Effects of Mowing Height on Shade Tolerance of Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivars.

Limited information exists on the comparative shade tolerance of zoysiagrass and bermudagrass cultivars and the influence of mowing height on responses to shade.  This field study is being conducted in College Station, TX on bermudagrass (Cynodon ssp.) and zoysiagrass (Z. japonica and matrella) cultivars common to golf course fairways and rough.  Treatment main plots consist of density neutral shade, with levels ranging from 30% to 90% photosynthetic photon flux, with sub plots representing rough (5 cm) and fairway (2 cm) mowing heights.  Daily light integrals by growing month are being determined for each cultivar in the study so that more appropriate species and cultivar selection can be made for shaded environments.