DR BABITA SINGH AND DR RITU JAIN DIVISION OF FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING IARI PUSA CAMPUS NEW DELHI 110012

1. DIVISION OF FLORICULTURE & LANDSCAPING
ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NEW DELHI
Establishment and Management Practices in Turf grasses

2. INTRODUCTION
 The turf grasses belong to family Poaceae more
than 600 genera and 7500 species of turf grasses.
 Turfgrasses are the plants which form a
continuous ground cover that persist under
regular mowing.
 Not all grasses can be used as turf but only those
grasses that can withstand frequent clipping of
shoots and that has the capacity for unlimited
growth, are suitable for use as turf grasses.

3. Turf grasses are broadly divided into two categories.
Cool season turf grasses
Temperature range of 15.0 °C to 23.0 °C for optimum growth.
Eg. Blue grass (Poa sp), fescue grass (Festuca sp.), bent grass (Agrostis sp.) and
rye grass (Lolium sp.).
Warm season turf grasses
Temperatures range of 26.0°C to 35.00 °C for optimum growth and their growth
decreases when temperatures drop during winter and ceases completely
when soil temperature falls below 10°C.
Not only the growth ceases but chlorophyll degrades and colour of leaves
changes to brown
Eg.Bermuda grass (Cynodon sp.), zoysia grass (Zoysia sp.), augustine grass
(Stenotaphrum sp.), bahia grass (Paspalum sp.) etc
In India mostly warm season grasses are popular except in cooler regions where rye grass
and fescue are found.

4. World Scenario
USA, China, Australia, UK, Netherlands, Denmark
etc.
Serving 700,000 athletic fields & 17,000 golf
courses.
Annual revenue-20 million each year
Currently, in the USA, there are more than 62
million acres of maintained turfgrass including
lawns, parks, golf courses, highway, etc. In
addition, it is estimated by the Economic
Research Service that the US turfgrass
industry, in all its forms, was a $ 90 billion
industry in year 2000.

5. • University of Georgia, Athens
• University of Guelph, Canada
• Washington State University, USA
• Ohio State University, USA
• North Carolina State University, USA
• Michigan State University, USA
• Pennsylvania State University, USA
• Texas A & M University, USA
• University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
• University of Nebraska, USA
• University of Minnesota, USA
• North Dakota State University, USA
• New Mexico State University, Mexico
• Arkansas State University, USA
• Oklahoma State University, USA
• Asian Turfgrass Centre, Bangkok
• The Chinese University of Hongkong, China
• University of Western Australia, Australia
• Australian Turfgrass Research Institute, Queensland
• University of Rhode Island, RI
• Sports Turf Research Institute, Yorkshire, UK

6. Indian Scenario
No single govt agency handling or collecting authentic data on
turf grass use or import.
Dealing agencies are private companies,nurseries or corporate.
30,000 acre (golf associationh, sports experts and association of
Indian Nursery men) in which around 4500 acre is under turfgrass
cultivation and sod production.
Leading States- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Haryana,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
Indian turfgrass industry is growing around 10 per cent annually.

7. RESEARCH: Turf grass ecology, evaluation, production
and maintenance:
ICAR-FLS,IARI,NEW DELHI
ICAR-DFR,PUNE,MAHARASHTRA
NAU,GUJARAT
DR YSPUHF,SOLAN,H.P.
TNAU,COIMBATORE,T.N.

8. Generally, varieties of Cyanodon dactylon like Tifdwarf, Selection-1
(strain of Calcutta doob), Calcutta doob, etc. are employed in landscaping of
lawns due to its resistance to wear and tear and reduced maintenance.
India bears varied agroclimatic zones-temperate, tropical and
subtropical. Hence, both C3 and C4 grasses have enormous scope for further
improvement, production and marketing for domestic and international
market.
The turfgrass industry is so unorganised that the varieties which are
generally procured from the private nurseries are not true to the type so big
farms and sports companies are forced to rely on import.
Huge area under recreational turf is in golf greens which require
immaculate selection, establishment and maintenance under constant
supervision.
On greens, varieties of Cyanodon like TifDwarf, TifGreen, Mini Verde,
TifEagle, etc. are preferred which has been released from University of
Georgia (USA); a world leader in turfgrass research. For other parts of golf
course like tees, fairways and roughs, Selection-1 of Cyanodon dactylon is
preferred.

9. In football and athletic fields, the play surface is subjected to heavy
traffic, thereby having high wear and tear and stress index. Grasses with
firm rooting, high resiliency, recuperative ability and resistance like
Kentucky blue and perennial rye grass are preferred in temperate climate.
In cricket pitches and outfields, Bermuda grass and Annual or
Perennial rye grass are use, while in lawn tennis, mixtures of perennial rye
and creeping fescue are employed.
But for tropical and subtropical climate, the evaluation of turfgrasses
needs to be done extensively according to the need to sports. However, in
many tournament grounds especially where national and international
games are played, most of the planting material is imported as there is not
existing planting material.
Ground managers, green superintendents, curators and assistants are in huge
demand due to increased focus on quality of sports turfs. Presently in all over India,
there is no such course in turf grass management and thus the expertise is derived
from universities and institutes at global level. Thus this course is aimed to open up a
vast range of opportunities for the students of country specially Gujarat. As the youth
migration is very prominent in this area due to un-employment.

10. Turf grass Functional Benefits

11. • Soil erosion control and dust stabilization - vital
soil resource protection.
• Reduces runoff from precipitation and
contributes to flood control.
• Enhances ground water recharge
• Enhances heat dissipation - temperature
moderation.
• Reduces noise abatement, glare reduction, and
visual pollution problems.

12. • Decreases noxious pests and allergy-related pollen.
• Provides safety in vehicle operation/equipment
longevity.
• Lowers the fire hazard and provides security for
vital installations.
• Business and economic improvement
• Therapeutic benefits

13. METHODS OF LAWN DEVELOPMENT
• Seeds: A lawn from seeds is made suitable when grass
roots are not available. About 2.5 g/sq.m or 25 Kg of seeds
is necessary for one hectare area. The seeds should be
sown on a windless day evenly and thinly and covered with
fine, light soil. The ground should roll again and watered
liberally with rose tank or with a hose pipe fitted with
nozzle. The seeds take 3-4 weeks to germinate.
• Turfing: Turf are pieces of earth with compact grass grown
on them. Turf should be cut uniformly, thin in square from
the place where the grass is grown short, compact and free
from weeds. They should be spread on the prepared on the
ground side by side. The entire turf area should be rolled
and watered liberally. This is the fastest method of raising
lawns.

15. • Turf Plastering: The roots should be cut into 2 - 4 cm long. A
mixture consisting of 2 parts of this root, one part of well
decomposed horse or cow manure, 1 part of fresh cow dung, 1
part of red earth are made into a paste by adding sufficient water
spread the paste evenly over the prepared ground which has
been already watered. Cover the ground with litter or a layer of
coarse manure to minimize evaporation and prevent the roots
from the heat of the sun. Grass will shoot up within 15 days. Cut
the grass with scythe and after 3 months use grass mower. This is
not very common method.
• Dibbling Roots: This is the cheapest and slowest but perfect
method of lawn development. Small roots are dibbled about 12-
15 cm apart into the prepared ground. The roots spread and
grow underground in course of 6 months. A healthy established
lawn is able to out-compete many weeds and withstand a certain
amount of pressure from disease and insect attack as well as
drought.

17. FERTILIZATION
• The regular application of fertilizer keeps the
grass to grow luxuriantly and maintains the lush
green colour of the lawn. There are many
arbitrary recommendations about fertilizer
application. It has been observed that the
application of 50-60g/sq m of mixture (2 parts
calcium ammonium nitrate: 1 part super
phosphate: 1 part potassium sulphate) during
rainy season and February-March maintains the
growth of grass. Spraying of urea (30g/10 lit. of
water) is also useful for the growth of grass.

18. S.No Name of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Dose /source of
fertilizer
1.
A.
B.
C.
Primary Nutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
N-deficient plants will have a compact root
system.
Turf becomes more susceptible to disease
infestation and colour turns into dark green.
Potassium deficiency symptoms are more
difficult to iden
CAN : SSP:MOP
50-60
gm/m2(2:1:1)
2.
A.
B.
C.
Secondary
Nutrients
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulphur
Cacium minerals are so prevalent that their
deficiency is rare.
Turn cause chlorosis of leaves and poor
growth
Grass deficient in sulphur become chlorotic
and grow slowly.
Calcium nitrate
20%
Magnesium sulfate
10 %
Ammonium sulfate
24 %
3.
A.
B.
Micronutrients
Manganese
Iron
Grass grow slowly and become chlorotic.
Iron deficiency (chlorosis) of pin oak.
Manganese sulfate
Iron sulfate 20 (%)
Nutrient Management

19. Nutrient Symbol Available form(s)* Sufficiency range**
Macronutrients
Carbon C CO 2 44%
Hydrogen H H 2 0
6%
Oxygen O O 2 , H 2 0 44%
Nitrogen N N0 3
- , NH 4
+ 2.75-4.2%
Phosphorus P H 2 P0 4
- , HPO 4
2- 0.3-0.55%
Potassium K K + 1.0-2.5%
Calcium Ca Ca 2+ 0.5-1.25%
Magnesium Mg Mg 2+ 0.2-0.6%
Sulfur S SO 4
2- 0.2-0.45%

20. Micronutrients
Iron Fe Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ 30-100 ppm
Manganese Mn Mn 2+ 20-150 ppm
Zinc Zn Zn 2+ , ZnOH + 20-55 ppm
Boron B B(OH) 3 10-60 ppm
Copper Cu Cu + , Cu 2+ 5-20 ppm
Molybdenum Mo MoO 4 + 0.15-0.5 ppm
Chlorine Cl Cl - not known

21. WATERING
• Unless watered regularly, a well-established lawn may naturally go
into a dormant 'brown' period during the hot summer months. The
lawn is not dead and will become green again in the fall when
conditions are cooler and damper, unless the drought is pro-longed.
If you water during the summer, do so regularly using the following
guidelines:
• Water your lawn slowly and thoroughly, enough to wet to a depth
of 4 to 6 inches. One inch of water (or rainfall) every week is
probably sufficient, or you can let the grass be your guide. Light,
frequent watering is undesirable because they encourage shallow
root systems.
•
• When the blades turn a dry, bluish green, the edges of the blades
curl or a 'foot print' is left after walking, it is past the time to water--
water as soon as possible
• Watering is best done in early morning to reduce waste and to
reduce the chance of disease (foliage which is wet all night is more
subject to disease).

22. MOWING
• A rule of thumb is to keep the lawn at a height of
about two to three inches. Mow frequently enough
that you do not remove more than one third of the
leaf blade at one time. The lawn may be cut as low as
1-1/2 inches in the spring and fall, but it is best not to
cut below 2 inches in the heat of the summer. During
the summer, the lawn may even be left a little longer,
2-1/2 to 3 inches. There is a direct relationship
between grass length and rooting depth, so grass kept
too short is less able to withstand drought and stress.
Too close a cut will make the lawn more susceptible to
weed and insect problems as well.
• Dethaching
• Scrapping

23. Mowing Heights
 Lawn can only be mowed once per week in peak growth periods.
 Mowing a turfgrass plant too low or even too high will stress the turfgrass and create a
lower quality stand of grass.
Table 2. Recommended Mowing‐height Range for the Different Turfgrasses Used in
Home Lawns.
Turfgrass Recommended
Height (inches)
Common Bermudagrass 1.5 to 2.5
Hybrid Bermudagrass 0.75 to 1.5
Buffalograss* 2 to 3
Zoysiagrass 1 to 2.5
Tall fescue 2 to 3.5
Kentucky bluegrass 2 to 3.5
Hybrid bluegrass 2 to 3.5
*Buffalo grass can actually be mowed at a much higher cut if the homeowner so desires.
Just remember that the lower it is cut, the more often it will have to be watered and mowed.

24. Rolling-Helps to keep the surface leveled and anchoring the grass.
Avoided in wet lawn soil.
Scraping and Raking-For the removal of thatch and breaking the
crust in order to improve aeration and lawn growth.
Dethatching-The process of removing a layer of dead and
decaying organic debris, grass clippings etc.
Top Dressing-Application of thin layer of soil to turf. Effective way
to modify thatch and turf grass surface.(Garden soil, sand and leaf
mould-1:2:1-October,3-5cm.
Frost Injury-Sprayed with water every evening and in the early
morning .

25. Core Aerification
Core aeration is a type of lawn aeration whereby a machine (a lawn aerator) with
hollow tines mechanically removes plugs or "cores" of soil and thatch from a lawn. Core
aeration reduces soil compaction, creating a channel through which oxygen, water, and
nutrients can penetrate the soil.
Winter Over Seeding : In cool areas ,warm season grasses
become dormant during winters, whereas the conditions
remain Congenial for the growth of cool season grasses. Over
seeding results in year round turf cover. The Bermuda grass
become dormant in winter, so the seeds of perennial rye grass,
rough blue grass or other cool season grasses can be seeded
into the area.
Liming: Growth of moss over the lawn area is an indication
of acidic soil, which means the soil requires liming. Under
such condition powdered chalk or lime should be applied at
the rate of 250 gm per m square area.
Sulphuring: Alkaline soils(>7.0) are not suitable for turf grass growth because of the
reduced availability of plant nutrients. Problem of alkalinity can be often be corrected by
applying elemental sulphur as per the requirement.(Spring or Fall)

26. Mowing
Dethatching

27. WEEDING
• Regular mowing controls the population of
weeds by removal of upper portion of the
weeds and starvation of roots. But still there
may be large population of weeds which
grows fast and needs removal. Hand weeding
is possible in small areas and it is the only
solution to check motha (Cyperus rotandus)
which is a problematic weed. Weedicide for
dicot weeds e.g.05% solution of 2,4-
Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and for narrow
leaf weed atrazine 1.0 kg (50% WP) per ha
can be used.

28. Annual blue grass Purslane White clover Smooth crab grass
Amaranthus Goose grass Purple nutsedge

29. Weeds in turf grass
Name of weeds Herbicides name
Annual blue grass( Poa annua L.) Sulfosulfuron, quinclorac (POE)
Purslane (Portlaca oleracea L.) 2,4-D , Carfentrazone (POE)
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) 2,4-D , Carfentrazone, MCPP, triclopyr and dicamba
(POE)
Smooth crab grass (Digitaria
ischaemum Scherb)
Pendimethalin, metsulfuron, dithiopyr (PE, POE)
Amaranthus (Amaranthus
retroflexus)
2,4-D , Carfentrazone (POE)
Goose grass (Galium aparine) Pendimethalin, metsulfuron, dithiopyr (PE, POE)
Purple nutsedge(Cyprus rotundus) Repeated application of selective herbicides over
several weeks like ethoxysulfuron(POE)

30. DISEASES AND OTHER PROBLEMS
• Fairy ring:
• It is caused by soil borne fungi like Marasmius ordeades, Psalliota
campestris,Leipiota morgani etc. These fungi cause a circular ring
of thin coloured or dead grass. Grass turn brown and rings widen
in the circle from few cms to meters. This can be controlled by
drenching soil with bordeux mixture (4:4:50) (4kg copper
sulphate:4kg lime:50 lit of water) or by spraying other fungicide
like Blitox(0.1%)
• Pale or yellow lawn:
• This may be due to water logging condition, or lack of water.
Defeiciency of nitrogen is also responsible for yellowing of grasses
which could be prevented by frequent application of nitrogenous
fertilizers. Hardening of soil is also responsible for this problem
which creates oxygen deficiency in roots. Loosening of soil with
the help of khurpa or rake will reduce yellowing.

31. Large Patch or Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
Brown to gray smoke ring at the edge of the circular pattern.
Brown patch is most often found in buffalograss in late spring.
Leaf Spots (Bipolaris spp., Drechslera spp., Exserohilum spp. and others)
Leaves will turn tan to straw colored if crown rot develops.
Leaf spots caused by most species of Drechslera usually prevail in wet and cool
weather during fall and spring.
Turfgrasses affected by leaf spots include: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass,
tall fescue, Bermudagrass, buffalograss and zoysiagrass.
Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa)
One can find white to tan banding of leaf blades on the perimeter of the patch.

32. Rusts (Puccinia spp., Uromyces spp. and Physopella compressa)
Symptoms for rust include orange‐ to reddish‐colored pustules on the leaf blades resulting
in yellow patches in the lawn.
These pustules (rust) are easily rubbed off on the leaf.
Powdery Mildew (Blumeria graminis):
Older leaves are usually more infected than younger leaves.
When heavily infected, the entire leaf may turn yellow, then brown as leaves begin to die.
Non‐Pathogenic (Abiotic) Diseases
These include iron chlorosis, soil compaction, dog‐urine injury, fertilizer burn and
herbicide injury.

35. Large Patch or Brown Patch
(Rhizoctonia solani)
Leaf Spot Rusts (Puccinia spp)
Powdery Mildew (Blumeria graminis) Non‐Pathogenic (Abiotic)

36. Disease
Management
Control Measures Picture
Leaf spot
( Bipolaris sorokiniana,
Helminthosporium sp.)
 Avoid excess of nitrogen
fertilizers.
 Spray propiconazole or
chlorothalonil or Iprodione or
Liquid copper concentrate
fungicide against leaf spot
disease.
Fairy Ring ( Agaricus spp.,
Marasmius spp.,
Lycoperdon spp. )
 Apply sufficient nitrogen.
 Spray triademefon,
azoxystrobin, flutolanil.
 Apply soil fumigants to
eliminate the fungus.
Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia
homoeocarpa)
 Spray chlorothalonil or
liquid copper concentrate
fungicides or tridimefon,
propiconazole or myclobutanil.

37. Yellow Patch(
Rhizoctonia cerealis)
 Spray thiophanate-methyl,
azoxystrobin, and flutolanil
Rust ( Puccinia spp.)
 Balanced nitrogen fertilization.
 Apply triazole fungicides for
effective control.
 Remove thatch frequently.

38. Partial List of Fungicides for Disease Control in Home Lawns
Common Name/Type Trade Names (brand name in parenthesis)
1. Myclobutanil Spectracide Immunox Multi‐Purpose Fungicide
Spectracide Immunox Lawn Disease Control
Green Light Fung‐Away Systemic Lawn Fungicide
Granules
Ferti‐lome F‐Stop
Spectracide Immunox Plus
Schultz Fungicide Plus Concentrate
2. Propiconazole Ferti‐lome Liquid Systemic Fungicide
Bonide Infuse
CSI Honor Guard PPZ
Monterey Fungi‐Fighter
3. Thiophanate‐methyl Green Light Systemic Fungicide
Ferti‐lome Halt Systemic Fungicide
Scotts Lawn Fungus Control
4. Triadimefon Green Light Fung‐Away Systemic Lawn Fungicide
Spray RTS
Green Light Fung‐Away Systemic Fungicide
Hi‐Yield Lawn Fungicide Granules
Bonide Fung‐Onil Lawn Disease Control
Bayer Advanced Fungus Control for Lawns

39. Insects
White Grubs
Grubs kill the grass by feeding on the roots.
The most effective time to treat grubs in this area is during mid‐July to mid‐August while
grubs are small and actively feeding on the roots.
Sod Webworms, Cutworms, Armyworms and Fall Armyworms
These larvae feed on grass leaves.
Both sod webworms and cutworms feed at night around a small burrow or tunnel in the
turf.
The fall armyworm larvae is about 1.5 inches long at maturity, light green to almost black
in color with light body stripes and an inverted “Y” on the head.
They feed mostly at night.
Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs attack both cool‐ and warm‐season turfgrasses.
The adult chinch bug is about 1/8 inch long, and black with white patches on its wings
which fold over the back.
Symptoms include yellow or wilted patches usually appearing during July and August

40. White Grub Chinch Bug
Sod Webworms

41. Pest
Management
Control Measures Picture
White Grub
(Holotrichia spp)
 Spray chloropyriphos @ 2.5 ml/l or
malathion 50EC @ 1 ml/l.
 Install light traps between 7 p.m and
9p.m .
Sod web worm
( Herpetogramma
spp)
 Spray of methyl parathion or
quinalphos 0.05% on foliage.
 Poison bait consisting of malathion at
0.1% in wheat bran.
Chinch bug
(Blissus spp)
 Controlled with standard insecticides
like quinalphos 0.05% or malathion
0.1%.
Termite
(Odontotermes
obesus)
 Drenching soil with chloropyriphos
0.05% or malathion 0.1% before
planting.

42. Ant
( Monomorium
spp)
 Apply chloropyrifos @ 2.5 ml/l,
Lamda-cyhalothrin @ 0.5 ml/l or
deltamethrin @ ml/l.
Aphid (aphis spp.)
 Pongamia oil or neem oil spray @
2% also effectively manages the pest.
 Apply dimethoate or oxydemeton
methyl at 0.05%.
Rodent
 Using traps, poison baits and by
introducing poisonous gases in to the
tunnels.
 Poison baiting of rodents with zinc
phosphide and burrow fumigation
with aluminum phosphide controls
rodents.

43. Table 8. Partial List of Insecticides for Insect Control in Home Lawns.
Common Name Insect Trade Names (partial list)
1. Azadirachtin wg, sw, cw, aw Neemix 4.5
2. Bifenthrin aw, cw, sw, cb Ortho Bug‐B‐Gon Max
Insect Killer for Lawns
3. Carbaryl wg, sw, aw, GardenTech Sevin Lawn Insect Granules
cw, cb, faw
4. Deltamethrin aw, cw, sw, Bonide Delta Eight Insect Control
cb, faw Hi‐Yield Turf Ranger Insect Control Granules
5. Halofenozide wg, sw, aw, faw Hi‐Yield Kill‐A‐Grub
6. Imidacloprid wg, cb, cw Bonide Annual Grub Beater
Bayer Advanced Season‐Long Grub Control
Granules
Hi‐Yield Grub Free Zone II
Spectracide Grub Stop Once & Done
7. Imidacloprid + beta aw, cw, sw, Bayer Advanced Complete Insect Killer
+ cyfluthrin wg, cb (ready‐to‐spray, concentrate, granules)
8. Lambda cyhalothrin sw, cw, aw Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer Once &
Done (ready‐to‐use, concentrate, granules)
9. Permethrin aw, cw, sw,cb, faw Bonide Total Pest Control‐Outdoor
Green Light Lawn Killer
Hi‐Yield Kill‐A‐Bug II Lawn Granules
10. Trichlorfon wg, cw, sw, aw Bayer Advanced 24‐Hour Grub Killer Plus
Hi‐Yield Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide

44. Other Lawn Problems
Thatch
Thatch is an accumulation of living and dead plant tissues between the soil and the green
leaves of grass.
One‐half inch or less of thatch is desirable because it reduces soil compaction, increases
wear tolerance and conserves soil moisture.
Too much thatch will reduce water infiltration, tie up pesticides, encourage insect and
disease infestations, and contribute to a shallow‐rooted turf.
Shade
Grasses must have some direct sunlight for normal development and growth.
Tree and building shade decrease available light.
Tree roots compete with grass for soil moisture and nutrients.
Closely spaced plantings of trees, ornamentals, fencing near buildings or other structures
can create an environment of high humidity and reduced wind movement that favor disease
development.

45. Thatch
Shade

46. Machine and Major equipment
Turf Seeder
Lawn mower
Lawn sweeper

47. Rotary Sprinklers
Pop-up Sprinklers
Dethatchers/Scarifiers

48. Varietal wealth at IARI
Experimental Field
Germplasm Block

49. A. Bermuda grass
• Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae)
Characteristics: Warm-season grass ,fine to medium leaf texture, dark green,
dense and low growing via rhizomes and stolons some varieties tolerate
very low maintenance, while others produce lawns of exceptional beauty
when given extra care , root system is extensive and very deep.
• Recommended Usage: Best adapted to hot, dry or tropical climates -
recommended for residential and commercial landscapes, golf courses, sport
fields, parks and recreation areas - ideal for homes with children and pets.
Withstand with heavy traffic pressure and ability to recover.
• Temperature Tolerance: Excellent heat tolerance up to 40-45°C performs
best during periods of heat - has a winter dormancy period, turns tan to
brown at temperatures below 10-12°C. Poor cold hardiness.
• Drought Resistance: Superior - highly drought resistant, but also responds to
irrigation in dry periods. Can go into summer dormancy when irrigation is
withheld; upon return of moisture supply, will green up again.
• Shade Adaptation: Poor - requires full sun for most of the day to grow
properly - should not be used in a shady site.

50. Selection -1 Bargusto Panama
Panam Palma Tif dwarf-419

51. B. Love grass
Eragrostis curvula (Poaceae)
• Characteristics: It is a drought tolerant perennial grass forms a large tuft
with long narrow drooping leaves. It can grow up to 30 to 40 inches.
Weeping Love grass, a plant introduced grass from East Africa, is a rapidly
growing warm-season bunchgrass that prefers light textured soils.
• Temperature Tolerance: Thrives well in summer season, adjusting well to
temperatures more than 45°C.
• Shade Adaptation: It does not have good tolerance for shade. It requires full
sun for their growth.
• Recommended Usage: Weeping Love grass can be used as a conservation
species on sandy soils to prevent wind erosion. Quick germination and rapid
establishment provide good cover on critical sites. Weeping Love grass can
be used in the landscape for mass plantings. The unique drooping
appearance, quick establishment, and drought resistance make it a
desirable low-maintenance species used for erosion control along hills and
highways.

52. C.Dichondra
Dichondra repens (Convolvulaceae)
• Characteristics: Dichondra is not a turf grass but a fast growing ground
cover. This is a perennial warm season grass with fine texture which has a
prostrate or creeping growth habit with circular leaves. It grows very
close to the ground.
• Temperature Tolerance: It is adapted to warmer climates, but will retain
its striking green color during winter temperatures as below 0 °C with
only slight leaf browning.
• Shade Adaptation: It will grow in partial shade, but it does best in full sun
under cool coastal conditions.
• Recommended Usage: Dichondra has broad, almost circular leaves and
when mowed low establishes a thick dense carpet look. It is now used in
many ground cover situations where normal grasses may not do as well.

53. Eragrostis curvula
Dichondra repens

54. D. St. Augustine grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum (Poaceae)
• Characteristics: Warm-season grass - light to medium green color, coarse leaf texture,
creeping growth habit, fast growing, it has low level of maintenance with moderate
wear ability.
• Characteristics: Variegated St. Augustine grass is strongly and thickly striped in white,
and is one of the brightest variegated grasses available.
• Recommended Usage: Well adapted to coastal regions with hot, tropical climates -
used in residential, commercial and industrial landscapes.
• Temperature Tolerance: Thrives in heat, adjusting well to temperatures up to 40-42°C
goes dormant and turns tan colored during winter when temperatures drop below
10°C.
• Drought Resistance: Excellent to fair - wide range in drought avoidance among
varieties. It can go into summer dormancy when irrigation is withheld; upon return of
moisture, will green up again.
• Shade Adaptation: Excellent to poor - varieties show wide range in shade adaptation.

55. Stenotaphrum secundatum
Stenotaphrum secundatum variegated

56. E.Bahia grass
Paspalum notatum (Poaceae)
• Characteristics: Bahia grass is a warm season turf grass. It can be established
seed and requires reduced inputs compared to St. Augustine grass. It is a low
to mid maintenance grass. It is a tough, coarse bladed grass that is capable
of surviving in conditions that would destroy most turf grasses. One
important characteristic of Bahia grass is its capability to withstand weather
extremes.
• Temperature Tolerance: Thrives in heat, adjusting well to temperatures more
than 45°C goes dormant and turns tan colored during winter when
temperatures drop below 10°C.
• Shade Adaptation: It does not have good tolerance for shade.
• Wear Resistance: Bahia grass is extremely tolerant to wear and traffic and is
commonly used as a roadside grass. It has a coarse leaf texture and provides
less cushioning for recreational activities than some other species. Bahia
grass does best in full sun.
• Recommended Usage: Used in commercial and industrial landscapes.

57. Bahia grass

58. F. Zoysia Grass
• Zoysia Species (Poaceae)
• Characteristics: Zoysia grass is a thick, slow-growing turf. It has a fine-to-medium texture;
color varies by cultivar. The zoysia grasses have superior cold tolerance, more attractive lawn
than St. Augustine grass or centipede grass.
• 1. Zoysia japonica: Japanese lawn grass has a coarse texture similar to tall fescue. Its light
green leaf is hairy and has a relatively faster growth rate than other zoysia grass species, with
excellent cold tolerance. However, this species of zoysia grass does not make as good a lawn
as other improved cultivars and species make.
• 2. Zoysia matrella: Matrella has a finer leaf texture and is more shade tolerance. Manila grass
resembles Bermuda grass and is recommended for a high-quality, high-maintenance lawn but
it has less cold tolerance.
• Temperature Tolerance: Manila grass (Zoysia matrella) is intermediate in cold tolerance and
fineness. It is increasingly popular due to good quality lawn. Japanese lawn grass (Zoysia
japonica) is coarse in texture but much more cold-hardy than the other species.
• Shade Adaptation: The zoysia grasses form dense, thick sods of high quality. They have more
shade tolerance than Bermuda grass and form a finer, more attractive lawn.
• Recommended Usage: A highly versatile species, zoysia grasses make ideal lawn grasses in
some situations and can be used on golf courses, parks and athletic fields. They can be grown
in all kinds of soils ranging from sands to clays and both acid and alkaline in reaction.

59. Zoysia japonica
Zoysia matrella

60. G.Dactyloctenium Aegyptium (Poaceae)
• Egyptian crowfoot grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium ) is a
tufted, slightly stoloniferous annual or short-lived drought
tolerant perennial grass. It is a multipurpose grass. It is a
mainly used as fodder and relished by all classes of
ruminants. In semi-arid areas it makes valuable annual
pastures as well as excellent hay. Now a days it can be used
as turf grass and suitable for sports field.

61. H.CENTIPEDE GRASS (Eremochloa ophiuroides)
• Centipede grass is a low-growing, coarse-textured species that is adapted
for use in low maintenance situations.
• It is often referred to as lazy man’s grass due to its less frequent mowing,
fertilization, and pest requirements.
• However, it does not tolerate traffic, compaction, heavy shade, or cold
weather and is sensitive to many commonly used herbicides.
• It is used widely on home & commercial lawns, roadsides, cemeteries,
and any other low maintenance areas.

63. I.CARPET GRASS (Axonopus affinis)
• Carpet grass is a slow, low-growing, coarse textured turf grass
adapted for low maintenance situations.
• It is similar in general appearance to centipede grass except that
it produces a crabgrass-like seed head .
• Looks like ‘ St. Augustine’.
• Carpet grass grows well in full sun to moderate shade and can
tolerate wet, acidic conditions.
• It has poor tolerance to cold, drought, salt, and traffic.
• Carpet grass is primarily found on low-maintenance sites.
• Blends well with centipede.

65. J. Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum)
Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a, perennial turfgrass indigenous to
tropical and coastal areas worldwide. It is highly tolerant of various environmental
stresses.
Higher quality turf in reduced light conditions, in soils ranging in pH from 3.6 to
10.2, in waterlogged soils.
It tolerates soil salinity levels as high as 54 dSm-1, a level at which most
horticultural crops cannot survive.

66. Career opportunities in turfgrass industry
Globally, turfgrass industry has undergone a rapid growth and
assimilated many trained turf-personnel in different kinds of roles like,
ground’s superintendent (in golf courses, athletic fields, recreational grounds,
institutional grounds, Business parks, residential park etc.), manufacturing
and sales representatives, lawn care operator, architect, landscape designer
professional service contractor, cemetery and historical monument manager,
municipal corporations, technical writer, consultant, scientist or educator.
Rapid increase in cost of living index has attracted the elite sections of
the society into sports like golf which has huge scope for human resource
employment as managers, designers, contractors, etc. Planning, designing,
construction and management of any sports field requires a very efficient and
accurate knowledge of turfgrass cultivation, management and the better
understanding of that sport as in the way to know what is required to give the
player a best playable surface.

67. The turf grass industry consists of many
diverse groups as
 Home owners
 Athletic field managers
 Lawn care operators
 Golf course superintendents
Architects
 Landscape designers and
contractors
 Seed and sod producers
 Parks and grounds
superintendents

68. Development opportunity of allied industry
Turf industry is a boon for various ancillary industries-tools,
equipment, machinery, agrochemicals, consultancies, architecture firms,
contractors, consultants, developers, sod producers, ground supervisors,
etc. that will play huge role in employment generation in different sectors
along with high revenue generation. Ever increasing awareness on outdoor
living, recreational areas, aesthetic value, consciousness about healthy
living and reduced living spaces has proved a boon for turf industry as
turfs form major components in urban and peri-urban landscaping (parks,
traffic islands, roof gardens, jogging tracks, lawns, building landscapes,
etc).
Increase in monetary value of real estate due to the presence of well
managed landscapes, golf courses, outdoor area, play grounds and
greenery is being observed in all cities around the country. This offers
ample opportunities for strengthening the urban landscaping companies.
The turf seed industry will also gain a lot from the expansion of turfgrass
industry and research.

69. Industry and government support is
needed to provide greater depth, increased
duration, and better long-term coordination
of research efforts. There is a need of
popularizing turf grasses to meet the ever
increasing landscape demands.

70. Source of turfgrass seed
1. Anil Nursery , Khora, Noida
2. Flora International ,lake place, Kolkata
3. Deportes Sports Infrastructure , Manjari
Greens, Pune
4. Shreeram Lawn Suppliers , Talshi Mulshi, Pune
5. G N Landscapes,Moga, Ludhiana
6. Parbhat Nursery , Alipur, New Delhi
7. Mecas Facility Management Services, Sushant
Lok, Gurgaon

71. Avenues in Turf grass industry
 Turf/sod production
 Turfgrass seed production
 Landscaping
 Turfgrass related equipment manufacturing and
marketing
 Development of sports field

72. FUTURE PROSPECTS
Breeding turf grass genotype
Development of turf grass varieties for sustainable utility
Systematic preservation of turf grasses germplasm
Development of DUS standards
Research based on PPP(Public Private Partnership)
Exploring indigenous grasses
Turf grass seed industry needs to be developed.
Integrated nutrient, diseases and pest mgt
Potential use of grey water