Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Drip Irrigation And Cultivation Methods On Establishment Of Seeded Tall Fescue, Alex P. Bach, Dale J. Bremer, Cathie C. Lavis, Steven J. Keeley, Mu Hong

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is becoming increasingly popular for maintaining turfgrass, in part because it conserves water. However, turf managers considering SDI may wonder if SDI is effective in establishing seeded turfgrass, should the need arise. Also, can verticutting or core aeration be used to establish the seedbed without damaging the buried driplines? Is one of those two cultivation methods better than the other? These questions were evaluated in this study. An aboveground drip irrigation system (AGD) was also evaluated because it has been suggested as a portable method for establishing turfgrass planted along roadsides.

Results indicated seeded tall fescue …

Identifying Herbicides For Use During Zoysiagrass Sprigging, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weed control after planting warm-season grasses in the spring can be critical for acceptable establishment of the stand. However, many herbicide labels can be unclear on sprigging restrictions before or after the application of a product. Research was conducted on the growth effects of pre- and postemergence herbicides applied at or near the day of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass sprigging. Preliminary data from this study shows granular (Ronstar G) and liquid (Ronstar Flo) formulations of oxadiazon caused the least amount of injury to zoysiagrass.

Comparing Zoysia Experimental Genotypes Developed By Kansas State University, Texas A&M, And Purdue To Meyer In The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Test, Jack D. Fry, Dani Mcfadden

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Zoysia Test was planted in 2019 at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Center, Olathe, KS. Since planting, three experimental genotypes developed at Kansas State University (with cooperators noted below) have outperformed ‘Meyer’ in establishment rate, turf quality, drought tolerance, and fall color. Earlier research has demonstrated large patch tolerance in all three experimental genotypes.

Tall Fescue Performance Under Low Maintenance Conditions In The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Test, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Tall Fescue Test was planted in 2018 at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Center, Olathe, KS. Differences have been observed among entries maintained under low maintenance conditions.

Aerification Effects On ‘Innovation’ Zoysiagrass In 2020-2021, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

When a thatch layer accumulates on turfgrass it can be detrimental to the stand. A field experiment was initiated to investigate aerification treatments and their influence on thatch (organic matter level), quality, and color of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass that was sodded within the past year. Turfgrass that was intensely aerified had less organic matter content in the surface inch of the profile compared to turfgrass that was not aerified. Color was also enhanced in treatments receiving aerification compared to non-aerified turf, which may have been attributed to trending of higher nitrate content in aerified plots.

2021 Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Trial, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferaL.) is the most common cool-season grass used for putting surfaces in Kansas and other temperate regions of the world. Fine-textured and high-density cultivars (‘Penn A-1’, ‘Penn A-2’, and ‘Penn A-4’) released in the late 1990s are widely accepted throughout the transition zone. However, new cultivars with attractive characteristics continue to be selected, evaluated, and introduced to determine their long-term suitability for Kansas.

Simulation Of Nitrous Oxide Emissions In Zoysia Turfgrass Using Daycent And Dndc Ecosystem Models, Mu Hong, Yao Zhang, Ross Braun, Dale J. Bremer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is an important greenhouse gas (GHG) implicated in global climate change. Process-based ecosystem models, such as DAYCENT and DNDC, have been widely used to predict GHG fluxes in agricultural systems. However, neither model has yet been applied to warm-season turfgrasses such as zoysiagrass. This study parameterized, calibrated, and validated the DAYCENT and DNDC models for N₂O emissions from Meyer zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonicaSteud.) using Bayes’ theorem and field data from Braun and Bremer (2018a, 2019) and Lewis and Bremer (2013). Results indicated DAYCENT, but not DNDC, reasonably simulated the impacts of irrigation …

Establishing Seeded Tall Fescue With Covers And Drip Irrigation Methods, Alex P. Bach, Dale J. Bremer, Cathie C. Lavis, Steven J. Keeley, Mu Hong

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The use of covers may improve establishment of seeded turfgrass but their use in combination with drip irrigation techniques has not been evaluated. We investigated the effects of two cover types and three irrigation methods on establishment of seeded tall fescue turfgrass. For spring seeding of tall fescue[Schedonorus arundinaceus(Schreb.) Dumort.], turf establishment was successful with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and aboveground drip irrigation (AGD) in fine textured soil in the transition zone. With SDI, AGD, or sprinkler irrigation, both polyester mesh (Poly) and straw blanket (Straw) covers improved turf establishment in the order of Poly>Straw>No Cover, …