SEEDBANKING POTENTIAL OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS AND PERENNIAL RYEGRASS IN ATHLETIC FIELDS

摘要

Seedbanking is a practice associated with heavy over-seeding to help athletic field managers sustain turf cover in high traffic scenarios,however,whether a true seedbank is being formed or if multiple inputs offer a source of fresh seed remains unanswered.Kentucky bluegrass was seeded at 30,60,and 120 g m-2 and perennial ryegrass at 150,300,and 450 g m-2,both on bare ground,under two seeding schedules (single vs.multiple),and trafficked for ten weeks during a US football season.Evaluations on percentage cover were made monthly during the season and emerged seedlings from plot cores were evaluated 3,7,and 12 months after seeding to determine seedbanking potential.At 3 months after planting,multiple seedings resulted in 4.5 times and 48 times greater seedling emergence for Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass,respectively,than single seeding.At 7 and 12 months after seeding,very few seedlings emerged from cores of either species.At the end of the traffic season,Kentucky bluegrass cover was 23% greater and perennial ryegrass was 11% greater for a single seeding compared to multiple.Turf managers will maximize turf cover on bare areas by seeding heavily in early fall,and can provide a fresh source of seed through the season with multiple subsequent seedings.No beneficial seedbanking ability was observed with either species.