Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the growth characteristics of native Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) collected in Korea. Out of Kentucky bluegrasses collected in 2000 and 2008, eight ecotypes ("Pyengchang," "Gongju," "Inje," "Donggang," "Hwasun," "Pureundle," "Cheongsong," and "Geumsan") were planted in experimental fields and pots on May 11, 2008 and May 3, 2009, respectively, for analyzing their growth characteristics. Data such as visual quality (1-9), visual density (1-9), visual color (1-9), plant height, leaf length and leaf width were analyzed. The visual quality of "Pyengchang," "Inje" and "Gongju" were enhanced compared to the rest native ecotypes of Kentucky bluegrass. "Pyengchang" showed the best visual density while "Gongju" and "Inje" showed almost evenly favorable density. However, "Pureundle," "Cheongsong," and "Geumsan" represented loose density due to the damage from the summer climate of high temperature and humidity in 2009. As for visual color, "Pyengchang" was also ranked first, maintaining high values of at least 7.6 even in the summer climate of high temperature and humidity. "Donggang" showed good color immediately after planting in the experimental field in 2008, however, undesirable color due to the damage from the summer climate of high temperature and humidity in 2009.