Establishment and Maintenance During Establishment of Hybrid Bluegrass (P. arachnifera Torr. × P. pratensis L.) in the Transition Zone

The transition zone is one of the hardest places to maintain high-quality turfgrasses, and the overall research objective was to determine best management practices to establish new turf cultivars in this zone. Hybrid bluegrasses (P. arachnifera Torr. × P. pratensis L.) have been bred for heat and drought tolerance and may offer a new alternative to other turfgrasses. The specific cultivars examined in this research were ‘Thermal Blue®’ and ‘Dura Blue®’. Experiments were conducted during 2003, 2004, and 2005 in Knoxville, TN. ‘Thermal Blue’ was seeded at 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg·ha−1 of seed. ‘Thermal Blue's’ ideal seeding rate was between 100 and 150 kg·ha−1 of seed in 2003 and 50 kg·ha−1 in 2004. ‘Thermal Blue’ was also seeded in January, April, July, and September of each year with 100 kg·ha−1 of seed. All seeding dates took ≈11 months to become well established. However, July seeding produced poor turf quality (less than 6) and was the only seeding date deemed unacceptable. ‘Thermal Blue’ and ‘Dura Blue’ were fertilized with ammonium nitrate at 100, 200, and 300 kg N/ha/year and urea formaldehyde at 200 and 300 kg N/ha/year starting in March of each year. These treatments were maintained at 2-, 3.5-, and 5-cm mowing heights. ‘Thermal Blue’ had higher quality evaluations and produced more clippings than ‘Dura Blue’ throughout the year. Higher fertility regimens increased quality evaluations in April but decreased quality evaluations in October. Increasing the mowing height improved turf quality and decreased biomass production for both grasses. A proposed optimum method for establishment included seeding ‘Thermal Blue’ in April at 150 kg·ha−1 and fertilizing with 300 kg·ha−1 of nitrogen and them mowing at 5-cm height. ‘Thermal Blue’ and ‘Dura Blue’ are adapted for the transition zone, but summer heat stress may cause turf quality decrease in the fall.

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Early seeding dates improve oat yield and quality in the eastern prairies

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p02-157 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. 431-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

W. E. May ◽

R. M. Mohr ◽

G. P. Lafond ◽

A. M. Johnston ◽

F. C. Stevenson

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Practice ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Crown Rust ◽

Test Weight ◽

High Quality ◽

Canadian Prairies ◽

Best Management ◽

Yield And Quality

Demand for high quality oat (Avena sativa L.) for consumption by humans and race horses has increased, leading to increased oat production on the Canadian prairies. Little information exists on the best management practices for producing high-quality, high-yielding oat using direct seeding systems and cropping practices developed and adopted over the past 15 yr. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of early seeding on grain yield and quality of oat cultivars currently grown in the eastern prairie region. Four seeding dates and four cultivars were tested at Indian Head, Melfort, and Brandon over 3 yr. Moving the seeding date from mid-June to early May increased oat yield, seeds per panicle, kernel weight, test weight and plump seed by 76, 33, 10, 13 and 11%, respectively, when averaged across all locations and years. This increase in yield and quality was probably due to improved environmental conditions and a reduction in crown rust infection (Puccina coronata Corda). Crown rust has a larger effect on seed yield and quality as one moves east and south from Melfort, Saskatchewan, and as seeding was delayed from early May. Early seeding of oat decreases the risk of obtaining low yield and/or quality, and should be considered a best management practice for growing milling oats, especially in the southeastern prairies of Canada. Key words: Yield components, test weight, oat, Puccina coronata, lodging, plump seed, thin seed

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017 Evaluating Best Management Practices for Spring Dead Spot Suppression in Bermudagrass

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.390f ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 390F-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

F. Iriarte ◽

J. Fry ◽

N. Tisserat

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

Spring Dead Spot ◽

Best Management ◽

Turf Quality ◽

Moderate Disease ◽

Plot Design

Bermudagrass turf quality is commonly reduced in the transition zone by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, a root-infecting fungus that causes spring dead spot (SDS). Fungicides applied in autumn typically result in poor to moderate disease suppression. Earlier research has indicated that some cultural practices, including core aerification or fertilization with soil acidifying nitrogen fertilizers, may suppress SDS. Our objective was to evaluate several treatment combinations for reducing disease severity. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design, with whole plots being aerification + verticutting, or no cultivation. Subplots within whole plots consisted of a factorial arrangement of azoxystrobin (one September application of at 0.6 kg·ha-1), trinexapac-ethyl (three summer applications at 6.1 kg·ha-1), and ammonium sulfate (three summer applications with N at 49 kg·ha-1). After 1 year of treatment, spring turf quality was improved in all treatments that included trinexapac-ethyl. Diseased area was reduced from 34% to 21% in plots receiving azoxystrobin + trinexapac-ethyl.

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Best Management Practices for the Conversion of Established Bermudagrass to Buffalograss

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.2.233 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 233-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jared. A. Hoyle ◽

Gerald M. Henry ◽

Travis Williams ◽

Aaron Holbrook ◽

Tyler Cooper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cynodon Dactylon ◽

Block Design ◽

Percent Cover ◽

Seeding Rate ◽

Best Management ◽

Seedbed Preparation ◽

Common Bermudagrass

Growing concern over the sufficiency and variability of present water supplies in the arid Southwest has led to the examination of buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] for water conservation. Increasing acceptance of buffalograss will require investigation into conversion techniques for its establishment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of seedbed preparation and seeding rate on the establishment of buffalograss after bermudagrass desiccation with glyphosate. Research was conducted at the Texas Tech Quaker Research farm in 2009 and 2010 on a mature ‘Riviera’ common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] rough. Bermudagrass was sprayed with glyphosate at 1.1 kg acid equivalent (ae)/ha 5 and 1 weeks before seedbed preparation. Plots were scalped after desiccation. Treatments were arranged in a two × four factorial, randomized complete block design with four replications. two buffalograss seeding rates and four seedbed preparation treatments. Seedbed preparation treatments consisted of no seedbed preparation, topdressing alone (0.6-cm layer), hollow-tine aerification + topdressing, or verticutting + topdressing. ‘TopGun’ buffalograss was planted on 1 June 2009 and 4 June 2010 at 146 or 195 kg·ha−1. Grid counts were conducted to determine buffalograss cover one, two, and three months after planting (MAP). Counts were then converted to percent cover (0% to 100%). Greater buffalograss cover was observed when seed was applied at the higher rate (196 kg·ha−1) except within treatments that did not receive seedbed preparation treatment. No seedbed preparation resulted in unacceptable buffalograss cover. Percent buffalograss cover three MAP was 75%, 83%, and 86% for topdressing alone, aerification + topdressing, and verticutting + topdressing treatments seeded at 195 kg·ha−1, respectively.

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Effects of Nutrients Applied to Turf on Runoff and Leachate

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.2.1.126 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 126-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Scott A. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Nutrient Transport ◽

Field Capacity ◽

High Quality ◽

Best Management ◽

Wide Range ◽

Surface Water Bodies

A paucity of data exists on the water quality impacts of fertilizer nutrients used for turfgrass management. The primary macronutrients N and P have been shown to cause the eutrophication of surface water bodies, and excessive nitrate (NO-3) concentrations in drinking water have been linked to methemoglobinemia in infants. Several studies have indicated that runoff quantities from high-quality turf areas are minimal; therefore, nutrient transport by this mechanism should not be a major concern. The leachability of N is favored by the presence of soluble forms in permeable soils receiving rainfall or irrigation in excess of field capacity. Most of the factors contributing to this condition are manageable. However, a wide range of turfgrass types, uses, and management expertise make it difficult to generalize the overall impact of turfgrass fertilization on water resources. While research has demonstrated the ability to minimize nutrient loading, characterization of nonresearch sites is critical to gain a legitimate understanding of environmental impacts. Once developed, best management practices can be effective only if understood and adopted by applicators.

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