Environmental and Cultural Preconditioning Effects on the Water Use Rate of Agrostis palustris Huds., Cultivar Penncross1

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Abstract
Preconditioning effects of light intensity, growing temperature, irrigation frequency, cutting height, mowing frequency, and nitrogen nutrition level on water use rate and stomatal density of ‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) were investigated. Water use rates were recorded as percent moisture lost during exposure to (1) 33 C, (2) 40% relative humidity, (3) lux light intensity, and (4) a constant airflow of 186 sec−1 in a special wind tunnel apparatus. Stomatal density counts were made at 430X from nitrocellulose replications of the leaf surface.The preconditioning effects of cutting height, light intensity, and nitrogen nutrition level had the greatest influence on water use rate. Irrigation and mowing frequency were intermediate in their influence. Growing temperature had the least effect among the factors considered.Stomatal density was influenced most by light intensity, and growing temperature had the next greatest effect. Irrigation frequency had an intermediate effect. Nitrogen nutrition level had the least influence of the factors studied. Water use rate was positively correlated (r = 0.88) to stomatal density in the light intensity study. However, it was negatively correlated (r = −0.98) to stomatal density for the nitrogen nutrition level study. No significant correlations were observed for growing temperature or irrigation frequency.

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