Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at New Mexico State University to investigate the effect of seeding rates and ZEBA polymer [starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-propenoic acid) potassium salt] seed coating on the germination and establishment of warm- and cool-season grasses, and cool-season blends and mixtures. Grasses were established at recommended and reduced (50% of recommended) seeding rates with coated and uncoated seeds under two irrigation regimes (98% and 56% reference evapotranspiration). With the exception of โBengalโ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), the polymer coating did not improve germination of the turfgrasses tested 22 days after seeding (DAS). However, at the end of the establishment period (92 DAS), plots established with โBengalโ, Dunes Mix [mixture of โHardtopโ hard fescue (Festuca longifolia), โBaronโ kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), โBarokโ sheep fescue (Festuca ovina)], โPanamaโ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), and Turf Senseโข [mixture of โBaronieโ kentucky bluegrass, โBarlenniumโ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and โBarcampsiaโ tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)] achieved greater coverage (based on visual estimations) when coated seed was used compared with uncoated seed. Establishment was greater for โBengalโ, Dunes Mix, โPanamaโ, Turf Senseโข, and Turf Saverโข [blend of โBarlexas IIโ, โBarringtonโ, and โLabarinthโ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)] when normal seeding rates were applied compared with reduced seeding rates. โBarleriaโ crested hairgrass (Koeleria macrantha) plots did not establish, regardless of the treatments applied. Results showed that seed coating has the potential to improve establishment at recommended and reduced seeding rates and can compensate for less favorable conditions such as reduced irrigation, reduced seeding rate, or for a combination of both. At the end of the establishment period, not all grasses achieved coverage greater than 50%. Further research over a longer establishment period is needed to determine if coated seed can be beneficial in achieving full coverage.
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