Effect of the season on establishment of some turf grasses under the climatic conditions in eastern Morocco

Abstract

The turfgrass establishment is an important criterion for the choice of turfgrass species. The faster a lawn is established the more benefits it has to offer for landscapers. The objective of this work is to study the growth speed and development of six species. Four of them are cool-season ones (temperate): Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Agrostis stolonifera and Poa pratensis while the other two are warm-season ones (tropical): Pennisetum clandestinum and Cynodon dactylon. The species are seeded in two distinct periods: spring and autumn and are studied under the climatic conditions of the eastern region of Morocco which is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with continental tendency known for its severe cold in winter. The coverage rate is the parameter considered in order to determine the duration of establishment for each species. The study was conducted in the experimental station of the Faculty of Sciences of Oujda. The results show that the establishment pace differs depending on the season and the nature of the species. Autumn is the suitable season for temperate species, while tropical species have shown a faster growth in spring. Lolium perenne and Cynodon dactylon are the fastest species to establish as they need a maximum of 30 days after the seedlings’ development. Poa pratensis is the last species to cover the total area seeded within 50 and 60 days during the two season’s spring and autumn respectively