Reduction of irrigation on tall fescue and bermudagrass turfs in a mediterranean environment.
Author(s)
Cereti, Carlo Fausto
Rossini, Francesco
Ruggeri, Roberto
Date Issued
2009
Type
Article
Abstract
Irrigation supplies are considerable and expensive to maintain a good turfgrass quality during
summertime in a Mediterranean environment. Consequently, prudent irrigation greatly influences
both management cost and environmental impact of turfgrasses. This study was conducted to
determine water quantities required for normal growth and an aestheticly pleasing appearance of
two turfgrass species in the Central Italy. Five restoration levels of Maximum Evapotranspiration
(ME) were applied to bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and tall fescue Festuca
arundinacea Schreb. The data collected over two years indicated that a periodical irrigation
replenishment (two times a week), equal to 60% of water deficit, was the best solution. This
maintained a sufficient aesthetic appearance, not significatively different from daily irrigation
replacement, even in extremely dry climate conditions. Bermudagrass resulted in a more acceptable
appearance than tall fescue when water stress lasted for a long period of time, while tall fescue
recuperated a good aesthetic appearance as soon as climatic conditions became less severe.
Adopting a 60% ME replacement level, we can save about 120 mm of water (7-year mean) per
irrigation season in central Italy.
Citation
Cereti C.F., Rossini F., Ruggeri R. 2009. Reduction of irrigation on tall fescue and bermudagrass turfs in a mediterranean environment. "Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J." 11: 9-18
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