Rooting characteristics of turf grass species planted under different methods of establishment

The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the rooting characteristics of turf grass species planted with two different methods of establishment. A two factorial experiment with two methods of establishment and four turf grass species was laid out in a randomized block design replicated thrice during the year 2014-2015. The rooting characteristics, such as number of roots per stolon, root length and distribution, root diameter, root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) were studied during the course of investigation. The results showed that Bermuda grass planted with dibbling method of establishment recorded significantly higher number of roots, root length and distribution, RFW, RDW, RLD and RMD, whereas lowest rooting characteristics were exhibited by Korean grass planted with turf plastering method of establishment. The differences in RLD and RMD among different turf grass species observed to be related to the method of establishment adopted. Deep rooting species may have an advantage in absorbing the soil moisture from the deeper layers of the soil particularly during the water deficit periods thereby resulting in higher quality turf throughout the year.