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- Title
Increasing mowing height and nitrogen fertility does not enhance unirrigated centipedegrass summer drought stress.
- Authors
Adams, Mike; Beasley, Jeffrey; Kuehny, Jeff; Watson, Dylan
- Abstract
Proper N fertilization and higher mowing heights are recommended to enhance rooting for greater turfgrass summer drought stress. To examine the effects of these primary cultural practices on centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.] drought response in the mid‐Southern United States, a study was conducted to evaluate four mowing heights (1, 2, 3 and 4 inches) and N fertilization versus no fertilization. During the study, roots were periodically harvested at upper (0–3 inches) and lower (3–6 inches) soil depths, and roots were analyzed for architecture which included root length (RL) and surface area (SA), and root weight (RW). In July, plant‐soil cores were subjected to 36‐day drought simulation under greenhouse conditions. All turfgrass exhibited a pattern of decreasing leaf quality as drought progressed with unfertilized treatments maintaining acceptable leaf color (≥5) for 19 days at 5.9 compared to 4.8 for fertilized centipedegrass regardless of mowing height. In the field, root architecture and biomass across all mowing heights, fertilities, and soil depths peaked at 883.9 inches, 35.6 in2, and 5.8 grains for RL, SA, and RW, respectively, six weeks prior to drought simulation (WDPS) before declining to 740.5 inches, 29.6 in2, and 4.9 grains at the initiation of the drought simulation. The inability of N fertility and mowing height to enhance root growth particularly from spring into summer indicates soil temperatures may be a factor in centipedegrass root growth and thus drought stress avoidance. Plain Language Summary: Current practices suggest both raising the mowing height and proper nitrogen fertility of turfgrass will increase its drought tolerance. However, there is limited peer‐reviewed data to substantiate these claims for Louisiana or much of the deep South. The purpose of this study was to test this idea under Louisiana's subtropical growing conditions. After subjecting centipedegrass to varying mowing heights and levels of nitrogen fertilization, roots were analyzed from spring into summer with soil cores taken in summer and placed under drought simulation. Roots were measured for changes in length, mass, and surface area. The results of the study indicate that the roots did not benefit from either a raised mowing height, or higher nitrogen fertility, in terms of drought tolerance most likely due to increasing soil temperatures. This challenges the conventional wisdom and should encourage more research to be conducted in this area.
- Subjects
LOUISIANA; FERTILITY; DROUGHTS; MOWING; LEAF color; SOIL depth; DROUGHT tolerance
- Publication
Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 2024, Vol 10, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2374-3832
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/cft2.20260