Optimum application amount, timing, and frequency of slurry composted and biofiltered liquid fertilizer for Zoysia japonica 'Millock'

In Korea, slurry composted and biofiltered (SCB) liquid fertilizer is produced through the composting and biofiltering of animal waste. An appropriate guidelines involving proper treatment of SCB liquid fertilizer on turfgrass should be considered. An experiment was conducted to determine the optimum application amount, timing, and frequency of SCB liquid fertilizer for Zoysia japonica 'Millock'. The SCB liquid fertilizer was applied in low, medium, and high amount (N at 15, 25, and 40 g·m^-2 per year in 2010, and 10, 20, and 40 g·m^-2 per year in 2011, respectively) and treated during the growing season or dormancy period. During the growing season, SCB liquid fertilizer was applied twice or four times. The greatest improvement in turf quality for both years was in SCB plots applied four times with N at 40 g·m^-2per year during the growing season (SH4). This treatment exhibited turf color retention in the fall, and enhanced clipping yield during the growing and fall seasons. SCB plots with four times during the growing season (SL4, SM4, and SH4) exhibited higher shoot density relative to the same amount of other SCB treatments. Plots treated during the dormancy period also showed a high turf color index during the next growing season in 2011. The results indicate that SCB with high amount up to N at 40 g·m^-2 per year applied four times during the growing season and dormant application produced high turf quality and growth, and could be recommended as an optimum application guide.