Investigation on Morpho-physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Common Turfgrasses in Xeriscaping

Lawns have become a central part of urban and suburban landscapes in Iran and are expanding along with urbanization. Turfgrass provides many environmental benefits, including reducing soil erosion, water runoff and leaching, contributing to carbon sequestration, moderating temperature, reducing noise, glare, and visual pollution. By selecting the appropriate plants and efficient irrigation systems, a balance can be achieved to fit aesthetic needs as well as reduce resource use. Benefits of xeriscaping include cost savings through lower water bills and a reduction in the labor needed to maintain your landscape. In this investigation zoysiagrass (Zoysia tenuifolia L.) and paspalum (Paspalum notatum Flugge.) were compared with bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.), the common turfgrass in Ahwaz. The experiment was conducted as factorial in a random complete block design with the time of assessment as the main factor and turfgrass type as the sub-factor. Each treatment had four replicates. Turfgrasses were compared by measuring rooting depth, verdure wet and dry weight, root wet and dry weight, clipping wet and dry weight, chlorophyll content, solute carbohydrates, sodium content, potassium content and calcium content. Paspalum was the best species turfgrass for xeriscape under climatic conditions of Ahwaz city. The species tolerated more drought stress through enhancement root growth and reduction of its shoot growth, a positive point for landscape managment. So, it had more photosynthesis efficiency. Another mechanism of drought tolerance in this species was increasing K and Ca2 concentrations, which are of essential role in osmotic adjustment. In general, paspalum by having different mechanisms can keep up growth and photosynthesis in drought condition at ahwaz landscape.