• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2015

This research was initiated to analyze the periods of spring green-up and winter leaf discoloration of three ornamental grasses which have potential to be widely used with seed propagation. Two native grasses of Arundinella (Arundinella hirta var. ciliata Koidz), fountaingrass (Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was tested. Spring green-up were evaluated after one year growth from seed propagation on April 1, 2009. Arundinella started with quick pick of spring green-up during $13^{th}$ to $20^{th}$ of May. Fountaingrass and switchgrass showed relatively slow picks of green-up during $20^{th}$ to $27^{th}$ of May. However, winter leaf discoloration started on swtichgrass and fountaingrass but Arundinella terminated relatively slowly. Swtichgrass showed the pick discoloration during $8^{th}$ to $15^{th}$ of October from the bottom to top parts of the plant. Fountaingrass showed the pick winter discoloration started from bottom to top parts during the $22^{nd}$ to $29^{th}$ of October. However, Arundinella showed relatively slow discoloration from upper to bottom parts during October $29^{th}$ to November $5^{th}$. Arundinella showed a relatively higher ornamental value with 125 days of the complete green period compared than fountaingrass and swtichgrass which maintained approximately 105 days of green period.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.376-380
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• 2013

This research was carried out to establish a mass-production method and to develop ornamental Gramineae species as cash crops for famers as three species of ornamental grasses were used for seed treatment and plug production. Germination rates of Arundinella hirta were improved to 52.6% by soaking in 4% NaOCl for 60 min and 49.4% with 4% NaOH for 30 min. Germination rates of Panicum virgatum were 20.3% and 22.4% when treated with 4% NaOCl for 10 min and 2% NaOH for 60min treatment, respectively. Pennisetum alopecuroides showed germination rates higher than 98% with both 4% of NaOCl and NaOH for 60 min. When the same size of trays were used, Pennisetum showed faster plug formation in 21 and 30 days with 162 and 40 cell trays, respectively. Arundinella showed a similar trend with Pannicum in completing plug formation, those took 32, 41, and 44 days with the 162, 72, and 40 cell tray, respectively. Plug production was faster with smaller cells; however, total growing period was longer with larger cells in general.