Which statement is true about submersion tolerance among St. Augustinegrass and Centipedegrass?

Which statement is true about submersion tolerance among St. Augustinegrass and Centipedegrass?

• A. Centipedegrass has superior submersion tolerance.
• B. St. Augustinegrass has superior submersion tolerance.
• C. They are equally tolerant.
• D. Submersion tolerance is not a differentiating factor.

Answer: (A)

Submersion tolerance is about how long a turf can survive when roots are submerged in water and deprived of oxygen. When a lawn is flooded, oxygen can't reach the root zone, which stresses or damages the grass. In this comparison, centipedegrass generally handles brief or shallow submersion better than St. Augustinegrass. St. Augustinegrass is more sensitive to waterlogged conditions and tends to show crown and root damage sooner under flooding, while centipedegrass tends to persist longer and recover more quickly once the water recedes. So, the statement that centipedegrass has superior submersion tolerance reflects the relative performance under flooding. In practice, this means choosing centipedegrass in areas prone to poor drainage or periodic inundation is often more favorable than choosing St. Augustinegrass.

Submersion tolerance is about how long a turf can survive when roots are submerged in water and deprived of oxygen. When a lawn is flooded, oxygen can't reach the root zone, which stresses or damages the grass. In this comparison, centipedegrass generally handles brief or shallow submersion better than St. Augustinegrass. St. Augustinegrass is more sensitive to waterlogged conditions and tends to show crown and root damage sooner under flooding, while centipedegrass tends to persist longer and recover more quickly once the water recedes. So, the statement that centipedegrass has superior submersion tolerance reflects the relative performance under flooding. In practice, this means choosing centipedegrass in areas prone to poor drainage or periodic inundation is often more favorable than choosing St. Augustinegrass.