Landscape Architect Articles

Turf Grass Drought Study06-25-07 | News

Turf Grass Drought Study

Because none of the grasses in the 4-inch soil depth survived, initial study data focused on the grasses which survived in unrestricted native soil. Among those grasses and cultivars were differences in the time to leaf firing as well as the type and amount of firing.

While the first year of a two-year study on the drought tolerance of warm-season South and Central Texas turf grasses is complete, more research is needed, said Dr. David Chalmers, Texas Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist.

Initial testing was done last year on 25 turf grasses and cultivars using a 5,000-square-foot drought simulator located on San Antonio?EUR??,,????'?????<

At the site, 200 grass plots measuring 4???4 feet were subjected to 60-day drought conditions. These conditions were maintained using a rain-out shelter?EUR??,,????'?????<

Under the conditions of the study, no grasses in the 4-inch soil depth survived the 60-day simulated drought, Chalmers said. But all 25 grasses with a native soil depth of 18 inches or more survived.

Grasses were evaluated visually for drought performance, and were assigned ratings from one to nine based on how they responded to and recovered from the drought.

This data was used by the San Antonio Water System to help develop a list of approved grasses for use in new construction. These include the bermudagrass varieties of Celebration, Common Bermuda, GN1, Grimes EXP, Tex Turf, TifSport and Tifway 419; the zoysiagrass varieties of El Toro, Empire, Jamur and Palisades; the St. Augustinegrass variety Floratam, and all buffalograss varieties (https://www.saws.org/conservation/Ordinance/TurfGrass/index.shtml).

Source: High Plains Journal