Quality and Growth Response of Centipedegrass to Extended Drought

Many of today's landscapes require turfgrasses that can survive extended drought periods without supplemental water. Centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) Hack.] has long been used as a low-maintenance lawn grass for the Southeast. A controlled drought study was used to determine the quality, growth, and recovery of centipedegrass held in stress for periods of 7 to 30 d. Common centipedegrass, established under an automated rainfall shelter, was subjected to three drought (drydown) regimes - NOSTRESS, watered twice per week; MODERATE, 2 to 3 wk between watering; and SEVERE, 4 to 6 wk between watering (...)