Influence of Planting Date on Growth of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)

Abstract

Bermudagrass plugs were transplanted from the greenhouse to the field at monthly intervals from March through October at Shafter, CA. Emergence began from the March plantings when soil temperatures at a depth of 5 cm reached 17 C. Although the initial growth of March, April, and May plantings was very slow, these plantings eventually produced about 60% more dry matter (2100 g/m2) than June, July, and August plantings (1300 g/m2) when harvested in December. At 8 weeks after planting, June to August plantings accumulated 120% more dry matter (460 g/m2) than March to May plantings (210 g/m2). At 12 weeks, dry matter accumulation was greatly reduced by shorter photoperiods and cool temperatures for March and September plantings (160 g/m2) when compared to all intermediate plantings (700 g/m2). All plantings, except October, produced rhizomes (15 to 120/m2) and seeds (154 to 73400/m2) before killing frosts occurred in late November. Although rhizomes and seeds were not collected until the 12-week harvest for the March to May plantings, these plantings produced or tended to produce the greatest number of rhizomes (85/m2) and seeds (49300/m2) by December. Rhizomes and seeds from the June to September plantings were collected within 8 weeks, indicating that declining photoperiods hastened rhizome and seed production.