Effect of sprigging density and foliar nitrogen on the growth of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis)

Abstract

Turf grasses have been utilized by humans to enhance their environment for more than 10
centuries. Aesthetically, lawns enhance the quality of life, contribute to social harmony and
community pride, increase property values and compliment other landscape plants. The beauty
of any garden largely depends on the greenness of the lawn. The first and foremost criteria for
a well establishment and a satisfactory lawn are selection of suitable grass species and methods
of its establishment. Hence, an experiment was laid out to study the effect of different sprigging
density and foliar nitrogen on the growth and establishment of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon
L. Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis) in floriculture unit of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty
of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu during the year 2013-2015. Bermuda grass
sprigs were planted in different spacing levels and foliar spray of urea with twelve treatment
combinations comprising of different levels viz., 10 x 10 cm with 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 15 x 15 cm
with 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 20 x 20 cm with 1%, 1.5% and 2%; 25 x 25 cm with 1%, 1.5% and
2%, in factorial randomized block design with three replications. From the results, it was
found that the earliest spread and ground cover were observed in planting sprigs at closer
spacing of 10 x 10 cm in combination with foliar application of nitrogen in the form of urea as
2 % for two times at seven and fifteen days after planting.