Paspalum: Irrigating With Seawater

 

Newer varieties of seashore paspalum resemble bermudagrass and may even be able to tolerate irrigation with seawater for limited periods.

Salt-resistant paspalum turfgrass is finding applications around the world in spots where high salinity limits the healthy growth of other varieties.

Most recently, a Georgia-engineered strain is being installed in Dubai, where groundskeepers will irrigate with a mixture of sea and fresh water?EUR??,,????'??+and perhaps even with pure seawater?EUR??,,????'??+according to U.K.-based Hydroturf International.

?EUR??,,????'??The new turf has revolutionized the industry, as it allows for the construction of golf courses in areas which do not have a ready supply of ‘clean’ water,’ said the company?EUR??,,????'???s Colin Baxter. ?EUR??,,????'??This technique will allow Emirates Golf Club the flexibility in future years to irrigate the golf course with a seawater blend, or even straight ocean water. Many projects which were halted due to the high costs of irrigation, have now become economically feasible using this new variety of grass,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.

Hydroturf International, will be supplying Emirates Golf Club with the SeaIsle 1 variety of paspalum, it has been developed by the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia. After seven years of extensive research, combined with careful evaluation of 35 small plot golf courses, SeaIsle 1 was released in 1999 by plant geneticist Dr. Ronnie Duncan. Unlike the earlier medium and coarse bladed paspalum varieties, SeaIsle 1 is similar in texture and wear tolerance to the hybrid Bermuda grass. SeaIsle 1 also has a number of other advantages; it can handle multiple stresses, prolonged drought, high salt levels, low light intensity, water logged ground and extremely high or low soil pH levels.?EUR??,,????'??+www.ameinfo.com