Evaluating Sporobolus spicatus Ecotypes under Different Mowing Heights for Turf use
Evaluating Sporobolus spicatus Ecotypes under Different Mowing Heights for Turf use
Muhammad Zamin* and Abdul Mateen Khattak
ABSTRACT
The existing variations and diversity of Sporobolus spicatus and its suitability as turf grass needed to be assessed for conservation and to combat salinity problem. For this purpose, various ecotypes of Sporobolus spicatus were investigated by conducting mowing tests in the year 2013 under UAE climatic conditions. Fifty ecotypes of Sporobolus spicatus were cut at various heights, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 cm. Significant differences were found among various ecotypes and mowing heights for different growth and quality parameters including green cover, canopy stiffness, leaf length and width. Most of the ecotypes gave better performance at mowing height 3 and 4 cm, which comply with the standard mowing height for turf grasses. Ecotypes RS2, MZADS1 and SAADS1 resulted in the best performance against mowing shock. Based on their performance, these ecotypes could be used for turf purposes in public landscape under saline environments.
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