Dormancy Management of Hybrid Bermudagrass in a Cool-Season Climate

Objectives

The goal of this research is to develop athletic field surfaces that are better aligned with the demands of outdoor sport seasons. To do this, we aim to evaluate the impact of growth covers, colorants, fertilizers, surfactants, and organic acids on hybrid bermudagrass.

Summary

Results indicate that growth covers have the most significant impact on extending the growing season in both 2024 and 2025

Full fertilization using slow-release technology, combined with humic acid and a relatively high nitrogen rate, shows a modest additive effect on enhancing green cover, though does not impact timing of dormancy

Results

NDVI was significantly higher under the cover beginning around October 10 and remained elevated until early December, when it entered a steady decline (Fig. 2a). Treatments 10 and 12 also exhibited significantly higher NDVI scores for consecutive weeks in September. However, during the later weeks of the study, differences among treatments were no longer significant, except when compared with the negative control (Fig. 2b)