Seeded bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon L.) use for turf continues to expand in the transition zone of the United States due to enhancements in cold tolerance and quality. However, superior cultivars such as Fiviera are often expensive orunavailable due to limited supplies. Could blending Riviera with lower quality, less expensive, and perhaps less adapted seeded cultivars such as rizona Common?or Ranglerlead to a predominant Riviera turf over time? Separate trials were initiated in 2004and 2005 at Virginia Tech evaluating the establishment rate, spring green-up, and turf quality of blends of Riviera with Arizona Common or Wrangler at 0, 25, 50, or 75% by weight of pure live seed. As evidenced by enhanced spring green-up and higher visual quality ratings, Riviera dominance within the blends was observed as soon as the spring of the second growing season in both trials. Based on significant differences in mature seedhead height between standard plots of Riviera, Wrangler, and Arizona Common, mean seedhead height data for blends confirmed population shifts toward Riviera in October 2007. Arizona Common in particular offers the potential as a cost-saving seed diluent when blended with Riviera given Riviera inherent advantages in cold hardiness and tolerance to regular close clipping.
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