Tests show hybrid Bermudagrass can last six weeks without water
In the midst of a sweltering heat wave, the state of Utah this week approved a type of grass that will have a critical impact on future water conservation — and a couple of BYU professors (and their students) have been a key part in making it happen.
BYU professor Bryan Hopkins and colleagues have been testing the viability of the newly approved grass, hybrid Bermudagrass, in Utah’s arid mountain climate for nearly two decades. All those years of research have shown the grass needs a fraction of the water of grasses more traditionally grown in Utah, such as Kentucky bluegrass. But until now, the grass was not approved in Utah.
“I may seem nerdy in saying this, but the delisting of hybrid Bermudagrass as a noxious weed in Utah nearly brings tears to my eyes,” said Hopkins, a professor of plant and wildlife sciences. “This will have such an important impact on future water conservation.”
Up until now, hybrid Bermudagrass hasn’t been approved largely because of its cousin, common Bermudagrass. Common Bermudagrass is considered an invasive weed in the state; it’s aggressive and it’s noxious and it’s only allowed in Washington County. But hybrid Bermudagrass doesn’t act the same as its common cousin; the seed it produces is not viable, so it does not spread as easily. Most importantly, hybrid Bermudagrass requires much less water to maintain and generally does not die in the winter of cooler habitats.
During their testing over the last couple of years, Hopkins and fellow BYU professor Neil Hansen, with the urging and assistance of BYU Grounds Director Glenl Wear, tested Hybrid Bermudagrass against Kentucky Bluegrass by shutting off the water on two grass test plots for up to six weeks. The bluegrass went belly up within a week, but the hybrid grass didn’t show any signs of stress until the end of the six-week period.
“We watered it at the end of those six weeks, and then we went another six weeks before watering it again — and it stayed healthy throughout the summer heat,” Hopkins said. “Bottom line: using this type of grass in a lawn could reduce watering to only 2-3 times a season.”
Working alongside colleagues at Utah State University, Hopkins and fellow researchers appealed to the Noxious Weed Board of Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food to allow the grass for commercial and private use. The state took it forward as a potential rule change earlier this year, and after a 45-day long comment period, made the change official on Monday, July 15.
“I applaud the willingness of the Weed Board to move in this direction for water conservation, as well as giving an opportunity to have an excellent grass species available in our state,” Hansen said.
Hybrid Bermudagrass is the No. 1 turfgrass species used in the southern United States due to its excellent properties. Due to climate change, the use of the grass is moving northward in the states. In addition to research plots in Utah, hybrid Bermudagrass has recently been grown successfully in many states with cool seasons, such as Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania and all of the states near Utah: Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, etc.
And while hybrid Bermudagrass does have about two months less of active growth (it goes dormant in November and comes out of dormancy in May), the savings in water usage are enormous.
“The water savings are dramatic; we can say with certainty that using this grass breed will result in water savings in the urban environment,” Hopkins said. “This is a critical need in Utah with the preponderance of drought conditions, water scarcity and concerns for the possible demise of the Great Salt Lake. I can’t help but be a little proud, especially of my students."
