S3 E41 Kentucky Bluegrass, Water Use, and Soil Texture

In this video, I offer commentary on the scientific article titled "Water use and performance of Kentucky bluegrass influenced by cultivar, irrigation practices, and soil texture," published in the International Turfgrass Society Research Journal (DOI: 10.1002/its2.200).

The study evaluated two Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, Mallard and Geronimo, grown in lysimeters filled with either loamy sand or silt loam. Each setup was subjected to two irrigation levels: 40% and 80% replacement of reference evapotranspiration. The authors monitored water use and turf coverage throughout the growing season to assess drought resilience.

My commentary covers the key findings from the research, including why Mallard outperformed Geronimo under water-limited conditions, how irrigation volume influenced turf coverage more than irrigation frequency, and why soil texture had relatively minor effects on water use. I also discuss the strengths and limitations of the study design and its relevance to real-world turfgrass management.

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