effect of hydrogel, paclobutrazol and irrigation intervals on qualitative characteristics of turf grass (lolium perenne cv. barbal) in mashhad climate

abstract turf grass as a main grown cover plant has a unique place in green space planning. in order to study the effect of hydrogel and paclobutrazol on water requirement of turfgrasse (lolium perenne l. barbal) a factorial experiment based on a brcd with 3 replication was conducted in the summer of 2010 in mashhad. the factors under study were 4 levels of hydrogel (0, 3, 6, 9 gr/kg soil), 3 levels of irrigation (2day, 4day, 6day intervals) , 2 levels of paclobutrazol (control and preplanting seed treated, with 30mg/lit) on lolium perenne. results showed that the best density obtained using 6 g hydrogel and irrigation intervals of 2 days. the turf quality in soils with hydrogel application was better than the control. in general, the results showed that the plot with hydrogel had 33, 44 and 48% higher value in traits of color, density and chlorophyll content, respectively. also the plot treated with paclobutrazol as compared with the control had 2, 7.5 and 11% more value in traits of density, cutting weight and root dry weight respectively. it is concluded that using 6 gr/kg hydrogel and paclobutrazol in soils with similar texture could reduce water consumption.