Optimization of Application Rate of Organic Fertilizer ‘Turf spice’ for Favorable Growth of Korean Lawngrass (Zoysia japonica)

Geung-Joo  Lee1,2   Hyun Sook  Tae3   Gong Man  Jang4   Young-Sun  Kim5   Nam Hee  Kim 6,*   

1Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
3Plant Research Center of Yido Golf Engineering, Anyang, Gyeonggi 14073, Korea
4Turfgrass&Environment Research Institute, Samsung C&T, Gunpo, Gyeonggi 15877, Korea
5Department of Horticultural Science, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea
6KyoungDo Corp, Hanam, Gyeonggi 12930, Korea

Abstract

This research was carried out to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer ‘Turf spice (838)’ on the growth improvement of Korean lawngrass in the experimental field and golf course fairway. Compared to the chemical fertilizer ‘Turf plus’ control plot, ‘Turf spice (838)’ was found to perform a similar chlorophyll index, shoot density, and root growth when applied at the higher than 40 g m-2 rate (3.2 g N m-2). Leaf nitrogen and potassium contents were maintained during the experiment periods up to 10 weeks after application, and mean phosphorous uptake was even increased at a higher than 40 g m-2 rate for the period. Preliminary data showed that the application of ‘Turf spice (838)’ reduced soil organic compounds from 3.67% to 3.44% in the control and 40 g m-2 plots, respectively, which remains to be further clarified by investigating thatch degradation and microbe activities.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.Determination of optimum application period according to growth potential (GP) and air temperature. Growth potential is an indicator in which shoot and root growth starts at more than 50% and active growth is evident at GP>70%.