Various cultivars of four cool-season grass types (tall fescue, fine f
escue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass) were seeded in 0.34
-liter plastic pots containing either composted sewage sludge [Com-Til
(2) (CT), Soil Magic(2) (SM)] or composted yard mulch (YM). Plants wer
e grown in the greenhouse for four weeks prior to measuring shoot biom
ass. While most tall fescue cultivars showed more shoot growth on YM,
perennial ryegrass cultivars generally grew better on SM. Cultivars of
fine fescue and bluegrass grew about the same on YM or SM, and slight
ly less on CT. With very few exceptions, shoot biomass of individual c
ultivars was greater on either YM or SM than it was on CT. Within indi
vidual grass types, Pennlawn (line fescue), Pennant (perennial ryegras
s), and Victa (Kentucky bluegrass) averaged consistently better growth
on all three composted media. For tall fescue, Aquara, Rebel II, and
Monarch performed best on YM, SM, and CT, respectively. Bioaccumulatio
n of heavy metals did not occur in selective samples of shoot tissues
collected from the grass types used.