Turf grass identification guide

Transcription

1 Turf grass identification guide

2 Parts of the grass plant stem and leaf The diagram opposite shows the parts of the grass plant in the area of the stem. Parts of note and aids to identification are 1. The auricle- very few grasses in sports turf have an auricle. The main grass that does is the grass Lolium perenne (Perennial Rye Grass). 2. The ligule, this thin membrane can be of limited help when grasses are mown short. However the fact that some grasses have very distinctive ligules that are hairy of ragged can aid identification. Below- Close up view of internodal area Growth habits of grasses Turf grasses have 3 types of growth habit, these are 1. Tufted or Bunchy growth habit The grass does not creep sideways. 2. Creeping growth spreading by underground rhizomes (creeping stems) 3. Creeping growth habit, spreading by above ground stolons (creeping stems).

3 Note some grasses may have more than one type of growth habit. A brief and simple guide to the botanical naming system To understand the botanical naming system we should look at a single type of grass commonly used in sports turf, Agrostis capillaris BarKing this is the botanical name for a cultivar of Browntop bent. The first part of the name (Agrostis) is known as the Genus. A genus is a group of plants that share similar characteristics. There are many different types of Agrostis (bent grasses) but all have flat finely veined leaf blades that taper to a sharp point. This means that if we want to buy and use Agrostis capillaris (Brown top bent) we must be able to separate it out from all the other bents available for sale. Fortunately biologists have helped us by separating all the bents into what are known as species. This helps us identify one bent grass from another. The species of brown top bent is capillaris. This separation into different species is based on small differences in a group of plants within a genus. For example 2 commonly used bents in sports turf are a. Browntop bent (Agrostis capillaris) b. Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera). These look very similar to each other but there are small differences in growth habit that make them different species. The last part of the example grass is the name e.g. BarKing. This is the cultivar, grasses are valuable plants and breeders who can develop better strains of grass can make a lot of money. Therefore plant breeders are continually improving grasses by selective breeding. For example a breeder might grow a trail plot of one grass type and then infect it with a common turf disease. The grasses that survive might be naturally more resistant to the disease and if bred might retain or increase this resistance. This would make the grass commercially valuable to the breeder and very useful to the sports turf manager. Plant breeders are continually improving grasses and as they do so they can name their new products by giving them a new cultivar name. This will normally be in English. Each year the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) tests all the grass cultivars and publishes their results. Turf Managers should evaluate the new cultivars to see which are best for use in their particular situation.

4 The results of these tests can be found in the Turf grass seed hand book, published each year which can be found at NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf Grass Tolerance of Salt ph Shade Heavy wear Creeping Yes 5.5- No No bent 6.5 Creeping red fescue Yes No No Perennial Rye No 6-8 Slight Yes Seed identification Grass seeds are very distinctive and easy to identify. This is mainly done by size. However the shape and the ends of the seed are also aids to seed identification Smooth stalk meadow grass seed Smooth stalk No 6-7 No Yes meadow grass Timothy No No Yes Chewings fescue No No No Fescue seed Common seed mixes 80% Chewings fescue 20% Browntop bent or 100% Creeping bent 60% Chewings fescue 20% Slender creeping red fescue 10% Browntop bent 10% Smooth stalk meadow grass 50% Chewings fescue 20% Strong creeping red fescue 10% Browntop bent 10% Smooth stalk meadow grass Site Golf green Golf tee Golf Fairway Bent seed Perennial Rye Grass seed The largest of the seeds. It is boat shaped and the back of the seed appears to be cut away. Fescue seed This seed is long and thin with a hair (awn) sticking out of the thinnest end. Smooth stalked meadow grass seed. A small seed that is triangular in cross section. When rolled between finger and thumb you can feel each side of the seed. Bent grasses These are very small seeds that stick to the skin. They are quite round in cross section and almost tear shaped. Perennial Rye

5 Parts of the grass plant that can be used as a key to identification The diagram below represents the parts of the grass plant that can be used as an aid to identification. The most important parts of the plant in identification are 1. The grass blade (most people would understand this as the leaf) the shape of the leaf tip and the texture, colour and cross section shape are very important in grass identification i.e. all Poas have boat shaped tips to the leaf blade. The blade is very important when grasses are cut short. 2. The growth habit, the way the grass spreads (stolons/rhizomes) or does not spread (tufted) is another vital aid in identification. 3. If the grass is not cut and is allowed to flower identification by use of the flower spike is also very useful

6 Turf Grass 1- Annual meadow grass (Poa annua) Leaf tip -boat shaped Other features of note are the crimp marks on the leaves Other aids to identification Over view of the grass Technically a weed grass it is present in various amounts in most fine turf surfaces. It can withstand close mowing and can form a suitable surface for golf greens etc. Seed head However it is very susceptible to drought stress and is easily attached by a range of diseases. The plant also produces seed heads all year that can affect the smoothness of ball roll. View of sward It prefers moist, fertile soils and has low wear tolerance Overall view of plant

7 Turf Grass 2- Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra commutata) Leaf tip Needle like Other features of note are The leaves are needle like and rolled. Chewings fescue is non-creeping. Other aids to identification Uses A widely used grass it produces a very fine playing surface. It can be cut close (to 5mm) before it starts to suffer. It is used on most surfaces e.g. football, hockey, golf tees, greens, roughs and fairways as well as tennis and bowls etc. View of sward It prefers dry, infertile soils and has reasonable wear tolerance. View of full plant

8 Turf Grass 3 Perennial rye- (Lolium perenne) Leaf tip- pointed (note the back of the leaf is very shiny) Other features of note are Base of plant is purple Aids to identification Uses A very hard wearing grass that is resistant to drought. It is used in areas of high wear such as football fields, golf tees and roughs. It will not tolerate close mowing and grows best in moist fertile soils. View of sward View of full plant

9 Turf Grass 4- Smooth Stalk Meadow grass (Poa pratensis) Leaf tip- Boat shaped Other features of note are Smooth stalk meadow grass produces rhizomes (underground stems). Aids to identification Also leaves have a pale grey/green colour. View of sward Uses A hard wearing grass that withstand wear. It is reasonably drought resistant. It is used in areas such as football fields, cricket outfields, golf tees and fairways. Its ability to self-repair via rhizomes makes it very useful on areas that suffer from divot damage. View of plant

10 Turf Grass 5- Brown top bent (Agrostis capillaris) Leaf tip- Sharply pointed Other features of note are Has both rhizomes and stolons (creeps above and below ground). Aids to identification Leaf blades taper to a sharp point. Leaf colour is dull green. The leaf surface is finely veined on the upper surface. View of sward Uses Browntop bent is used widely in sports turf. It has an extremely fine leaf when closely mown which gives a fast playing surface. It is often mixed with Chewings fescue to produce surfaces for golf greens, bowling greens etc. As it has both rhizomes and stolons it can self-repair on areas that damaged. It can be mown to 5mm. View of plant

11 Turf Grass 6- Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) Leaf tip- Sharply tapers to a point Other features of note are This grass has very fine leaves that taper to a sharp point. It also produces extensive amounts of stolons (over ground creeping stems). Aids to identification Very fine leaves that taper to a sharp point. Presence of stolons (over ground creeping stems). Uses Creeping bent is used widely in sports turf. It has an extremely fine leaf when closely mown which gives a fast playing surface. It is often used to produce surfaces for golf greens, bowling greens etc.,. As it produces stolons it can selfrepair on areas that damaged.

12 New cultivars of this grass can survive mowing at very low heights of cut i.e. 3mm View of sward View of full plant