Performance of Turf Bermudagrass Hybrids with Deficit Irrigation in the Desert Southwest USA
Source abstract
Abstract
Water scarcity poses a substantial challenge for turfgrass irrigation in the drought- and heat-stressed Desert Southwest region of the United States. Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.), renowned for its exceptional drought resistance, is the predominant warm-season turfgrass in the region. Selecting and using drought-resistant bermudagrass cultivars remains a primary strategy for sustaining the turfgrass industry in the region. This study evaluated 48 hybrid bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy), including two commercial cultivars (‘TifTuf’ and ‘Tifway’, as controls), under 80% × ETo (0.8ET), 60% × ETo (0.6ET) and 40% × ETo (0.4ET) reference evapotranspiration (ETo) replacement irrigation systems at Maricopa, AZ. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with two replications, where the 3 irrigation treatments were assigned to main plots and 48 genotypes were in sub-plots. Analysis of data from two years (2022 and 2023) revealed significant differences among bermudagrass hybrids, irrigation treatments, and their interaction effects. The hybrids exhibited substantial variation for spring green-up, density, turf color, and quality. With the largest deficit irrigation treatment 40% × ETo (0.4ET), OSU2104, OSU2106, and OSU2105 showed greater mean greenness and aesthetic quality scores than recorded for ‘TifTuf’ (6.5), a popular drought-tolerant cultivar. The results highlight the prevalence of genetic variation in germplasm with potential for development of improved varieties for drought tolerance.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Turfgrass Adaptation and Management · Rangeland and Wildlife Management · Seedling growth and survival studies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
USDA-ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA
Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74077, USA
USDA-ARS, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, Temple, TX 76502, USA
Funding
USDA-ARS National Program 215
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