Cultural Management and Nitrogen Source Effects on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Cultivars

Abstract

Increasingly, vegetative selections from ‘Tifdwarf’, ‘Tifgreen’, or other hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L). Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy] are slowly replacing Tifdwarf as the bermudagrass of choice for putting greens. The cultivars Champion, MS Supreme, TifEagle, and Floradwarf are examples of released ultradwarf bermudagrasses. The objective of this research was to evaluate these four cultivars, Tifdwarf, and an experimental ecotype (Mobile 9) for turf and overseed quality, color, shoot density, and thatch as affected by cultural management and N source. Management programs were: (i) standard, with two vertical mowings at 2.5 cm deep per year plus topdressing, one core aerification, and monthly summer spiking, or (ii) high, with monthly summer vertical mowing at 1.3 cm deep plus topdressing, monthly summer core aerification, and an additional light topdressing each month. Nitrogen sources were urea or methylene urea, each applied at 4 g N m−2 per month. The high management program was too intensive to maintain turf of acceptable quality, because turf could not recover between frequent vertical mowings. Turf color and quality were often improved by application of soluble N, while thatch depth was unaffected by N source. Thatch depth and shoot density were affected by cultivar, with Tifdwarf and MS Supreme having lower thatch depths throughout much of the study. Quality and density of Poa trivialis L. overseeding were largely unaffected by cultivar or management, indicating that a quality overseed could be established through dense bermudagrass turf without intensive cultivation and that overseeding was not affected by the higher shoot densities of the ultradwarf bermudagrasses.

Brushing Plus Vibratory Rolling Enhances Topdressing Incorporation on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens

“…This warm‐season species requires fewer fungicide and water inputs, as well as fewer in‐season labor inputs than creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L.) (4). However, the aggressive growth habit and high shoot density of ultradwarf bermudagrass can lead to excessive soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation (15).…”

“…Previous research on ultradwarf bermudagrass thatch management has focused on the effects of nitrogen source and cultivation techniques (15,29), but has not addressed the difficulty of incorporating sand topdressing into the turf canopy. The objective of this study was to compare three methods of incorporating sand topdressing following identical topdressing treatments into an ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green.…”

Nitrogen Rate and Mowing Height Effects on TifEagle Bermudagrass Establishment

“…Within 10 yr, patches of off‐type bermudagrass began to appear in Tifdwarf putting greens (Moncrief, 1975), and these patches were often phenotypically different from the original sprigged Tifdwarf (Caetano‐Anolles et al, 1995). Superior off‐types, with shorter internodes and higher shoot densities (Gray and White, 1999; Hollingsworth et al, 2005) were released as new cultivars. TifEagle, an irradiated mutant of Tifway II, is an example of a cultivar with such growth characteristics (Hanna and Elsner, 1999).…”

Cultivar Selection, Cultural Management Practice, and Fungicide Application Influence Leaf Spot and Dollar Spot on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass

“…A plausible reasoning for the observed differences in LSS and DSI among cultural management practices is the increased plant stress from mechanical wounding. Cultural management practices that cause mechanical injury to plant tissues decrease turf quality and expose turfgrasses to pathogen entry and infection (White and Dickens, 1984; Couch, 1995; Guertal et al, 2001; Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Uddin et al, 2008; Vines et al, 2017). Studies of UDB have indicated that increased frequency of cultural management practice application decreases turf quality and increases plant injury (White and Dickens, 1984; Guertal et al, 2001; Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Vines et al, 2017).…”

“…Mechanical injuries to plant tissues are associated with standard VM practices (Uddin et al, 2008). Such injuries render turfgrass plants vulnerable to entry and infection by pathogens and decrease turfgrass quality (White and Dickens, 1984; Guertal et al, 2001; Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Uddin et al, 2008; Vines et al, 2017). Park et al (2016) indicated that research is needed to determine the effects of other cultural management practices on UDB diseases.…”