able and subtle differences due to treatments are difficult to identify as a result of the high variances (Murphy Accurate cover estimates in turfgrass research plots are often diffiet al., 1995). The line-intersect method is commonly cult to obtain because of the time involved with traditional sampling and evaluation techniques. Subjective ratings are commonly used to used for ecological studies in which the occurrence of estimate turfgrass cover, but the data can be quite variable and difficult plants or the distribution of plant types within a plot to reproduce. New technologies and software related to digital image are required (Laycock and Canaway, 1980; Kershaw, analysis (DIA) may provide an alternative method to measure turf-1973). The line-intersect method involves setting up a grass parameters more accurately and efficiently than current techgrid system over an entire plot or a quadrat within the niques. A series of studies was conducted to determine the applicabilplot and counting the number or types of plants found at ity of DIA for turfgrass cover estimates. In the first study, plots each intersection on the grid. The number of intersects containing a range (1-16) of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) where the desired plant material is found is then Pers.] plugs of specific diameter (15.0 cm) were established to repremultiplied by the area of each grid section and divided sent values of turfgrass cover from 0.75 to 12%, by 0.75% increments.by the total sample area for a percentage of each species. Digital images (1280 by 960 pixels) were taken with a digital camera and processed for percent green color to a software package. Estimates

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