Effect of humic acid and mulches on some characteristics of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)

Application of biotic growth regulators (e.g. humic components) and appropriate mulches is recommended to improve turfgrass quality. However, limited research has investigated their effect on lawn establishment. To investigate the effect of humic acid and selected mulches on characteristics of Festuca arundinacea in its planting stage, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized block design with three replications was performed. The first factor was mulch types including vermicompost, leaf compost, cow manure and sand (control) which were used to cover the seeds. The second factor was a humic acid solution (100 ml l-1) sprayed monthly over the period of the experiment. Plant height, fresh and dry weight of lawn clippings, photosynthetic index, leaf texture and overall turfgrass quality were measured. Spraying humic acid significantly improved the measured factors except the dry weight and photosynthetic index of the plants. Among the mulches, vermicompost provided better impressions on improving the characteristics of this turfgrass species including 48% increase in fresh weight, 18% increase in height, 48% increase in total quality and 10% reduction in leaf width of the turfgrass. This research can assist in developing knowledge for achieving better quality lawns in urban landscapes.