Effects of Nitrogen Application Timing on Growth and Quality of a Turfgrass Mixture

Abstract

A 3-year field study was conducted to determine the influence of nitrogen (N) application timing on the growth and quality of a turfgrass mixture consisting of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra L.), and chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata Gaud.) under irrigated conditions. Nitrogen was applied annually at the rate of 30 g m −2 year −1 , with six application regimes: control ( no N), single spring (30 g m −2 ), single fall (30 g m −2 ), spring + fall (15 + 15 g m −2 ), spring + summer + fall (10 + 10 + 10 g m −2 ), and monthly from April through September (5 g m −2 ).Color, turf quality, clipping weights, and shoot density were correlated with fertilizer rates and application timing in this study. Fertilization monthly or every 2 months resulted in more uniform color and turf quality and less clipping weights than with comparable heavy spring and fall fertilizations. Heavy N applications in the fall did not cause winter injury and produced significantly darker * Address correspondence to Esvet Acikgoz. ORDER REPRINTS 102ORAL AND ACIKGOZ color and more uniform appearance in early spring than other N applications. All N-fertilization regimes increased shoot density, but spring fertilization stimulated density the most. Nitrogen applied monthly or every 2 months was enough to enhance the color, turf quality, and shoot density of the turf during the growing season but did not greatly affect the growth rate.

Effects of Compost Topdressing on Turf Quality and Growth of Kentucky Bluegrass

“…Bilgili and Acikgoz (2) showed that turf color and quality were associated with N fertility treatments, and that increasing N significantly enhanced the color and quality ratings of several turf mixtures. In addition, it has been shown that N applications in fall increased winter and early‐spring coloration as compared to an unfertilized control (2,15), which is in agreement with the findings of this study.…”

Response of a Cool-Season Turf Mixture to Composted Chicken Manure in a Mediterranean Environment

“…These findings are similar to those reported by Turner and Hummel (1992) and Oral and Acikgoz (2001). Snyder et al (1984) and Engelsjord and Singh (1997) recommended that quick-release inorganic fertilizers should be applied more sparingly and frequently than control-or slow-release fertilizers to maintain uniform growth and color.…”

“…Several N application studies have been conducted to determine its effects on the quality, growth and development of Kentucky bluegrass (Spangenberg et al, 1986;Moore et al, 1996) and turf mixtures (Oral and Acikgoz, 2001). In general, N fertilization significantly increases the color, quality (Garling and Boehm, 2001) and clipping yield (Bilgili and Acikgoz, 2005).…”

Effects of White Clover Inclusion on Turf Characteristics, Nitrogen Fixation, and Nitrogen Transfer from White Clover to Grass Species in Turf Mixtures

“…Unfertilized check plots showed much lower color ratings in all seasons, particularly in winter months. As indicated in our previous experiments (Oral and Acikgoz 2001;Bilgili and Acikgoz 2005), turf color was uniform with monthly N applications, and heavy N applications of 5 and 7.5 g m 2 mo 21 resulted in the highest overall visual turf color ratings.…”

“…It is well known that N is required in large amounts by turfgrasses, particularly high-maintenance turfgrasses (Beard 1973). Monthly applications of 5.0 g m 22 N fertilizer resulted in more uniform color and turf quality scores in our previous studies (Oral and Acikgoz 2001;Bilgili and Acikgoz 2005), regardless of the uptake and recovery of fertilizer N, leaching, and waterquality concerns.…”