Premium
Effects of N and Growing Season on Root‐Rhizome Characteristics of Turf‐Type Bermudagrasses 1
Author(s) -
Horst G. L.,
Baltensperger A. A.,
Finkner M. D.
Publication year - 1985
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/agronj1985.00021962007700020015x
Subject(s) - rhizome , cultivar , shoot , biology , agronomy , growing season , cynodon , organic matter , fertilizer , field experiment , horticulture , botany , ecology
Root‐rhizome growth responses of bermudagrasses ( Cynodon spp.) in relation to shoot growth interactions with the environment and cultural systems are not well understood. Effects of four N levels on the root‐rhizome organic matter, root viability, and turf color response of five bermudagrass cultivars grown on a Thermic, Typic, and Torrifluvent soil, were determined in the field for two spring shoot initiation periods. Significant differences in rate of decline during spring and increase during the summer growing season in root‐rhizome organic matter were observed for ‘Common’, ‘Tifgreen’, ‘Santa Ana’, ‘FB‐49’, and ‘Texturf‐10’ cultivars. ‘Tifgreen’ was the most responsive and ‘Common’ the least to changes in season and fertilizer N levels. Root viability scores of all cultivars increased during the spring of 1981, declined slightly during the summer of 1981, and declined moderately from 3.5 to 2.7 during spring 1982. Nitrogen application reduced the rate of decline in spring 1982. There was no significant interaction of bermudagrass cultivar × N level for root‐rhizome organic matter, visual root viability, or turf color.