Autumn terms of sowing of turf grasses and legumes and their initial development

Abstract

The most frequent way to establish turfgrass in the climatic conditions of the Czech Republic is sowing during spring period. The seedlings are endangered by lack of soil moisture and by high temperatures if irrigation is no available. One of the possibilities how to increase probability of successful turfgrass establishment in warm areas which suffer by low amount of precipitation is autumn term of sowing. Eight grass species and subspecies and two legumes were sown in three autumn terms (September, October and November) during 2009 and 2010. The shortest time for seedling emergence was found in average of all terms at Medicago lupulina and Trifolium repens (9 days). Lolium perenne (14) and Festuca arundinacea (17) were the fastest emerged grasses. On the other hand the longest emergence time was realised at Poa pratensis (23), Festuca rubra ssp. trichophyla (22) and Festuca ovina (21). Plants sown in September emerged in 10 days, in October 12 and in November in 29 days. September term was suitable for all used species but November term underwent most successfully Festuca rubra ssp. commutata (23% soil cover in April next year) and Lolium perenne (19%). November term was not acceptable for legumes.

Keywords

• turfgrass
• overwintering
• autumn sowing
• grasses and legumes