SeaIsle 2000 Paspalum
Sea Isle 2000 was developed by plant geneticist Dr. R.R. Duncan at the University of Georgia 's Griffin Experiment Station from a sample collected from Alden Pines Country Club in Bokeelia FL, which is owned and operated by Stewart Bennett.
Sea Isle 2000 is ideal for golf greens and tees, especially in salt-challenged environments. It's similar to the dwarf bermudas in texture and playability when maintained at 1/8" mowing height. With regular verti-cutting, light topdressing and periodic rolling, Sea Isle 2000 will deliver stimpmeter readings of 10 feet or more. It's a grass that thrives on salt water, too. You can irrigate SeaIsle 2000 using a seawater blend, or even straight ocean water with the right management practices. It also grows quite well when watered from recycled or effluent sources.
Characteristics
Sea Isle 2000 is a very aggressive creeping type of grass. Unlike the Bermuda grasses, the under-side of the Sea Isle leaf is glossy, which enables the turf manager to create a "striped" effect when mowing fairways and athletic fields. The rapid growth rate of this grass can lead to thatch build-up over time. An annual thatch removal program is recommended for optimum results.
Water Quality Tolerance
The most outstanding feature of Sea Isle 2000 is its exceptional salt tolerance. It will proliferate in soils irrigated with water containing 2,500 ppm dissolved salts, and will show only a 50% reduction in growth at 5,000 ppm. It is considerably more salt tolerant than Bermudagrasses and Zoysiagrass.
Weed Tolerance
Sea Isle 2000 spreads quickly during establishment and forms a dense turf which will compete with the presence of weeds when properly maintained. However, all Paspalums selections have relatively poor sensitivity to pre and post-emergent selective herbicides.
Insect Pest Tolerance
Sea Isle 2000 is susceptible to insects that feed on foliage of grasses.
Soil Fertility Range
Sea Isle 2000 grows best in soils with a pH above 6.0. It performs best on a low level of applied Nitrogen, approximately 3 pounds N/1000 square feet per year. Given a balanced N:P:K program according to soil tests, SALAM performs well in a fertility program of about 50 to 70% of the amount required for Hybrid Bermudagrasses.
Establishment
All paspalum selections are sterile, and must be propagated by transferring stolons or sod.