scholarly journals The Use of Soil Amendments to Improve Survival of Roadside Grasses

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1404-1410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Nelson Brown ◽  
Josef H. Gorres
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Red Fescue

Highway rights-of-way are routinely planted with turfgrasses to prevent erosion, filter runoff, and improve aesthetics. However, the roadside is a harsh environment, and perennial grasses often die within the first year, leading to bare ground and annual weeds, which do not prevent erosion during the winter. To improve the survival of perennial vegetation on the roadside, it is necessary to identify the factors limiting vegetation growth and then to either identify plants that can tolerate those factors or identify ways to ameliorate the stresses while still maintaining safety. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of improved cultivars, salt tolerance, and organic matter amendments on perennial grass survival along two highways in Rhode Island. The amendments tested were processed biosolids and composted yard waste, each applied in a 50:50 mixture by volume with existing roadside soil; plain soil was included as a control. We tested 20 improved turfgrass cultivars and one seed mixture with common creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) as the standard. Turfgrass species tested were perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), red fescue, alkali grass [Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl.], idaho bentgrass (Agrostis idahoensis Nash), tufted hairgrass [Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.], and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). We found that soil amendment was more effective than either improved genetics or salt tolerance. Establishment, vertical growth, and persistence of vegetation cover were significantly improved by amendment with organic matter, particularly biosolids. In Summer 2009 (the second growing season), turf cover exceeded 50% in the biosolids plots but was below 20% in the plain soil plots with complete loss of cover in the plain soil plots at one location. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, red fescue, and idaho bentgrass showed the best persistence at the species level, and there were no consistent differences among cultivars.

scholarly journals Additional Host Plants of Four Species of Billbug Found on New Jersey Turfgrasses

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Johnson-Cicalese ◽  
C.R. Funk
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Red Fescue

Studies were conducted on the host plants of four billbug species (Coleoptera:Curculionidae: Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal, S. venatus Chitt., S. inaequalis Say, and S. minimus Hart) found on New Jersey turfgrasses. A collection of 4803 adults from pure stands of various turfgrasses revealed all four billbugs on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and S. parvulus, S. venatus, and S. minimus on Chewings fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud.). Since the presence of larvae, pupae, or teneral adults more accurately indicates the host status of a grass species, immature billbugs were collected from plugs of the various grass species and reared to adults for identification. All four species were reared from immature billbugs found in Kentucky bluegrass turf; immatures of S. venatus, S. inaequalis, and S. minimus were found in tall fescue; S. venatus and S. minimus in perennial ryegrass; and S. inaequalis in strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra). A laboratory experiment was also conducted in which billbug adults were confined in petri dishes with either Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon Pers.). Only minor differences were found between the four grasses in billbug survival, number of eggs laid, and amount of feeding. In general, bermudagrass was the least favored host and the other grasses were equally adequate hosts. The results of this study indicate a need for updating host-plant lists of these four billbug species.

scholarly journals Change over Time in Quality and Cover of Various Turfgrass Species and Cultivars Maintained in Shade

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. Gardner ◽  
J.A. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Percentage Cover ◽  
Supplemental Irrigation ◽  
Red Fescue

In 1992, a cultivar trial was initiated in Columbus, Ohio to evaluate differences in establishment and long-term performance of cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), creeping red fescue (F. rubra), chewings fescue (F. rubra ssp. fallax), hard fescue (F. brevipila), kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), rough bluegrass (P. trivialis), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) under low maintenance conditions in a shaded environment. Fertilizer and supplemental irrigation were applied until 1994 to establish the grasses, after which no supplemental irrigation, or pesticides were applied and fertilizer rates were reduced to 48.8 kg·ha-1 (1 lb/1000 ft2) of N per year. Percentage cover and overall quality data were collected in 2000 and compared with data collected in 1994. Initial establishment success does not appear to be a good predictor of long-term success of a cultivar in a shaded environment. There was some variability in cultivar performance under shade within a given turfgrass species. The tall fescue cultivars, as a group, had the highest overall quality and percentage cover under shade, followed by the fine fescues, kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass cultivars.

scholarly journals 279 Influence of NaCl on Seed Germination of Selected Cool-season Turfgrass Species

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 490D-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoon Kang ◽  
Chiwon W. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Creeping Bentgrass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Red Fescue

The influence of increasing levels (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0%) of NaCl on the germination of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) was investigated. Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and crested wheatgrass had a 50% reduction in germination at 0.2%, 0.6%, and 0.6% NaCl, respectively, compared to the control and completely lost germination at 0.6%, 1.2%, and 1.6% NaCl, respectively. Seed germination in both annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass was only 50% of the control at 1.2% NaCl and completely inhibited at 2.0% NaCl. Tall fescue, red fescue, and creeping red fescue showed a 50% reduction in germination at NaCl concentrations of 1.2%, 1.2%, and 0.8%, respectively, while showing a complete inhibition of germination at 2.0%, 2.0%, and 1.6% NaCl, respectively.

scholarly journals 141 Salinity Tolerance of Four Turfgrasses

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 414A-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Alshammary ◽  
Y.L. Qian ◽  
S.J. Wallner
Keyword(s):  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Tolerance Mechanisms ◽  
Ion Exclusion ◽  
Salinity Levels ◽  
Ion Contents ◽  
Saline Solutions

The need for salinity-tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because of increased use of effluent water for turfgrass irrigation. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the relative salt tolerance and salt tolerance mechanisms of `Challenger' Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), `Arid' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), `Fults' alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans.), and a saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) collection. Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue were irrigated with saline solutions at 0.2,1.7, 4.8, or 9.9 dS/m, whereas alkaligrass and saltgrass were irrigated with saline solutions at 0.2, 28.1, 32.8, or 37.5 dS/m prepared using a mixture of NaCl and CaCl2. The salinity levels that caused 50% shoot growth reduction were 9.0, 10.4, 20.0, and 28.5 dS/m for Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, saltgrass, and alkaligrass, respectively. Concentrations of proline, a proposed cytoplasmic compatible solute, were 25.8, 30.4, 68.1, and 17.7 μmol/g shoot fw in Kentucky bluegrass, tall Fescue, alkaligrass, and saltgrass, respectively, at the highest salinity level imposed. Bicellular, salt-secreting glands were only observed by scanning electron microscopy on leaves of saltgrass, indicating salt secretion is one of the important salt tolerance mechanisms adopted by saltgrass. Ion contents (Na, Cl, and Ca) in both shoots and roots of all grasses increased with increasing salinity levels. However, alkaligrass maintained a much lower Na, Ca, and Cl contents in roots and shoots than other grasses, suggesting that ion exclusion is one of the major salt tolerance mechanisms in alkaligrass. Tall fescue did not appear to restrict the uptake and translocation of salt in shoot tissues, but maintained a higher K/Na ratio than all other grasses under saline conditions.

scholarly journals Relative Rooting Depths of Native Grasses and Amenity Grasses with Potential for Use on Roadsides in New England

HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Nelson Brown ◽  
Cynthia Percivalle ◽  
Sophia Narkiewicz ◽  
Samantha DeCuollo
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Bromus Inermis ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Little Bluestem

Erosion is a significant problem on highway embankments in Rhode Island. At present, a mixture of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is planted to stabilize the soil. However, only the red fescue survives long term on slopes. Red fescue is shallow-rooted, leading to sod sloughing after heavy rains. The objective of this study was to compare the rooting depth, plant height, and adaptation to roadside conditions of 16 native grasses and five amenity grasses with red fescue to identify species that could be used to reduce sod sloughing. Research was conducted from May 2006 through Aug. 2009 in the greenhouse at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston and on the shoulder of state Route 4 in North Kingstown, RI. The cool-season grasses smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss. ssp. inermis), Pumpelly's brome [Bromus inermis Leyss. ssp. pumpellianus (Scribn.) Wagnon], Canadian wildrye (Elymus canadensis L.), Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.), silky wildrye (Elymus villosus Muhl. ex Wild.), eastern bottlebrush (Elymus hystrix L.), perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) and the warm-season grasses little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash] and purple lovegrass [Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh.) Steud.] were similar in height to red fescue while rooting significantly more deeply. Of these 10 species, little bluestem, purple lovegrass, and tall fescue showed the best survival on the roadside.

scholarly journals Southern Blight of Tall Fescue and Bluegrass Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-246
Author(s):  
G. Polizzi ◽  
A. Vitale ◽  
I. Castello
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Sclerotium Rolfsii ◽  
Aerial Mycelium ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Fluorescent Light ◽  
Southern Blight

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) are the main turfgrass species cultivated in Sicily (southern Italy) for ready lawn (sod) to ornamental purposes. In July 2004 and May 2005, a widespread disease was noticed in two turf nurseries on the eastern side of Sicily on a ready lawn mixture of F. arundinacea cv. Safari (94%) + P. pratensis cv. Cabaret (6%). Numerous yellow, circular- and crescent-shaped patches as much as 30 to 40 cm in diameter were observed. The turf usually died around the perimeter of the patch, but the grass remained green in the center of the ring with a tuft of green grass in the center (frog eye). Affected turf was initially reddish brown and turned brown as it died. Small, round and off-white or tan seed-like structures were dispersed on mycelial strands at the outer edge of the ring in the mat at the base of grasses. The pathogen was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The fungus was isolated directly as aerial mycelium or sclerotia or following surface disinfection (2 min in 0.5% NaOCl) and plating diseased tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Sclerotia were observed in vitro in 7-day-old cultures. Pathogenicity was tested by inoculating two com-mercial ready lawn strips (80 × 100 cm) of two healthy turfgrass species each with three isolates of the fungus. Thirty sclerotia were placed at the base of stems. Noninoculated ready lawn strips served as control. All plants were covered with plastic bags, exposed to diffused daylight for 5 days, and then maintained in a growth chamber at 25 to 28°C under fluorescent light. Disease symptoms and southern blight signs like the ones observed in the field occurred 2 weeks after inoculation. S. rolfsii was reisolated from affected tissues. Symptoms were not detected on any of the non-inoculated ready lawn strips. The disease was serious enough that chemical treatments were required for its control. Southern blight was previously detected on bermudagrass and other cool-season turfgrass genera (1).To our knowledge, this is the first report of southern blight on tall fescue and bluegrass in Italy. Reference: (1) R. W. Smiley. Common Names of Plant Diseases. Diseases of Turfgrasses. Online publication. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.

scholarly journals Month of Seeding Effect on Low-Input Establishment of Cool- and Warm-Season Turfgrasses in Continental Transition Zone

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-170
Author(s):  
Kenneth Lynn Diesburg ◽  
Ronald F. Krausz
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Low Input

This research was conducted to determine the degree of success, by month, in seeding establishment of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. var. dactylon), and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) at two locations in the moist, Midwest, continental transition zone on a prepared seed bed without irrigation or cover. The four species were planted every month of the year starting in September 2005. Starter fertilizer and siduron were applied the same day as seeding with no subsequent management except mowing. Percent cover of living turfgrass was recorded in each of 24 months after seeding. Tall fescue (80%) and Bermudagrass (73%) provided the best percent cover over all planting dates. Kentucky bluegrass provided 65% and zoysiagrass 24% cover. The cool-season grasses performed best in the July-to-March plantings; tall fescue 88% and Kentucky bluegrass 72%. Bermudagrass (94%) established best in the January-to-April plantings, while Zoysiagrass (32%) established best in the November-to-March plantings. Germination and seedling survival after germination of all species were inhibited by limited moisture during summer. The warm-season grasses were further limited by winter kill in the August, September, and October seedings. These results emphasize the risk in spring-seeding as well as the value in dormant-seeding of both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses for low-input, nonirrigated establishment.

scholarly journals Date of Seeding Affects Establishment of Cool-season Turfgrasses

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 152a
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Reicher ◽  
Clark S. Throssell ◽  
Daniel V. Weisenberger
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Starter Fertilizer ◽  
Seeding Date ◽  
P Fertilizer

Little documentation exists on the success of seeding cool-season turf-grasses in the late fall, winter and spring. The objectives of these two studies were to document the success of seeding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) at less-than-optimum times of the year, and to determine if N and P fertilizer requirements vary with seeding date of Kentucky bluegrass. `Ram I' Kentucky bluegrass, `Fiesta' perennial ryegrass, and `Mustang' tall fescue were seeded on 1 Sept., 1 Oct., 1 Nov., 1 Dec., 1 Mar., 1 Apr., and 1 May ± 2 days beginning in 1989 and 1990. As expected, the September seeding date produced the best establishment, regardless of species. Dormant-seeding Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in November, December, or March reduced the establishment time compared with seeding in April or May. Seeding perennial ryegrass in November, December, or March may not be justified because of winterkill potential. To determine the effect of starter fertilizer on seedings made at different times of the year, `Ram 1' Kentucky bluegrass was seeded 1 Sept., 1 Nov., 1 Mar., and 1 May ± 2 days in 1989 and 1990, and the seedbed was fertilized with all combinations of rates of N (0, 24, and 48 kg·ha-1) and P (0, 21, and 42 kg·ha-1). Fertilizer rate had no effect on establishment regardless of seeding date, possibly because of the fertile soil on the experimental site.

scholarly journals Control of Tall Fescue in Kentucky Bluegrass Turf with Selective Herbicides

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-451
Author(s):  
J.M. Goatley ◽  
A.J. Powell ◽  
W.W. Witt ◽  
M. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Trend Analyses ◽  
Polynomial Trend ◽  
Selective Control ◽  
Quadratic Response ◽  
Potential Use

Chlorsulfuron, diclofop, and sulfometuron were evaluated for potential use in selective control of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Polynomial trend analyses indicated highly significant linear and quadratic response curves for percentage of tall fescue reduction for each herbicide. Fall and spring treatments with chlorsulfuron and diclofop provided significant tall fescue control, with slight to moderate initial Kentucky bluegrass phytotoxicity. Fall and spring applications of sulfometuron resulted in excellent tall fescue control, but initial Kentucky bluegrass damage was severe and would be unacceptable for high maintenance turf. Chemical names used: 2-chloro- N -[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-l,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]-benzenesulfonamide (chlorsulfuron); 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy]proponoate (diclofop); N -[[(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]-2-methoxycarbonyl-benzenesulfonamide (sulfometuron).

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