However, Figures 4 and 5 indicate that the minimum temperatures are showing an increase. Furthermore, if we look at the last 20 years alone, the increases in the minimum temperatures show an even larger increase. Te data for the winter are not presented in this article but show that both maximum and minimum temperatures also are exhibiting an increase.
Impacts of Temperature Changes on Turfgrass
Everyone knows about cool-season and warm-season grasses and the areas in which they are adapted. As the temperature increases, there are some potential responses. First, there will be a northward migration of warm-season grasses because of the overall warming trend. If we examine the plant hardiness zone map that was updated a few years ago, it shows a northward progression of the hardiness zones. Tat may not be the most significant impact because the warming winter temperatures will relieve some of the stress due to exposure to cool temperatures. However, the chances of extreme temperatures both in the cold and hot extremes will continue to expose grasses to conditions outside of their optimum range. Managers need to be prepared to manage around these extremes and the potential impacts on growth. Since a large majority of turfgrass is grown in urban environments, exposure to warmer temperatures is a reality because these environments will be warmer than areas where weather observations are made.
Figure 4. Trends in the minimum temperature for the summer period (July-September) for Georgia. Downloaded from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance: National Time Series, published September 2019, retrieved on September 17, 2019 from https://www.
ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/
Figure 5. Trends in the minimum temperature for the summer period (July-September) for Iowa. Downloaded from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance: National Time Series, published September 2019, retrieved on September 17, 2019 from https://www.
ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/
One of the significant impacts on all plants is the increasing minimum temperatures. Te higher nighttime temperatures increase the respiration rate and reduce the amount of carbohydrates the plant can store in roots and other structures. Grasses, like us, need cool temperatures to retain physiological function. When the nights are warm or hot, all biological systems experience a level of stress. In grain and fruit crops, exposure to high nighttime temperatures has a negative effect on the quality and quantity of the products. Tese impacts have yet to be fully understood on turfgrass; however, this knowledge could assist in improving management practices.
104 TPI Turf News November/December 2019
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