EFFECTS OF CLIPPING MANAGEMENT ON SOME ASPECTS OF TALL FESCUE (FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA SCHREB.) TURF

A two-year research has been conducted in Southern Italy (Gaudiano di Lavello – Potenza, to evaluate some aspects of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. turf subjected to different clipping management practices.
On a split-plot design with 3 replications and sub-plots of 24 m², six treatments derived from a factorial combination of three clipping management practices (complete removal, mulching, clipping returned) and two tall fescue cultivars (‘Finelawn’ and ‘Tomahawk’) have been compared.
The trial was conducted applying irrigation from May to September, with a mowing height of 50 mm.
The following parameters have been measured: growth rate, colour intensity (CI), turf quality, thatch thickness, clipping total nitrogen and other mineral nutrients content, soil total nitrogen and organic matter content.
Results have shown that the complete removal of clippings reduced the CI and turf quality values as compared to the two other treatments.
Clipping total nitrogen content was higher in treatments with clipping recycling.
Mulching has induced high content of K+ in the turf.
Soil total nitrogen and organic matter contents were higher in the 0-40 mm layer than in the 40-180 mm layer.

I International Conference on Turfgrass Management and Science for Sports Fields

E. Cazzato, V. Anesse, A. Corleto

Finelawn, Tomahawk, turf, clipping management, Southern Italy

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.38