Researchers at Oklahoma State University and Mississippi State University are evaluating a turfgrass system that combines bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass to improve year-round turf quality while reducing irrigation needs in transition-zone climates.
States in the transition zone, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Mississippi, experience both extreme summer heat and harsh winter freezes. Warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass can go dormant during winter, while cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass can require substantial water during summer.
The research project is evaluating whether combining the two grasses, known as bluemuda turfgrass, can provide year-round green turf while reducing irrigation needs and maintenance costs.
A common practice for maintaining green turf year-round in Oklahoma and surrounding states is to overseed bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass each year. For a typical 1.3-acre football field, researchers estimate bluemuda turfgrass could reduce initial seed costs by up to 45% compared with the traditional system. If Kentucky bluegrass persists for multiple years, long-term savings could be greater.
In Mississippi, researchers are evaluating whether the bluemuda system can provide year-round green turf without the annual expense of overseeding. The system could benefit field managers overseeing winter and spring sports such as soccer, baseball and softball.
The project began in June and is studying bluemuda turf at two research locations in Oklahoma and one in Mississippi.
Researchers are evaluating six bermudagrass varieties and 10 Kentucky bluegrass varieties in 60 different combinations to determine which combinations perform best across the three locations. The researchers noted that the two grasses grown together are expected to perform differently than bermudagrass and perennial ryegrass, making evaluation across multiple locations important.
Source: Oklahoma State University, "Bluemuda turfgrass research explores water savings and year-round green sports fields"