Planting Rate Effects On Establishment of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass Propagated Through Stolons.

Due to the problems of weed competition and desiccation of vegetative planting material in soils with low moisture retention and fertility, planting rate is a key factor to achieve an established stand. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of planting rates on percent bermudagrass cover, weed cover, and bermudagrass herbage mass accumulation. The experiment was conducted on low fertility sandy soils at a commercial farm in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida. Planting occurred in late summer of 2011 and planting material consisted of 4.5-mo-old above ground stems or stolons. Treatments were five planting rates: i) very low (1120 kg ha^-1), ii) low (1570 kg ha^-1), iii) medium (2020 kg ha^-1), iv) high (2470 kg ha^-1), and v) very high (2920 kg ha^-1). Ground cover evaluations were conducted biweekly up to 3 mo after planting, and weed assessment was done during the following spring. Evaluation 3 mo after planting (December) showed that all the treatments presented satisfactory ground cover. Higher planting rates (medium, high and very high) reached 80% cover earlier and presented higher mass accumulation in spring, while low and very low reached the same percent cover 2 wk later but had significantly less herbage accumulation. In spring, medium, high and very high planting rates presented less than 7% weed cover, while low and very low rate showed 13 and 23%, respectively. These results suggest that medium planting rate of 2020 kg ha^-1 is adequate for late planting under sandy soil conditions. Higher rates (2470 or 2920 kg ha^-1) could also be used, but availability and cost of planting material should be considered. Low planting rates should be avoided due to greater weed infestation.