Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Green: light, shade, and turfMicah Woods, Ph.D.Chief Scientist | Asian Turfgrass Center6 October 20142014 NTA ConferenceChambers Bayseminar.asianturfgrass.com/2014_nta.html

How to deal with shade issues?

Kyushu, Japan

1. species and cultivar selection

Manila, Philippines

1. species and cultivar selection

Manila, Philippines

2. remove the source of shade

Washington, USA

3. increase mowing height

Samui, Thailand

4. vigilant control of fungal diseases

Kolkata, India

5. traffic management New Delhi, India

6. reduce nitrogen fertilizer

Hanoi, Vietnam

7. use plant growth regulators

Kyushu, Japan

8. provide more light Barcelona, Spain

Measuring light

Meters are available to measure the quantity of light plants can use. This is the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).

Photosynthetically active radiation is a quantity

instantaneous: micromoles per m2 per second

cumulative: moles per m2 per day

clouds block some of the PAR

Cebu, Philippines

when the sun is low in the sky, PAR is reduced

Bohol Sea, Philippines

0

20

40

60

Jan Apr Jul Oct JanDate

Estim

ated

DLI

(mol

esm

2da

y2 )

estimateno clouds

0

20

40

60

Jan Apr Jul Oct JanDate

Estim

ated

DLI

(mol

esm

2da

y2 )

estimateno cloudsnormal

Measuring shade

Measure PAR in open area, with no tree or building shade

Then measure PAR in the shaded area

Bataan, Philippines

765 / 2000 = 38.25% sun

or

100 - 38.25 = 61.75% shade

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