Fertilization of Bentgrass With Commercial Foliar Products: Greenhouse Evaluations

摘要

Foliar application of plant nutrients is often used in turfgrass management, especially on high-maintenance turfed areas. Foliar fertilizers for turfgrass are often sold as liquids with a complete analysis (containing N, P, and K), and may also contain calcium, magnesium, micronutrients, with the nutrient sources obtained from various chelates, minerals, or other sources such as glucoheptonates, sea kelp, or humic materials. The objective of this greenhouse study was to examine the relative performance of nine different commercially available foliar fertilizers applied to creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) maintained at putting green heights, focusing on root and top growth, and nitrogen uptake. Three greenhouse studies were performed, twoof 1-week duration and the other 3 weeks in length. In all studies, foliar fertilizers were applied at the same N rate, and clipping harvests with subsequent tissue N analyses were conducted. There were differences in N uptake and dry matter yield due to foliar fertilizer source, but none of the differences were consistent across experiments due to source. In most cases foliar application of urea was as effective (for N uptake and dry matter yield) as applying any of the commercial materials. Application of any foliar fertilizer improved N uptake and dry matter yield over that measured in the unfertilized bentgrass.