Effect of water stress and nitrogen application on morphological and physiological character of Zoysia japonica cv. Shanghai

The effect of water stress and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth of Zoysia japonica cv. Shanghai was studied to serve the turf management. The results showed that the turf quality was very good under the treatment of light water stress and middle nitrogen level, and its turf density and aboveground biomass were higher or close to the treatment of no water stress and middle nitrogen level, and were significantly higher than other treatments of light water stress and all treatments of heavy water stress (P0.05). The turfgrass height in the treatments of high nitrogen level were significantly higher than that of other treatments in same water stress level (P0.05). Under same water stress level, the leaf conductivity, proline content and soluble sugar content were increased with the increase of nitrogen application on 19th day of experiment, and decreased after 41st day of experiment. The MDA content was increased with the increase of water stress level. It could be concluded that the light water stress with middle level of nitrogen was helpful.