BYU researchers in the Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences recently discovered a new type of grass that can survive drought conditions.
Bryan Hopkins, a professor in the department, began working on the research project when he came to BYU in 2007. As part of teaching the grasses class, Hopkins said he plants different grasses in demonstration plots for students to grow and observe. Hopkins shared that the most important research breakthrough they had happened last year, when their research team noticed a pattern in one particular type of grass.
“Not surprisingly, our winters kill off most of those grasses,” Hopkins said, “but every single year, there’s a couple that didn’t. One of them was the hybrid Bermuda grass — it survives every year. I’ve had no winter kill since 2007, despite pretty cold temperatures.”
Hopkins said he realized this meant hybrid Bermuda grass could be used as a much more sustainable replacement for other types of grass that require more water.
Bermuda grass is considered a noxious weed, prohibited by the Noxious Weed Board of Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food. Hopkins and his research team worked with the state to separate hybrid Bermuda grass from the common Bermuda grass variety, as it is not as aggressive and invasive, and instead provides sustainable qualities. After the researchers’ work with the state, the board approved hybrid Bermuda grass for use in Utah on Monday, July 15.
In his’ research, Hopkins found hybrid Bermuda grass was able to go 3-6 weeks without irrigation. While the team is still researching how long they can guarantee the grass to last in drought conditions, Hopkins said he is confident it will not take nearly as much water as Kentucky Bluegrass, the most common type of grass in Utah.
Hybrid Bermuda grass is not on the market yet and will take a little time for people to have access to it, according to plant and wildlife sciences professor Neil Hansen. Hansen works on the irrigation management portion of the project. He shared how important it is to use a variety of water conservation resources.
“We have to have a mindset going forward that outdoor landscapes use a lot of water, and water is scarce,” Hansen said. “We need to use this and other tools that we have to conserve water. It’s one more tool in the toolbox of water conservation.”
Hybrid Bermuda grass has a few qualities that differentiate it from other types of grass. For example, it can only be grown by sod, plugs or sprigs because it is a hybrid species. It also greens up lighter than other grasses and goes into a brown dormant condition in the late fall and winter.
“We're looking at techniques for special environments, maybe like a sports field, that might use this in the future, and how can we keep it green a little longer to get through late fall sports seasons,” Hansen said. “It’s an ongoing project with lots of work still to be done.”
Hopkins shared one of the most beneficial parts of this research process has been working with the students. He expressed the Great Salt Lake and ecological environment in Utah is in danger with the intense heat waves and frequent drought conditions, and it is uplifting to see how many students feel as passionate as him when it comes to finding practical solutions.
“It's just a massive effort to find solutions so that we don’t have to just get rid of all the plants in our urban landscapes, we can find solutions that allow us to have all the benefits of plants that I believe God wants us to have in our landscapes,” Hopkins said. “I feel passionate about that but it’s really neat when our students are really connected with that and they get excited.”
Hanna Burgin was the first graduate student on the project and did much of the initial research and designed the experiments. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in 2021 and was highlighted by former BYU President Kevin J. Worthen in a University Conference address.
Burgin shared she overcame several hurdles while researching, including getting permission to grow the grass from the state, working through the COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring materials, bug attacks and juggling it all while pregnant.
"It is always important to have a backup plan, or five, in science because things rarely go the way you expect the first time,” Burgin said. “It pays to be adaptable and willing to both accept failure and learn from it. We were lucky with great success in the end, but in the beginning stages there was a lot of prayer, sweat and tears."
Ashley Beazer is a master's student who has also assisted in the research process. She gave a few reasons for how hybrid Bermuda grass will change Utah’s landscapes.
"For one thing, the grass itself is the best, it is beautiful,” Beazer said. “The potential to save half of the applied irrigation is huge. Huge for our environment and it has far-reaching effects in government, recreation and other spheres. I’m really excited see how it goes.”
For more information on Utah’s current drought conditions and water conservation tips, individuals can visit the Utah Division of Water Sources online.