Addressing Misperceptions Regarding Buffalograss Tolerance to Sandy Soils, Traffic, and Shade

Abstract

Buffalograss [Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. syn. Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus] is often reported as being intolerant of shade, traffic, and sandy soils. Historically, these observations were made on early turf‐type cultivars or common types and may not reflect performance of modern cultivars and germplasm selections. As an example, the 1991, 1996, and 2002 buffalograss National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials had evaluation sites consisting of sandy loam to sandy clay loam. One of the four sandy loam sites in the 1991 trial, and five of nine sandy loam–sandy clay loam sites in the 1996 and 2002 tests had buffalograss entries rating 6.0 or greater. We have since successfully established buffalograss on sandy sites with management changes typical of grasses considered adapted to sandy sites. In addition, multiyear shade and traffic studies were conducted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln turfgrass research farm. A Brinkman traffic simulator was used to apply weekly traffic to 104 buffalograss genotypes from mid‐June through October in 2013 and 2014. Following 2 yr of moderate traffic, 70 of the genotypes were minimally affected by the traffic treatment. Shade tolerance studies were started in 2009 and 2013. Three buffalograss genotypes rated in the top 6% of 54 genotypes evaluated when grown under 60% shade cloth in the 2009 study. In 2013, four buffalograss entries grown under 60% shade cloth rated in the top 12% of 34 evaluated genotypes. A comparison of relative performance of 16 genotypes in common among the 2009 and 2013 shade studies highlight significant variability in performance under different environmental conditions and the need for revisiting historical recommendations.