Short‐height variety of <i>Zoysia matrella</i> effectively increases soil carbon content

Abstract In this study, soil carbon content was measured in eight turfgrass plots planted with common Zoysia matrella and nine plots planted with a short‐height variety of Z. matrella (TM9) in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and factors influencing carbon content were investigated. The number of years since turfgrass establishment had no significant effect on soil carbon content. “TM9” turfgrass exhibited darker leaf color and tended to have higher soil carbon and nitrogen content at 0‐ to 10‐cm depth compared with common Z. matrella plots. Additionally, leaf color in “TM9” was positively correlated with soil carbon content at 0‐ to 10‐cm depth, a trend not observed in common Z. matrella . These results indicate that soil carbon content in turfgrass is influenced by soil nitrogen content and plant variety.