Characters and Utilizations of Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass is a very vigorous, warm-season grass with the prostate
growth habit. There are five types of bermudagrass in turf use. Common
bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and Pilger bermudagrass (C. plectostachyum)
that have relatively coarse texture and low shoot density with excessive seed formation are primarily utilized as a general-purpose turf on roadside, ground and
pasture by sprig and seed establishment. Bradely bermudagrass (C. incompletus,
African bermudagrass (C. transvalensis) and Magensis bermudagrass (C. dactylon
× magenisii )that have the finer leaf texture and higher shoot density form a dense,
uniform turf of high quality, when grown under proper climate and cultural
condition. Those three species provide a very good play surface for athletic field,
tees, fairways and lawns. A number of the turf-type bermudagrass cultivars were
developed by interspecific hybridization between those three species. Therefore,
most of improved bermudagrass cultivars are vegetative propagated to assure
trueness to type by means of spigs, plug and sods. Mowing frequency and cutting
height are dictated by the purpose for which the turf is maintained. Most of
broadleaf weeds can controlled with the mixture of lasso and atrazine after
bermudagrass establishment. Diclofop and the mixture of MSMA and metribuzin
can effectively control the noxious goosegrass (Eleusine indica) in tees, fairway
and playfields.