PJB-2019-979
OPTIMAL MOWING HEIGHT AND FREQUENCY FOR CYNODON DACTYLON ‘FINE DACCA’ AND ZOYSIA JAPONICA ‘KOREAN’ GRASSES
IFTIKHAR AHMAD
Abstract
A study was conducted to optimize mowing frequency and height for Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ‘Fine Dacca’ and Zoysia japonica Steud. ‘Korean’. Various mowing frequencies, viz. 3, 6 and 9 days intervals and heights, viz. 1.25, 2.50, 3.75 and 5.00 cm were evaluated for optimum cutting frequency and height for both grass species. Experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements and each treatment was replicated thrice. Among both cultivars, ‘Fine Dacca’ produced highest tiller height (5.2 cm), leaf blade length (20.1 mm), leaf area (22.0 cm2), internodal distance (15.8 mm) and canopy chlorophyll index (2.0 SPAD), whereas ‘Korean’ exhibited highest number of tillers (51.8), leaves per tiller (9.8), fresh and dry weight (6.0 g and 3.0 g, respectively) and stolon diameter (1.1 mm). For mowing frequency, mowing at 3 days intervals had greater number of leaves per tiller (10.3), while those with 6 days intervals produced maximum fresh and dry weight (6.6 g and 3.2 g, respectively). Mowing at 9 days interval resulted in highest number of tillers (55.7), tiller height (5.9 cm), leaf blade length (22.6 mm), leaf area (24.5 cm2) and canopy chlorophyll index (2.3 SPAD). While for cutting heights, grasses mowed at 2.50 cm height exhibited greater number of tillers (47.3) and internodal distance (14.3 mm), while grasses mowed at 3.75 cm height, produced highest fresh weight (5.7 g). Cutting at 5.00 cm height resulted in greatest tiller height (5.9 cm), leaf area (24.3 cm2), chlorophyll index (2.2 SPAD) and length of leaf blade (21.7 mm). Overall, mowing at 3 days interval for ‘Fine Dacca’ and 6 days interval for ‘Korean’, while mowing at 2.50 cm height for ‘Fine Dacca’ and 5.00 cm for ‘Korean’ proved optimum for healthier, dense and vigorous growth and for producing high quality turf. ‘Fine Dacca’ performed better to wide ranges of mowing heights, while ‘Korean’ required higher cutting height for good quality turf production due to its coarse leaf texture and high shoot density.
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