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Turfgrass‐Paver Complex for Intensively Trafficked Areas 1
Author(s) -
Shearman R. C.,
Kinbacher E. J.,
Riordan T. P.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1980.00021962007200020028x
Subject(s) - festuca arundinacea , poa pratensis , lolium perenne , agronomy , perennial plant , festuca rubra , biology , environmental science , poaceae
Vehicular traffic on turf results in wear injury and soil compaction problems that can result in stand loss and a decline in turf quality. Physical or cultural aspects that protect turfgrass crowns from wear injury also enhance the turf's ability to persist in intensively trafficked areas. This study investigated a concrete‐grid system (turfgrass paver complex) which was designed to protect turfgrass crowns from vehicular wear injury. The study evaluated the influence of this system on establishment, quality, wear injury, and recuperative rate of six turfgrasses. Six turfgrasses were established in the grass‐paver complex in a silty‐clay‐loam soil (Typic Arguidoll) and were exposed to vehicular wear injury. The complex improved turfgrass wear tolerance and recuperative rate of the grasses with the exception of ‘Merion’ Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.). Merion Kentucky bluegrass, ‘Manhattan’ perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), and ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were the most wear tolerant of the grasses tested. ‘Fairway’ crested wheatgrass ( Agropyron cristatum Gaertn.) and ‘Highlight’ chewings fescue ( Festuca rubra var. commutata Gaud.) had the poorest wear tolerance. The grass‐paver complex adversely affected turfgrass quality of Manhattan and Merion, but enhanced the quality ratings for Fairway. Winter survival of Manhattan and Kentucky 31 was adversely affected by the paver complex.