1993 Volume 22 Issue 1 Pages 5-12
Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. ; Bentgrass) and manilagrass (Zoysia matrella Merr.) were grown under turf condition mowed at 8 mm in height. Photosynthesis, dark respiration and the growth parameters in both turfs were periodically measured from February to August for bentgrass and from May to October for manilagrass in 1990, respectively. The differences of photosynthetic characteristics between both turfs in relation to climatic factors and mowing treatment were discussed. Turf photosynthesis and dark respiration were determined by the open system chamber method with core samples taken up from turfs. The results are as follows:
Gross photosynthetic rate (Pg) in bentgrass turf decreased accompanying with decreasing of dry matter weight (DMW) and chlorophyll content (CCA) of aboveground plant part by mowing. There were significant relationships between CCA and maximum Pg or dark respiration rate in bentgrass turf. Consequently, it was possible by growth parameters to know the response of photosynthesis to mowing.
On the other hand, the decreasing ratio of Pg by mowing was less than that of CCA, and Pg per unit chlorophyll content was higher at post-mowing in manilagrass turf. This is supposed to be caused by improving light-interception with the high relative efficiency of light utilization of turf at post-mowing, indicating high adaptability of manilagrass to intensive mowing than that of bentgrass.
