compound growth

ORH 3222C - Turfgrass Culture

University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale

(return to 7 steps in design and establishment)

Warm-season turfgrasses have a considerable capacity for geometric or compound growth. Busey and Myers (1979) demonstrated that common bermudagrass has a capacity for a 9% compound daily growth rate, assuming amble sunlight, nutrients, water, and suppression of pests. At that rate, a square meter of turfgrass, frequently redivided as sprigs and replanted, would in one year cover half the land area of the earth.

Warm-season turfgrass growth and establishment characteristics
Species Potential growth rate Weight increase (% per day) Time to achieve ground coverage (days) Sod harvest cycle (months) Maintenance requirement Recuperation rate
bahiagrass (seed) slow
2 to 4
N/A
12 to 24
 low slow
bermudagrass fast
8 to 9
50 +
3 to 8
 high very fast
centipedegrass slow
2
80 +
9 to 15
 low slow
seashore paspalum fast
7
60 +
?
 high fast
St. Augustinegrass intermediate
4 to 5
65 +
7 to 18
 intermediate fast
zoysiagrass intermediate
4 to 5
90 +
11 to 24
 intermediate slow to moderate

The figure shows the example of the S-shaped growth curve of bermudagrass, based on actual field experience.

(return)

18 September 1997