Harvesting TifTuf bermudagrass at Super Sod in Georgia.


other improvements. To evaluate some of those new experimental grasses that may make the marketplace, NTEP initiated new trials of St. Augustinegrass and seashore paspalum in summer 2016. Te first data from those trials (2017) is now available and is discussed below.


St. Augustinegrass St. Augustinegrass is a species where several


older cultivars are still competitive in the marketplace. Floratam, developed by the University of Florida and Texas A&M and released in 1973, Raleigh, a cold tolerant cultivar and newer releases Mercedes and Palmetto still dominate the U.S. market. In some areas, sod producers grow and market their own local selections while there are still common-type cultivars, like Texas Common sold extensively in some markets. Our newest St. Augustinegrass trial includes


three standard entries (Floratam, Raleigh, and Palmetto) and twenty-four experimental entries, planted at ten locations. Turf quality data from the first full year of evaluations (2017) showed several entries often outperforming the standard entries. However, none of the entries were in the top turf quality statistical group at all six reporting locations.


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XSA 10403 was the top entry at Citra, FL, and Raleigh, NC, while also finishing in the top statistical group at Starkville, MS. DALSA 1502 was also an excellent entry in 2017 finishing in the top turf quality statistical group at four of the six locations. FSA 1601 and DALSA 1404 were top performing entries at two locations each. In general, it seems there are many new experimental St. Augustinegrasses that may rival, and eventually replace standard entries such as Floratam and Raleigh.


Seashore Paspalum Seashore paspalum is known for its salt


tolerance, however some cultivars are valued for their turf quality as well. NTEP started testing of seashore paspalum for the first time in 2007. Eight new entries plus two standards are included in the new seashore paspalum trial, planted at eight locations in 2016. Summarized turf quality data from 2017 at


six locations shows good performance by several new experimental entries. UGP 73 was the top performing entry at Stillwater, OK, and College Station, TX, in 2017, while also finishing in the top statistical group at Fayetteville, AR, Riverside, CA, and Starkville,


TPI Turf News July/August 2018


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