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Home , Sod, Zoysia, Zoysia japonica, Zoysia matrella

16/03/2011

Outline of presentation Zoysiagrass: past, present and sustainable future ■ Why would you a zoysiagrass?

■ Overview of the − Currently accepted species, distribution & identification − Sppp,gecies relationships, breeding &

■ Adaptation and uses − Ornamental landscaping, green roofs, roofroof--toptop gardens − Golf (tees, fairways, greens) Dr Donald S. Loch − , parks, sports fields, etc (University of & GeneGro Pty Ltd) ■ Managing zoysiagrasses − Work with the strengths − Zoysias do not always follow the same rules as other turf grasses

■ Why wouldn’t you plant a zoysiagrass?

Why would you plant a zoysiagrass? US plantings on golf courses (negative past & present attitudes) (2006 EIG estimates)

■ It is a local grass ■ Paspalum vaginatum − Better turf grasses come from overseas − 3,000 ha − Mostly in SE USA (subtropical) ■ growers don’t stock good zoysia varieties − Prefer faster growing species for faster turnaround ■ Zoysia spp. − 6,600 ha ■ Slow to establish from newly laid sod − Mostly in transition zone (Z. japonica varieties) − <20% in SE USA (mainly Z. matrella & crosses, some Z. japonica) ■ Difficult to manage − Doesn’t respond like other turf grasses ■ & Cynodon hybrids − 196,700 ha ■ Other turf grasses are easier to mow − Hard on mower blades − Scalps easily

The genus Zoysia WilldWilld.. The genus Zoysia WilldWilld..

■ ±±1111 species & 1 man-man-mademade hybrid ■ ±±1111 recognised natural species covering 42 validly described names (MBG TROPICOS® - http://www.tropicos.org/) – SE – SE & S Asia, Pacific & Indian Oceans, ? Zoysia japonica SteudSteud.. (9) Zoysia matrella (L.) MerrMerr.. (10) Zoysia pacifica – SE Asia & Pacific Zoysia pacifica ((GoudswaardGoudswaard)) M. Hotta & S. Kuroki (2) Zoysia X forbesiana = Z. japonica X Z. pacifica Zoysia X forbesiana Traub (2 cultivars) – Australia Zoysia macrantha DesvDesv.. (4) Zoysia sinica – SE Asia Zoysia sinica Hance (9) Zoysia macrostachya – SE Asia Zoysia macrostachya FranchFranch.. & Sav. (1) Zoysia minima – Zoysia minima (Colenso) Zotov (1) Zoysia pauciflora – New Zealand Zoysia pauciflora Mez (1) Zoysia planifolia – New Zealand Zoysia planifolia Zotov (1) Zoysia seslerioides ––VietnamVietnam Zoysia seslerioides (Bal.) Clayton & F.R. Richardson (1) Thiele (3) – Z. tenuifolia WilldWilld.. ex Thiele (in Grass World) Zoysia tenuifolia – Mascarene Islands

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J Z. japonica M Z. matrella Zoysia tenuifolia or Zoysia pacifica? F Z. pacifica S Z. sinica N Z. macrantha O Z. macrostachya ■ Scientific literature mostly refers to Zoysia tenuifolia in SE Asia

■ P.C. Goudswaard (1980) recognised that this may be erroneous − Zoysia matrella var. pacifica Goudswaard − Blumea 26: 17 1-1214172, 174

■ Raised to species rank by M. Hotta& S. Kuroki (1994) − Zoysia pacifica (GoudswaardGoudswaard)) M. Hotta & S. Kuroki − Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 45(1): 71-71-7272

■ Grass World & MBG Tropicos − Zoysia tenuifolia from Mauritius − Zoysia pacifica from SE Asia (Ryukyu Islands) N − Both species have very finefine--texturedtextured After Anderson (2000)

Morphological distinctions Distinguishing Z. matrella & Z. pacifica (Source: Grass World)

Zoysia pacifica Zoysia tenuifolia ■ Akamine et al. (2005) Present Absent Culms Wiry Firm ■ width Ligule Ciliate membrane Eciliate membrane − Overlapping (continuous) distribution 0.290.29--1.861.86 mm in Leaf blades Filiform Linear 35 specimens from SW islands of Panicle − NarrowNarrow--leavedleaved Z. matrella visually similar to Z. pacifica Pedicels Present Absent Spikelets 11--manymany flowered 22--floweredflowered (both fertile or upper sterile) (lower male/barren; upper fertile) ■ Vernation − Arrangement of a young leaf within the Falling entire PersPersistentistent on plant (cross(cross--section)section) Glumes 1 (lower absent or obscure) 2 Firmer than fertile lemma Similar to fertile lemma − Rolled vernation – Z. matrella Shiny Dull − Folded vernation – Z. pacifica Fertile lemma 11--veinedveinedSeveral- Several-veinedveined Palea Absent or minute Present

Interspecific hybridisation US cultivars

■ Zoysia species cross readily (2n = 40 chromosomes) ■ Zoysia japonica − Seeds formed from crosses among 7 species at Texas A&M − 3 seeded, 26 vegetative varieties − Successful reciprocal crosses among 7 species at NGRI (Japan) ■ Zoysia matrella − 12 vegetative varieties ■ NthNothospeci es − New species formed by hybridisation of two parental species ■ Zoysia japonica x pacifica (Z. x forbesiana, Z. x hondana)hondana) − 2 vegetative varieties (‘Emerald’, PristineFlora®)

■ Introgression brings more subtle changes & continuous variation ■ Zoysia japonica x matrella x pacifica − 1 vegetative variety (‘Z(‘Z--89’)89’) − Repeated hybridisation (crossing & backback--crossing)crossing) in nature where species distributions overlap ■ Zoysia sinica (Z. japonica, Z. matrella, Z. pacifica, Z. sinica – already variable) − 1 seeded variety (‘J-(‘J-14’)14’) developed but not commercialised − Identification according to the major species content ■ Zoysia macrantha − 1 vegetative variety (‘MAC03’)

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Zoysia japonica on grave mounds Zoysia japonica on royal burial mounds ((JejuJeju Island, ) ((GyeongjuGyeongju,, Korea)

Zoysia pacifica in ornamental landscape Zoysia matrella in ornamental landscape (Entrance to Palm Cove resort, north Queensland) (Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010) Photo: Terry Anderlini

Axonopus compressus Eremochloa ophiuroides

Zoysia matrella lawns in ornamental landscape Cynodon dactylon Zoysia matrella (Chongqing, PR ) Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010

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Zoysia matrella putting green Zoysia matrella fairways (Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, SC) (Clearwater Golf & Country Club, Hong Kong) Photos: New Life Turf

Zoysiagrass on the

■ Roughs – Coarser Zoysia japonica varieties – Colour contrast with fairways

■ Fairways − Zoysia japonica and mediummedium--finefine textured Zoysia matrella varieties − Colour contrast with roughs (e.g. bermudagrass) − Less fertiliser, pesticide & mowing than bermudagrass − Stripes nicely (but don’t burn in the stripes – reduces playing quality) − Reduced edging around bunkers compared to bermudagrass

■ Greens Zoysia matrella on shaded tees − Very finefine--texturedtextured Zoysia matrella varieties (e.g. ‘Diamond’) (Avondale Golf Club, Sydney) − Slower stimp speeds than bermudagrass Photos: David Warwick − BUT survives (and thrives) in shade where bermudagrass fails

Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella

Playability

■ Good ball lie – Even in the roughs, especially the stiffer varieties

■ Means good course playability Zoysia japonica in park landscape Photos: Terry Anderlini ((GyeongjuGyeongju,, Korea)

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Zoysia matrella in home orchard Zoysia matrella in park on breakwater (Brisbane, Queensland) (Magnetic Island, north Queensland)

Zoysia japonica on Daejeon Stadium Zoysia matrella in park on breakwater (Soccer World Cup 2002 – Korea) (Magnetic Island, north Queensland) Photo: Patten Seed Company

■ Before Flood damaged Seeded varieties Durban grass in shaded Brisbane garden ■ Restricted to Zoysia japonica − Seed production depends on having large − Some wild collected seed (China, Korea) sold − Seed of ‘Zenith’ and ‘‘CompadreCompadre’’ produced in USA − More winter dormant than the better vegetative varieties − Cheaper from seed but very slow to establish (much slower than from sod, plugs or sprigs) ■ After Zoysia matrella ■ Zoysia sinica − Large inflorescences but seed production still too difficult

■ Zoysia matrella and Z. pacifica − Vegetatively propagated commercially − Small inflorescences mean that seed production is low (uneconomic)

Photos: Dr Chris Lambrides

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Adaptation

Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella (varies with )cultivar) (varies with cultivar)

Climate Cool temperate-temperate-subtropicalsubtropical Warm temperatetemperate--tropicaltropical (strong winter dormancy in Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella genotypes from high latitudes) Shade tolerance

■ Z. matrella tolerates shade (maintains good density & turf quality) down to c. 20% of full sunlight − Z. japonica is less shade tolerant

■ Growth (& thatch accumulation) is appreciably slower in shade − So wear tolerance is also reduced

Adaptation Moisture requirements

Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella ■ SE Asian genotypes adapted to moderate to high rainfall (varies with cultivar)cultivar) (varies with cultivar)

Climate Cool temperate-temperate-subtropicalsubtropical Warm temperatetemperate--tropicaltropical ■ Zoysias less tolerant than Cynodon, but more drought (strong winter dormancy in tolerant than seashore paspalumpaspalum & broadleaf carpetgrass genotypes from high latitudes)

Shade tolerance Moderate to fair Very high ■ Zoysias are more drought tolerant if not heavily fertilised − Reduced water use

■ Z. matrella in particular survives drought better in the shade than in the sun

Adaptation Salinity tolerance

Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella „ Good salt tolerance (varies with cultivar)cultivar) (varies with cultivar) – Z. matrella > Z. japonica (US & Australian trials) – Depends on the origin of the material (marine or inland) Climate Cool temperate-temperate-subtropicalsubtropical Warm temperatetemperate--tropicaltropical (strong winter dormancy in genotypes from high latitudes) „ Salt tolerance close to that of seashore paspalum Shade tolerance Moderate to fair Very high – Zoysias excrete salt from salt glands, which can then be removed by mowing and catching the clippings Drought tolerance Good Good (cf. seashore paspalum does not have salt glands)

Salt glands

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‘Diamond’ Shadetuff ®

Adaptation

Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella (varies with cultivar)cultivar) (varies with cultivar)

Climate Cool temperate-temperate-subtropicalsubtropical Warm temperatetemperate--tropicaltropical (strong winter dormancy in genotypes from high latitudes) ‘Zorro’ ‘Royal’ Shade tolerance Moderate to fair Very high

Drought tolerance Good Good

Salinity toleranceFair to goodGood to very good

Zoysia matrella – salinity tolerance (12 wks)

Soil preferences

■ MUST be wellwell--draineddrained − Established zoysias tolerate temporary waterlogging, but not prolonged or permanent waterlogging − Young zoysia turf is more tolerant of waterlogging until the system matures Colonising hard dry gravelly Colonising bare tough soil

■ Best at soil pH7 or below Zoysia matrella − Some varieties with better alkaline soil tolerance (e.g. ‘El Toro’) High strength

■ WellWell--structuredstructured friable soil or promotes deeper development ■ Tolerant of high soil strength − Tolerant of high strength soils − Shallower rhizome growth than in more open friable soils

Adaptation

Zoysia matrella Zoysia japonica Zoysia matrella (varies with cultivar)cultivar) (varies with cultivar)

Climate Cool temperate-temperate-subtropicalsubtropical Warm temperatetemperate--tropicaltropical (strong winter dormancy in Zoysia macrantha genotypes from high latitudes)

Shade tolerance Moderate to fair Very high

Drought tolerance Good Good

Salinity toleranceFair to goodGood to very good Paspalum vaginatum Soils Well- Well-drained;drained; best at pH≤7.0; WellWell--drained;drained; best at pH≤7.0; tolerant of hihighgh soilsoil strengthtolerant of highhigh soil strength

Trial plots on saline high strength soil Wear tolerance Very high resistance to wear Very high resistance to wear (Cairns, north Queensland) Slow recovery from wear Slow recovery from wear Photo: Terry Anderlini

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Attributes relative to other turf species

V. low/slow Low/slow Medium High V. high Growth rate 9 9 Nutrient needs 9 9 Zoysia japonica Cynodon dactylon Wear tolerance 9 9 Shade tolerance 9 9 Divot recovery Thatch 9 9 Salinity tolerance 9 9 ■ Zoysiagrasses recover from divoting a little slower than High soil strength tolerance 9 9 bermudagrasses Heat tolerance 9 9 − Zoysiagrasses recover mainly from vertical shoots produced from Drought 9 9 underground − Bermudagrasses recover from lateral growth as well as vertical shoots from underground rhizomes 9 Zoysia japonica 9 Zoysia matrella (ratings for individual varieties within species may vary)

Water...the key driver Establishing zoysia sod

■ Keep sod moist from cutting (harvest) through to laying – Don’t let any rolls dry out

■ Growth of zoysia is driven more by water than by nitrogen ■ Wet newly laid sod and underlay soil thoroughly - Prof. Al Turgeon − Before laying, apply a low P fertiliser blend to the surface of the underlay soil at 1 kg N/100 m2

■ Keep sod (& underlay) moist until it develops a strong new root system − Don’t let the sod dry out until established

■ Scars between rolls of new sod are slow to heal – Dusting along the joins hastens the process

■ New sod laid to repair a damaged patch takes time to blend in fully with the surrounding established turf

Glasshouse experiment – sod establishment (Loch, Yi Zhou & Hunter, unpublished data 2010)

■ DoubleDouble--potpot ANOVA system to bottom water underlay by capillary action & spray nutrient treatments onto leaves – No overhead watering after laying sod

■ Inner pots 200 mm diameter X 250 mm deep filled with sand -coir UC mix topped with circles of Zoysia matrella sod Total dry matter yield Dry matter distribution − 15:3:11 fertiliser blend @ 1 kg N/ 100 m2 applied between underlay & sod − WellWell--wateredwatered before & immediately (once only) after laying Results ■ Blocks 11--99 (good soil moisture) ■ 4 treatments (Water-(Water-onlyonly Control, Foliar high N fertiliser, Kelp, − Untreated control produced most roots & tops Foliar + Kelp) X 10 replicates in randomised block design − Foliar N fertiliser reduced root growth, redistributed DM to tops − Treatments sprayed onto leaves 3 times per week for first 3 wks − Kelp reduced tops growth, redistributed DM to roots − Water only sprays applied on all other days (to moisten leaves) − Fertiliser + Kelp reduced root & tops growth, redistributed DM to tops ■ Dry matter weights of new roots & new leaves at 6 wks ■ Block 10 (poor soil moisture – partly dried out in week 1) – Progressive measurements of rooting depth (25 cm by 3 wk) − All treatments produced very limited & poor root systems

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Zoysia matrella establishment (6 wks)

Good soil moisture Poor soil moisture Soil Moisture: Good Poor

The zoysia rulebook Fertiliser

■ Rule 1: growth is driven more by water than nitrogen ■ Low fertility (N) requirement – Require 25% or less of N rates needed to maintain bermudagrass ■ Rule 2: established zoysia does not tolerate extended waterlogging – Typical recommendations:recommendations: 0.5-0.5-11 kg N/100 m2 split spring & summer – Young zoysia more waterlogging tolerant until mature root system develops – US research (Patton): no consistent advantage in applying >1 kg N/100 m2 – Experienced US superintendentsuperintendentss are using down to 0. 5 kg N/100 m2 without ■ Rule 3: Laying sod – wet sod & underlay soil thoroughly, and do detriment to turf quality not let it dry out until a strong root system has developed

■ Still acceptable turf quality at very low N rates − 00--0.50.5 kg N/100 m2 (Patton)

■ No effect of different N sources – After 2 years, N source (urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate) did not significantly affect turf colour, density or quality (Patton)

The zoysia rulebook Mowing

■ Rule 1: growth is driven more by water than nitrogen ■ Requires fewer mowings than bermuda and other grasses – Advantage of slow growth ■ Rule 2: established zoysia does not tolerate extended waterlogging – Young zoysia more waterlogging tolerant until mature root system develops ■ Mow to remove no more than one-one-thirdthird of leaf & thatch − Same ppprinciple as app lies to other g rasses ( oneone--thirdthird rule) ■ Rule 3: Laying sod – wet sod & underlay soil thoroughly, and do not let it dry out until a strong root system has developed ■ Keep mower blades sharp to avoid shredding ends of cut leaves − Sharpen every 22--33 weeks ■ Rule 4: grow it lean − Low N requirement reduces thatching ■ Do not mow wilted zoysia grass − Tears leaf blades (doesn’t cut cleanly) & rips out some complete shoots

■ Leaving too long between mowings can result in scalping – Zoysia matrella more prone to thatching (denser growth) & scalping

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Mowing

HOC ■ Requires fewer mowings than bermuda and other grasses – Advantage of slow growth

■ Mow to remove no more than one-one-thirdthird of leaf & thatch − Same ppprinciple as app lies to other g rasses ( oneone--thirdthird rule) Dormant basal ■ Keep mower blades sharp to avoid shredding ends of cut leaves − Sharpen every 2-2-33 weeks

Scalping ■ Do not mow wilted zoysia grass − Tears leaf blades (doesn’t cut cleanly) & rips out some complete shoots

■ Remove growing points on vertical tiller by low height of cut (HOC) ■ Leaving too long between mowings can result in scalping − No following growing shoots (dormant basal buds) – Zoysia matrella more prone to thatching (denser growth) & scalping − Leaves bare stem base until replacement basal buds shoot & grow − Using groomers to break stolons encourages active following shoots (Engelke) ■ Less thatch development at lower heights of cut (HOCs) − Reduced shading of basal tiller buds allows their active development

The zoysia rulebook Weed control

■ Rule 1: growth is driven more by water than nitrogen ■ Established zoysia grasses maintain a dense weedweed--freefree sward better than bermudagrass & seashore paspalum ■ Rule 2: established zoysia does not tolerate extended waterlogging – Zoysia matrella chokes out creeping shadeshade--toleranttolerant weeds – Young zoysia more waterlogging tolerant until mature root system develops (e.g. Pratia purpurascens) ■ Rule 3: Laying sod – wet sod & underlay soil thoroughly, and do ■ Tolerant of broadleaf herbicides not let it dry out until a strong root system has developed − e.g. 2,4-2,4-D,D, MCPA, dicamba, fluroxypyr, metsulfuron, metsulfuron + dicamba, metsulfuron + fluroxypyr, mecoprop + 2,42,4--DD + dicamba ■ Rule 4: grow it lean − Low N requirement reduces thatching ■ MSMA/DSMA? − Significant short-short-termterm damage from sequential spraying at low rates ■ Rule 5: mow little & often to avoid scalping − Do not apply full rates for a single spraying − Avoid removal of growing points from all vertical tillers − To be phased out by 2014

■ Rule 6: mow with sharp blades ■ Fluazifop to control bermudagrass − Sharpen regularly – Adding triclopyr is more effective on bermuda & safer on most zoysias – Other ‘fops’ & ‘dims’ also promising (Loch, unpublished data 2010)

Fluazifop (384g ai/ha)ai/ha) Haloxyfop (260g ai/ha)ai/ha) Fluazifop (384g ai/ha)ai/ha) Haloxyfop (260g ai/ha)ai/ha)

Clethodim (120g ai/ha)ai/ha) Metamifop (400g ai/ha)ai/ha) Clethodim (120g ai/ha)ai/ha) Metamifop (400g ai/ha)ai/ha) Zoysia japonica (Control(Control--1X1X--2X)2X) Zoysia matrella (Control(Control--1X1X--2X)2X)

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Killing zoysiagrasses Pests and diseases

„ More difficult than killing other grasses (weeds) in zoysia ■ Fewer pest problems than other warm-warm-seasonseason grasses – Eriophyid mites & false spider mites (more of a problem during sod production than facility maintenance) „ Glyphosate – Tolerant of lawngrub complex (armyworm & sod webworm) – Like bermudagrass , need high rates (around 10 L/ha) (more susceptible in tropical areas & under excessive N fertilisation) – Curl (scarab) grubs, Japanese beetle, Green June beetle – Better results if soluble N fertiliser is added to the spray mix – Hunting billbugs (US, Asia)

■ Two main diseases „ MesotrioneMesotrione?? ((YelvertonYelverton)) − Large patch (brown patch) caused by Rhizoctonia spp. – Susceptibility may vary with species/genotype (develops under cold wet conditions & poor air movement keeping leaves – Does it give a complete kill of zoysiagrass? moist for longer periods; less important in warmer areas) − Zoysia rust (develops on Zoysia japonica under intermediate temperatures) − Some varieties show occasional leaf spots & under humid conditions

Carbon sequestration

■ Increase in soil organic matter under turf leads to increase in soil C – Reaches an equilibrium between gain (input) and loss (breakdown)

Large patch Zoysia rust ■ Plantstone carbon − LongLong--lastinglasting form of carbon sequestered by grasses high in silica − Zoysia leaves are high in silica

■ Unproven at this stage and further research is needed – Research by Sullivan & Parr (Southern Cross University)

Mites African black beetle (scarab larvae)

Why not plant a zoysiagrass? Acknowledgments (positive future)

■ It is a local grass ■ Discussions with and information from: − Better adapted than turf grass species from overseas − Terry Anderlini (Tropical Lawns, Cairns) − More tolerant of low light than the “majors” − Dr Milt Engelke (Texas A&M University) − Darry Koster (Clearwater Bay Golf, Hong Kong) ■ Lower maintenance costs − Dr Brett Morris (Turnpoint, Australia) − Less fertiliser, mowing & pesticide use − Dr Aaron Patton (Purdue University, IN) ■ Relatively easy to control weeds − Bryan Simon (Queensland Herbarium) − Especially grass weeds − David Stone (The Honors Course, TN) − David Warwick (Avondale Golf Club, Sydney) ■ Environmentally friendly − Dr Fred Yelverton ( State University) − Low inputs − Carbon sequestration?

■ High turf quality & playability (tight playing surface) − Preferred by good golfers

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Thank you...

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