Nitrate and Nutrient Accumulation in Two Varieties of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) as Influenced by Soil‐Applied Fertilizer Nutrients¹

Abstract

Two varieties of bermudagrass were grown in a green‐house to determine differences in nitrate‐nitrogen content due to soil texture, nitrogen fertilization, and various mineral nutrient treatments. Nitrate‐N content of ‘NK‐37’ bermudagrass was twice as high as that of ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass across all treatments. Soil texture influenced nitrate‐N levels within each variety more than did rate of N fertilization. Mineral nutrient application did not significantly alter nitrate‐N levels in the plant tissues. Dry matter yields were increased by nitrogen fertilization, but not by mineral nutrient application. Zinc was the only mineral nutrient which increased within the plant tissues due to mineral application. All nutrients were as high or higher in NK‐37 than in Coastal except for Mn.

Nitrate and ammonium accumulation in bermudagrass in relation to nitrogen fertilization and season

“…Seasonal variations of nitrate concentration of bermudagrass showed the highest values in autumn (also the period of maximal nitrate accumulation in bermudagrass in the USA according to Lovelace et al, 1968), and in the springtime in plants treated with 1000kgN. NOr accumulation was lowest in midsummer.…”

Blending Polymer‐Coated Nitrogen Fertilizer Improved Bermudagrass Forage Production

“…Subclinical toxicosis is possible and may be a result if ruminant livestock consume forage that contains 2500 to 4500 mg NO 3 –N kg −1 . Ruminant livestock fed forage containing more than 4500 mg NO 3 –N kg −1 are at risk of acute NO 3 –N toxicosis (i.e., death) unless the forage is diluted in the diet to a concentration of less than that amount (Davidson et al, 1941; Wright and Davison, 1964; Lovelace et al, 1968; Hojjati et al, 1972). In general, NO 3 –N accumulation in bermudagrass is more likely to be observed in the forage produced during the third growth period in the southeastern United States because this growth period is most frequently subjected to drought stress (Wright and Davison, 1964; Connell et al, 2011).…”

Observations of High Nitrate Concentrations in Forage Bermudagrass during Severe to Exceptional Drought Years

“…Further, bermudagrass is highly efficient at using N and most of the nitrate reductase activity occurs in its roots [4]. Though this may reduce its risk in accumulating toxic concentrations of NO 3 [5], there is sufficient evidence to suggest that toxic NO 3 levels in bermudagrass do frequently occur [6]- [10]. However, it is unclear how frequent one might expect to find bermudagrass forage samples to be high in nitrates, especially during severe to exceptionally severe drought.…”