How Much Nitrogen Do Golf Grasses Need ?
October 2012
Doug Brede, Ph.D. and
Christian Baldwin, Ph.D.
Jacklin Seed Research News Flash
Volume 15, Issue 5
Selected and Adapted Excerpts
How much nitrogen do golf grasses need ?
The quick answer to the question above is ―
As little as possible to get the job done.
Nitrogen is a key element in putting green management.
You have to apply it for appearances sake, to keep the green looking green and attractive.
Nitrogen is also essential for repairing wear and tear that comes with normal golf traffic.
But apply too much nitrogen and bad things start happening.
Top-growth accelerates, causing mower scalping and slow ball roll.
Thatch can accumulate, leading to a soft, spongy surface that harbors moisture and insects.
So if less nitrogen less is better, how do you determine the correct amount ?
A comprehensive article on putting green nitrogen use was published by Doug Brede, Ph.D. and Christian Baldwin, Ph.D. in the September/October 2012 edition of the refereed scientific periodical, Agronomy Journal.
The study examined the performance of 18 popular bentgrass cultivars and how each responded to 3 levels of nitrogen.
The investigation was unique in that it looked at several putting green attributes, not just one single trait.
The attributes included ― chlorophyll content, visual color, putting green speed, top-growth, lateral regrowth, and thatch accumulation.
In the net analysis, JACKLIN SEED’S T-1 SCORED IN THE TOP STATISTICAL GROUPING COMBINED ACROSS ALL TRAITS.
The experiment applied liquid nitrogen fertilizer every other week from spring until fall at rates of 1, 3, or 6 pounds per 1000 square feet per year.
Next, a computer program was used to calculate a line through those three nitrogen rates to estimate the minimum nitrogen dosage required to achieve a color of « 7 » or above.
« 7 » was considered ACCEPTABLE COLOR FOR A PUTTING SURFACE on a 1 to 9 scale.
As expected, higher nitrogen rates resulted in more chlorophyll, more clippings, faster lateral re-growth, and a shorter ball-roll distance.
THATCH ACCUMULATION WAS NOT STATISTICALLY INFLUENCED BY NITROGEN, although there were some trends in the data.
The short, two-year life-span of the experiment was probably the reason for few thatch differences.
The variety plots themselves had been in place for two years prior, to provide a solid turf surface before fertilizer treatments commenced.
The graph below shows T-1 and Alpha having slightly less thatch than other varieties despite their higher density.
Earlier researchers had worried that today’s higher density varieties might have problems with thatch.
However, the study concluded that ―
Newer cultivars with increased shoot density were no more prone to thatch accumulation than older, more open-canopy cultivars.
A 2010 study at Purdue by Cale Bigelow arrived at a similar conclusion.
|
Bentgrass cultivar |
|
Pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year |
|
Pounds of nitrogen per acre per year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Declaration |
|
7.1 |
|
307 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Penncross |
|
6.9 |
|
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seaside II |
|
6.0 |
|
261 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Penn A-1 |
|
5.2 |
|
227 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Penn A-4 |
|
4.3 |
|
187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
007 |
|
4.1 |
|
179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authority |
|
4.0 |
|
175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T-1 |
|
3.2 |
|
139 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The table showing results for color. Nitrogen requirements of creeping bentgrass cultivars mowed at putting green height in Post Falls, Idaho, in September 2009 and 2010. Numbers indicate pounds of nitrogen per year required to maintain an acceptable turf color rating of « 7 » or above. T-1 required the least nitrogen to maintain an acceptable appearance.
NORAHG is the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that seek to harm the Green space industry.
NORAHG morally represents the VAST SILENT MAJORITY of people associated with turf and ornamental plant maintenance who are OPPOSED to Anti Pesticide PROHIBITION and the CLOSURE or ABANDONMENT of green spaces under the RIDICULOUS PRETEXT of somehow « saving » the environment.
NORAHG is a NATIONAL NON PROFIT NON PARTISAN organization that does not accept money from corporations or governments or trade associations, and represents NO VESTED INTERESTS WHATSOEVER.
NORAHG is dedicated to reporting the work of RESPECTED and HIGHLY RATED EXPERTS who promote ENVIRONMENTAL REALISM and PESTICIDE TRUTHS.
NORAHG pledges to deliver reports that are worthy of peoples’ time and of peoples’ concern, reports that might ordinarily never have breached the parapet.
NORAHG was the brainchild of William H. Gathercole and his colleagues in 1991. Mr. Gathercole is now retired, although his name continues to appear as founder.
For the original copy of this Force Of Nature Report, go to the following link …
NORAHG has archived more information about A LOOK AT on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
A LOOK AT … CAREER MANAGEMENT ( Web-Page )
A LOOK AT … REFERENCES & SLIDE SHOWS – TURF, ORNAMENTALS, MAINTENANCE, & ENVIRONMENT ( Web-Page )
A LOOK AT … REPORTS – TURF, ORNAMENTALS, & MAINTENANCE ( Web-Page )
Here are previous reports, just in case you missed them …
GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE — 2011 05 21 — REDUCING COSTS — KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE — 2011 07 01 — WISPY FINE-LEAVED FESCUE ROUGH — UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION ( USGA ) ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE — 2011 09 15 — TURF CULTIVATION ( I.E. AERATION ) ( Report )
SOIL SCIENCE
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — SOIL SCIENCE — HOW MUCH NITROGEN DO GOLF GRASSES NEED — 2012 10 00 — JACKLIN SEED ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — SOIL SCIENCE — LATE-FALL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA — 2011 09 29 ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — A LOOK AT — SOIL SCIENCE — TURF CULTIVATION ( I.E. AERATION ) — 2011 09 15 — GOLF MAINTENANCE ( Report )
GOLF INDUSTRY
GOLF INDUSTRY – GO BROWN – ANTI-COSMETIC GOLF MAINTENANCE ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – GOLF DESTRUCTION – GOLF IS NEXT – CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – FAILURE OF WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – SHARP PARK GOLF COURSE ( USA ) – ENVIRONMENTAL TERROR UNDER THE PRETEXT OF PROTECTING OBSCURE AND INSIGNIFICANT SPECIES ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – THE GOLF INDUSTRY COLLISION COURSE – DEMISE IS IMMINENT ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – THE LOOMING GOLF INDUSTRY SHIPWRECK – NO LONGER A HOPEFUL FUTURE ( Web-Page )
GOLF INDUSTRY – LOOMING SHIPWRECK – GOLF USES SIX PER CENT OF ALL PESTICIDES USED IN MANITOBA – 2012 05 23 ( Reports )
NORAHG has archived even more information on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
THE PESTICIDE TRUTHS WEB-SITE
PESTICIDE BANS ARE A FARCE ( Report )
REAL TRENDS AGAINST PESTICIDE BANS ( Web-Page )
CARNAGE LEADING TO GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES – WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN #@!!% PEST-INFESTED GARBAGE DUMPS ?!?! ( Web-Page )
CARNAGE LEADING TO GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES ( Photo Gallery )
GOLF DESTRUCTION – GOLF IS NEXT ( Web-Page )
Improved & Updated
THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF WEB-PAGES, REPORTS, & REFERENCES
PESTICIDE TRUTHS NEWSLETTER — 2012 09 18 ( Report )
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS OF GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES CAUSED BY ANTI-PESTICIDE PROHIBITION …
