• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2007

When a football field is constructed using sand medium, the fertilizer management has to be adjusted because of the low nutrient holding capacity and higher leaching rate. The objective of this study was to test the effects of slow release fertilizers on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) growth in simulated sport field rootzones with PVC pipe pots. Data of turfgrass color, uniformity, growth rate, biomass above ground, and the nitrate content in the leaching solution was collected at different growing stages and during four simulated rain fall periods. The result showed that the nutrient release rate of urea was the highest and that of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer was the lowest. Effects of the controlled release nitrogen fertilizer lasted 14 days more than other lawn fertilizers and 28 days longer than regular urea with acceptable quality levels of turf. The slow release fertilizer also restrained excessive growth of the grass, reduced the times of mowing. Slow release fertilizer used in this study reduced $NO_3$-N leaching by almost 50% at the beginning of turf establishment.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-176
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• 2015

Research was initiated to investigate root growth characteristics of major cool-season grasses (CSG) and to collect basic information useful for sports turf design, construction and maintenance. Several turfgrasses were evaluated in the USGA (United States Golf Association) soil system. Turfgrass entries were comprised 3 blends and 3 mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Significant differences were found in root growth, rooting potential and rooting development. These characteristics increased with time after seeding, but varied with establishment stages. In early stage, root length was highest with PR, intermediate with TF and lowest with KB. Evaluation in a middle stage indicated that root growth was similar to early-stage evaluation, but decreased by 13 to 31% compared with early-stage values. Root growth of late stage increased by 34 to 85% over middle-stage root growth. Overall, thhere was not much difference in root length among treatments, with all except Mixture I reaching 22cm in root length. Rooting potential ranking was variable with establishment stage, being PR > KB > TF in early stage, PR > TF > KB in middle stage and TF > PR > KB in late stage. At the end of the study, TF was rated best for rooting development, followed by PR and finally KB. Our results showed that TF was the best species in regard to overall rooting characteristics. TF exhibited excellent rooting development with time after establishment. Bunch-type PR showed fast root growth in the early stage, but rooting quality characteristics decreased with time, especially for rooting development. By contrast, rhizomatous-type KB was poor in early-stage root growth, but rooting characteristics improved with time after establishment. These variations in rooting characteristics among CSGs were considered to arise from differences in establishment vigor, growth habit and genetic characteristics. Information on root growth, rooting potential and rooting development by establishment stages will be useful for sports turf design, construction and maintenance.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2010

Synthetic turfgrass was developed for longer durability than natural turfgrass. As synthetic turfgrass use increases, disadvantage was exposed and composite turfgrass was designed to reinforce disadvantage of synthetic turfgrass. However, A few researches were conducted to evaluate composite turfgrass in South Korea. Therefore, this research was conducted to select a turfgrass species to maximize practical use of composite turfgrass. In 14 Oct. 2006 synthetic turfgrass was established in the research center in Hanul Sports Turf, Inc. located Hapcheon-Gun, Gyunggnam province. Kentucky bluegrass, Tall fescue, and a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and Perennial ryegrass were used to combine with synthetic turfgrass. Wide and narrow types of synthetic turfgrass were used. As temperature increase, coverage of tall fescue and the mixture reduced but Kentucky bluegrass had the best result of turfgrass coverage although there were no differences on turfgrass quality among types of turfgrass.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.259-268
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the visual turfgrass's color quality, winter color, and spring green-up under three different soil systems and to make a practical use for sports turf design and construction. Several turfgrasses were evaluated in multi-layer, USGA and mono-layer systems. Turfgrass entries in the study comprised of 3 cultivars from Korean lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) of typical warm-season grass (WSG) and 3 blends and 3 mixtures from Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) of cool-season grass (CSG). Significant differences were observed in the turfgrass's color quality, winter color, and spring green-up in the study. Seasonal variation of visual turf color greatly occurred according to soil systems and turfgrasses. Multi-layer and USGA systems were highly associated with better visual color ratings, as compared with mono-layer system. Regardless of soil system, visual turf color in all entries was better from spring to fall than in winter. Great color differences were observed during a period of early December to early spring. CSG produced a better color quality over WSG in any soil system. Overall color ratings for CSG were KB > PR > Mixtures > TF. As for a winter color, its ranking was USGA > multi-layer > mono-layer system. No difference was found in winter among cultivars of Korean lawngrass, being completely brown, but great differences among CSG. Rated best for winter color was PR, followed by CSG mixtures, KB and finally TF in order. It was generally conceded that fast green-up in spring was greatly related with multi-layer over mono-layer system and also CSG over WSG. Among CSG, TF had a fastest green-up. PR was also fast in green-up, but poor in color uniformity. KB, however, was the slowest due to shallow rooting system, when compared with other CSGs. These results demonstrate color differences were greatly variable according to soil systems and also among turfgrass species. A precise decision should be made in selecting turfgrass species and soil system. Multi-layer and USGA systems were considered as the suitable one for turfgrass color quality, winter color and spring green-up. It is a great necessity to combine proper soil system, right turfgrass species, and appropriate mixing rates by a concept-oriented approach, when establishing garden, parks, soccer field, and golf courses and so on.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.342-353
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• 2016

This study was initiated to evaluate green color retention under three different soil systems. Several turfgrasses were evaluated in multi-layer, USGA, and mono-layer systems. Turfgrass entries were comprised of three cultivars of Korean lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) as warm-season grass (WSG) and three blends and three mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) as cool-season grass (CSG). Significant differences were observed in visual turf color and green color retention among soil systems and turfgrasses. Both the multi-layer and USGA systems were highly associated with better color ratings and longer color retention, as compared with the mono-layer system. Seasonal variation of visual turf color greatly occurred from late December to early spring. CSG exhibited longer color retention than did WSG. The latter maintained green color for approximately 6 months, regardless of the soil system. Spring green-up of Korean lawngrass occurred from early to middle May, while it underwent discoloration from late October to early November. Among the CSGs green-up occurred between early March and early April and leaf color was maintained until middle December to early February. Therefore, the CSGs were green for 8.5 to 11 months, depending on turfgrass and soil system. The mean period of green color duration across all soil systems was approximately 10-11, 9-10 and 8.5-9.0 months for PR, KB and TF, respectively. As for the CSG mixtures, the greater the proportion of PR, the longer the green color retention, while the higher the proportion of TF, the shorter the color retention. There was greater variation in green color duration among the CSGs than the WSGs. Across soil systems, color retention differences of 2 to 6 days were observed for the Korean lawngrass, but 7 to 36 days for the CSGs. These results demonstrate that green color retention varied greatly according to soil systems and also among turfgrasses. Selections of turfgrass and soil system should be made using a concept-oriented approach, when establishing garden, park, soccer field, golf course and other sports field. Information obtained in this study can be used to select soil systems and turfgrasses based on the expected degree of leaf color retention.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2002

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of undersoil heating on growth and quality of turfgrasses including Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.‘Nuglade’), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.‘Accent’), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.‘Pixie’), and Korean lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) in simulated athletic field during winter season in Korea. Mineral contents in clippings of turfgrasses grown at different soil mixtures and temperatures were also analyzed. Undersoil heating (approximately 20$\pm$2$^{\circ}C$) was effective in protecting turfgrasses except Korean lawngrass from freezing injury and discoloration of shoots due to extremely cold temperatures during midwinter. Among turfgrasses grown at undersoil heating zone, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass showed the highest clipping weights and chlorophyll contents, respectively. However, anthocyanin contents of shoots were higher in Kentucky bluegrass. There was little or no difference in clipping weights, chlorophyll contents, anthocyanin contents and greenness of shoots between turfgrasses grown at two soil mixtures composed of 80% sand＋10% peat moss＋10% soil (v/v/v) and 80% sand＋20% pea moss (v/v). Contents of mineral K, Ca and Mg in clippings of cool-season turfgrasses were comparatively higher in a soil mixture composed of 80% sand＋10% peat moss＋10% soil, but little difference in contents of N and P was observed between two soil treatments. Results indicated that undersoil heating can improve quality of turf surface by thawing soil, melting snow, and maintaining shoot growth and greenness of turfgrasses in sports field during winter season.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.148-157
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• 2018

Research was initiated to evaluate four domestic and overseas organic soil amendments (SAs) on turfgrass groundcover and density and to provide basic information on practical sports turf establishment. This study was conducted in Agrostis palustris Huds. (CB) grown in sand-based root zone. A total of 20 treatments of SA+sand were prepared by mixing 10 to 50% (v/v). These amendments were SABP (Berger Peat), SAEP (Eco-Peat), SAGS (G1-Soil), and SAPP (Premier Peat). Turfgrass groundcover and density significantly varied with SAs, its mixing rate to sand and week after seeding (WAS). Cumulative turfgrass density was variable, but a great change occurred between 2 and 4 WAS. Turfgrass density at 2 WAS ranged from 36.7 (SABP 30) to 89.7% (SAGS 20), being 53.0% in differences among treatments. However, CB reached to carrying capacity around 6 WAS. Thus, most treatments were similar to 90% or so in density. At the end of study, overall groundcover ranged between 60.7 (SAEP 10) and 96.7% (SAPP 50). Proper mixing rate was variable with SAs, being 10 and 20% for SABP and SAGS, respectively. But the optimum rate was 50% for both SAEP and SAPP.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.344-360
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• 2017

Zoysiagrasses are important turf plants used for school playgrounds, parks, golf courses, and sports fields. The two most popular zoysiagrass species are Zoysia japonica and Zoysia sinica. These are widely distributed across different growing zones and are morphologically distinguishable from each other; however, it is phenotypically difficult to differentiate those that grow along the coastal line from those in beach area habitats. A combination of morphological and molecular approaches is desirable to efficiently identify these two plant cultivars. In this study, we used a rapid identification system based on DNA barcoding of the nrDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The nrDNA-ITS regions of ITS1, 5.8S nrDNA, and ITS2 from Z. japonica, Z. sinica, Agrostis stolonifera, and Poa pratensis were DNA barcoded to classify these grasses according to their molecular identities. The nrDNA-ITS sequences of these species were found at 686 bp, 687 bp, 683 bp, and 681 bp, respectively. The size of ITS1 ranged from 248 to 249 bp, while ITS2 ranged from 270 to 274 bp. The 5.8S coding region ranged from 163 - 164bp. Between Z. japonica and Z. sinica, nineteen (2.8%) nucleotide sites were variable, and the G+C content of the ITS region ranged from 55.4 to 63.3%. Substitutions and insert/deletion (indel) sites in the nrDNA-ITS sequence of Z. japonica and Z. sinica were converted to cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers, and applied to the Zoysia grasses sampled to verify the presence of these markers. Among the 62 control and collected grass samples, we classified three groups: 36 Z. japonica, 22 Z. sinica, and 4 Z. japonica/Z. sinica hybrids. Morphological classification revealed only two groups; Z. japonica and Z. sinica. Our results suggest that used of the nrDNA-ITS barcode region and CAPS markers can be used to distinguish between Z. japonica and Z. sinica at the species level.