Species for Low‐Input Sustainable Turf in the U.S. Upper Midwest

Abstract

Low‐input sustainable turf (LIST) management represents a resource‐efficient option in maintaining uniform, persistent turf. What species are best suited to such management needs to be established. To this end, 12 hardy species were evaluated for 3 yr in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin: crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. ‘Fairway’, ‘Ephraim’, and ‘Ruff’], streambank wheatgrass [Agropyron riparium Scribn. & Smith ‘Sodar’; syn. Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Smith) Gould subsp. lanceolatus], Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa L. ‘Reubens’), hard fescue [Festuca ovina var. duriuscula (L.) Koch ‘Durar’; syn. F. lemanii T. Bastard], sheep fescue (F. ovina L. ‘Covar’ and common), tall fescue (F. arundinacea Schreb. ‘Alta’), bulbous bluegrass (P. bulbosa L.), alpine bluegrass (P. alpina L.), redtop (Agrostis alba L. ‘Reton’; Agrostis gigantea Roth), roughstalk bluegrass (P. trivialis L. ‘Colt’), colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth. ‘Exeter’; syn. Agrostis capillaris L.), and buffalograss [Buchlöe dactyhides (Nutt.) Engelm. ‘Texoka’ and ‘NE‐315’]. AH were field‐established and compared at three mowing heights: 3.8 cm, 7.6 cm, and no mowing. Quality ratings were based on uniform persistence. Tall fescue and common sheep fescue were the best and most broadly adapted to LIST. In Iowa, hard fescue, Canada bluegrass, and crested wheatgrass also did well. Colonial bentgrass was best adapted in Missouri. Redtop and roughstalk bluegrass grew better in a north‐south area from Wisconsin through central Illinois to Missouri. The buffalograsses excelled in Ohio and southern Illinois. Over all species, the 7.6‐cm mowing height allowed the best turf quality. Specifically, tall fescue, colonial bentgrass, redtop, and common sheep fescue performed best at the 7.6‐cm mowing height. Covar sheep fescue, hard fescue, Canada bluegrass, and Fairway crested wheatgrass could not maintain persistent stands under the 3.8‐cm mowing height. No mowing resulted in intermediate levels of quality with all species. A 7.6‐cm mowing height would be appropriate for testing species in LIST within the seven‐state region used in this study.

Performance of turfgrass under supplemental irrigation and rain‐fed conditions in the Central Great Plains of USA

“…Species/cultivars selected for low‐maintenance turfgrass should have the capability to withstand environmental stresses such as extreme temperature, low moisture availability, low fertility levels and weed competition due to limited pesticide use (Diesburg et al . ). The greater competitive ability of tall fescue against weed invasion makes it a suitable candidate for low‐maintenance turfgrass species where inputs such as pesticide and water application are often reduced (Diesburg et al .…”

“…The greater competitive ability of tall fescue against weed invasion makes it a suitable candidate for low‐maintenance turfgrass species where inputs such as pesticide and water application are often reduced (Diesburg et al . ).…”

Low-Input Turfgrass Species for the North Central United States

“…Diesburg et al (6) evaluated twelve grass species as low‐input turf at seven sites in the NCR for three years. Overall, the best performing species, as determined by plot uniformity and cover, were tall fescue, colonial bentgrass, redtop bentgrass ( Agrostis gigantea Roth), and sheep fescue.…”

The Physicochemical Properties of Soil and Functional Characteristics of Sward on a Grass Airstrip

“…According to Diesburg et al [41], visual merit is not the most important parameter in low-input grass airstrips. The functionality of a grass runway is determined by sward resistance, even distribution on the surface, the ability to stabilize the soil, and limit soil erosion (dusting) and weed growth.…”