Low-input Performance of Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) Cultivars Maintained under Dense Tree Shade Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A 3-year study was conducted to evaluate the comparative performance of zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) cultivars for shaded environments in which inputs are minimized. Included in the study were commercial cultivars Diamond, Cavalier, Royal, Shadow Turf, Zorro, Zeon, Jamur, Crowne, Palisades, and Meyer. In July 2006, grass plugs were planted in a shade nursery comprised of live oak trees providing 89% shade. From 2007 to 2009, turf plots were periodically evaluated for quality, density, color, vertical canopy height, and extent of lateral spread. Overall turfgrass quality was noticeably reduced by the heavily shaded environment; however, some cultivars attained acceptable levels during midsummer periods. A turf performance index (TPI) was generated for ranking the cultivars that represented the number of times an entry occurred in the top statistical group across all parameters and rating dates. Royal, Zorro, and Shadow Turf were the cultivars ranking in the top statistical grouping most often throughout the study. The results suggest that Z. matrellas may be better adapted than Z. japonicas for heavily shaded environments where inputs are conserved.

published proceedings

  • HORTSCIENCE

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Wherley, B. G., Skulkaew, P., Chandra, A., Genovesi, A. D., & Engelke, M. C.

citation count

  • 31

complete list of authors

  • Wherley, BG||Skulkaew, P||Chandra, A||Genovesi, AD||Engelke, MC

publication date

  • July 2011