Abstract
Mineral nutrients provided through fertilizers are critical for plant health and maintaining turf quality. Nitrogen is the focus of most fertility programs, as it is the macronutrient found at the highest concentration in plants and has the greatest effect on plant growth.
Because of the critical nature of nitrogen for plant growth, it is frequently used to push growth either when establishing turf areas from sprigs or regrowth on sod farms after harvest. Previous research has found a relationship between increased nitrogen rates and growth, but the gain in coverage per nitrogen applied is not always consistent (Trenholm et al., 1998; Guertal & Hicks, 2009). Furthermore, increased nitrogen rates can shift energy toward shoot growth, ultimately reducing rhizome and stolon production (Munshaw et al., 2001; de Lima et al., 2010).
The goal of the current study is to explore how nitrogen treatments affect growth rates and resource allocation in the more recently released, drought-tolerant cultivar ‘TifTuf’. Insights from these experiments will help refine fertility practices, improving turfgrass reestablishment and performance as well as optimizing nitrogen application rates.
References
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Guertal, E. A., & Hicks, C. A. (2009). Nitrogen source and rate effects on the establishment of ‘TifSport’ and ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass. Crop Science, 49(2), 690–695. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2008.07.0436
Munshaw, G. C., Williams, D. W., & Cornelius, P. L. (2001). Management strategies during the establishment year enhance production and fitness of seeded bermudagrass stolons. Crop Science, 41(5), 1558–1564. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2001.4151558x
Trenholm, L. E., Dudeck, A. E., Sartain, J. B., & Cisar, J. L. (1998). Bermudagrass growth, total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration, and quality as influenced by nitrogen and potassium. Crop Science, 38(1), 168–174. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1998.0011183X003800010028x
Acknowledgements
Funding for this project was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant Program administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
