Treatment of Flooded Turfgrass
Impact of Floodwaters on Turfgrass
Floodwaters affect turfgrass in a number of ways:
1. Reduced oxygen supply to the root system
2. Presence of toxic substances }
3. Physical barriers to plant growth and photosynthesis after flood waters have receded
4. Erosion
5. Altered soil nutrient availability
6. Changed soil physical properties; including compaction and layering of silt within the soil profile
Flooding can kill turfgrass. Even after floodwaters have subsided anaerobic soil conditions can still cause “wet wilt”. In hot weather, shallow water lying on turfgrass can scald shoots and leaves.
Soil nitrogen reserves may also be depleted. Under waterlogged conditions soluble nitrate is converted to forms that can’t be used by plants. Turf may show signs of yellowing due to nitrogen deficiency.
Yellowing due to iron deficiency can also occur, particularly on blue couch and broadleaf carpet grass.
Foliar feeding can be a helpful interim measure to “nurse” turfgrass until the soil has dried out and the rootzone has recovered.
No-09-Treatment-of-Flooded-Turfgrass