Q: As you know, all of North Carolina is suffering in this drought. Do you have any management advice to help us get through this period?
A: In North Carolina, we have been in some level of drought since late winter. I cannot remember any time in the last 20 years that we entered a drought so early in the year. By June, the entire land area along the eastern coast from Florida to Virginia was in a drought. With rapidly receding lake levels, some North Carolina towns have implemented irrigation restrictions to conserve water, and I anticipate that number will continue to climb this summer.
When it comes to drought tolerance, bermudagrass is amazing grass. Without adequate water from either rainfall or irrigation, it will roll its leaf blades to conserve moisture and send its roots deeper into the soil to find water. During an extended drought, leaf tissue may die and drop from the plant, although the grass will generally recuperate from its stolons and rhizomes once it receives adequate water.
Less frequent, longer irrigations throughout the year will assist in establishing a deeper, more viable root system. The deeper the root system, the greater the volume of soil from which the plant can pull water during a dry-down. Apply enough water to wet the soil in the rootzone and then don’t water again until about 30% of the turf shows signs of wilt.
Check your irrigation system frequently to ensure it applies water uniformly and is in good working order. Poor design or installation, broken heads, and busted valves can all contribute to an inefficient system. While checking your system, determine how long the zones must run to put out half an inch of water. This will come in handy when setting your watering times throughout the year. If you have dry spots, you may want to apply a commercial wetting agent to those locations so the soil absorbs water uniformly.
In the absence of rainfall and irrigation, fields will become firmer, show more signs of wear, and have a reduced ability to recover from use. Once a drought hits, use the highest mowing height possible. If a field cannot be irrigated, mow as infrequently as possible and as high as possible. If a field is super dry, most people won’t even notice a 2-inch mowing height. Furthermore, if your fields are crispy, it is not the best time to apply fertilizer or spray for weeds. Delay as many trips across the field as possible.
Be a good citizen and follow mandated water restrictions; you do not want the wrath of an angry, concerned citizen because you broke the rules. If irrigation is allowed, water late at night or early in the morning to maximize efficiency and minimize evaporation. Run the system long enough to moisten the upper six to eight inches of soil; roughly an inch of water for a loamy soil.
Recuperation from wear and damage will be dramatically slower than when adequate water is available. This is a good justification to limit the use of the field. If this is not possible, at least keep the decision-makers informed of the damage that may result from excessive use. This is also a good time to draft a contingency plan for your facility. From reduced use to total closure, consider both the long-term damage that can be done to your field and the safety of the user groups.
At this point, there is only so much you can do. Without adequate water, no amount of fertilization, wetting agents or soil amendments will do much good.
Grady Miller, Ph.D.
Professor and Extension Turf Specialist
North Carolina State University
Questions?
Send them to Grady Miller at North Carolina State University, Box 7620, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, or e-mail grady_miller@ncsu.edu