Turf demonstation plots at Richmond TAFE

Best Buffalo? ST26!

Turf demonstation plots at Richmond TAFE -
established February 2003

This demonstration compares 18 common varieties of turf and provide useful data on greenness during winter, periods of dormancy, effect of frost, and so on. We want to show what customers can reasonably expect their lawns to look like once established. By testing "garden worthiness", the demonstration will provide the turf industry with some local results to support claims on the performance of different grasses. Some details are:

• 18 brick-lined plots of 2x3m. The total size is 108 m².
• In a convenient location next to the main carpark at Richmond TAFE.
• Plots are split to impose two fertiliser treatments. These are a typical lawn fertiliser at its recommended rate, Shirley's No. 17 at 5kg/100m² (0.5 t/ha), and a slow-release fertiliser at a low rate.
• Irrigation is by pop-ups.
• Rolls of turf were laid on 27 Feb 2003 onto clean "turf underlay" (70% sand/30% soil).
• Later, we intend to simulate wear using a modified reel mower.

Establishment costs were provided by the Turf Growers Association of NSW (TGA NSW), who will advise on maintenance of the demonstration, for example, mowing heights and use of pesticides and fertiliser. Thanks to Greenline Turf Supplies, Windsor Turf, Grech's Turf, Miller's Turf, Bill's Turf, Lowlands, Abulk and Billabong Turf (NSW) for their donation of grasses. Labour was provided by TAFE and NSW Agriculture. The demonstration is maintained by TAFE.

Ken Smith, Head Teacher (Horticulture) at Richmond TAFE and Ashley Senn, District Agronomist, NSW Agriculture, will be responsible for the demonstration. We acknowledge the original suggestion of a demonstration by Peter McMaugh, President TGA NSW and the advice of Prof Peter Martin (Univ. Sydney).

List of Turfgrasses on Display

Richmond TAFE - Turf Plot Assessment
5th July 2004
10.30am
Peter Martion, Peter McMaugh, Ashley Senn and Ken Smith

Turf Type	Comments
ST26	Yellowish green Not dormant Slight frost damage Good density
ST85	Not dormant Purplish straw colour Moderate frost damage Good density
ST91	Yellow green occasional purple colour Going dormant Moderate to severe frost damage Fair density
Palmetto	Yellow green Not dormant Moderate frost damage Good density
Shademaster	Not dormant Purple straw colour Slight frost damage Puffy, but density good
Sir Walter	Bleached straw colour with green and purple scattered through plot Not dormant Moderate frost damage Good density
	Best Buffalo at this stage?? ST26 the best closely followed by Palmetto, Sir Walter and ST91 ST85 and Shademaster the worst.
Durban	Bleached straw colour Not dormant Severe frost damage - 2/3 to 3/4 upper leaf length bleached. In some areas leaves purpled rather than bleached. Density fair to good
Kikuyu	Pale green with bleached spots. Not dormant - new leaves appearing Slight frost damage overall - severe on mite affected shoots. Density fair to good
Tall Fescue	Green were present Not dormant - some new leaves No frost damage. Density very low - extensive areas of bare ground
CT2	Appears dormant but some underlying green Severe frost damage Dull green leaves Moderate density
Conquest	Dormant but with a small amount of underlying green Very severe frost damage Light greyish colour
Plateu	Blackish grey with occasional bleached shoots Dormant but with considerable underlying green Moderate frost damage Density good but low tight thin surface cover. Coccids present
Riley's Super Sport	Medium greyish leaves with pinkish tinge from anthocyanin development in lower leaves of some shoots Dormant with green underlay Severe frost damage Good density but with low, tight rather thin surface cover Coccids present
Santa Ana	Dull greyish green with greener areas and some bleached areas. Pinkish tinge observed at closer range on lower leaves of ground shoots Not dormant - many green leaves present near top of sward Moderate frost damage Density good - thick thatchy surface
Windsor Green	Greyish straw with occasional greener areas Not dormant with some green leaves in upper canopy Moderate frost damage Density good - thick thatchy surface
Wintergreen	Light straw with greenish tinge Not dormant with many green leaves in upper canopy Moderate frost damage Density good - thick thatchy surface
Empire	Semi-dormant Light purplish straw Severe frost damage Density good
ZT11	Light straw with greenish tinge Semi-dormant Moderate frost damage Density very good