Turfgrass Cover Sources Vary in Temperature, Light and Moisture Penetration, and Weight

Abstract

Turfgrass managers apply covers to manipulate grass and soil environments. This study evaluated how various cover compositions and colors affect winter temperatures under cover, light and moisture penetration, and wet and dry weights of covers in the field. Seven covers including interwoven translucent polyethylene, gray, white, or orange nonwoven geotextiles, black and white woven polypropylene, and aluminized high‐density polyethylene strips were tested in Blacksburg, VA. Covers were in place December to March of 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 to evaluate bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy, ‘Patriot’) surface temperature moderation. Cover effects on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), moisture penetration (measured as percent change in soil volumetric water content [%SVWC] at 5‐cm soil depth under cover prior to and following a minimum 1.25 cm rain event), as well as cover dry and wet weights in the field prior to and after 0.1 cm irrigation were collected in spring 2016. Considering mean minimum extreme low temperatures, all covers provided significantly higher temperatures than uncovered control in 2013–2014, while in 2014–2015 all covers except for interwoven translucent polythethylene and aluminized high‐density polyethylene strips exceeded the control. Of standard covers, translucent polyethylene had the highest PAR transmission and was always in the top statistical category for mean maximum and daily range temperatures. Orange geotextile had the greatest dry and wet weights and gray and orange geotextiles had the lowest change in %SVWC on a 3% sloped native soil. Understanding differences in cover parameters will aid turfgrass managers in appropriate cover selection.