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

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Henning, Shelby

Contributors dc:contributor

• Branham, Bruce E.
• Briskin, Donald P.
• Mulvaney, Richard L.
• Voigt, Thomas B.

• cool-season
• urea
• Nitrogen-15 (15N)
• turfgrass
• Nitrogen fertilization
• foliar
• stabilized
• creeping bentgrass

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Shelby W. Henning

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/34483