The Growth and Development of a Kentucky Bluegrass - Red Fescue Turf Under Varying Levels of Irrigation, Shade, and Nitrogen
Date
1970-06
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Studies involving the growth and development of a Kentucky bluegrass-red fescue turf under varying levels of irrigation, shade, nitrogen, and species association were conducted at Newark, Delaware during 1968. The Kentucky bluegrass cultivars studied were 'Windsor', 'Merion', and 'Kenblue', and the red fescue cultivar studied was 'Pennlawn '. Comparisons involving these species included dry matter production, density measurements, and chemical composition of the plant tissue. Irrigation studies indicated that the dry weight production of a Kentucky bluegrass-red fescue turf is significantly reduced during periods of high moisture stress. Studies involving subsurface irrigation indicated that additional information is needed to judge its effectiveness for irrigationg turf. Shade studies indicated that sixty (60%) percent shade significantly reduces the dry weight production of Kentucky bluegrass- red fescue turf. At medium shade levels the dry 'Height production of the turf was favored by low nitrogen and low moisture regimes.
Nitrogen studies indicated that dry matter production increases when water and nitrogen are not limiting factors. Studies also indicated that high nitrogen levels tended to reduce .dry matter production• under shade.
The studies involving a comparison of the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars indicated that the percent chemical composition of nitrogen and phosphorus and the dry weight production of 'Windsor', and 'Merion', bluegrass were greater than 'Kenblue' bluegrass.
The studies involving the competition of Kentucky bluegrass in a bluegrass-fescue turf showed that the 'Windsor' and 'Merion' bluegrass increased in density under all treatments of this experiment.
Description
Keywords
Horticulture, Kentucky Bluegrass, Irrigation, Nitrogen, Poa pratensis