block design , biology , horticulture , poaceae , grazing
Identifying drought tolerant turfgrass for semiarid C entral G reat P lains ( CGP ) of W yoming is imperative because of limited water availability for irrigation. This study evaluated the performance and quality of different turfgrass species/cultivars under irrigated and rain‐fed conditions in southeastern W yoming. The species/cultivars evaluated in the study included K entucky bluegrass ( P oa pratensis L. ‘ B andera’, ‘Common 85/80’ and ‘Midnight’), tall fescue ( S chedonorus arundinaceus [Schreb.] D umort., formerly F estuca arundinacea S chreb.; ‘ B lackwatch’, ‘ T ar H eel II’ and ‘ W atchdog’), buffalograss ( Bouteloua dactyloides [Nutt.] J.T. Columbus; ‘ B ison’, ‘ B owie’ and ‘ C ody’), and blue grama ( Bouteloua gracilis [ W illd. ex K unth] Lag. ex G riffiths; ‘ A lma’, ‘ B ad R iver’ and ‘ H achita’). The study was planted in a randomized complete block with four replicates in a factorial design. Coverage of turfgrasses used in the study was similar in both irrigated and rain‐fed conditions. In general, better performance and turf quality in terms of vigor and color were obtained in irrigated conditions compared to rain‐fed. Plant vigor and color rankings were in the order of tall fescue > K entucky bluegrass > buffalograss > blue grama under irrigated conditions. However, plant vigor and color were superior for the warm‐season turfgrass species (buffalograss and blue grama) under rain‐fed conditions. Overall performance of the turfgrass species tested in the study was tall fescue ≥ K entucky bluegrass > blue grama ≥ buffalograss. Tall fescue cultivars ‘ T ar H eel II’ and ‘ W atchdog’, blue grama cultivar ‘Bad River’, and buffalograss cultivar ‘ C ody’ were among the most promising drought tolerant cultivars.