Tall Fescue Mowing Height Effects under Simulated Athletic Field Traffic

Author:

Thoms Adam W.1,Dalsgaard Tim O.1,Lindsey Alex J.2,Christians Nick E.1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, 2206 Osborn Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA

2. Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Abstract

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) offers an alternative to kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) for use on athletic fields. Tall fescue has the ability to withstand athletic field traffic, but little is known about the best management practices such as optimal height of cut (HOC). A 2-year study was conducted on established ‘Snap Back’ tall fescue grown over a native soil root zone to determine optimal HOC under simulated athletic field traffic. Plots were maintained at various HOC treatments (1.5, 2, or 3 inches) for the duration of the growing season. Twenty-five simulated traffic events were applied each fall with a modified Baldree traffic simulator. The percentage of green cover (GC) loss per traffic event by HOC varied between years. In 2017, the 1.5-inch HOC improved traffic tolerance (–1.7% GC per event) compared with the other HOC treatments (–2.6% GC per event) in terms of percentage of GC. In 2018, the HOC did not have an impact on traffic tolerance. Differences in traffic tolerance between years could be a result of differences in precipitation (78 mm in 2017, 6 mm in 2018) during the period when traffic occurred, which suggest that the lower HOC performs better under wet conditions compared with the greater HOC. There were no differences among treatments for the safety variables measured (surface hardness, rotational resistance, and soil moisture).

Publisher

American Society for Horticultural Science

Subject

Horticulture

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