Mowing height effects on 'TifTuf' bermudagrass during deficit irrigation

Authors: Hejl, Reagan; Conley, Matthew; Serba, Desalegn; Williams, Clinton

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2024
Publication Date: 3/20/2024
Citation: Hejl, R.W., Conley, M.M., Serba, D.D., Williams, C.F. 2024. Mowing height effects on 'TifTuf' bermudagrass during deficit irrigation. Agronomy. 14(3). Article 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030628.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030628

Interpretive Summary: Mowing is among the most routine practice in turfgrass management while deficit irrigation is a practice aimed to maintain turfgrass function while applying water below maximal use rates. As water efficient landscapes is a growing need in the turfgrass community, more information is needed on how to best utilize common management practices, such as mowing, when conservation measures like deficit irrigation are enacted. Over two 8-week experimental runs, this reearch aimed to characterize actual water use, turfgrass visual quality, dry matter production, and root development of a commonly used hybrid bermudagrass when irrigated at full amounts and deficit levels while being mowed at 4 separate mowing heights (2.5 cm, 5.0 cm, 7.5 cm, and 10.0 cm). Visual quality decreased throughout both study periods and most for the deficit irrigation treatments, with visual quality falling below minimum acceptable levels at the lowest irrigation level (0.30 × ETa) 5 weeks into Run A, and 8 weeks into Run B. Dry matter production and visual quality was generally higher at the lower mowing heights (2.5 cm and 5.0 cm) even though water use and root production were greater at the higher mowing heights (7.5 cm and 10.0 cm). Results demonstrate that mowing height can significantly influence bermudagrass water use as well as responses to deficit irrigation. When maintaining ‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass at heights above 2.5 cm, results from this study indicate a lower water use and improved response to deficit irrigation at lower mowing heights (= 5 cm).

Technical Abstract: Development of management plans which lead to water efficient landscapes is a growing need in the turfgrass community. While deficit irrigation as a scheduling method can improve water conservation, more information is desired on how to best leverage other management practices, such as mowing height during deficit irrigation. The objectives of this study were to characterize actual evapotranspiration (ETa), turfgrass quality, clipping production, and root development of ‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis Burt Davy) when irrigated at full (1.0 × ETa) and deficit levels (0.65 and 0.30 × ETa), and cut at 4 separate mowing heights (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 cm) over two 8-week experimental runs. Elevated ETa was observed at the 7.5 cm and 10.0 cm mowing heights compared to the 2.5 cm mowing height in both runs, and the 5.0 cm mowing height in one run. Visual quality decreased throughout both study periods and most for the deficit irrigation treatments, with visual quality falling below minimum acceptable levels at the lowest irrigation level (0.30 × ETa) 5 weeks into Run A, and 8 weeks into Run B. Despite elevated ETa and higher root dry weight at higher mowing heights (7.5 and 10.0 cm), clipping production and visual quality was generally higher at lower mowing heights (2.5 and 5.0 cm) for both full and deficit irrigation levels. Results demonstrate that mowing height can significantly influence bermudagrass water use as well as responses to deficit irrigation. When maintaining ‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass at heights above 2.5 cm, results from this study indicate a lower water use and improved response to deficit irrigation at lower mowing heights (= 5 cm).