S3 E40 Exploring Irrigation Strategies for Tall Fescue

In this video, I dive into the 2002 study from Crop Science that evaluates how different irrigation schedules, tall fescue cultivars, and mowing heights interact to shape turf performance.

Article: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2135/cropsci2002.2011

✅ What you'll discover:

Study design highlights: 2‑year field trial in Riverside, CA, comparing 2–4 irrigation events per week at ~80 % ET₀, two cultivars (a dwarf vs. a turf-type), and two mowing heights (~3.8 cm vs. 6.4 cm)

Key findings: Twice-weekly “deep” watering yielded the highest visual quality. Dwarf cultivars and shorter mowing height boosted turf quality early, but overwatering and mowing short favored shallow roots and weed growth    Practical takeaways for lawn and turf managers:

Go for deep, twice-weekly irrigation at ~80 % ET₀ rather than frequent shallow watering. Use dwarf cultivars with lower mowing heights—but monitor for stress and shallow rooting. Always consider local soil type and climate before applying these findings.

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