Results

August 1990
Ground cover and botanical composition There were no significant differences in total live cover of the plots established from different grades of turf (Fig. 1). Only the high seed rate treatment was statistically greater in cover than Coronet turf.

FIGURE 1. Ground cover of turf in response to six establishment treatments in August 1990. Least significant difference (LSD) is indicated by the vertical bar.

Differences in botanical composition were observed among the different treatments, the turf grown on sandy soil and its washed counterpart having the lowest levels of fescue and the highest levels of bent (Figs. 2 and 3). The dominant constituent of the swards was fescue being present at around 60% or greater for five of the treatments. Annual meadow-grass was observed in all the mature turf treatments in small amounts. Amounts (means ± standard errors) were as follows: turf grown on sandy soil, 0.6% ± 0.6%; turf grown on heavy soil, 6.8% ± 1.66%; washed turf 0.2% ± 0.2%. No annual meadow-grass was observed in the Coronet turf or seeded plots. A small amount of smooth-stalked meadow-grass (1.4%) was observed in the turf grown on heavy soil.

FIGURE 2. Fescue content (% cover) of turf in response to six establishment treatments in August 1990. Least significant difference (LSD) is indicated by the vertical bar.