Preliminary study on drought resistance and watersaving irrigation of 7 warmseason turfgrasses in south China

Seven warmseason turfgrasses (cultivated or domesticated) were used to test their drought resistance and irrigation interval in south China. The turf quality, drought resistance of turfgrasses and its relationship with the performance of water saving irrigation were assayed. The result indicated that 7 turfgrasses could be classified into 3 grades based on the drought resistance and the length of irrigation interval. Cynodon dactylon No. 5, C.dactylon No. 1 and C.dactylon No. 1 were in Grade A; Zoysia japonica cv. Lanyin 3, Z. tenuifolia and Eremochloa ophiuroides were in Grade B; Axonopus compressus was in Grade C. Turfgrasses in Grade A saved two third of irrigating water compared with those in Grade C; Those in Grade A saved one half of irrigating water compared with Grade B and same result was found between Grade B and Grade C.