Turf Quality Characteristics of Native and Foreign Genotypes of Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Response to Different Levels of Mowing Height

Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

• Rahim Amirikhah ¹
• Nematollah Etemadi ¹
• Mohammad Reza Sabzalian ²
• Ali Nikbakht ³

¹ Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

² Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

³ Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Keywords

• Mowing Height
• Turf Color
• Green Cover
• Turf Quality

Main Subjects

• Ornamental plant science

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Turfgrass has a unique role in the aesthetics of urban landscapes and, definitely, provides a suitable surface for recreational sports/ activities. However, turfgrass requires high life-cycle costs, including fore fertilizer, water use, and high mowing rates, to maintain acceptable quality (Bread, 2002). The replacement of common turfgrass with native turfgrass species, was suggested as an important strategy for efficient water usage in urban green spaces. The native grass species are attributed to their tolerance of water shortage (Carrow, 1995). Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) is a more desirable turfgrass in the transitional climatic zones due to its drought avoidance as well as tolerance to shade, salinity, and warm temperatures stresses (Schiavon et al., 2021). However, the main reasons for its lack of use in landscapes and sports fields are its rough leaf texture, insufficient tolerance to low mowing height, and slight leaf tip burn during the winter (Shimizu, 2009; Schiavon et al., 2021). Therefore, it is very important to identify genotypes of native tall fescue that have tolerance to low mowing heights for use as turfgrass. The present research was conducted to evaluate the different aspects of turfgrass quality in native and foreign tall fescue genotypes in response to different levels of mowing height.

Material and Methods

In this study, 12 genotypes including, six native genotypes and six foreign ones of tall fescue were used as plant materials. Seeds from each genotype were broadcasted at 25 g/m² in plastic pots filled with loam soil. Following seeding, the surface of each pot was covered with a 5-mm layer of mulch (manure) to facilitate germination. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, with three replications and two pots in each replicate. Treatments are arranged in a 12×3 factorial scheme, with 12 genotypes and three mowing treatments. After establishment, tall fescue genotypes were subjected to different heights of mowing as follows: 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 cm. Several indices, including shoot growth reduction, dry weight of clipping, turf quality, turf color, turf cover, turf stiffness or softness, and low-mowing tolerance, were evaluated during the experiment.

Results and Discussion

Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for turf characteristics such as visual quality, turf cover, turf color, and low-mowing tolerance across genotypes. Furthermore, there was no significant interaction between genotype and mowing height on turf characteristics, indicating similar patterns of genotypes in response to different mowing heights. The results showed that higher mowing heights (4.0 and 6.0 cm) enhanced turf quality, turf color, and turf cover, as well as turf softness, in all the tall fescue genotypes. The most suitable level of mowing height in tested genotypes was 6.0 cm, although some genotypes, including 75B and Pacer, had good tolerance at the level of 4.0 cm. Regardless of the genotype, the data support the general mowing height recommendation for tall fescue of 4.0 to 6.0 cm. Based on the results of cluster analysis and principal component analysis, the genotypes were assigned to 3 clusters, and the 75B genotype from cluster 3 exhibited the highest ratings for visual quality (7.24), green cover (85.92%), color (7.60), and low mowing tolerance (2.11), as well as the lowest leaf width (2.95 mm) and growth reduction (27.66%) during the experiment, suggesting that the 75B genotype exhibited the best quality and performance against mowing shock.

Conclusion

Results of this study revealed that several turf characteristic differences exist among native and foreign genotypes of tall fescue, and not many genotypes can be used in landscape as turf-type tall fescue. Furthermore, mowing heights in the range of 4.0–6.0 cm provide acceptable turf quality for the genotypes tested. Based on the results of this study, 75B (a native genotype) was selected as a superior genotype for its turf quality and tolerance to low moving heights, and ability to be used as turfgrass in landscapes.