Potassium Rate and Mowing Height for Kentucky Bluegrass Growth

Abstract

Potassium is well-known to improve turfgrass tolerance to environmental stresses such as low temperature and drought stress. Low mowing height reduces leaf area of turfgrass that is main place for photosynthesis and carbohydrate production. Closely-mowed turf would suffer from summer decline by low level of carbohydrate resulted from low photosynthesis of reduced leaf area. The objective of the study is to investigate K rate and mowing height for Kentucky bluegrass. The K rate treatments were 5, 10, and 20 g K2O m −2 for the low, medium and high K rates, respectively. The bi-weekly mowing treatment was made for treatments. Mowing was implemented at 40 and 100 mm using a rotary mower. Regardless K rates, the high mowing height would be required when the air temperature is higher than 28.5℃ and high turfgrass quality of Kentucky bluegrass is needed. When the air temperature is optimal for cool-season grass, the high mowing height and the low K rate is needed for the root length of Kentucky bluegrass.