Evaluating Turfgrasses for Shade Tolerance¹

Abstract

Short‐duration growth chamber and field techniques are described for studying shade tolerance of pot‐grown seedling turfgrasses. Performance of eight selections each of bluegrass and red fescue grown at four light intensities from seed to 8 weeks in a growth chamber was evaluated. Varying light intensities were achieved by growing the grasses on shelves in a step‐like design so that the lowest light level was farthest from the illumination source. The four light levels in the growth chamber were measured at 3,000, 1,500, 500, and 230 ft‐c. A field study in natural deciduous shade which permitted entrance of approximately 5% of incident sunlight was used to concurrently evaluate 57 strains of Kentucky bluegrass, 1 lot of Canada bluegrass, 1 lot of roughstalk bluegrass, 18 strains of red fescue, 1 hard fescue, and 8 strains (including 3 species) of bentgrass. Both methods are feasible techniques for evaluating turfgrasses for shade tolerance. The field method has the advantage of concurrent evaluation of large numbers of turfgrasses under natural conditions. Performance of the red fescues in shade as a group was superior to that of the bluegrasses. ‘Golfrood’ red fescue was the outstanding cultivar and demonstrated superior shade tolerance in both the growth chamber and field.

Variation in fine fescue taxa response to simulated foliar shade

“…However, in a greenhouse experiment, Smalley (1981) showed that HD Biljart produced more tillers under decreased PPF after 20 wk of treatment compared with CH ‘Jamestown’, CH ‘Ruby’, ST ‘Pennlawn’, and ST ‘Wintergreen’; to our knowledge, this is the only study showing a HD cultivar exhibiting improved growth compared with CH and ST under reduced irradiance. Overall, HD cultivars were shown to be the poorest performing under foliar shade in previous research (Gardner & Taylor, 2002; Wood, 1969), which agrees with our findings.…”

Effect of Shade and Fertility on NO3‐N Accumulation, Carbohydrate Content, and Dry Matter Production of Tall Fescue1

“…has been accomplished in brush areas of eastern Oklahoma and Missouri after aerial herbicide controJ. 3 The microclimate created by dead standing brush seems well suited to establishment and growth of tall fescue, which has good shade tolerance (9,16). It has been reported that fescue grown under 55% shade has a 5-day-shorter germination time than nonshaded fescue (10).…”

Evaluation of Kentucky Bluegrass and Red Fescue Cultivars for Sod Production1

“…Wood (12) reported significant differences in turf performance for Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue when grown in shade. He contended that the performance of red fescues as a group was superior to that of Kentucky bluegrasses under shade conditions.…”