Water Use of St. Augustinegrass and Bahiagrass under Varying Nitrogen Rates

In Florida, state agencies are concerned about St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] for being a possible high water user and excess (N) applications in home lawns. This has resulted in a desire by some municipalities to substitute St. Augustinegrass with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge). Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of different N fertilizer rates on water use and turf quality of bahiagrass and St. Augustinegrass commonly used in residential yards. The experiment was a split‐plot randomized complete block design repeated over two trials. Whole plots arranged in blocks consisted of either bahiagrass cultivar ‘Pensacola’ or St. Augustinegrass cultivar ‘Floratam’. Subplots consisted of two N rates (98 and 294 N kg ha−1 yr−1). Water use rates, was influenced by grass type and by N rates with bahiagrass having higher water use rates (WURs) than St. Augustinegrass in one of the two trails. The high N rate increased turfgrass WURs but only in Trial 1. In both trials clipping yields (CY) were greater for bahiagrass than St. Augustinegrass. Furthermore, the higher N rate produced greater CY than the lower N rate. All treatments produced acceptable turfgrass quality when averaged for each trial though, not for ever cycle. Bahiagrass generally produced superior quality ratings than St. Augustinegrass. In addition, the higher N rate always produced higher quality scores than the lower N rate.