Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
produces stolons but not rhizomes. Its large and fast-spreading stolons
are easy to cut around flower beds and shrubs, either by hand or with a
piece of turf equipment called an edger. This characteristic makes St
Augustine grass a desirable choice for many homeowners and
landscapers. It can be successfully grown in a wide variety of soils,
with the exception of very alkaline soils, where it may require some
supplemental iron fertilization. Under proper maintenance and a
mowing height of 5-7 cm, it produces a dark-green, dense turf with
exceptional shade tolerance. The shade tolerance of St Augustine grass
is superior to that of all other tropical turf-grasses. St Augustine grass has
poor tolerance for heavy traffic and cold temperatures and is quite often
infested by insects, mostly by leaf-chewing caterpillars. It may also suffer
from several fungal diseases as well as one viral disease, called St Augus-
tine grass decline or SAD. Weed control in St Augustine grass is
somewhat challenging, especially in the tropics. Few herbicides
effectively control weeds without injuring the turf, but advances in bio-
technological research are expected to solve weed-control issues in the
future. St Augustine grass must usually be established by vegetative
propagation in the form of sod, sprigs or plugs because its seeds are
usually not viable. Numerous varieties of this species are available
around the world.
The genus Eremochloa (Panicoideae)
Eremochloa ophiuroides
(Munro) Hack., called centipede grass or Chinese
lawn grass, is very popular for use on residential lawns (Fig. 2.5).
Subtropical and tropical climates are ideal for its growth. Centipede
grass is a creeping grass of medium-coarse texture that produces
above-ground stolons. It grows well in full sun and modest shade, but it
does not tolerate heavy shade under trees. It is also not recommended for
driveways or other areas subject to traffic.
The popularity of centipede grass in the tropics is related to its
tolerance to low soil fertility. Under low fertility, centipede grass looks
very pleasant and grows more slowly, so it needs less mowing than any
of the other lawn grasses. If necessary, for example in the case of injury,
its growth rate can be increased substantially by the application of fertil-
izer and unrestricted moisture. Then its growth can be slowed again by
reversion to low-fertility management. Centipede grass ordinarily has a
light green colour. High fertilization, especially with nitrogen, darkens
the colour but results in numerous problems ranging from low stress
tolerance to reduced resistance to weeds, insects and especially fungal
diseases. When clippings are removed after mowing, centipede grass may
