Zoysiagrass sod production: A review

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) produces a high-quality warm-season turfgrass sward and requires fewer management inputs compared with many other warm-season turfgrass species. Three primary species, all known by the common name “zoysiagrass,” are used in the United States, and these include Z. japonica, Z. matrella, and Z. pacifica. These three zoysiagrasses are distinguished from one another based on stress tolerance differences, visual characteristics, and their geographic distribution. Together, all of these factors influence the breeding, production, and distribution of zoysiagrass sod in the US production, and distribution of each species is typically transitional, warm-humid, and warm-arid climatic zones (Z. japonica); warm-humid, and warm-arid climatic zones (Z. matrella); and warm-tropical climate zones (Z. pacifica). This review summarizes the knowledge of the current zoysiagrass sod market and research related to the establishment, management, weed control, and harvest and transplanting of zoysiagrass sod and identifies the knowledge gaps and future research needs. Compared with bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. Rich.), zoysiagrass research is lacking, especially related to sod production. Future research on zoysiagrass should focus on establishment, post-planting management, quantifying management inputs, and practices to hasten sod production times, and improve transplant success. Additionally, more research is needed on weed control during establishment and production. Because of its wide adaptation and genetic diversity, research should be conducted in multiple climates across a diversity of cultivars to aid sod producers and end-users.