Impact of snow manipulation on overwintering disease and frost damage across pasture grass species.

ABSTRACT: Snow manipulation regulates soil temperature, reducing overwintering diseases and supporting pasture growth, though it has a limited effect on supporting grass growth. This study assessed the snow manipulation effects on overwintering damage and disease control in timothy (TY), orchardgrass (OG), and perennial ryegrass (PR). Snow manipulation decreased Mild-T days (soil temperatures near 0 °C), which correlated with reduces disease severity, particularly in TY. In plots with < 20 consecutive Mild-T days, maximum disease severity was lowest in TY (0.13) compared with that in OG (1.78) and PR (1.63). However, total overwintering damage also depended on disease and frost resistance. Although snow mold reduction did not consistently decrease damage, PR exhibited severe frost damage, making it

SUBMITTER: Shimoda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12575813 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature