Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 9(1): 343 - 353. Published September 2008.
Evaluation of Turf Color and Root Length Density of HybridBluegrass and Tall Fescue under Irrigation Scheduling
Githinji LJM*^, Dane JH**, Walker RH** and van Santen E**
*Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, AL 36088 USA.
**Department of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, AL 36849 USA.
^Corresponding author e-mail address: Leonard.Githinji@Tuskegee.edu; Tel.: +1 334 724 4184
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine turf color (TC) and root length density (RLD) of hybrid bluegrasses (HBGs) [Texas bluegrass (P. arachnifera Torr.) × Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)], HB 129 (‘Thermal Blue’), HB 130, HB 328 and HB 329 (‘Dura Blue’) and the tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars, ‘Green Keeper’ and ‘Kentucky 31’.
Methodology and results: The grasses were seeded in autumn 2004 for a 2-year field study conducted at the turfgrass research facility, Auburn, Alabama, USA .The experimental design was a 6 by 6 Latin square with six replicates of each treatment combination within each of 3 irrigation blocks. Subsequently, a total of 108 plots, measuring 1.5 m by 2.0 m each, were established. Plots were irrigated at rates of 100, 80 and 60% of potential evapotranspiration. The turf color values were determined using digital images collected once a week, while the root length density was determined from root samples collected in July and September of 2005 and 2006. HBGs had higher RLD and TC values compared to tall fescue. Rankings based on the RLD and TC were: HB 329 (highest) > HB 130 > HB 328 > HB 129 (Thermal Blue) > Kentucky 31 > Green Keeper.
Conclusion and application of findings: The results of this study showed that HBG performed better in terms of RLD, which would enable them to withstand drought better than tall fescue cultivars. The superior TC of HBG makes them a better choice for lawns and sports fields than tall fescue cultivars.
Key words: Hybrid Bluegrass, Tall fescue, Irrigation scheduling.
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