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Influence of Core Aerification, Topdressing, and Nitrogen on Mat, Roots, and Quality of ‘Meyer’ Zoysiagrass

Horticulture Dep., Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211.

^* Corresponding author.

Thatch accumulation is a common occurrence in lawn and sports turf and is usually detrimental. We initiated aerification, topdressing, and N treatments in July 1987, to investigate their influence on thatch, mat, quality, and color of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud. cv. Meyer). Turfgrass color responses to N were positive and strongly linear. Turfgrass quality was generally good to excellent in response to N. However, trends were not as well defined as color responses and varied according to month and year. The aerification + topdressing combination according to N level was nonsignificant for turfgrass quality in all months and significant for color only in October. Weight of mat, which consisted mostly of rhizomes, and root weights declined linearly in response to increasing N. The root weight response is consistent with research reports of C₃ turfgrasses but inconsistent with earlier studies of C₄ turfgrasses where root weights increased with increasing N. Mat depth averaged over N was equal in response to topdressing vs. no topdressing. Root weights and mat weight were significantly greater with topdressing. Mat organic matter (OM) was greater with no topdressing. Our results suggest that maintenance of zoysiagrass with only enough N to provide acceptable turfgrass density and color will give the best root development in nonsandy soils. Annual topdressing with soil similar to that of the growing site may further enhance root development.

Received for publication June 11, 1993.

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