Present Situation of School Turf Ground in Korea and Japan

한국과 일본의 학교 잔디운동장 현황

School is the center for life of the students, 30% of Korean population. Students spend half of their daily life at school. However, amenity of school is not so good because school grounds in Korea are covered with soil while in USA and Europe with turf. This study was conducted to provide guidelines for constructing natural turf ground at school. 1. As of 1999, number of school grounds covered with turfgrass in Korea is only 130 out of 10,345. More turfs grounds should be constructed to improve amenity of school. Dept. of Education in Japan supports schools to establish turf grounds. 2. In Korea, only Zoysia japonica is used while in Japan several turfgrasses such as Zlysiagrass, bermudagrass and tall fescue are used. 3. In Korea and Japan, turfgrass at school is planted on soil based rootzone system resulting poor quality by heaby traffic. Recently in Japan, sand based rootzone systems such as Califonia and USGA systems are used at the schools with many students. 4. School turf both in Korea and Japan was managed by students and teachers. Turf quality of schools in Korea was not so good due to the poor management.