Comparative Evaluation of Zoysia japonica and Z. matrella Ecotypes at Different Weather Conditions and Grave Mounds

Seog-Won Chang1,*   Chang-Hyun Sung2   Eun-Ji Bae2   Jun-Hak Koo3   Jeong-Ho Yun3   

1Subtropical Horticulture Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
2Subtropical Horticulture Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
3Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54875, Korea

Abstract

Zoysia japonica and Z. matrella are native turfgrass in Korea. Z. japonica is used throughout the country, but Z. matrella is weak in the cold climate and restricted to the southern areas. Z. matrella has a lot of advantages such as fine leaves, high density and excellent texture, so it is important to evaluate the applicability for various purposes. This study was conducted to evaluate the overwintering survival of the Z. japonica 10 and Z. matrella 18 ecotypes collected from across the country in Yangju, Eumseong, and Namhae areas from 2014 to 2015. Each of the two species was also selected and compared with the adaptability as grave covering grass in virtual grave mounds of actual size in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam province from 2017 to 2018. All of Z. japonica ecotypes overwintered in three areas, but 38.9, 83.3, and 88.9% of Z. matrella ecotypes in the Yangju, Eumseong, and Namhae areas survived through winter, respectively. The strip-sodded graves with two species were established in May 2017. In both Z. japonica and Z. matrella graves, ground-coverages were over 90% by Korean thanksgiving day’ mowing (Beolcho), indicating that there was no significant difference between two species in coverage rates. Survival rates of grave-cover plants of Z. japonica and Z. matrella in the following year with over-wintering were 80% and 28%, respectively. Z. japonica suffered damage in the northern slopes of the grave, but Z. matrella plants suffered with great damage in the northern and western slopes. In green-up timing, Z. japonica was faster than Z. matrella, and the slope of the grave proceeded in the order of south>east>west>north. During the winter season, soil temperatures and moisture in the grave remained low in the order of south>east>west>north slopes.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. Grave mounds covered with and sods. Immediately taken after strip-sodding (A), in August (B), after Thanksgiving day’ mowing (Beolcho) (C and D) at Hapcheon.