Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Water use characteristics of ten newly established cool-season turfgrass species

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  • Water use restrictions are continuing to have an impact on the way turf is managed today and will be managed in the future. The objective of this research was to evaluate the irrigation requirements of ten newly established cool-season turfgrass species maintained under two different mowing height and nitrogen fertility regimes. The site was treated with glyphosate to eliminate existing plant material, scalped to remove foliage, leveled, and graded to provide adequate surface drainage. All plots were seeded with a blend of three cultivars for all turfgrass species (Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, velvet bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, colonial bentgrass, strong creeping red fescue, chewings fescue, slender creeping red fescue, tall fescue) except for annual bluegrass which was sodded. Plots were mowed at 1.6 and 5.1 cm three times and one time per week respectively. Nitrogen was applied at either 0.45 or 1.81 kg per 92.9 m² per year. Water moisture stress was assessed visually as well with a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) moisture probe at a 3.8 cm depth for the same 45-day period in 2009 and 2010. Irrigation was applied based on predetermined water replacement values through a hand-held hose with a flow and batch meter attachment. Significant irrigation input differences were observed between mowing height treatments but not among nitrogen fertility treatments. Tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass and velvet bentgrass were all lower water users under both high and low heights of cut in this trial. The higher water use species, annual bluegrass and red fescues, all required more water in the low mown plots than the high mown plots. A lower crop coefficient for irrigation could be utilized for most species in the Pacific Northwest. Stress detection glasses were able to detect water stress in all turfgrass species tested by a minimum of 1.2 days on average and a maximum of 2.4 days in advance of the unaided visual assessment. The glasses were evaluated across a broad range of species and were effective regardless of the different turf canopies and variation in color present in the different species. The early detection of stress would enable turf managers to schedule irrigation in advance while conserving water. For most species the TDR could reliably measure the percent Volumetric Water Content (VWC) at which irrigation was required to maintain a functional turf surface. At the typical recommended mowing height of most species, if maturity was achieved, this was at approximately 30% VWC. The TDR could be used to more accurately guide irrigation scheduling and reduce water use.
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