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Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass Mixtures for Establishing Midwest Lawns

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Christopher A. Proctor Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 161 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583

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Daniel V. Weisenberger Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054

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Zachary J. Reicher Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 161 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583

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Abstract

Mixtures of turfgrass seed are commonly used to establish lawns, with kentucky bluegrass (KBG) and perennial ryegrass (PRG) comprising two of the more commonly used species. In the humid regions of the Midwest United States, KBG is a desirable species, but slow germination makes it difficult to establish compared with PRG. The objective of our study was to evaluate establishment rate and species composition over 3 years of a turf stand seeded with different ratios of KBG and PRG (wt:wt) maintained as a lawn. Repeat experiments were initiated in 2007 and 2008 and conducted for 3 years in West Lafayette, IN, with seed mixtures of KBG:PRG of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 50:50, and 0:100 wt:wt of pure live seed. Plots were seeded late August each year and percent turfgrass cover was rated up to 6 weeks after seeding (WAS). To evaluate stand composition after establishment, percent KBG cover was rated annually in August for 3 years using transect counts after selective removal of PRG with the herbicide chlorsulfuron. Likely as a result of greater crabgrass (Digiaria sp.) competition during establishment in 2007, 100% PRG, 50:50, 70:30, or 80:20 KBG:PRG ratio had the highest percentage turf cover at 6 WAS, whereas there was no difference between treatments at 6 WAS in 2008 when crabgrass competition was lower. Regardless of turf cover during establishment, all treatments except 100% PRG shifted to greater than 95% KBG cover by 3 years after establishment. For the region in which our study was conducted, it may be desirable to seed with a higher proportion (greater than 50%) of PRG to speed initial establishment for customer satisfaction, erosion control, and/or to offset years with high weed pressure. Under lawn conditions similar to our study, seeding ratios with high KBG (80:20 or 90:10 KBG:PRG) will likely shift to a stand composition of greater than 95% KBG within 2 years, whereas all other ratios lower in KBG will likely shift similarly within 3 years. Chemical names used: 2-chloro-N-{[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2 yl)amino]carbonyl}benzenesulfonamide (chlorsulfuron)

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) mixed with PRG (Lolium perenne L.) is a common seed mixture for lawn establishment. Seed mixes capitalize on the beneficial aspects of each turfgrass species such as differences in disease/insect resistance, water use efficiency, and/or traffic tolerance (Brede and Duich, 1984a; Davis, 1958; Dunn et al., 2002; Gibeault et al., 1980). The primary advantage of PRG is rapid germination and establishment (Blaser et al., 1956), providing turf cover to compete with weeds and maximize customer satisfaction when establishing a lawn. However, PRG is susceptible to numerous diseases in the humid regions of the Midwest United States and stands often thin in the heat and humidity of late summer or in winter from desiccation or extended snow cover without aggressive maintenance. Although KBG is slow to germinate and establish, it is desirable in the long term because it spreads by rhizomes, is relatively drought-tolerant, and will accommodate a wide range of management systems.

Ideally, a turf stand would be composed of equal amounts of KBG and PRG (Gibeault et al., 1980). This can be challenging in the short term because PRG germinates in 3 to 10 d and can outcompete KBG, which takes up to 28 d to germinate (Christians, 2011). Furthermore, monostands of PRG have almost twice the seedling survival as KBG (Brede and Duich, 1984a). Brede (1982) also suggests the presence of PRG may further reduce KBG seedling survival as a result of allelopathic effects. To compensate for PRG’s competitive advantage during germination, suggested seed mixtures comprise between 50% and 95% KBG by weight (Brede and Duich, 1984a; Gibeault et al., 1980; Larsen et al., 2004; Larsen and Bibby, 2005), which is between 80% and 98% KBG by seed number. In addition to the seeding ratio of PGR and KBG, several other factors may affect short-term composition of the turf stand. Date of planting and simulated sports turf traffic (Stier et al., 2008), cultivar selection (Brede, 1982), and time to initial mowing and mowing height (Brede and Duich, 1984b) have been shown to influence the short-term composition of a stand seeded with a mixture of KBG and PRG.

Furthermore, stand composition is likely dynamic as a result of the environment, pests, and/or management, and thus considerable variation is reported for the long-term composition of turf stands originally seeded as a mixture of KBG and PRG. Brede (1982) reports KBG eventually dominated a turf stand that was initially dominated by PRG in Pennsylvania. In later work by Brede (2005) in Idaho, KBG consisted of 50% to 97% of the stand 5 years after seeding 50:50 KBG:PRG (wt:wt) depending on the KBG cultivar used in the seed mixture. Conversely in Missouri, Dunn et al. (2002) reported PRG as the dominant species under simulated traffic after 5 years with initial seed ratios of KBG:PRG of 80:20 (wt:wt) regardless of irrigation regime or mowing at 1.9 or 5.1 cm. Hsiang et al. (1997) reported PRG as the dominant species after 4 years with initial seed ratios of KBG:PRG at 50:50 (wt:wt) in a study in Ontario, Canada, when mowed at 3.5 cm and irrigated to prevent drought stress.

Landscape contractors are pressured to deliver lawns from seed quickly for customer satisfaction. Therefore, lawn seed mixes including PRG at 50% or more by weight are readily available at wholesale and retail outlets. Perceived cost savings from use of PRG over KBG may also influence seed mixture composition. However, few studies have evaluated how initial composition of KBG:PRG in the seed mixture affects species composition over multiple years in the humid Midwest, just north of the transition zone of adaptability between cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. Our objective was to evaluate the establishment and species composition after 3 years of a turf stand seeded with different ratios of KBG and PRG and maintained as a lawn.

Materials and Methods

Duplicate experiments were seeded adjacently on 15 Aug. 2007 and 26 Aug. 2008 at Purdue University’s W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette, IN, and data were collected for 4 or 3 years, respectively. Soil was a Chalmers silt loam (fine silty mixed mesic Typic Haplaquoll) with 220 kg phosphorus (P)/ha, 600 kg potassium/ha, pH 7.2, and 3.8% organic matter. The areas were fallow for at least 1 year before each experiment was initiated. Before seeding, areas were tilled to a depth of 10 cm, smoothed with a drag mat, and hand-raked to prepare the seedbed. Experiments were seeded by a handheld shaker jar with various ratios of a KBG blend consisting of 20% each of ‘Odyssey’, ‘Arcadia’, ‘Mercury’, ‘SR2100’, and ‘America’ or a perennial ryegrass blend consisting of 33% each of ‘SR4600’, ‘Penguin’, and ‘Fiesta 3’. These blends were commercially available and no attempt was made to select and/or differentiate specific cultivars. Seed ratios of KBG:PRG (wt:wt) were 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 50:50, or 0:100 (Table 1), and the target seed rate was 1.9 pure live seeds/cm2 as proposed by Brede and Duich (1984a) based on an average of 4795 KBG seeds/g and 500 PRG seeds/g (Beard, 1973). Plots were 3 m × 3 m with 0.5 m PRG borders on all sides. The area was covered with a germination blanket (AgroFabric Pro17; American Agrifabrics, Alpharetta, GA) to prevent seed from washing into adjacent plots and irrigated as needed to encourage germination. Starter fertilizer (6N–10.5P–20K) was applied at 25.5 kg P/ha at seeding and again in mid-September, followed by urea (46N–0P–0K) at 49 kg nitrogen (N)/ha in November. Annual maintenance included mowing at 6.4 cm height twice per week with clippings returned, irrigation to prevent drought stress, and 170 kg N/ha/year with 49 kg N/ha applied in September and early November and 36 kg N/ha applied in late May and early July. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) was controlled with dithiopyr [S,S-dimethyl 2-(difluoromethyl)-4-(2-methylpropyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarbothioate] applied in April of each year, three-way phenoxy herbicide (2,4-D + dicamba+ MCPP) [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid + 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid +(6)-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid] was applied in September beginning the second year after establishment to control minimal (less than 1% cover) infestation of dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), and white grubs were controlled with preventive applications of imidacloprid {2-chloro-N-[((4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide} in July of each year, which are all typical lawn maintenance practices in Indiana.

Table 1.

Percentage kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass seeding mixtures by weight, seed number, and seeding rate to achieve 1.9 pure live seeds/cm2.

Table 1.

Turfgrass cover was visually estimated at 2, 3, 4, and 6 WAS beginning 30 Aug. 2007 and at 3, 4, 5, and 6 WAS beginning 5 Sept. 2008. Weed cover was visually estimated on 15 Oct. 2007 and 14 Oct. 2008. Kentucky bluegrass cover was determined annually for 4 (2007-initiated study) or 3 years (2008-initiated study) after selective removal of PRG from one-quarter of each plot with 0.5 kg·ha−1 chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[((4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide} plus 0.2% v/v nonionic surfactant applied 14 to 21 d before the rating date (Dernoeden, 1990; Hutto et al., 2008; McCullough and Hart, 2008). Estimates of KBG cover were taken using a modification of the vertical point quadrant method (Gaussoin and Branham, 1989), where a 1.2 × 1.2-m frame was laid over the plots with an interval filament grid of 49 intersections. Rating dates were 3 Aug. (± 4 d) in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Treatments were arranged as a randomized complete block with four replications. Data were analyzed as a general linear model, which assumes homogeneous variance. Variance between years was found to be heterogeneous and, therefore, variances were fit separately for each year with PROC GLIMMIX in SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) and data were combined over years for analysis of variance (Little et al., 2006). Analysis of variance was determined in SAS and a mean separation was performed using Fisher’s protected least significant difference at P ≤ 0.05.

Results and Discussion

An experiment × treatment interaction occurred for turfgrass cover rated up to 6 WAS; therefore, treatment means are presented by year. An unusually warm fall in 2007 encouraged late crabgrass germination, which resulted in competition during establishment of the desired turf. Therefore, all treatments were slow to produce desirable turf cover, but especially mixtures higher in KBG. By October (10 WAS), weed cover ranged from 44% to 78% (data not shown). In 2007, 100% PRG had the highest turfgrass cover at 2 and 3 WAS, whereas all other treatments produced lower but statistically similar turfgrass cover (Fig. 1). Turfgrass cover increased through 6 WAS for all treatments, and 100% PRG and 50:50, 70:30, and 80:20 KBG:PRG mixtures all produced equivalent cover at 6 WAS. In the more typical fall of 2008, turfgrass cover at 3 and 4 WAT was highest for 100% PRG, whereas all other treatments produced lower turf cover (Fig. 1). There were no differences in turf cover among the seed ratios at 6 WAS. October-rated (10 WAS) weed cover in 2008 was primarily annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) and ranged from 1% in the 100% PRG treatment to 56% in the 100% KBG treatment (data not shown). Unlike crabgrass, annual bluegrass began germinating well after the PRG and KBG and thus had less effect on turf cover during the first 6 weeks after seeding. By May after seeding in both years, all seed ratio treatments provided greater than 95% cover of desired turf (data not shown), thus increasing PRG in a KBG:PRG seed mixture affected cover only during the first fall after seeding under the conditions of this experiment.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Percent turfgrass cover for various kentucky bluegrass (KBG) and perennial ryegrass (PRG) mixtures seeded in 2007 and 2008 and rated through 6 weeks after seeding (WAS). Error bars represent Fisher’s least significant difference (lsd) (P ≤ 0.05) within a rating period for comparison among treatments. Means are over four replications.

Citation: HortScience horts 50, 1; 10.21273/HORTSCI.50.1.137

Other factors have been shown to impact turf stand composition. Kentucky bluegrass seeded at 90 kg·ha−1 reduced weed cover compared with KBG seeded at 45 kg·ha−1 2 months after seeding (Beard et al., 1980). Mowing 2 weeks after seeding at 1.3-cm height favored KBG in a KBG:PRG mixture (Brede and Duich, 1984b). Our study indicates that initial turfgrass cover (up to 6 WAS) was favored by increasing amount of PRG in the seed mixture, especially for environments with unusually high weed pressure. Furthermore, seeding in the late summer usually limits pressure from summer annual weeds, like in 2008, and greater than 50% PRG would be recommended in the KBG:PRG seed mixture to hasten cover compared with 100% KBG for a typical late summer in Indiana.

No experiment × treatment interaction existed for KBG coverage rated in August 1 year or more after seeding; thus, data were averaged over experiments. One year after seeding, coverage of KBG was ranked from high to low according to the percentage of KBG in the original seed mixture. The 100% KBG and 90:10 KBG:PRG treatments produced the highest KBG cover 1 year after seeding (Fig. 2). By 3 years after seeding, all treatments containing KBG produced over 95% KBG cover. Although there were statistical differences between treatments, the range in KBG cover between the lowest and highest seeding ratios of KBG was only 2.3%. The 2007-seeded treatments were evaluated for KBG cover in the fourth year after seeding and data were similar to those collected 3 years after seeding. With the exception of the 100% PRG treatment, all KBG:PRG seed mixtures tested shifted the turfgrass stand composition toward a dominant (greater than 95%) KBG stand. Because chlorsulfuron causes a slow decline in PRG, it is possible that KBG expanded into voids left by declining PRG between application and rating date, thus inflating KBG percentages. However, there were only 3 weeks between application and rating and thus we would expect limited lateral spread of KBG into the voids.

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

August percent kentucky bluegrass (KBG) cover after seeding of various KBG and perennial ryegrass (PRG) mixtures. Cover was rated with the vertical point quadrant method after selective removal of PRG with chlorsulfuron. Means for the first 3 years are over two studies with four replications each and the fourth year means are over one study with four replications. Error bars represent Fisher’s least significant difference (lsd) (P ≤ 0.05) within a rating period for comparison among treatments.

Citation: HortScience horts 50, 1; 10.21273/HORTSCI.50.1.137

Most KBG and PRG seed mixture ratios are recommended to achieve a 50:50 stand of KBG:PRG because this is simplistically proposed to be an ideal ratio for a mature turfgrass stand (Gibeault et al., 1980). Furthermore, the turf stand ratio of 50:50 KBG:PRG has been frequently targeted in research studies (Brede and Duich, 1984a, 1984b; Larsen et al., 2004; Larsen and Bibby, 2005; Stier et al., 2005). Similar to our study, Brede (1982) reported a stand initially dominated by PRG eventually shifted to a predominantly KBG stand. However, others have found a 90:10 seed mixture of KBG:PRG was dominated by PRG after 4 years (Hsiang et al., 1997). Dunn et al. (2002) also reported a 90:10 KBG:PRG mixture was eventually dominated by PRG after 5 years. Furthermore, Hunt and Dunn (1993) found that all tested mixtures of KBG, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and PRG were dominated by PRG after 5 years, likely as a result of mowing heights 2.2 cm or less.

The ecology of a KBG:PRG stand can be complex and it is not always clear why some seed mixtures of KBG:PRG will shift toward a KBG-dominated stand and others shift toward PRG. One explanation is that KBG cultivars in the seed mixes with more aggressive or better-adapted traits dominate the other grasses, whereas less aggressive or poorly adapted KBG cultivars maintain equal populations of KBG with other grasses (Brede, 2005; Lickfeldt et al., 2002; Stier et al., 2005). A second explanation is studies that shifted toward a KBG-dominated stand were conducted in Indiana (current study) (Fig. 3) and Pennsylvania (Brede, 1982), where KBG may be favored in hotter, more humid summers with high disease pressure that would likely limit PRG more than KBG, depending on disease susceptibility of specific cultivars used. Conversely, in the Ontario study (Hsiang et al., 1997), plots shifted toward PRG where it is well adapted in cooler climates. Other climates with harsh winters could increase the long-term KBG:PRG ratio given the poor winter tolerance of PRG, but conditions favoring summer patch (Magnaporthe poae) or necrotic ringspot (Ophiosphaerella korrae) could favor PRG. Differences in wear tolerance between KBG and PRG could also account for variance in stand composition. Although PRG dominated mixed stands in the study in Missouri by Dunn et al. (2002), traffic was simulated and previous research on older PRG cultivars show greater wear tolerance than KBG (Shearman et al., 1974). Therefore, it is possible that the newer PRG cultivars tested by Dunn et al. (2002) also had greater wear tolerance than KBG; thus, traffic was more influential than climate, shifting the stand populations toward PRG. Stier et al. (2005) found in Wisconsin that the cultivar of KBG in a mixture with PRG influenced final stand composition when subjected to traffic and the seed mixture contained 50% or greater KBG. However, PRG became the dominant species under traffic for seed mixtures with less than 50% KBG regardless of cultivar.

Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

Mean of daily high and low air temperatures at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette, IN, for the duration of the kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass seed mixture experiments.

Citation: HortScience horts 50, 1; 10.21273/HORTSCI.50.1.137

Timing of initial mowing after seeding and mowing height are also factors shown to influence the composition of a mixed turfgrass stand of KBG:PRG with close, early mowing favoring KBG (Brede and Duich, 1984b). In our study, initial mowing was conducted when ≈10% of leaf blades reached the mowing height of 6.35 cm and was mowed twice per week thereafter. Our study substantiates other reports in that the composition of a turf stand after seeding KBG within a mixture of KBG:PRG is the result of numerous ecological factors and difficult to generalize or predict across locations and environments. Beard gives a succinct synopsis of turf stand dynamics in his textbook, stating “The composition of a turfgrass community is generally in a constant state of change but the rate of change varies greatly depending on the age of the community as well as the environmental and cultural conditions to which it is exposed” (Beard, 1973).

Our study was located in Indiana, just north of the transition zone, where KBG outperforms PRG in heat and drought tolerance and tolerance to common summer diseases. Under the conditions of our study, increasing the proportion of PRG to KBG up to 50% by weight will expedite turfgrass cover to maximize customer satisfaction for lawn installers, but the KBG:PRG seeding ratio was important only during the fall of establishment, especially when weed pressure was high. One hundred percent PRG (0:100 KBG:PRG) excluded, we found that all seed mixtures of KBG and PRG shifted to a predominantly (greater than 95%) KBG stand after 3 years when maintained as a lawn. Therefore, KBG and PRG seed mixes up to 50% PRG by weight can be used when predicted weed pressure is high and still expect the lawn composition to be greater than 95% KBG after 3 years. Seeding 90:10 or 80:20 KBG:PRG (wt:wt) seed mixtures can provide speed of cover equivalent to 50:50 mixtures in areas or years with low weed pressure and will likely consist of greater than 95% KBG within 2 years of establishment.

Literature Cited

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  • Beard, J.B., Martin, D.P. & Mercer, F.B. 1980 Investigation of net-sod production as a new technique, p. 353–360. In: Beard, J.B. (ed.). Proc. 3rd Intl. Turfgrass Res. Conf., Munich, West Germany, 11–13 July 1977. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, and Intl. Turfgrass Soc., Madison, WI

  • Blaser, R.E., Taylor, T., Griffeth, W. & Skrdla, W. 1956 Seedling competition in establishing forage plants Agron. J. 48 1 6

  • Brede, A.D. 1982 Interaction of three turfgrass species. PhD. diss., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

  • Brede, A.D. 2005 Necrotic ring spot and turf quality as affected by kentucky bluegrass cultivar and species mixtures Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10 156 162

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brede, A.D. & Duich, J.M. 1984a Establishment characteristics of kentucky bluegrass–perennial ryegrass turf mixtures as affected by seeding rate and ratio Agron. J. 76 875 879

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brede, A.D. & Duich, J.M. 1984b Initial mowing of kentucky bluegrass–perennial ryegrass seedling turf mixtures Agron. J. 76 711 714

  • Christians, N.E. 2011 Fundamentals of turfgrass management. 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ

  • Davis, R.R. 1958 The effect of other species and mowing on height on persistence of lawn grasses Agron. J. 50 671 673

  • Dernoeden, P.H. 1990 Comparison of three herbicides for selective tall fescue control in kentucky bluegrass Agron. J. 82 278 282

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    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
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    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gibeault, V.A., Autio, R., Spaulding, S. & Youngner, V.B. 1980 Mixing turfgrasses controls fusarium blight Calif. Agr. 34 11 12

  • Hsiang, T., Carey, K., He, B. & Eggens, J.L. 1997 Composition of mixtures of four turfgrass species four years after seeding under non-wear conditions Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 8 671 679

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hunt, K.L. & Dunn, J.H. 1993 Compatibility of kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass with tall fescue in transition zone turfgrass mixtures Agron. J. 85 211 215

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hutto, K.C., Taylor, J.M. & Byrd, J.D. Jr 2008 Soil temperature as an indicator for perennial ryegrass control Weed Technol. 22 245 248

  • Larsen, S.O., Andreason, C. & Kristofferson, P. 2004 Differential sowing time of turfgrass species effects the establishment of mixtures Crop Sci. 44 1315 1322

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Larsen, S.O. & Bibby, B.M. 2005 Difference in thermal time requirement for germination of three turfgrass species Crop Sci. 45 2030 2037

  • Lickfeldt, D.W., Voigt, T.B. & Hamblin, A.M. 2002 Composition and characteristics of blended kentucky bluegrass stands HortScience 37 1124 1126

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  • Shearman, R.C., Beard, J.B., Hansen, C.M. & Apaella, R. 1974 Turfgrass wear simulator for small plot investigations Agron. J. 66 332 334

  • Stier, J.C., Bae, J. & Jung, G. 2005 Composition of kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixtures subjected to traffic Intl. Turfgrass Res. Soc. J. 10 645 653

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stier, J.C., Koeritz, E.J. & Garrison, M. 2008 Timing the establishment of kentucky bluegrass: Perennial ryegrass mixtures for football fields HortScience 43 240 244

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Percent turfgrass cover for various kentucky bluegrass (KBG) and perennial ryegrass (PRG) mixtures seeded in 2007 and 2008 and rated through 6 weeks after seeding (WAS). Error bars represent Fisher’s least significant difference (lsd) (P ≤ 0.05) within a rating period for comparison among treatments. Means are over four replications.

  • August percent kentucky bluegrass (KBG) cover after seeding of various KBG and perennial ryegrass (PRG) mixtures. Cover was rated with the vertical point quadrant method after selective removal of PRG with chlorsulfuron. Means for the first 3 years are over two studies with four replications each and the fourth year means are over one study with four replications. Error bars represent Fisher’s least significant difference (lsd) (P ≤ 0.05) within a rating period for comparison among treatments.

  • Mean of daily high and low air temperatures at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette, IN, for the duration of the kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass seed mixture experiments.

  • Beard, J.B. 1973 Turfgrass: Science and culture. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

  • Beard, J.B., Martin, D.P. & Mercer, F.B. 1980 Investigation of net-sod production as a new technique, p. 353–360. In: Beard, J.B. (ed.). Proc. 3rd Intl. Turfgrass Res. Conf., Munich, West Germany, 11–13 July 1977. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, and Intl. Turfgrass Soc., Madison, WI

  • Blaser, R.E., Taylor, T., Griffeth, W. & Skrdla, W. 1956 Seedling competition in establishing forage plants Agron. J. 48 1 6

  • Brede, A.D. 1982 Interaction of three turfgrass species. PhD. diss., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

  • Brede, A.D. 2005 Necrotic ring spot and turf quality as affected by kentucky bluegrass cultivar and species mixtures Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10 156 162

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brede, A.D. & Duich, J.M. 1984a Establishment characteristics of kentucky bluegrass–perennial ryegrass turf mixtures as affected by seeding rate and ratio Agron. J. 76 875 879

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brede, A.D. & Duich, J.M. 1984b Initial mowing of kentucky bluegrass–perennial ryegrass seedling turf mixtures Agron. J. 76 711 714

  • Christians, N.E. 2011 Fundamentals of turfgrass management. 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ

  • Davis, R.R. 1958 The effect of other species and mowing on height on persistence of lawn grasses Agron. J. 50 671 673

  • Dernoeden, P.H. 1990 Comparison of three herbicides for selective tall fescue control in kentucky bluegrass Agron. J. 82 278 282

  • Dunn, J.H., Ervin, E.H. & Fresenburg, B.S. 2002 Turf performance of mixtures and blends of tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass HortScience 37 214 217

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gaussoin, R.E. & Branham, B.E. 1989 Influence of cultural factors on species dominance in a mixed stand of annual bluegrass/creeping bentgrass Crop Sci. 29 480 484

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gibeault, V.A., Autio, R., Spaulding, S. & Youngner, V.B. 1980 Mixing turfgrasses controls fusarium blight Calif. Agr. 34 11 12

  • Hsiang, T., Carey, K., He, B. & Eggens, J.L. 1997 Composition of mixtures of four turfgrass species four years after seeding under non-wear conditions Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 8 671 679

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hunt, K.L. & Dunn, J.H. 1993 Compatibility of kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass with tall fescue in transition zone turfgrass mixtures Agron. J. 85 211 215

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hutto, K.C., Taylor, J.M. & Byrd, J.D. Jr 2008 Soil temperature as an indicator for perennial ryegrass control Weed Technol. 22 245 248

  • Larsen, S.O., Andreason, C. & Kristofferson, P. 2004 Differential sowing time of turfgrass species effects the establishment of mixtures Crop Sci. 44 1315 1322

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Larsen, S.O. & Bibby, B.M. 2005 Difference in thermal time requirement for germination of three turfgrass species Crop Sci. 45 2030 2037

  • Lickfeldt, D.W., Voigt, T.B. & Hamblin, A.M. 2002 Composition and characteristics of blended kentucky bluegrass stands HortScience 37 1124 1126

  • Little, R., Milliken, G., Stroup, W., Wolfinger, R. & Schabenberger, O. 2006 SAS for mixed models. 2nd Ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC

  • McCullough, P.E. & Hart, S.E. 2008 Roughstalk bluegrass and tall fescue control in Kentucky bluegrass with sulfosulfuron. Online. Applied Turfgrass Sci. doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-0625-01 RS

  • Shearman, R.C., Beard, J.B., Hansen, C.M. & Apaella, R. 1974 Turfgrass wear simulator for small plot investigations Agron. J. 66 332 334

  • Stier, J.C., Bae, J. & Jung, G. 2005 Composition of kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixtures subjected to traffic Intl. Turfgrass Res. Soc. J. 10 645 653

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stier, J.C., Koeritz, E.J. & Garrison, M. 2008 Timing the establishment of kentucky bluegrass: Perennial ryegrass mixtures for football fields HortScience 43 240 244

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Christopher A. Proctor Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 161 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583

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Daniel V. Weisenberger Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054

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Zachary J. Reicher Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 161 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583

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To whom reprint requests should be addressed; e-mail zreicher2@unl.edu.

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