Effects of Mowing (Beolcho) Timing and Height on Growth Characteristics of Zoysia japonica and Z. matrella before Chuseok

Abstract

In Korea, mowing the grass of a grave (Beolcho) is a very important event preceded by Chuseok (Korean thanks giving day) and Si-Hyang (annual ancestral feast). Because Beolcho usually takes place one or two weeks before Chuseok, the traffic accidents on roads are getting worse and safety accidents are getting more and more. Erroneous Beolcho methods can cause the soil to be exposed and cause the loss of soil or the low shoot density of graveyard grass or weed occurrence. Therefore, the dispersion of the Beolcho timing and the approprite method can be import issues. The present study assessed the effects of grass mowing timing and height before Chuseok on the growth of Zoysia japonica and Z. matrella. The mowing timing was evaluated at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks before Chuseok, and the mowing height differently according to the two type of grass. In Z. japonica, the faster mowing before Chuseok, the longer the plant height, and the coverage rate and shoot density were higher. In Z. matrella, the faster mowing, the longer the shoot length, but the coverage rate and shoot density did not show any difference or tendency. As compared to Z. japonica, the plant height of Z. matrella was kept short regardless of the time of mowing. In both grasses, the plant height was shortened when mowing was done at low cutting height, but the coverage rate and shoot density were decreased. In addition, it was shown that it is advantageous to maintain the shoot density of graveyard lawn by 40-50 mm or 30-40 mm cutting above the ground for Z. japonica or Z. matrella, respectively.