Nitrogen requirements for deficit-irrigated bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) fairways in South Florida |
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Authors: | Marco Schiavon Travis W Shaddox Karen E Williams Sergio Gallo P Agustin Boeri J Bryan Unruh Jason Kruse Kevin Kenworthy |
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Institution: | 1. Environmental Horticulture Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, Florida, 33314 USA;2. Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA;3. Environmental Horticulture Department, West Florida Research Education Center, University of Florida, Jay, Florida, USA;4. Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;5. Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA |
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Abstract: | Several new bermudagrass cultivars are available and commonly used on golf course fairways. However, little is known about their cultural requirements or how these cultivars perform under lower inputs regimes. A 2-year study was conducted at University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, to assess performance of four hybrid bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. X Cynodon transvaalensis (Burtt-Davy)] cultivars (‘Latitude 36’, ‘Tifway 419’, ‘TifGrand’ and ‘TifTuf’), and 2 common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) cultivars (‘Bimini’ and ‘Celebration’) irrigated at either 50% or 80% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and fertilised at either 0, 146, 244, or 342 kg N ha?1 year?1. Plots were evaluated monthly for turfgrass quality, dark green colour index (DGCI), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), and Chlorophyll Index, and seasonally for N tissue content. Plots watered at 80% ETo enhanced bermudagrass quality compared to 50% ETo, DGCI and NDVI only in two months out of 24. Latitude 36 and Celebration were the top-rated cultivars, and their quality was not affected by no N fertilisation. Conversely, TifGrand, TifTuf and Tifway that received no N fertilisation resulted in insufficient quality during the second year of the study. Insufficient quality may be linked to reduced N metabolization compared to the highest rated cultivars. Results show that new cultivars such as Latitude 36 and Bimini could be maintained at sufficient quality levels with reduced water and N inputs in South Florida. |
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Keywords: | deficit irrigation nitrogen fertilisation turfgrass water management |
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