Cool-warm season Poa–Cynodon seed mixtures and their turf growth and quality

Abstract

This investigation was conducted to compare Poa and Cynodon turfgrasses and their seed mixtures. In this research the turfgrasses Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. ‘Merion’) and common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.), in monoculture or in mixtures of 0 to 100%, based on number of seeds, were used. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ‘Barball’) (L) was used as control. The seeds were sown in October in 2005 and 2006 in southwest Iran with a dry and moderate climate. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with year as main plot and turfgrass types as subplot. The cultures were maintained as lawns and were mowed from 3 cm above the ground. The turfgrasses were compared by measuring visual quality after winter and summer, chlorophyll index after winter and summer, rooting depth, verdure and root fresh weight, tiller density, and clippings fresh weight. Poa monoculture had high tiller density, root fresh weight and total fresh weight. Lolium monoculture had high rooting depth after winter and clippings fresh weight. Cynodon monoculture quality was poor with regard to many characters, mainly due to fall sowing. The seed mixture composed of 40% Cynodon+60% Poa was the best treatment and resulted in the highest verdure fresh weight, chlorophyll index after winter and summer, visual quality after winter and summer, and established a good turf according to the other characters. This mixture can be used as an alternative in overseeding programmes in areas with soil and environmental conditions similar to the present research site.