Some physiological responses of two grasses as influenced by temperature, light, and nitrogen fertilization

Two environmental control chamber experiments were conducted to study the effects or temperature, nitrogen, and light intensity on the growth and physiological effects on Tifgreen bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers., and Cohansey bentgrass, Agrostis palustris Huds. Each of the grasses was included in a field experiment to study the influence of nitrogen rates on carbohydrate reserves at different seasons.

Increased temperatures with bentgrass caused decreased carbohydrates, root weights, and final growth of tops, but increased nitrogen content and respiration. NAR in bentgrass was highest at 75 F. The respiration rate, top growth, and carbohydrate content of bermudagrass tended to increase with temperature, but root weights and NAR were highest at medium temperatures. High N generally increased top growth, NAR, respiration, and nitrogen content, but lowered the carbohydrates and root growth for both grasses.

Bentgrass, grown at 95 F during the day-, declined in yield, root growth, NAR, and respiration as night temperatures increased from 60 to 90 F. With bermudagrass HAR, top growth, and root growth were highest at 75 F and lowest at 90 F night temperatures. The AEC of bentgrass were highest at the mid-temperature, but the AEC: fer bermudagrass tended to increase with the high night temperature. Low light intensity generally decreased the yield of tops and roots, NAR, respiration, and carbohydrates, but increased the nitrogen content of both grasses.

Bentgrass stolons increased in carbohydrate content during the tall and early vinter, and then declined rapidly during the spring. During the summer, the carbohydrates in bentgrass were low. The carbohydrates in bermudagrass stolons decreased during the winter and spring, increased during summer, and reached a maximum by late fall.

For all experiments the oligosaccharides and monosaccharides made up a rather large portion of the AEC in bentgrass, polysaccharides being the largest fraction. Polysaccharides in bermudagrass made up the largest fraction of the AEC, the monosaccharides and oligosaccharides being less than 10% of the dry weight.