Performance of turfgrasses on a clay based simulated cricket pitch under varied levels of soil compaction and ABA

Abstract

The cricket pitch is most trafficked area in cricket ground. Growing grasses on this compacted clay based surface is most difficult. The present investigation was undertaken to study the behaviour of two Bermudagrass varieties ‘Selection-1’ and ‘Tif-419’on a clay layer of 21 cm with varied levels of compactions. The shoot density per 100 cm2 and NDVI values were reduced from lower compaction level of 1.2 g/cc to higher compaction level of 1.6 g/cc. Similarly, root dry weight and total root length in the top 21 cm clay layer reduced significantly from lower compaction level to higher compaction levels. The exogenous application of ABA (abscisic acid) @ 10μM significantly increased the root penetration of top 21 cm compacted clay layer. Among two grasses studied, Selection-1 gave higher root dry weight and total root length in top 21cm clay layer.