Turfgrass Evaluations of Curly Mequitegrass, Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash.

Abstract

Curly mesquitegrass, Hilaria belangeri, is being evaluated for utilization as a desert turf. Experiments were conducted on plant material collected throughout Arizona to: (a) quantify the natural variation in turfgrass qualities in this species; (b) evaluate the field performance of selected plant material to fertilizing and mowing practices; and (c) assess the effects of planting date and seeding rate on seedling establishment. Thirty-four percent of the rated plant material displayed low growing height while 26.9 % of the plant material had short leaf length. Thirty-five and 23.5 % of the rated plant material had acceptable or better than acceptable color ratings and fine leaf width, respectively. In another experiment, nitrogen had no significant effect on plant color, however, increasing nitrogen increased percent ground cover. Percent ground cover also increased as the height of cut increased. Substantial variation was observed in the number of stolons per plant, and high stolon numbers were not associated with high nitrogen levels. Planting time had a significant influence on seedling establishment. Seeding rates also differed significantly in the number of seedlings established per m².