Yield and quality of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) response to the combined effects of wastewater and potassium application in the Mediterranean Basin

摘要

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon, Peers) is used very often on the fairways and tees of golf courses due to its tolerance to drought, high temperatures and damages. The objective of this work is to study the response of this cultivar to the combined effects of municipal wastewater and two levels of potassium fertilization, during Spring and Summer. The experimental design known as sprinkle point source was used to simulate the various levels of wastewater application, expressed by the crop coefficient kc. As concluding remarks, it may be seen that The irrigation water amount is the most pronounced limiting production factor of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactilon, Peers), when compared with potassium fertilization, but it is possible that there is a positive interaction between water and irrigation. This response is modulated by evaporative air conditions since lower yields were obtained in summer. On the other hand, if the potassium fertilization is increased, two situations may occur: 1) with high amounts of water application, leaching problems may occur, mainly on sandy soils, and production may decrease; 2) if potassium fertilization increases, and irrigation water decreases, yield decreases due to the increase of salinity (potassium fertilizers are salts), mainly on salt affected soils.