Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures
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Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures
Published Date
2019-12
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Minnesota Department of Transportation
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Report
Abstract
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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Watkins, Eric; Sessoms, Florence; Hollman, Andrew; Laskowski, Michael; Moncada, Kristine. (2019). Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/202651.
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