Browsing by Subject "Grasses"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Developing Salt-Tolerant Sod Mixtures for Use as Roadside Turf in Minnesota
    (Center for Transportation Studies University of Minnesota, 2014-12) Friell, Joshua; Watkins, Eric; Horgan, Brian
    Failure of roadside grass installations due to high levels of road salt is a common occurrence in Minnesota. Several species that are not currently included in the MnDOT recommendations for these sites have performed well in low-input turfgrass evaluations in Minnesota and warranted evaluation for salt tolerance and suitability for roadside environments. The goal of this project was to develop a recommended mixture or a set of mixtures that provide salt-tolerant sod for roadsides. In the first part of this research, cultivars of cool-season turfgrass were assessed for their ability to establish and survive on roadsides in Minnesota. Concurrently, these grasses were evaluated in a hydroponic system in the greenhouse for salinity tolerance. Together, these studies identified several species and cultivars that were promising for use on Minnesota roadsides. These top-performing grasses were then evaluated in a series of mixtures in three research trials: (1) a roadside evaluation at two locations in Minnesota; (2) a sod strength trial planted at two locations in Minnesota; and (3) an acute drought evaluation utilizing an automated rainout shelter. From these results, we identified species that should be components of a salt-tolerant turfgrass mixture for use on roadsides in Minnesota. Mixtures that included high proportions of fine fescues, especially hard fescue and slender creeping red fescue, performed the best in our trials indicating that these species should be utilized in MnDOT recommendations for turf grown on roadsides.
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    Expanding the Success of Salt-Tolerant Roadside Turfgrasses through Innovation and Education
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2020-02) Watkins, Eric; Trappe, Jon; Moncada, Kristine; Bauer, Sam; Reyes, Jonah
    Our project was based on the need to water new roadside installations more efficiently to ensure that the turfgrasses, especially the new salt-tolerant mixes, establish more successfully with a predictable and uniform amount of water during the establishment period. The first objective of this project was to do a preliminary investigation of alternative means of irrigating new installations of salt-tolerant seed and sod mixtures. We completed the testing of four drip-tape-style irrigation systems placed both above and below sod, two above-ground sprinkler system configurations, and eight water truck nozzles. We then evaluated these new irrigation methods compared to current practices. We also developed an online voluntary training and education program for installers of roadside turf. And finally, we developed online maintenance training for homeowners to maintain new roadside turf installations. Based on our research, we recommend the use of 18-inch (45.7-cm) irrigation tape laid above the germination blanket (when seeding), or above sod when using a hydrant adapter with a programmable irrigation system as this system is easier and cheaper to install, can be removed and possibly reused after establishment, and results in reduced water use.
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    Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-12) Watkins, Eric; Sessoms, Florence; Hollman, Andrew; Laskowski, Michael; Moncada, Kristine
    Current MnDOT specifications for roadside turfgrasses suggest statewide planting of mixtures that are grouped into five broad categories such as low maintenance turf and high maintenance turf. The objective of this research was to identify turfgrasses that possess traits necessary to survive in the harsh roadside environments found throughout Minnesota. We investigated the impacts of possibly the three most limiting environmental conditions (heat, salt and ice cover) on multiple cultivars from up to fifteen individual turfgrass species. Salt stress screening revealed several species with good levels of adaptation including alkaligrass and tall fescue. In the heat stress trial, we found cultivars and selections of Canada bluegrass, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, strong creeping red fescue and slender creeping red fescue were among the top performers. Finally, in our ice cover screening, tall fescue and Chewings fescue did well; however, these results did not correlate well with our typical field observations. For each of these stresses, we identified top-performing cultivars that will be evaluated in field studies with the goal of identifying optimized mixtures for stakeholders in Minnesota.
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    Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures Phase 2: Regional Field Trials and Economic Analysis
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2022-07) Watkins, Eric; Christensen, Dominic; Yue, Chengyan; Moncada, Kristine
    Our goal was to develop seed mixture recommendations to improve establishment and development of roadside vegetation in Minnesota. We selected 14 research sites across Minnesota and seeded 40 turfgrass mixtures. Turfgrass coverage was assessed at each site twice a year and the weed seed bank was examined. We found that greater seeded turfgrass species richness was important for increasing and stabilizing roadside turfgrass coverage across space. We also found differences in the type and density of the weed seed bank at many sites, but its impact was relatively low on weed coverage over time. We considered soil and weather variables and found three significant seeding clusters for Minnesota consisting of two geographical seeding clusters (north and central/south) and one non-geographical cluster for sites with poor soil quality. Three new mixtures for each cluster were recommended for Minnesota. Implementing these mixtures will reduce soil erosion, improve aesthetics, save local communities' financial resources, and improve the overall environment we occupy. As a complement to the field research, we developed cost prediction models that were incorporated into a detailed enterprise budget tool to calculate the roadside establishment costs that include labor, water, seed, sod, fertilizer, and other factors. This Excel-based tool can be used by local and state officials in determining budgets for roadside installations and which types or combinations of turfgrasses would be most cost effective, while also generating optimal performance.
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    Regional Roadside Turfgrass Testing Program
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-08) Watkins, Eric; Trappe, Jon; Moncada, Kristine; Renz, Mark; Soldat, Doug; Kreuser, William; Murphy, James; Frank, Kevin
    Roadsides are a challenging environment for successfully establishing turfgrass. Site-specific stresses demand multi-site testing of grasses and grass mixtures. This study evaluated 60 entries that varied by cultivar, species, or mixture by establishing on-site trials in MI, MN, NE, NJ, and WI. The entries tested included 50 individual cultivars and 10 standard mixtures, two from each participating state based on their current specifications. One location in each state was along an urban or suburban street with a curb, while the second location was along a rural highway without a curb having a ditch that slopes away from the road with a daily traffic volume of at least 30,000 vehicles. Plots were seeded at most sites in late summer 2016, and data were collected through spring 2018. Turfgrass performance was assessed by counting living turf cover, weed cover, and bare soil using the grid intersect method in the spring and fall of each year. Species and cultivar performance varied among locations. Several species showed potential for inclusion in effective mixtures. Other species performed well at some locations and poorly at others. Performance of standard mixtures was also inconsistent across locations. This research demonstrates the need for locally generated data on roadside turfgrass performance.
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    Screening and Selection for Salt Tolerance in Native Warm Season Grasses
    (1994-02) Biesboer, David D.; Jacobson, Robert
    This preliminary study focused on a) surveying the concentrations of sodium and other metals along the rights-of-way of several of the most heavily traveled and salted roadways, b) development of a selection and screening method for salt tolerance in 6 species of native warm season grasses, and c) establishment of outdoor garden plots and field sites to further test the ability of native warm season grasses to grow under highly saline conditions. Salt levels along roadways were found to vary from very low to very high concentrations during the winter months but were found to decrease to levels that probably will allow germination and growth of tolerant grasses. Two species of grasses, blue grama and buffalo grass, were found to be tolerant of saline environments. Two roadside prairie restoration sites were established to further test the ability of mixtures of grasses to tolerate highly saline soils.
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    Turfgrass Seed Variety Evaluation Process
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2023-05) Watkins, Eric; Yue, Chengyan; Hollman, Andrew; Moncada, Kristine
    Our project addresses two critical needs: to update existing MnDOT turfgrass recommendation lists and to develop a new process to keep lists continually updated in a fair manner with data-driven recommendations. We evaluated the current list of MnDOT-approved turfgrass varieties and found underperforming varieties that should be removed. We then found new, improved varieties that should be considered for inclusion on the MnDOT lists. To facilitate a process to keep lists updated for the future, we first conducted a survey of seed distributors. Using their input, we developed a new process that MnDOT can use to approve turfgrass varieties for inclusion as official seed mixtures. Ultimately, this will lead to a more nimble, consistent, and clear process so that existing and new seed vendors can have complete confidence in data-driven decision making by MnDOT.