The lack of turfgrass diversity in cool-season sod production is related to information inefficiencies, such as the lack of agronomic information available on improved, low-input species, such as fine fescues (Festuca spp.). Collaborative research between Purdue University and University of Minnesota investigated the influence of cool-season turfgrass species mixtures on the harvest (production and strength) and storage limitations of sod. Field experiments were established in 2018 in West Lafayette, IN, and in 2019 in St. Paul, MN. Treatments included 12 turfgrass species mixtures that consisted of the following five species: strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin), Chewings fescue (F. rubra ssp. commutata Gaudin), hard fescue (F. brevipila Tracey), tall fescue (F. arundinacea Schreb.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Data on turf cover, vertical growth rate, sod tensile strength, sod handling, and shelf-life storage and transplant success were collected at multiple harvest timings from 10 to 24 mo after planting. The majority of the sod mixtures, especially those containing ≥33% strong creeping red fescue, produced high quality sod similar to the standard comparison of 100% Kentucky bluegrass sod and transplant success was not severely affected when stored for 24–72 h immediately following a spring or autumn harvest. Sod mixtures containing tall fescue, including “rhizomatous tall fescue,” consistently resulted in the lowest sod strength and handling. Overall, sod producers growing fine fescue sod may be able to not only reduce management inputs, but also yield good sod strength with low-input sod mixtures.

中文翻译：

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低投入冷季草坪草皮混合物的管理、收获和储存特性

冷季草皮生产中草坪草多样性的缺乏与信息效率低下有关，例如缺乏关于改良的低投入物种的农艺信息，例如优质羊茅（Festuca spp.）。普渡大学和明尼苏达大学之间的合作研究调查了冷季草坪草物种混合物对草皮收获（产量和强度）和储存限制的影响。田间实验于 2018 年在印第安纳州西拉斐特和 2019 年在明尼苏达州圣保罗建立。处理包括由以下五种组成的 12 种草皮草物种混合物：强匍匐红羊茅 ( Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin )、咀嚼羊茅 ( F. rubrassp。commutata Gaudin)、硬羊茅 ( F. brevipila Tracey)、高羊茅 ( F. arundinacea Schreb.) 和肯塔基早熟禾 ( Poa pratensis )L.)。在种植后 10 至 24 个月的多个收获时间收集有关草坪覆盖率、垂直生长速率、草皮抗张强度、草皮处理以及保质期储存和移植成功率的数据。大多数草皮混合物，尤其是那些含有 ≥33% 强匍匐红羊茅的草皮混合物，生产的草皮质量与 100% 肯塔基早熟禾草皮的标准比较相似，并且在移植后立即储存 24-72 小时后移植成功没有受到严重影响春季或秋季收获。含有高羊茅的草皮混合物，包括“根状高羊茅”，始终导致最低的草皮强度和处理能力。总体而言，种植细羊茅草皮的草皮生产商不仅可以减少管理投入，还可以通过低投入草皮混合物产生良好的草皮强度。