Turfgrass Evaluation Under Artificial Shade in the Greenhouse

Abstract

Establishing and maintaining turfgrass in the shade is one of the most challenging problems facing turfgrass managers and home owners. A greenhouse study was initiated to determine the shade tolerance of centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) Hack.], carpetgrass [Axonopus affinis Chase], and selected St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] cultivars (`Floratam', `FX-10', `Seville', and `TR 6-10'). Plants were grown under artificial shade (85% polypropylene shade cloth) and full sun. Actual percent shade (%shade={PAR under shade/PAR under sun}*100) was determined by measuring photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) under shade cloth and full sun adjacent to the shade structure using a quantum sensor. Pots were arranged in a completely randomized block design with four replications. All turfgrasses, except `TR 6-10', had a significant reduction in total dry weight in the shade compared to those in the sun. `TR 6-10' had the highest root, leaf, and total dry weight in the shade. `FX-10' had the lowest root, leaf, and total dry weight in the shade. Plants grown under the shade treatment compared to those in the sun resulted in an average decrease in stolon number of 13 and in total stolon length of 170 cm. In the shade, `Floratam' and `Seville' had the longest stolon internode lengths, while `Floratam' had the longest in the sun. There were significant differences for leaf length between the shade and sun treatments, except for carpetgrass and `FX-10'. `Floratam' and `FX-10' had differences in leaf width between the sun and shade.