Water Management during Tall Fescue Establishment

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine effects of deficit irrigation and pre-plant soil incorporation of a hydrophilic polymer on the establishment of ‘Rebel’ tall fescue. In the field, lysimeters containing a sandy clay loam soil were seeded with tall fescue and irrigated with equivalents of 50% or 100% of the potential evapotranspiration (ET p ) (i.e., water used when soil moisture is not limiting) of a mature turf. The low irrigation level resulted in poor germination and stand establishment. Pre-plant incorporation of a hydrophilic polymer (98 kg·ha -1 ) was ineffective in enhancing seedling survival under dry soil conditions. Greenhouse studies evaluating higher levels of polymer application on tall fescue establishment during drought revealed that the polymer did not reduce plant stress until occupying at least 1.0% of the soil volume to a depth of 12.5 cm. Excessive polymer amounts would be required to achieve this proportion in the field.