PERFORMANCES OF SOME COOL SEASON TURFGRASS SPECIES IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT: I. Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Poa pratensis L., and Agrostis tenuis Sibth

Abstract

The commitment to turf research is more recent and is challenged by the diversity of climatic conditions occurring throughout the Anatolian peninsula in Turkey, thereby complicating the recommendation of species and cultivars. Assessing the peculiarities of turfs during the growing period and the efficient use of turf for establishing lawns requires field evaluation of the existing cultivars particularly in the sites with a Mediterranean climate. Our study is aimed at evaluating the adaptability and quality of the popular cultivars (introductions) of cool season turfgrass species in a Mediterranean site in western Turkey, Bornova/IZMIR. Six cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), four cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), four cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and four cultivars of colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth) were tested for 3 years in a replicated experimental block group design. Turf cover, colour and quality traits of each cultivar in each species were evaluated by using a visual score (1-9) and assessed in each season from 2003 to 2005. Cultivars of tall fescue and to some extent perennial ryegrass species were better able than those of Kentucky bluegrass and colonial bentgrass to cope with the existing Mediterranean climatic condition. All species performed better in winter, spring and autumn than summer season, except for tall fescue. Kentucky bluegrass and colonial bentgrass cultivars were not found recommendable for Mediterranean environment.