Influence of late-season iron, nitrogen, and seaweed extract on fall color retention and cold tolerance of four bermudagrass cultivars

• Published in: Crop science Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 273 - 283
• Main Authors: Munshaw, G.C, Ervin, E.H, Shang, C, Askew, S.D, Zhang, X, Lemus, R.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI The Crop Science Society of America, Inc 01.01.2006; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: acclimation; Adaptation to environment and cultivation conditions; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Algae; application timing; Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; Cold; cold tolerance; color; Cultivars; Cynodon dactylon; Cynodon transvaalensis; Fertilizers; frost resistance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Grasses; Iron; iron fertilizers; lawns and turf; macroalgae; Nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient availability; plant extracts; plant nutrition; seasonal variation; turf grasses; turf quality; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Virginia; United States; North America; America; Nitrogen fertilization; Monocotyledones; Production quality; Application time; Cold resistance; Algae; Color; Natural product; Proline; Tolerance; Iron; Nitrogen; Fatty acids; Cynodon; Turf; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Herbaceous plant; Spermatophyta; Thallophyta; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0011-183X; 1435-0653
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2005.0078

Late-season fertilization of bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp. L.C. Rich.) in the transition zone of the United States has traditionally been not recommended. This study was conducted to determine whether late-season fertilization could extend the duration of turfgrass color retention and visual quality without negatively impacting cold tolerance. Field plots of 'Midiron' and 'Tifway' bermudagrasses (C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy), as well as 'Princess-77' and 'Riviera' bermudagrasses [C. dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon] received applications of seaweed extract (SWE) (0.54 kg ha(-1)), N (49 kg ha(-1)), and Fe (1 kg ha(-1)) every 3 wk during the fall of 2001 and 2002. Visual turfgrass assessment showed that cultivar color ratings decreased as the fall progressed, with Princess-77 having greatest color retention in November of both years. Nitrogen was the only treatment to increase turfgrass color ratings relative to the control at the end of each growing season. Stolon samples removed from acclimated plants were artificially frozen to determine freezing tolerance. Midiron displayed the best freezing tolerance followed by Riviera, Tifway, and Princess-77. Chemical treatments did not have a significant effect on shoot regrowth from stolon nodes after freezing. In both years Midiron and Riviera displayed the quickest and greatest amount of spring greenup followed by Tifway and then Princess-77. Cold tolerance indicators proline and linolenic acid were highest in Midiron, followed by Riviera, Tifway, and Princess-77. Nitrogen, SWE, and Fe did not generally have an effect on linolenic acid and no consistent effects of these chemical treatments were noted on proline concentration. The results of this study indicate that judicious N applications during the fall can promote color retention and do not have a negative effect on bermudagrass cold tolerance.