WATER SUPPLY REDUCTION ON WARM SEASON GRASSES IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT

Irrigation is essential to maintain a good turf quality and to avoid usage restrictions in sports turf. Nevertheless water consumption is one of the most important environmental issues related to turf surfaces. Warm season turfgrass species are often an interesting alternative in order to reduce irrigation needs. Research was conducted to determine water amounts required for a regular growth of warm season turfgrass species in Italy. A daily restoration of 100%, 66%, 33% and 0% of Maximum Evapotranspiration (ETM) not compensated for by rain was applied to varieties of Cynodon dactylon, Zoysia japonica, Paspalum vaginatum, Stenotaphrum secundatum and Pennisetum clandestinum. The data collected during the three years of the study indicated that a daily replenishment equal to 66% of water deficit does not jeopardize turfgrass aesthetic appearance of the tested species, allowing to save approximately 160 mm of irrigation water per year.