SHOOT AND ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF TALL AND HARD FESCUES IN 2 DIFFERENT SOILS

Tall (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and hard fescue [Festuca ovina var. longifolia (L.) Koch] are among the most widely sown grasses used to stabilize disturbed soils in both the cool-humid and transition climat ic zones of the USA. Our objective was to evaluate the root and shoot development of two turfgrasses grown in sand and silt loam soils. Sign ificant differences in leaf area, plant height, shoot and root dry mat ter, root depth (RD), root branching (RB), and root length (RL) were r ecorded with tall fescue compared with hard fescue. Greater leaf area, leaf number, plant height, shoot and root dry matter, and RL were obs erved when the grasses were grown in a silt loam soil. Greater RD and root/shoot ratio were recorded in sandy soil. Both turfgrass species a nd soil texture affected leaf area, leaf number, plant height, shoot d ry matter, RD, RL, RB, root dry matter, and the root/shoot ratio. Sign ificant correlations were obtained for shoot dry matter with root dry matter and RL; leaf area with shoot dry matter and root dry matter; ro ot dry matter with TRL and RB; RD with root/shoot ratio; RL with leaf area; and RB with TRL and RD. Turfgrasses and soil types had an signif icant impact on shoot and root development. A greater understanding of early root develop ment for these grasses will assist in developing t echniques for establishment and persistence under disturbed soils and adverse climatic conditions.