The growth of <i>Zoysia matrella</i> in a Japanese golf course fairway: Seven‐year study

Abstract A 7‐year study was conducted to investigate the seasonal change of Zoysia matrella growth in the fairway at a golf course in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The turfgrass samples were collected with hole cup cutters every month from September 2016 to December 2023. The dry weight and starch content of the turfgrass shoot showed seasonal change every year, and there were differences among the years. These seasonal changes and the differences among the years are supposed to be affected by weather factors like temperature and solar irradiation. Compared to a previous report, it is suggested that the spring green‐up became much earlier because of the change of temperature in these 30 years. The shoot weight and starch content during rainy season (June–July) showed correlation to the solar irradiation in the same period. The temperature showed positive correlation to starch content in November to December. Better understanding of the relationship of the turfgrass growth and the weather factors may lead to better management of Zoysia matrella in golf course fairways.