Fertilization

PLANT NUTRIENTS
16 essential nutrients

MACRONUTRIENTS
AIR AND WATER CARBON, C HYDROGEN, H OXYGEN, O

SOIL *NITROGEN, N *PHOSPHORUS, P *POTASSIUM, K **CALCIUM, Ca **MAGNESIUM, Mg **SULFUR, S * = PRIMARY ** = SECONDARY

MICRONUTRIENTS
IRON, Fe MANGANESE, Mn BORON, B COPPER, Cu ZINC, Zn MOLYBDENUM, Mo CHLORINE, Cl

HELPER
C HOPKINS CAF, MANAGED BY MY CUZIN MO THE CLOWN C H O P K N S CaF, M B M Cu Z Mo Cl (ALL 16 NUTRIENTS)

NITROGEN
REQUIRED IN THE LARGEST AMOUNTS (BY TURFGRASSES) TURFGRASSES CONTAIN 3 TO 6 percent N. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS NEEDED FOR AMINO ACIDS, (PROTEINS, ENZYMES), NUCLEIC ACIDS, VITAMINS,CHLOROPHYLL, ETC.

GROWTH EFFECTS OF NITROGEN

SHOOT GROWTH ROOT GROWTH SHOOT DENSITY COLOR DISEASE PRONENESS HEAT, COLD, AND DROUGHT HARDINESS RECUPERATIVE POTENTIAL COMPOSITION OF TURFGRASS COMMUNITY

1 QUALITY ROOT WEIGHT 0

0.5

2.5

10

16

24

Lbs. N / 1000 sq. ft. / Year

ROOT WEIGHT (g / sq. dm) dm

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

TURF QUALITY AND ROOT GROWTH AFFECTED BY NITROGEN RATE 3

QUALITY RATING

PHOSPHORUS
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) NUCLEIC ACIDS CERTAIN PROTEINS MEMBRANE PHOSPHOLIPIDS BUFFERS CELL pH (keeps it constant) GROWTH EFFECTS ESTABLISHMENT ROOTING MATURATION REPRODUCTION

POTASSIUM
(SECOND TO N IN AMOUNT NEEDED BY TURFGRASS) PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBOHYDRATE SYNTHESIS & TRANSLOCATION AMINO ACID AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS REGULATES TRANSPIRATION REGULATES RESPIRATION

GROWTH EFFECTS
ROOTING DROUGHT, HEAT, COLD HARDINESS WEAR TOLERANCE DISEASE PRONENESS

CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM AND SULFUR

CALCIUM = CELL WALLS MAGNESIUM = CHLOROPHYLL SULFUR = AMINO ACIDS

MICRONUTIRENTS
IRON, MOST COMMONLY DEFICIENT IN TURF. CHLOROPHYLL SYNTHESIS ZINC, COPPER, MOLYBDENUM, BORON, CHLORINE, MANGANESE (IMPORTANT METABOLICALLY. VERY SMALL AMOUNTS NEEDED).

DEFIENCY SYMPTOMS
N = STUNTED GROWTH, PALE GREEN
YELLOW TISSUE OF OLDER LEAVES

P = DARK GREEN TISSUE THEN PURPLE DISCOLORATION ALONG MARGIN OF LEAF AND BASE OF SHOOT. K = DROOPING LEAVES, LOSS OF TURGOR Fe = INTERVEINAL YELLOWING ON YOUNGEST LEAVES

NITROGEN FERTILIZERS
1. SYNTHETIC INORGANIC 2. NATURAL ORGANIC 3. SYNTHETIC ORGANIC
WATER SOLUBLE NON-WATER SOLUBLE

SYNTHETIC INORGANIC
AMMONIUM SULFATE (21%) AMMONIUM NITRATE (33%) SODIUM NITRATE (16%) CALCIUM NITRATE (16%) AMMONIUM CHLORIDE (26%) (

CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC INORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS

HIGH WATER SOLUBILITY RAPID INITIAL PLANT RESPONSE (2 5 days) MINIMUM TEMP DEPENDENCE ON RELEASE HIGH FOLIAR BURN POTENTIAL SHORT RESIDUAL (4 TO 6 WEEKS) PRONE TO LEACHING (DEPENDING ON SOIL TYPE) CAN APPLY AS FOLIAR SPRAY RAPID COLD TEMP PLANT RESPONSE LOW COST PER UNIT NITROGEN

NATURAL ORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS

GROUP INTO ANIMAL OR PLANT ORIGINS ACTIVATED SEWAGE SLUDGE (4-7 %)
(MILORGANITE)

DRIED BLOOD (12 -14%) BONE MEAL (3 5%) FISH MEAL (7 12%) COTTONSEED MEAL (5 9%) SOYBEAN MEAL (6 8%) CORN GLUTEN MEAL (7%)

CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL ORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS

MEDIUM TO SLOW INITIAL RELEASE RATE NITROGEN RELEASE TEMP DEPENDENT LOW WATER SOLUBILITY LOW BURN POTENTIAL LONGER RESIDUAL (4 TO 52 WEEKS) REDUCED LOSS BY LEACHING LOWER NITROGEN ANALYSIS HIGHER COST PER UNIT NITROGEN

SYNTHEIC ORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS

*WATER SOLUBLE UREA (45%) *WATER INSOLUBLE UF (Ureaformaldehyde) (38%) IBDU (Isobutylidenediurea) (31%) SCU (Sulfur coated urea) (38%) MU (Methylene urea) (40%) ------------------------------------------------

CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS UREA (WATER SOLUBLE)

HAS THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS SYNTHETIC INORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZERS. CAN LOSE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NITROGEN AS GASEOUS AMMONIA.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC NITROGEN CARRIERS (NON-SOLUBLE) IN GENERAL

LOWER WATER SOLUBILITY SLOWER INITIAL PLANT RESPONSE LONGER RESIDUAL PLANT RESPONSE LOW BURN POTENTIAL REDUCED LEACHING AND VOLATILIZATION HIGHER COST PER UNIT NITROGEN

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC (NON-SOLUBLE)

UF (Ureaformaldehyde)
FIRST SLOW RELEASE SYNTHETIC NITROGEN FERTILIZER REACTION YIELDS A UREA-POLYMER CHAINS OF VARYING LENGTHS. LONGER THE CHAIN, THE SLOWER THE RELEASE MANY VARIATIONS OF CHAIN LENGTHS
(UREAFORMS, METHYLENE UREAS, METHYLENE DIUREA)

UF (CONTINUED)
RELEASE DEPENDENT ON MICROBIAL BREAKDOWN OF CHAINS. THUS, N RELEASE RATE SOIL TEMP DEPENDENT (SOIL TEMPS ABOVE 50F). SOIL pH, SOIL MOISTURE, SOIL OXYGEN AFFECT MICROS THUS RATE OF NITROGEN RELEASE.

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC (NON-SOLUBLE)

IBDU (Isobutylidenediurea)
SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS AS UF EXCEPT RELEASE ON N IS NOT RESULT OF MICROBIAL BREAKDOWN. RELEASE DETERMINED BY MOISTURE AND PARTICLE SIZE (SMALLER SIZE, FASTER RELEASE). BY VARYING SIZES CAN VARY RELEASE RATE. MOISTURE CONTROLLING FACTOR (TEMP TO SOME
DEGREE. HIGHER TEMPS, FASTER RELEASE). (Hydrolysis)

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC (NON-SOLUBLE) SCU (Sulfur coated urea)

SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS AS UF and IBDU EXCEPT Urea granules covered with molten sulfur forms cracks and pinholes. Water moves into sulfur shell nitrogen moves out cracks and pinholes. Varying thickness of coating (and granule size), varies N release rate. Microbes can also break down coating thus affect release rate. High temps and moisture also influence release rate.

(Coating breakdown)

Polymer Coated Nitrogen Fertilizers

Covering a soluble nitrogen source such as urea, ammonium nitrate or SCU with a polymer or plastic membrane. Water, temperature, coating thickness, and coating chemistry determine release rate. More precise than sulfur coating. (Osmosis)

PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS
SUPERPHOSPHATE (15 22%) TREBLE SUPERPHOSPHATE (37- 53%) ROCK PHOSPHATE (21 34%) MONAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE (41 - 52%) DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE (46 - 54%) BONE MEAL (15 27%)

POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (48 52%) POTASSIUM SULFATE (40 44%) POTASSIUM NITRATE (37%)

CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, SULFUR

CALCITIC LIMESTONE (53%) DOLOMITIC LIMESTONE (Ca 22%, Mg 12%) SULFUR (ELEMENTAL) (99%) GYPSUM (Ca 22%, S 19%)

IRON FERTILIZERS
The only micronutrient applied to turf as an individual fertilizer. Deficiencies most common under high pH alkaline soils. Ferrous sulfate (20%) soluble-foliar applied Ferrous ammonium sulfate (Fe 14%, N 7%, S 15%) soluble foliar applied Chelated iron soil applied, taken up by roots

OTHER MICRONUTRIENTS
DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE DEFICIENCY IN TURFGRASSES. POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FERTILIZERS MANGANESE SULFATE ZINC SULFATE COPPER SULFATE BORAX (B) SODIUM MOLYBDATE

FERTILIZERS
Complete fertilizer = N-P-K N Fertilizer grade = minimum guaranteed analysis

FERTILIZERS
20-5-10 = 20 %N, 5% P2O5, 10% 20K2 O Therefore, a 50 pound bag would contain...
N = 10 lbs P2O5 = 2.5 lbs K2O = 5 lbs

FERTILIZERS
Fertilizer Ratio
20-5-10 = 4-1-2 ratio 204 30-10-10 = 3-1-1 ratio 30-103 10-5-20 = 2-1-4 ratio 102-

FERTILIZERS
How much 20-5-10 must be applied to achieve 1 lb of N/1000 sq. ft.? How much 20-5-10 should be applied to a 6000 sq. ft. lawn?
1/.20 = 5 lbs of 20-5-10/1000 sq. ft. 5 lbs./1000 sq. ft. X 6 = 30 lbs of 20-5-10

(Not 6 lbs of 20-5-10)

DETERMINING FERTILITY REQUIREMENTS

VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
COLOR, SLOW GROWTH

SOIL ANALYSIS
P, K, Ca and Mg. NOT FOR N

TISSUE ANALYSIS
USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOIL TEST

TURFGRASS REQUIREMENTS
TURFGRASS Bentgrass Bermudagrass Kty. Bluegrass Tall Fescue Fine fescue Centipedegrass St. Augustinegrass Zoysiagrass lbs N/Mon/1000SF

- 1.0 - 1.5 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 0.4

0.1 0.3 - 1.0 0.5 0.8

FREQUENCY OF FERTILIZATION
MANY FACTORS TO CONSIDER (SPECIES,
CULTIVAR, SOIL TYPE, WEATHER CONDITIONS, ETC)

ABSOLUTE MINIMUM = ONCE/YEAR MINIMUM = 2 PER YEAR (SPRING AND FALL) GOOD = 3 TO 4/YEAR BEST = EVERY GROWING MONTH VERY BEST = EVERY TWO WEEKS (HIGH
QUALITY TURF, GOLF GREEN)

TIMING OF FERTILIZATION
COOL SEASON 1/YEAR = LATE SUMMER 2/YEAR = MID SPRING & LATE SUMMER 4/YEAR = EARLY SPR, LATE SPRING, LATE SUMMER AND LATE FALL >4/YEAR = MONTHLY ****AVOID MID-SUMMER APPLICATIONS ESPECIALLY DURING STRESS PERIODS

TIMING OF FERTILIZATION
WARM SEASON
1/YEAR = LATE SPRING 2/YEAR = LATE SPR. & MID-SUMMER 3/YEAR = LATE SPR, MID-SUMMER, LATE SUMMER 4/YEAR = LATE SPR, MID-SUMMER, LATE SUMMER, LATE FALL >4/YEAR = MONTHLY

RATE OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION

RARELY SHOULD ONE POUND PER 1000 SF BE EXCEEDED AT ONE APPLICATION (SOLUBLE). SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZERS MAY BE APPLIED AT 1.5 TO 3 POUNDS.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION
GRANULAR DROP SPREADER OR ROTARY LIQUID SPRAYER OR IRRIGATION SYSTEM (FERTIGATION)
3 -5 GAL/1000SF = SOIL DRENCH <1/2 GAL/1000SF = FOLIAR FEEDING (<1/8 LB
OF N/1000SF)

FERTILIZER BURN
MOST LIKELY WITH WATER SOLUBLE MATERIALS ON HOT, DRY, SUNNY CONDITIONS OR ONTO WET TURF AND NOT WATERED IN. ALWAYS WASH GRANULES OFF FOLIAGE LESS CHANCE FOR BURN WITH SLOW RELEASE MATERIALS

FERTILIZER/PESTICIDE COMBINATIONS
PROS
SAVES LABOR SAVINGS ON MATERIALS (SOMETIMES) LESS STORAGE SPACE NEEDED ENCOURAGE TURF TO GROW WHEN CONTROLLING PEST SPREADERS CHEAPER THAN SPRAYERS

FERTILIZER/PESTICIDE COMBINATIONS
CONS
DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE BEST TIMING FOR BOTH FERT AND PESTICIDE LIMITED TO TYPE OF FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE AVAILABLE TOGETHER RATE IS FIXED FOR BOTH FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE

END OF LECTURE ON FERTILIZATION