Kurapia completes a drought tolerant evaluation study.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kurapia completes a drought tolerant evaluation study.

UC Davis and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources jointly performed irrigation trials of Kurapia, a utility ground cover for a 2 year evaluation period between 2012 - 2014. The study was conducted by investigators Karrie Reid, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, UCCE, San Joaquin County, Loren Oki, UCCE Specialist in Landscape Horticulture, UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences, Jared Sisneroz, Staff Research Associate, UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences, in cooperation with David Fujino, Executive Director, California Center for Urban Horticulture, UC Davis. 

There were four treatment levels: 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20% of ET0, corresponding to high, moderate, moderate-low, and low irrigation levels, as described in The Water Use Classification of Landscape Species IV (WUCOLS IV, 2014).

The test result states the first thing to note about Kurapia’s its vigor. It also discusses that during the deficit irrigation portion of the trials the second year, there were no significant differences in growth between treatments when measured as an overall plant growth index or a relative index. The quality of the plant was not significantly affected by irrigation level either.

Kurapia shows extreme adaptability to irrigation levels, but due to its high performance level at the lowest irrigation rate in this trial, it recommends that, once established, it be irrigated at the 20% level and no more than 40% level of ET0, as additional water does not represent a significant gain in appearance or size. These recommendations are based on using drip irrigation in a clay-loam soil, and may not be reproducible in lighter soils or with the use of overhead spray irrigation.

Media contact:

Koji Ishii, Kurapia, Inc., 844-587-2742, k.ishii@kurapia.com

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California Center for Urban Horticulture

The CCUH is currently involved in researching the performance of Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora), a new low-water groundcover developed in Japan.  It was developed for drought conditions and is tolerant of different soils and a range of temperatures.  It grows quickly to establish ground cover but is sterile, so unwanted seeding does not occur.  For more information about its use, click here.

Drought Conditions Trial

Kurapia was included in a University of California at Riverside study that evaluated the performance and appearance of 19 turfgrass species or cultivars in drought conditions.  It performed best along with Kikuyugrass and buffalograss, two warm-season turfgrasses.  Click here for a full report of the study.

Irrigation Trial

Researchers at UC Davis, UCANR and CCUH  conducted an irrigation trial of Kurapia.To learn about how Kurapia performed and see photos of it under various amounts of irrigation, read the full report here.

College of Agriculture and Environmental Sceineces

SEMINAR FOR KURAPIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Friday, March 13th ~ 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Educational Program 
The LA Design & Development Expo (LA Expo) will host 
20 CEU approved seminars along with a growing list of special events and open sessions. 



Kurapia - Water Efficient Groundcover

Friday, March 13th - 9:00 - 10:30 am
Presented by: Tom Hawkins
CEUs: APLD & LA CES (pending approval)

Presented by: Mark Ohde

Course Description:

Kurapia is a newly introduced selection of Lippia nodiflora, which is native to parts of North and South America. This cultivar was produced after years of selective breeding in Japan, where it is now gaining popularity for its range of uses in sustainable landscape applications.

This course will identify the differences between Kurapia and the Lippia nodiflora species, as well as other Lippia in the nursery trade. The unique attributes of this plant, including very low water use, tolerance of a broad range of soil types and very high salinity conditions, erosion control features, and effectiveness in weed suppression will be covered, and research data supporting each of these characteristics will be briefly highlighted, including studies completed at UC Davis and UC Riverside.

Biography:

Tom Hawkins is president and owner of Florasource Ltd., a twenty-eight year old horticultural sales company that provides commercial growers with young plants for nursery crop production. In addition his firm is focused on the supply of several sustainable horticultural products to the landscape trade, including 'UC Verde' Buffalograss, from the University of California, LiveRoof, a fully grown, modular green roof system, and Kurapia, a new very low-water, utility groundcover introduced recently from Japan. Tom completed his undergraduate study in Ornamental Horticulture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a Masters degree in Environmental Horticulture at UC Davis.

Mark Ohde is president of Kurapia Inc., a two year old horticultural sales company that is focused on Kurapia, a very low-water, utility ground cover/turf alternative, recently introduced from Japan. Mark completed his undergraduate study in Business Administration at Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, and spent 5 years in the agricultural sector, managing greenhouse tomato production. For the past 8 years he has been the director for Greenproduce, Japan, providing Kurapia to the landscape industry. Mark is also the breeder of a new variety of Kurapia for future release.

KURAPIA EXHIBITS AT BOOTH #414 AT LA EXPO 2015 DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT IN LONG BEACH

MARCH 12TH & 13TH Standard Seminar Rates Expire 3/6/15!EXPRESS Register Today!

Standard Rates  Expire 3/6/15

Click Here to register for the EXPO and select seminars.