Abstract
Field experiments were conducted at Exp. Farm of Tohoku univ., Naruko, Japan in 1995-1997 to examine the effects of porous hydrate calcium silicate (PS) on the silica nutrition of turf grass. Silica contents of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), tall fescue (Festuca arundenacea Schreb.), kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis L.) treated with PS 300g/m^2 increased by 29%, 35%, 23% and 27% compared to that of each control. In addition, silica contents of new turf grass cultivar 'Miyako', natural crossing cultivar of Japanese lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) and Korean lawngrass (Zoysia tenuifolia Willd.) increased with increasing application rate of PS over the study period. The silica contents of final cutting stage treated with PS 100 g/m^2 and 300 g/m^2 increased by 9% and 15% in 1996, and 11%0 and 18% in 1997, respectively, compared with that of the control. Total clipping yields of Miyako were unaffected by PS application in both 1996 and 1997. Leaf colors of Miyako in 1996 slightly increased with the increasing the application rate of PS but not in 1997. Nitrogen contents of Miyako tended to decrease with increase in application rate of PS in 1996, but not in 1997. In conclusion, PS is an efficient ameriolant for improving the silica nutrition of turf grass without any detrimental influence in beauty of turf.
