Effect of sprigging density and foliar nitrogen on the growth of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis)

Abstract

Turf grasses have been utilized by humans to enhance their environment for more than 10centuries. Aesthetically, lawns enhance the quality of life, contribute to social harmony andcommunity pride, increase property values and compliment other landscape plants. The beautyof any garden largely depends on the greenness of the lawn. The first and foremost criteria fora well establishment and a satisfactory lawn are selection of suitable grass species and methodsof its establishment. Hence, an experiment was laid out to study the effect of different spriggingdensity and foliar nitrogen on the growth and establishment of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylonL. Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis) in floriculture unit of the Department of Horticulture, Facultyof Agriculture, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu during the year 2013-2015. Bermuda grasssprigs were planted in different spacing levels and foliar spray of urea with twelve treatmentcombinations comprising of different levels viz., 10 x 10 cm with 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 15 x 15 cmwith 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 20 x 20 cm with 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 25 x 25 cm with 1%, 1.5% and2%, in factorial randomized block design with three replications. From the results, it wasfound that the earliest spread and ground cover were observed in planting sprigs at closerspacing of 10 x 10 cm in combination with foliar application of nitrogen in the form of urea as2 % for two times at seven and fifteen days after planting.