Evaluation of cool and warm season turfgrasses for initial and vegetative growth parameters under Eastern dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

The significant differences in both the sprouting duration of stolons and ground cover scores among various grass species. Notably, the Bermuda grass variety 'Triploid' exhibited the shortest sprouting time, taking only 15.33 days, in contrast to mexican grass, which took 18.28 days. Additionally, the Bermuda grass variety 'Tifway 419' achieved a higher ground cover percentage score (5.00), however, minimum score of 3.27 recorded for Paspalum vaginatum. Among the evaluated turfgrass genotypes, significant variations were found in stolon length, thickness, number of nodes, leaf length, and leaf width at 180 days after planting. Cynodon dactylon L. Tif dwarf exhibited the longest stolon length (14.17 cm), while Zoysia matrella L. had the shortest (8.12 cm). For stolon thickness, Paspalum vaginatum L. had the highest measurement at 1.92 mm, compared to Zoysia japonica L. at 0.59 mm. In terms of nodes per stolon, Eremochloa ophiuroides L. had the most (9.00), while Zoysia matrella L. had the least (4.17). The number of leaves per stolon increased over time, with Cynodon dactylon L. Tif dwarf showing the highest counts (11.08), while Cynodon dactylon L. Triploid had the lowest (8.00). Leaf length also differed significantly, with Stenotaphrum secundatum L achieving the maximum length (9.40 cm), while Cynodon dactylon L. Bargusto had the shortest (3.20 cm). For leaf width, Cynodon dactylon L. Tif dwarf recorded the greatest width, ranging from 2.33 mm to 2.00 mm, while Cynodon dactylon L. Selection-1 had the smallest, starting at 0.93 mm and reaching 1.35 mm.