University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Response of cool-season turfgrass to foliar applied and stabilized nitrogen fertilizers

Henning, Shelby

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Henning_Shelby.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34483

Description

Title
Response of cool-season turfgrass to foliar applied and stabilized nitrogen fertilizers
Author(s)
Henning, Shelby
Issue Date
2012-09-18T21:19:18Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Branham, Bruce E.
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Branham, Bruce E.
Committee Member(s)
  • Briskin, Donald P.
  • Mulvaney, Richard L.
  • Voigt, Thomas B.
Department of Study
Natural Res & Env Sci
Discipline
Natural Res & Env Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2012-09-18T21:19:18Z
Keyword(s)
  • Nitrogen-15 (15N)
  • turfgrass
  • Nitrogen fertilization
  • foliar
  • stabilized
  • creeping bentgrass
  • cool-season
  • urea
Abstract
The objective of my work was to determine factors that affect uptake of N by cool-season turfgrasses. Experiments were conducted to determine the quantity of foliar-applied N that is absorbed by turfgrass leaves, ways to optimize the process, and whether other common management practices can affect foliar N uptake under field conditions. Studies were also carried out to determine if foliar-applied N results in greater N use efficiency than traditional soil-applied methods, as well to determine whether foliar-applied ammoniacal N sources lead to enhanced turf performance under energy stress. A further objective was to assess whether stabilized N fertilizers offered a benefit over unamended sources under field conditions. Experiments to address these objectives were carried out at the Landscape Horticulture Research Center in Urbana, IL. The results indicate that approximately 7-34% of foliar-applied N is absorbed by turfgrass within 4-6 h post application, that this uptake is not affected by common management practices, and that the main driver of foliar N uptake is spray volume, with lower spray volumes enhancing foliar uptake. Furthermore, foliar applications proved far superior to traditional soil-based applications of N fertilizer in terms of N use efficiency. No convincing evidence was obtained that foliar applications of ammoniacal N moderate energy stress when turfgrass is cultivated on a highly fertile native soil. Finally, stabilized N fertilizers were found to offer no benefit over unamended N sources to highly maintained turfgrass cultivated under field conditions.
Graduation Semester
2012-08
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34483
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2012 Shelby W. Henning

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