Evaluation of seeding versus sprigging as establishment methods for centipedegrass in North Carolina

Abstract Centipedegrass [ Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack], a warm‐season turfgrass, is widely cultivated in the southern United States due to its minimal input requirements and natural resistance to pests. However, the availability of high‐aesthetic‐value cultivars remains limited. As the correlation between seed yield and turfgrass quality is generally low in centipedegrass, the development of cultivars that are exclusively vegetatively propagated could potentially increase the marketability of the species. In 2022, a study was conducted to compare sprigging as an alternative establishment method to seeding for centipedegrass production and to identify advanced breeding lines that have potential for sprigging. The study included 15 breeding lines and four controls (TifBlair, Santee, Covington, and Common) in four replications. Field trials were conducted in 1.37‐m × 1.37‐m plots at two North Carolina locations: the McKilwean Turf Farms (New Bern, NC) and the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Field Laboratory (Raleigh, NC). Data on percent green cover were collected weekly through visual assessments during the growing season. Results indicated that while seeding tends to achieve higher initial green cover, sprigging can match it over time when provided with proper management practices. Additionally, several breeding lines demonstrated superior establishment speed compared to the controls across locations and methods. Overall, CEN15827 showed promise as a versatile cultivar capable of successfully establishing through seeding and sprigging methods.