Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 9:45 AM
337-8
Traffic and Soil Compaction Effects on Goosegrass and Bermudagrass Turf.
Goosegrass is a serious weed in golf and sports bermudagrass turf. The objectives of this study were to determine whether goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.) infestation in bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) turf occurs more in traffic and compacted areas due to goosegrass tolerance to soil compaction. Goosegrass cover, plant density, and soil penetration resistance were measured in bermudagrass golf tees and softball field foul areas in traffic and no-traffic areas. Two greenhouse studies determined the effect of artificial soil compaction on growth of bermudagrass and goosegrass using a Margate soil (siliceous, hyperthermic Mollic Psammaquent). Goosegrass and bermudagrass were evaluated growing separately and together under three (1.14, 1.24, 1.33 g cm-3 bulk density) and two (1.07 and 1.26 g cm-3 bulk density) levels of soil compaction respectively. Other treatment factors were nitrogen fertilization rate, 288 and 144 Kg ha-1, and mowing height, 25.4 and 12.7 mm. Goosegrass plant density and cover were higher (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) on traffic areas of golf tees and softball field foul areas, compared with no-traffic areas. Soil penetration resistance did not reach values to become critical for root growth on traffic areas. When species were growing separately, bermudagrass biomass showed no effect of soil compaction, but goosegrass root biomass was decreased (P<0.05). When species were growing together, goosegrass biomass was not affected by any treatment, but bermudagrass root biomass was reduced (P<0.01) by soil compaction, and shoot and root biomass were reduced (P<0.01 and 0.001, respectively) by low mowing height. Goosegrass occurred more in traffic areas which were not compacted, and goosegrass was decreased by soil compaction.
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