Evaluation of fall traffic tolerance and surface playability of selected bermudagrasses

Bermudagrass [Cynodon spp. (L.) Rich.] is the most preferred turfgrass species for athletic fields and golf courses in the southern and transition zones of the United States. It is also extensively used turfgrass species for sod production. Traffic tolerance is an important trait for turf in both the athletics and golf industries. Traffic injury caused by foot or athlete-surface interaction is one of the most critical problems athletic field managers face in maintaining the surface playability and aesthetic quality of sports fields. A 2-year field study was conducted on a Norge loam soil in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to evaluate 9 commercially available and 87 experimental bermudagrasses for fall traffic tolerance, fall color retention, and spring green-up. Twenty-five of these bermudagrasses were also evaluated for sod tensile strength and sod handling quality. Under traffic, 14 experimental and 4 cultivars were in the top statistical group on each date for each variable. Among these entries, 17-5200-4x11, 17-4200-19x9, 'Bimini', 'OKC1134 (NorthBridge), and OSU1664 also showed minimal variation from non-trafficked to trafficked conditions suggesting excellent traffic tolerance. The entries 18-8-1, 17-5200-31x3, an 'U-3-SIU' had excellent fall color retention under non-trafficked conditions, while the entries 18-8-3, 18-9-2, 17-5200-3x23, and 17-5200-4x11 shown excellent fall color retention when trafficked. Excellent spring green-up was demonstrated by entries OSU1609, 'OKC1131' (Tahoma 31), OSU1117, and OSU1638 across both traffic treatments. Simulated traffic stress reduced the shear strength and increased the surface hardness over time potentially due to compaction. Shear strength of 'DT-1' (TifTuf) and Tahoma 31 and surface hardness of NorthBridge were least affected by traffic stress. Simulated traffic stress reduced the fall color retention of all cultivars but enhanced the spring green-up of Astro, Bimini, and TifTuf. Bimini demonstrated the greatest mean sod tensile strength but was not statistically different from 18-7-1, 18-8-4, 18-8-7, NorthBridge, or TifTuf. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis showed a positive correlation (r=0.62) between sod tensile strength and sod handling quality and a positive correlation (r=0.66) between sod tensile strength and shear strength. The sustainability and surface playability of athletic fields in the transition zone can be enhanced by selecting bermudagrass with good fall traffic tolerance, fall color retention, early spring green-up, and surface playability characteristics

Persistence and Surface Playability of Nine Bermudagrass Cultivars under Simulated Fall Traffic

Traffic injury caused by foot- or athlete-surface interaction is one of the most critical problems athletic field managers face in maintaining the surface playability and aesthetic quality of athletic fields. Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most widely used turfgrass species on athletic fields in the transitional climatic zone. A 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate nine bermudagrass cultivars for their persistence and surface playability under simulated fall cleat traffic. The experiment was conducted in Stillwater, OK, on a natural loam soil. Treatments were arranged as a split-block design with three replications. Traffic was applied for 6 weeks in Fall 2019 and 2020 using a Baldree traffic simulator, which generated 10 traffic events per week; each traffic event resulted in 678 cleat marks/m2. ‘Bimini’ was generally found to be the most persistent grass under traffic for aesthetic properties, and ‘Astro’ and ‘Tifway’ were the least persistent. Surface playability was affected by simulated traffic stress as shear strength (SS) declined and surface hardness (SH) increased, over time. ‘Bimini’ had greater SS than ‘Astro’ and ‘OKC1131’ (Tahoma 31®) by 1.9 and 1.4 N·m, respectively. SS of ‘DT-1’ (TifTuf®) and Tahoma 31 and SH of ‘OKC1134’ (NorthBridge®) were least affected by simulated traffic stress. Overall, surface playability characteristics of NorthBridge, ‘Bimini’, ‘OKC1119’ (Latitude 36®), TifTuf, Tahoma 31, and ‘Riley Riley’s Super Sport’ (Celebration®) were least affected by traffic. Findings illustrate bermudagrass cultivars can vary in visual persistence and surface playability

Effect of Heading Back on Photosynthesis, Yield and Fruit Quality in Pear

A field study was conducted to examine the effect of low headed back of pear plants on photosynthesis, yield and fruit quality in pear trees cv. Patharnakh. Plants were maintained at heights of 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, 2.5 m and 3.0 m from ground level by removing top of the canopy during dormant season, while the control trees were not given any pruning treatment. The photosynthesis rate (Pn) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) were taken from April to July at fortnightly interval. Highest Pn of leaves trees was observed at morning time and it showed a positive relationship with PAR received. Both increased with advancement in season and recorded maximum in the 2nd fortnight of June, thereafter declined slightly. PAR and Pn increased with intensity of the pruning. Upper canopy of all the treatments recorded highest photosynthesis rate. Fruit yield per tree increased as the pruning height was raised and was recorded maximum in 2.5 m level of pruning. Fruit size enlarged linearly with the intensity of pruning. Pruning treatment improved soluble solids content of fruit

Wait or escape? Contrasting submergence tolerance strategies of rorippa amphibia, rorippa sylvestris and their hybrid

Contains fulltext : 94162.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Natural variation of submergence tolerance among arabidopsis thaliana accessions

Contains fulltext : 92111.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)2 p