Thermal convection dormancy on bermudagrass
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Photo provided by Dr. Michael Richardson, University of Arkansas. Tifsport research trial at three mowing heights, 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5 inches. The most severe mottled symptoms were present in the 1.5 inch mowing height plots. The cause of the mottling is thermal convection where higher mowed turf funnels warm-soil-heated air up the plant as cold air flows down nearby resulting in distinct dormancy patterns that depend upon mowing height. Lower mowed turf enters dormancy more uniformly with foliage closer to the soil warm soil surface. Here are similar symptoms on kikuyugrass and zoysiagrass.
