WARM-SEASON
Last year’s article reported on first- and second-year data from our new warm-season trials: bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and warm-season putting green, established in 2019. Tird-year data, collected in 2022, is discussed in this article and is now available online.
Bermudagrass Te 2019 Bermudagrass NTEP trial contains
thirteen (13) seeded entries and twenty-two (22) vegetative entries, established at twenty-one (21) locations across the southeast, Transition Zone, and southwest U.S. Many of these entries are experimental cultivars or new commercial cultivars. NTEP evaluates warm-season grasses by comparing seeded and vegetative entries, and also by separately comparing seeded vs. seeded and vegetative vs. vegetative. Turfgrass quality data from eleven standard trial
sites were analyzed, seeded and vegetative groups were compared separately, as well as against each other. As in the past, the best vegetative entries often outperformed the best seeded entries in 2022 turfgrass quality data. Tree LPI groups emerged out of the 2022 data
analysis. Te experimental vegetative entry FB 1628 joined commercial entries Tahoma 31, Latitude 36, Tifway, and TifTuf™
as top performers in each LPI group. When data
were analyzed by management schedule (fairway/athletic turf or home lawn), TifTuf, Tahoma 31, Latitude 36, and JSC 77V were the only entries to finish in the top statistical group under each schedule. Ancillary trial testing started in 2020 with 2022 again delivering some interesting data. Drought tolerance is being evaluated at both
College Station, TX, and Riverside, CA. Tese two sites utilize different methods to impose drought, with College Station eliminating irrigation for a block of time (‘acute’ tolerance) and Riverside managing using a reduced ETo
replacement (‘chronic’ tolerance). Large statistical
difference was noted among entries at Riverside in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, only TifTuf and OKC1876 were in the top turf quality statistical group. In 2020 and 2021, there were few statistical differences in drought data from College Station. Tat changed in 2022 data as FB 1628, JSC 77V, Celebration Hybrid, and TifTuf finished with the highest quality ratings. Also in the top statistical group at College Station in 2022 are Tahoma 31, OKS2015-3, Latitude 36, and OKC1682. Traffic tolerance was collected at Raleigh, NC, and
Knoxville, TN. Small statistical differences were noted at Knoxville, but the Raleigh site saw more entry separation. Te best ground cover at the end of the eight-week fall traffic season was delivered by Celebration Hybrid, FB 1903, TifTuf, Latitude 36, MSB-1050, MSB-1075, and Riviera.
TPI Turf News July/August 2023
Other ancillary trials include salinity tolerance,
shade tolerance, and spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella spp.) tolerance. In 2022, significant statistical differences emerged from the Las Cruces, NM, salinity tolerance evaluations. In both potable and saline water field sites at Las Cruces, FB 1628, TifTuf, MSB-1042, Tifway, FB 1903, PST-R6TM, and OKC1876 were in the top turf quality group. Interestingly, Sun Queen and Celebration Hybrid moved up into the top statistical group under saline irrigation. Spring dead spot ratings collected at West
Lafayette, IN, did show statistical differences as OKC1406, OKC1666, Astro, MSB-1075, and JSC 77V showed the least disease. Year three shade evaluations at College Station, TX, delivered higher overall quality ratings than in 2021. MSB-1075 (TQ=5.4) and Celebration Hybrid (TQ=5.2) exhibited better tolerance of shade than about two-thirds of the entries.
Te NTEP Bermudagrass trails that began in 2019 include 21 locations spread across the Southeast, Transition Zone, and Southwest U.S.
Zoysiagrass Meyer zoysiagrass was released in the early 1950s
and has been a standard in the industry ever since. Meyer is known for its medium leaf texture (for a zoysia japonica type) and excellent winter hardiness. Zeon is a zoysia matrella type that is finer textured than Meyer. Zeon is a standard for use on golf course fairways and tees because it can develop a dense turfgrass at mowing heights of 0.5 in, (12.7 mm) or lower. Both of these grasses are included in this trial as standard entries. Our latest zoysiagrass trial, established at nineteen
locations in 2019, consists of thirty-nine (39) vegetative entries, almost all experimental. Tese new entries are
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