Establishment and persistence of zoysiagrass–tall fescue mixtures

Abstract

AbstractZoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) is adapted to the transition zone but some end‐users find it undesirable because of the dormancy color. The objective of this study was to evaluate mowing height and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb) seeding strategy and rate for the establishment and persistence of a mixed stand with seeded zoysiagrass. Separate identical experiments were done in Manhattan, KS, and Olathe, KS. ‘Compadre’ zoysiagrass was seeded in all plots at 1 lb pure live seed (PLS) 1,000 ft–2 in June 2015. ‘Corona’ tall fescue was seeded in subplots at 2, 4, or 8 lb PLS 1,000 ft–2 either in June 2015 with the zoysiagrass seed or in September 2015 into established zoysiagrass. The percentage green coverage (PGC) was up to 18% higher when tall fescue was seeded into established zoysiagrass than when seeded with zoyiagrass. Seeding tall fescue at 8 lb PLS 1,000 ft–2 resulted in up to 10% more PGC than 2 lb PLS 1,000 ft–2, primarily within the first 2 years after planting. A polystand mixture of seeded zoysiagrass and tall fescue was most successfully established by seeding tall fescue at 8 lb PLS 1,000 ft–2 into established zoysiagrass mown at a 0.75‐inch cut height. The mixture enhanced PGC of the turf during zoysiagrass dormancy for 3 years.