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TURFGRASS SCIENCE

Management Strategies during the Establishment Year Enhance Production and Fitness of Seeded Bermudagrass Stolons

Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546

* Corresponding author (dwilliam{at}ca.uky.edu)

	ABSTRACT

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is an important turfgrass across the transition zone. A common concern is survival of seeded cultivars the first winter after establishment. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum seeding and N rates to enhance stolon production. The cultivar Mirage was seeded in June of 1998 and 1999 at 12.2, 24.4, 36.6, and 48.8 kg pure live seed (PLS) ha^-1. Urea nitrogen was applied as a split-plot treatment at the rates of 48.8, 195.2, 390.4, or 585.6 kg N ha^-1 growing season^-1. Fresh weights of stolons harvested at the end of both growing seasons were greatest at 12.2 kg PLS ha^-1 rate, and decreased significantly as seeding rate increased. The same response to seeding rate was evident when measuring stolon diameters in both years of the study. In 1999, 585.6 kg N ha^-1 produced more stolons than 48.8 kg N ha^-1, indicating a significant positive linear response to N. The opposite was true with stolon diameters, there being a negative linear relationship with total N applied. There were no differences among seeding rates on production of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), but 390.4 kg N ha^-1 produced the most TNCs, showing a significant quadratic response to N. No winterkill was observed in either year of the study.

Abbreviations: PLS, pure live seed • TNC, total nonstructural carbohydrates

	INTRODUCTION

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
BERMUDAGRASS has long been a popular choice for athletic fields as well as golf course fairways and tees across the transition zone. Traditionally, bermudagrass has been established vegetatively with the exception of ‘Arizona Common’, which is established by seed. Vegetative establishment, usually sprigging, is more expensive and may require more time to establish an acceptable turf cover when compared with seeding. It is also the only alternative for hybrid bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy).

Within the past few years, many cultivars established by seed (seeded cultivars) have become available with much improved characteristics compared with Arizona Common. Seeded cultivars are often compared with Arizona Common because it was the first, and until 1982, the only seeded cultivar available to turfgrass managers. The new seeded cultivars show better color, texture, growth habit, and winter hardiness than Arizona Common making them more attractive as alternatives to vegetative propagation of traditional hybrid bermudagrasses.

A common concern with warm season turfgrasses is a lack of winter hardiness. Winterkill is especially a problem with seeded bermudagrass cultivars the first winter after establishment. Researchers in Mississippi reported that the potential for winterkill during the first winter following establishment is a critical factor in deciding whether to use seeded cultivars (Philley and Krans, 1998). Ahring et al. (1975) indicated that new plantings of seeded bermudagrass may be very susceptible to freeze injury, but older plantings of the same cultivar may survive because deep rhizomes are protected from cold temperatures, or that they have become more hardy. Generally, after surviving the first winter, seeded bermudagrasses are able to withstand average winter conditions across the transition zone.

Stolon development and health have been found by Powell and Burrus (A.J. Powell, 2000, personal communication) and Dunn and Nelson (1974) to be important factors in winter survival for bermudagrasses. Stolons may be the source of energy for spring regrowth, as well as a reservoir of viable buds. The larger the size and the more stolons that are present, the better the chance a stand will survive the winter (Dunn and Nelson, 1974).

Carbohydrate levels in vegetative parts of bermudagrass plants are thought to affect the ability of the plant to withstand cold temperatures. The higher the reserves entering the winter, the greater the chance that the plant will survive. Davis and Gilbert (1970) reported that with bermudagrass a reduction in cold tolerance may be due to the plants inability to accumulate sufficient carbohydrate levels.

Lush (1990) states that turf plants sown at different densities will initially have equal plant sizes, thus those at lower densities will have lower biomass. As growth continues, plants sown at the higher density will experience increased competition among individuals that will reduce the growth rate. The populations of both stands, however, may eventually reach a point where the biomass of each will be similar as differences in the size of the plants is compensated for by the differences in density.

One area of confusion with new, seeded cultivars is determination of an appropriate seeding rate. Little information has been reported on bermudagrass seeding rates for managed turf with the exception of extension publications for Arizona Common. Rice and Mazur (1997) seeded bermudagrass at 97.6 kg ha^-1 while Philley et al. (1999) used a rate of 73.2 kg ha^-1. Both studies saw a high percentage of winterkill for all seeded cultivars tested.

The same case that applies to seeding rates of bermudagrass also applies to fertility rates; recommended rates reported are typically for Arizona Common studies or vegetative cultivars. Nitrogen gives the plant a deep green color and also increases vegetative growth. Juska et al (1969) recommended 244 to 488 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 for bermudagrass grown in cooler climates. Schmidt and Blaser (1969) warn against late summer N applications as N may increase winter injury to warm season turfs. Beard (1973) recommended N fertilization at 39 to 88 kg ha^-1 growing mo^-1 but he also warns against excessive amounts or late fall fertilization.

Several studies have looked at the effect of fertilization on bermudagrass carbohydrate levels and winter survival. Trenholm et al. (1998) conducted a study looking at the influence of N and K on bermudagrass growth and TNC concentration. They found that N and K reduced TNC levels in two cultivars of bermudagrass with an influence of day length. Similar research was performed in Mississippi evaluating the response to late season applications of N and K. Potassium did not influence turfgrass color or affect TNC levels at any rate applied. Nitrogen, however, improved both fall and spring color but high rates of N decreased TNC levels (Goatley et al., 1994).

Gilbert and Davis (1971) looked at fertility ratios and found that bermudagrass plants that received only N were the least resistant to cold temperatures. Pettit and Fagan (1974) studied the influence of N on reserve carbohydrates in buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides Nutt.). They found that stolons contained the highest levels of carbohydrate reserves of all plant parts. They also found, however, that these carbohydrate reserves decreased with increased N rates.

This research was designed to examine the effects four N treatments and four seeding rates have on production of stolons with the highest possible carbohydrate levels to maximize survival through the first winter. Answers to these questions could assist turfgrass managers in the transition zone with management practices that maximize winter survival possibly by optimizing seeding and N rates.

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
A field study was conducted at the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station in Fayette County, KY. Plots were established on 10 June 1998 and 1999 with Mirage bermudagrass on a Maury silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic typic Paleudalf) with a pH of 6.4. The Mehlich 3 soil test results indicated that P and K levels were very high. Soil N levels were also very high in 1998. Maury soils are high in organic matter providing mineralized N. Additionally, the 1998 site was previously used for warm season grass experiments, and had received significant amounts of fertilizer N. In the fall of 1998, a winter cover crop of triticale (x Tritiosecale Wittmack, 100.9 kg ha^-1) was established on the 1999 test site to remove as much available N as possible prior to seeding.

Seeding treatments of PLS were 12.2, 24.4, 36.6, and 48.8 kg ha^-1. Nitrogen (48.8 kg N ha^-1) was applied as urea (46-0-0) once at establishment and then every 30, 14, or 7 d continuing to 1 September. This resulted in total N applied in the amounts of 48.8, 195.2, 390.4, and 585.6 kg N ha^-1 for the respective N frequencies each growing season. Plots were mowed three times each week with a triplex reel mower at 1.9 cm with clippings returned.

Two subsamples were removed randomly from the split-plots with a standard 10.2-cm-diam cup cutter at a depth of 5.0 cm in October of each year. Stolons were harvested by removing the soil from the plug, and removing all roots, stems, and leaves. Stolons from each plug were placed in re-sealable plastic bags and fresh weights were determined. Samples were then stored at -20°C. Diameters were determined by selecting the three largest stolons from each sub-sample and then measuring the internodes with a digital micrometer.

In 1999, two additional sub-samples were collected immediately after plots entered dormancy. These samples were placed in liquid N to stop respiration and then packed in dry ice for transport until they could be lyophilized and prepared for TNC analyses. Samples for TNC analyses were ground in a Wiley mill (Thomas-Wiley Intermediate mill) passing a 20-mesh screen. Two 50-mg subsamples from each treatment combination were analyzed for TNC. Free sugars were extracted from the samples by adding 1 ml of 80% (v/v) ethanol. Free sugars were determined by the anthrone assay (Koehler, 1952). Starch concentration was determined by a modified enzymatic method from Smith (1981). TNC was calculated as the sum of free sugar and starch concentrations and expressed as g TNC kg^-1 of dry matter (DM).

Experimental design was a randomized complete block split-plot. Seeding rate treatments were applied to whole plots. Nitrogen treatments were applied to split plots. Treatments were replicated three times. Whole plots were 12.0 by 3.0 m and split plots were 3.0 by 3.0 m. Statistical analyses were performed by PROC MIXED and PROC REG of SAS (SAS Inc., Cary, NC).

	RESULTS

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
1998
No interactions between seeding rates and total N applied were significant for any measurements (Tables 1 and 2). The linear effects of seeding rate were significant for both stolon fresh weights (P = 0.0124) and diameters (P = 0.0588). The effect of seeding rate across all amounts of total N applied showed that the low seeding rate produced both more and larger stolons (Fig. 1 and 2). Tests of the effects of total N applied across all seeding rates on stolon fresh weights and diameters showed no significant differences or discernible trends (Tables 1 and 2).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1. Results of statistical tests of treatment effects on stolon fresh weights in 1998 obtained by the SAS procedure MIXED.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 2. Results of statistical tests of treatment effects on stolon diameters in 1998 obtained by the SAS procedure MIXED.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Effect of four seeding rates across all rates of total N applied on fresh weights of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1998.

View larger version (11K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Effect of four seeding rates across all rates of total N applied on diameters of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1998.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 3. Results of statistical tests of treatment effects on stolon fresh weights in 1999 obtained by the SAS procedure MIXED.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 4. Results of statistical tests of treatment effects on stolon diameters in 1999 obtained by the SAS procedure MIXED.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Effect of four seeding rates across all rates of total N applied on fresh weights of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1999.

View larger version (11K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Effect of four seeding rates across all rates of total N applied on diameters of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1999.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 5. Effect of total N applied per growing season across all seeding rates on fresh weights of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1999.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 6. Effect of total N applied per growing season across all seeding rates on diameters of bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1999.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 5. Results of statistical tests of treatment effects on total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) in 1999 obtained by the SAS procedure MIXED.

View larger version (13K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 7. Effect of four rates of total N applied per growing season on total non-structural carbohydrate levels (TNC) in bermudagrass stolons harvested in 1999.

	DISCUSSION

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Fresh weights of stolons increased as seeding rate decreased for both years of this study. Lush (1990) points out that lower populations of turf will have a lower biomass initially. Because of this low biomass, stolons are able to spread and become larger much easier than if the population were higher.

In 1998, there were no differences in stolon fresh weights due to total N applied. This was due to the fact that existing soil N levels were high. In 1999, however, there was a significant positive linear response to total N applied.

Stolon diameters affected by seeding rates showed nearly the exact same trend for both years of the study, with stolon size decreasing with increasing seeding rates. Hensler et al. (1999) weighed individual stolons from bermudagrass seeded in June and showed very similar results. There was not a response of stolon diameters to total N applied in 1998, but in 1999, the lower total N rates produced the largest stolons.

There were no differences in TNC concentrations among seeding rates. There were, however, differences among rates of total N applied. The 195.2 and 390.4-kg N ha^-1 rates had higher TNC levels than did the highest N rate (Fig. 7). Applications of N fertilizers to turf is known to lower the total non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in leaf and crown tissues (Hull, 1992). White and Schmidt (1990) used a narrow range of N rates and found no effect on carbohydrate levels in stolons of ‘Midiron’ bermudagrass. Trenholm et al. (1998), however, found that N fertilization in Florida decreased TNC levels in two dwarf varieties. Stolon carbohydrate concentrations in this study were in agreement with those reported by Hull (1992).

Bermudagrass has been, and will continue to be, an important turfgrass in the transition zone, especially with constantly improving seeded cultivars. This study indicates that establishment and management practices can have effects on new turfs entering the first winter. Although no winterkill was observed in either year of this study, literature shows that fit stolons and high TNC levels in storage structures, such as stolons, are very important factors in bermudagrass winter survival.

Previous recommendations for seeding and N rates for seeded bermudagrass are 48.8 kg PLS ha^-1 and 48.8 kg N ha^-1 every 2 wk (Powell et al., 1995; Baltensparger and Doxon, 1993). Our research shows that in the transition zone, lower seeding rates and judicial N applications contribute more to the production and fitness of stolons than do higher rates of PLS and N. Based on our studies, we recommend 12.2 to 24.4 kg PLS ha^-1, and 48.8 kg N ha^-1 at establishment, then at 14-d intervals early in the growing season. Nitrogen frequency should be reduced to 48.8 kg N ha^-1 mo^-1 beginning 1 July, terminating no later than the end of August. This regime would result in a total of about 244 kg N ha^-1 applied during the establishment season. If increasing stolon production, size, and TNC levels will enhance winter survival, reduced seeding rates and moderate N fertility should reduce winterkill during the first winter following seeding.

	NOTES

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
Published with the approval of the Director, KY Agric. Exp. Stn. as publication 00-06-90.

Received for publication June 27, 2000.

	REFERENCES

TOP NOTES ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 

• Ahring, R.M., W.W. Huffine, C.M. Taliaferro, and R.D. Morrison. 1975. Stand establishment of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) from seed. Agron. J. 67:229–232.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Baltensperger, A., and L.E. Doxon. 1993. Bermudagrass spring seeding. Guide H-506. New Mexico State Univ.
• Beard, J.B. 1973. Turfgrass: Science and Culture. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
• Davis, D.L., and W.B. Gilbert. 1970. Winter hardiness and changes in soluble protein fractions of bermudagrass. Crop Sci. 10:7–9.
• Dunn, J.H., and C.J. Nelson. 1974. Chemical changes occurring in three bermudagrass turf cultivars in relation to cold hardiness. Agron. J. 66:28–31.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Gilbert, W.B., and D.L. Davis. 1971. Influence of fertility ratios on winter hardiness of bermudagrass. Agron. J. 63:591–593.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Goatley, J.M., V. Maddox, D.J. Lang, and K.K. Crouse. 1994. ‘Tifgreen’ bermudagrass response to late-season application of nitrogen and potassium. Agron. J. 86:7–10.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Hensler, K.L., M.D. Richardson, and J.R. Bailey. 1999. Implications of seeded bermudagrass planting date and morphology on cold tolerance. In J.R. Clark and M.D. Richardon (ed.) Horticultural studies 1998 (Research Series 466). Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn., Univ. of Ark. Div. of Agric., Fayetteville, AR.
• Hull, R.J. 1992. Energy relations and carbohydrate partitioning in turfgrasses. In D.V. Waddington et al. (ed.) Turfgrass. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
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• Koehler, L.H. 1952. Differentiation of carbohydrates by anthrone reaction rate and color intensity. Anal. Chem. 24:1576–1579.
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• Philley, H.W., J.V. Krans, J.M. Goatley, Jr., and V.L. Maddox. 1999. Turf performance of seeded bermudagrass cultivars in Mississippi. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. August 1999. Bull. 1088.
• Powell, A.J., Jr., P.B. Burrus, L.D. Tapp, and R.G. King. 1995. Bermudagrass variety evaluations. p. 53–59. In Kentucky Turfgrass Research 1994-1995. Univ. of Kentucky Agric. Exp. Stn. Prog. Rep. 387.
• Rice, J.S., and A.R. Mazur. 1997. Seeded bermudagrass variety trial. [Online]. Available at http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/hort/sctop/TURFSec/breedgen/breedge4.htm (verified April 23, 2001).
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