C. Pornaro¹, R. Masin¹, S. Macolino¹ and M. Richardson^2
1 Department of Agronomy Food Natural Resources Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
² Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, U.S.A.

SUMMARY Turfgrass mixtures composed of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrassare common in transition-zone environments. However, it is unclear if the botanical composition of these mixtures is stable over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of botanical composition of four tall fescue/Kentucky bluegrass mixtures subjected to three different mowing heights (20, 32, or 62 mm) over a five-year period. A field study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Padova University (Italy). Four turfgrass mixtures composed of tall fescue and ‘Nublue Plus’ Kentucky bluegrass were seeded in September 2010. Tall fescue cultivars were considered either rhizomatous types (‘Rhambler SRP’, ‘Traverse SRP’), or traditional, non-rhizomatous types (‘Lucky Selen’ and ‘Lexington’). The percentage of each species in the mixtures was evaluated each spring from 2011 to 2015. The mixtures with rhizomatous tall fescue proved to be better in sustaining a balance with the Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass became more dominant in the mixtures containing the non-rhizomatous tall fescue cultivars and at high mowing heights. Keywords mixture stability, mowing heights, relative abundance, transition zone

Significance of this study What is already known on this subject? Mixing tall fescue with Kentucky bluegrass improves quality and stress resistance of turfgrass. However, Kentucky bluegrass percentage is not stable over time. What are the new findings? Tall fescue rhizomatous type cultivars avoid the possibility that Kentucky bluegrass becomes dominant in the mixture giving a more stable botanical composition. What is the expected impact on horticulture? A tall fescue cultivar able to maintain Kentucky bluegrass percentage under 50% seems to assure a better turf quality also in the long period.

E-mail: stefano.macolino@unipd.it  

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Received: 9 April 2020 | Accepted: 28 June 2020 | Published: 25 August 2021 | Available online: 25 August 2021