Fertility and Mowing Height Management for Zoysiagrass in Florida.

There is a renewed interest in the use of zoysiagrass in Florida.  To date, little information is available regarding the management of available cultivars on golf courses.  Therefore, a field study including ‘Diamond’ (a fine leaf-textured Zoysia matrella) and ‘Empire’ (a coarse leaf-textured Zoysia japonica) was conducted in 2007 and 2008, grown on a Candler Sand (Hyperthermic, uncoated Typic Quartzipsamments) at Gainesville, FL.  Treatments were mowing heights (0.64 and 1.27 cm for Diamond; 2.54 and 5.08 cm for Empire) and stabilized nitrogen (N) fertilizer at annual rates of 73.2, 170.9, and 268.5 kg N ha^-1.  Turfgrass quality and plot density were visually rated monthly according to the guidelines of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) on a scale of 1 to 9.  During the first year, the highest fertilizer rate resulted in severe scalping and a reduction in turfgrass quality and density in Diamond zoysiagrass, particularly with the 1.27 cm mowing height treatment.  Generally, the lowest fertilizer rate was sufficient to maintain both turfgrass quality and density at acceptable levels (> 5).  Mowing height did not have a significant effect on turfgrass quality or density in Empire zoysiagrass.  Based on 2007 data, annual fertilizer rates of at least 170.9 kg N ha^-1 will be required to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality and density ratings.