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Turfgrass

Influence of Nitrogen Rate and Form on Quality of Putting Greens Cohabited by Creeping Bentgrass and Annual Bluegrass

^a Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences, Pennsylvania State Univ., 116 ASI Bldg., University Park, PA 16802
^b USDA-ARS, Bldg. 3702, Curtin Rd., University Park, PA 16802

^* Corresponding author (mjs38{at}psu.edu)

Received for publication May 1, 2006. Of the essential nutrients, N fertility generally influences golf course putting green (PG) quality and growth rate most significantly. Despite considerable field research on N fertility of PGs, results interpretation and transfer to practice is complicated by various influential factors; including unrepresentative mowing heights and/or frequency, varying irrigation water quality, undeclared composition of mixed swards, withdrawn cultivars, and/or use of temperature-dependent organic fertilizer sources. A 2-yr field study was initiated in 2003 at University Park, PA, to evaluate the influence of soluble N fertilizer source and rate on qualitative and nutritional parameters of a mature, primarily surface-drained, "push-up" PG cohabited by ‘Penn A4’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) and annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.). Using an array of soluble N form quotients (NH₄–N/NO₃–N), split applications of annual N fertilizer rates ranging from 69 to 402 kg ha^–1 were sprayed every 15 ± 4 d, April to October. Putting green growth, color, N uptake (NUP), and leaf N, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, and Zn increased directly with N rate, while plots receiving N rates in excess of 244 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 demonstrated acceptable PG quality and tissue nutrient concentrations. However, N rates >244 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 containing >50% NH₄–N significantly enhanced shoot growth, color, NUP, leaf Mn, P, and Mg levels, when compared to equal rates containing 50% NO₃–N. Frequent fertilization with NH₄–N at annual rates >244 kg ha^–1 maximized canopy color and most tissue nutrient levels of a mature creeping bentgrass/annual bluegrass cohabited PG growing on a neutral, fine-textured soil.

Abbreviations: CCRD, central composite rotatable design • DAT, days after treatment • DGCI, dark green color index • NUP, nitrogen uptake • PG, putting green • PSU-AASL, Penn State University Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory