The study was carried out in 2010 in the area of the IHAR Botanical Garden in Bydgoszcz. In two experiments eight lawn cultivars were assessed, belonging to three grass species of the genus Festuca: F. arundinacea (Schreb.), F. rubra (L.), F. ovina (L.). The first experiment involved the evaluation of single plants, which grew in pots placed in a cold frame up to the stage of 6-10 completely formed leaves. In the second experiment for a period of two months grasses grew in cuvettes placed in a cold frame. In each experiment the weight of roots, their length and aboveground weight of grasses were determined. Indexes of root productivity and root density in soil were calculated. Lawn assessment was carried out, taking into consideration general aspect and a sod cover degree of the lawn. The highest parameters of assessed traits were found in one of cultivars (Tarmena) F. arundinacea. The lowest values were found in cultivars of F. ovina, which at the same time were characterized by the highest rate of increase in root weight and length. Cultivars of F. rubra, due to the chewing or creeping structure of the underground weight, showed differentiation in respect of analyzed traits and calculated indexes.

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