Influence of leaf age, irrigation and fertilization on leaf tensile strength of Cynodon dactylon and Zoysia japonica

Leaf tensile strength is an important parameter for evaluating leaf mechanical strength, which is closely related to preference of forage grasses and feel quality of turfgrasses. Although the variance of leaf tensile strength in different forage grass species has been extensively studied, similar information concerning the leaf tensile strength in turfgrasses are still deficient. In this study, the leaf tensile strength of eight cultivars and wild accessions of Cynodon dactylon and Zoysia japonica were determined and compared for the first time. The results indicated that leaf tensile strength are highly variable in different C. dactylon and Z. japonica cultivars and wild accessions. Average value of leaf tensile strength of the eight C. dactylon cultivars and wild accessions are much lower than that of the eight Z. japonica cultivars and wild accessions, suggesting Z. japonica are generally tougher than C. dactylon . In an additional experiment, the effects of irrigation and fertilization on leaf tensile strength of C. dactylon cv. Yangjiang and Z. japonica cv. Crowne were also analyzed. The results indicated that less irrigation and excess fertilization treatment both resulted in a significant reduction of leaf tensile strength of the two turfgrass species, suggesting leaf tensile strength of the turfgrasses under investigation may be altered through a combination of different management measures. This information greatly improves our understanding of leaf mechanical strength of turfgrasses.