Effect of late‐fall wetting agent application on winter survival of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens

摘要

Abstract Plant tissue desiccation and low‐temperature exposure are two common causes of winter injury to ultradwarf bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy] putting greens. Unlike low‐temperature exposure, winter damage caused by tissue desiccation can occur regardless of temperature and may be worsened by soil hydrophobicity. Wetting agents are commonly applied to actively growing ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens to remedy the negative effects of soil hydrophobicity. Less is known about the effect of wetting agent applications to dormant ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. This research aimed to quantify the effects of a late‐fall wetting agent application on winter injury and the soil volumetric water content of a sand‐based ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green. Single applications of three wetting agents at two rates were made in early December of 2015, 2016, and 2017 to a ‘TifEagle’ ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green and were compared with an untreated control. Spring green‐up and soil volumetric water content were monitored from March to May of each season. Water drop penetration time tests were conducted twice each season to quantify reductions in hydrophobicity compared with the untreated control. On multiple dates, wetting agent treatments had significantly more green turfgrass coverage than the untreated control. In general, wetting agents reduced water drop penetration times in the top 2 cm of the soil profile. This research suggests that late‐fall or winter applications of a wetting agent can reduce injury and enhance spring recovery of sand‐based ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens.