Turf Characteristics And Key Management Practices In Centipedegrass

Centipedegrass requires lowest maintenance because its good charactistics in infertile-resistance, drought-resistance, disease-resistance, minium mowing requirement. It is a Chinese native turfgrass species could be widely used urban landscape and sports fields. In this paper, we evaluated the turf quality components of centipedegrass selections collected from various climate zones in China, screened the pre-emergence herbicides during centipedegrass establishment period and postemergence herbicides for the weed control in centipede turf, and tested the overseeding time with perennial ryegrass. The main results were as follows:1. The turf quality components 11 centipedegrass selections, 2 centipedegrass varieties and bermudagrass"419", zoysia"zenth", seashore paspalum"salam"were compared in a field plot study. The results showed that the green period of all centipedegrass selections except No. 4 were longer than that of"Tifblair", a US centipede variety with the No. 7 selection the longest at 237 d, which was longer than zoysia'zenth'(234 d) and seashore paspalum'salam'(236 d). Turf textures of all selections were finer than that of'Tifblair', and with the best in the selection No. 7, which was equivalent to the texture of zoysia'zenth'. Field drought-resistance performances of all selections were also higher than that of'Tifblair', and the No. 7 selection was better than zoysia'zenth'and bermudagrass'419', but lower than seashore paspalim'salam'. The green periods of all centipedegrass including 11 selections and 2 varieties were shorter than that of bermudagrass'419', but equivalent to zoysia'zenth'and seashore paspalim'salam'. From this comparison study, No.7 centipedegrass selection performed the best and could be used for the further centipedegrass breeding.2. Five pre-emergence herbicides including Oxadiazon, Trifluralin, Barricade, S-metolachlor and Flazasulfuron were tested during the centipede turfgrass establishment period. The results showed that Oxadiazon will cause a direct and temporary leaf injury after herbicide application, but the injury was gradually recovered. Flazasulfuron caused significant and continuous injuries and growth inhibition to centipedegrass. Barricade, Turfluralin and S-metolachlor were all safe to centipedegrass, with no significant injuries occurred after their applications and all growth parameters measured were higher than the control. Barricade performed the best in the weed control among these three safety herbicides, and could be recommended for the weed control during the centipedegrass establishment.3. Six postemergence herbicides including Starane, Sethoxydim, Quinclorac, Clincher, Fencer and Flazasulfuron were tested after the centipedegrass'Civil'establishment. The results showed that Flazasulfuron caused significant and continuous injuries and growth inhibition to centipedegrass. Starane and Quinclorac caused a direct and temporary leaf injury after herbicide application, but the injury was gradually recovered. Clincher caused significant and temporary growth inhibition to centipedegrass, but produced no chlorosis. Sethoxydim was the safe herbicides to centipedegrass, Fencer caused light injuries after the applications, but the injury was gradually recovered. For weed control, Flazasulfuron performed best in the weed control among these six postemergence, followed by Clincher, Fencer, Sethoxydim, Quinclorac, Starane. Combined with the centipedegrass safety and the weed control results, Sethoxydim was the best herbicide and could be recommended for weed control in centipedegrass turf.4.Five Overseeding dates including September 27, October 12, October 27, November 11 and November 26 were selected to overseed perennial ryegrass in centipedegrass turf. The results showed overseeding in September 27 and October 12, perennial ryegrass could grow and cover the turf before winter, and turf quality was maintained above acceptable level in the winter. Overseeding in October 27, November 11 and November 26, perennial ryegrass coverage were low and turf qualities did not reached the acceptable level in winter. Although the spring turf qualities of all treatments overseeded before November 11 could reach the acceptable level, the top quality still were the treatments of overseeded in September 27 and October 12. During the spring turfgrass species transition, all overseeding date treatments performed well with the perennial ryegrass gradually disappearing and naturally transferred into centipedegrass turf. For the all season turf performance, including fall, winter and spring, September 27 to October 12 could be recommended as suitable overseeding time for centipedegrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass in Shanghai.