A COMPARISON OF CONSTRUCTION TYPES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS: EFFECT ON TURFGRASS QUALITY, DROUGHT AVOIDANCE, AND IRRIGATION WATER USE

B. Leinauer, R. Sallenave, H. Schulz
Subground irrigation systems, also known as subirrigation systems, apply water laterally to turfgrass root zones from perforated tiles buried below the normal depth of root penetration. In this study we compared Cellsystem, a subirrigated straight sand system to a standard United States Golf Association (USGA) and its corresponding sprinkler irrigation system. Both systems describe construction types for athletic fields and other confined turfgrass areas. We hypothesized that subirrigated construction types, such as Cellsystem, save substantial quantities of irrigation water and would provide uniform water distribution compared to standard construction types with sprinkler systems (e.g. USGA system). Research was conducted at Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany over two growing periods to investigate the effects of construction and corresponding irrigation type (Cellsystem vs. USGA type) on overall water use and on drought stress, soil moisture, turf quality, and drought avoidance, of Agrostis stolonifera ‘Penncross’, Festuca rubra trichophylla ‘Barcrown’, and Poa supina ‘Supra’. Turf grown on subirrigated Cellsystem had significantly lower crop water stress indices and significantly greater root mass in soil depths greater than 100 mm. Volumetric water content in the upper 100 mm of the root zone in the Cellsystem plots was significantly higher than sprinkler irrigated plots, while overall irrigation water use in the sprinkler irrigated USGA plots was significantly higher compared to the subground irrigated plots. Of the three turf species tested, Festuca rubra trichophylla showed the highest drought stress tolerance, followed by Agrostis stolonifera. Poa supina exhibited the lowest drought stress tolerance. The study demonstrated that the subground irrigated Cellsystem is a practical and water saving alternative to systems constructed to USGA standards with sprinkler systems.
Leinauer, B., Sallenave, R. and Schulz, H. (2004). A COMPARISON OF CONSTRUCTION TYPES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS: EFFECT ON TURFGRASS QUALITY, DROUGHT AVOIDANCE, AND IRRIGATION WATER USE . Acta Hortic. 661, 123-129
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.15
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.15
subirrigation, Cellsystem, United States Golf Association, USGA, Crop Water Stress Index, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis palustris, Festuca rubra trichophylla, Poa supina
English

Acta Horticulturae