International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 11, 82-94
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2.8 Characteristics of a good Kentucky Blue Grass
It is dense forming, uniform and creates cushioned playing surface, with attractive dark green colour.
Being rhizomatous, it is a strong sod-former.
It is tolerant to foot traffic.
It is easily available as sod.
It is an excellent heat and cold tolerant grass.
It is an excellent drought resistant grass.
Its succulent leaves allow it to be mowed without unsightly shredding as observed in other turf species.
Varieties:
For mountain regions: Abbey, Able 1, Adelphi, America, Apex, Aspen, Banff, Baron, Blacksburg, Crest,
Eclipse, Freedom, Kelley, Liberty, Limousine, Livingston, Merit, Midnight, Nustar, Nublue, Parade,
Princeton 104, Ram-I, SR2000, and Victa.
For light to moderately shady lawns: A-34, Alpine, Apex, America, Blacksburg, Bristol, Classic, Freedom,
Georgetown, Glade, Limousine, Mystic, Nugget, and Ram-I.
The lower maintenance varieties: Park, Kenblue, North Dakota Common.
Forage types: Park, Troy, Ginger.
Tolerant to closer mowing: Adelphi, Bristol, Ram I and Touchdown.
Compact Midnight type (Resistant to necrotic spot): Arcadia, Rugby II, Award, Impact, Midnight, Total
Eclipse, Liberator, Quantum Leap, Odyssey, Absolute, NuGlade, Alexa, Midnight II, Ginney, Rambo,
Courtyard, Tsunami, Awesome, Freedom II, Beyond, Perfection, Chicago II, Excursion, Barrister.
Compact America type (Resistant to summer patch, leaf spot and powdery mildew): Showcase, Apollo, SR
2284, Brilliant, SRX 2394, Langara, America, Unique, Boutique, Bluemax, Bedazzle, Avalanche, Glenmont,
Arrow, Blue Ridge, Royale, Goldstar, Mallard.
Aggressive type (Very wear tolerant): SRX 26351, P-104, Northstar, A-34, Mystic, Limousine.
Bellevue type (Resistant to leaf spot and stripe smut): Parade, Freedom, Bellevue, Dawn, Suffolk, Trenton,
Georgetown, Banff, Classic, Haga.
Mid Atlantic type: SR 2000, Livingston, Monopoly, Bel-21, Preakness, Plush, Eagleton, Wabash.
CELA type: Challenger, Adelphi, Eclipse, Jefferson, Liberty.
BVMG type: Baron, Nassau, Victa, Raven, Merit, Marquis, Gnome, BlueChip, Dragon, Fortuna, Abbey,
Goldrush, BlueStar, Envicta, Baronette, Clearwater, Crest, Cannon.
Shamrock type: SR 2100, Shamrock, Champagne, Parkland, Atlantis.
Cherry type: SRX QG245, Cheri, Sydsport, Cobalt, Serene.
Julia type: Julia, Caliber, Ikone, SR 27832.
Common types: Kenblue, Huntsville, Geary, Newport, S-21, Park, Piedmont, Alene, Greenley, Ginger,
Garfield, South Dakota Cert.
Drought tolerance varieties: Skye, Prosperity, Millagro, Armadillo, Mongoose.
Importance and uses: Bluegrass can give a dense green sod especially adapted for parks and home lawns.
Kentucky bluegrass is an excellent erosion control plant due to its dense, robust turf forming habit. It can be
effective as a mix with legumes or other grasses for erosion control in conservation cover, waterways, field
borders, heavy use areas, steep banks and pond edges. It can also be used alone or in seed mixtures as permanent
cover for tree plantings and orchards. The species is highly palatable and relished by horses, cattle, and sheep.
2.9 Perennial rye grass (
Lolium perenne
)
(Balasko et al.,1995)
Description: It is originated from Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. The plant is a low-growing, tufted, glabrous
grass, having a tillering growth habit. The leaves are dark green, glabrous and glossy on the lower surface, with
serrated parallel sides and prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. The leaves are flattened, folded
lengthwise in bud with a strong central keel. The short ligule is truncate, and small white auricles grip the stem at
the base of the leaf blade. Leaf sheaths at the base are usually tinged pink in colour and glabrous. Stems are 90 cm
