High Performance Turfgrass and Effective fertilizer strategies.

High Performance Turfgrass and Effective fertilization strategies.

In a market with so many turf fertilizers, having a cost effective fertilization strategy is a daunting task. For example, many companies make claims that that their fertilizers are the best for putting greens or high-performance turfgrass but have little data to support these claims.

This is Part 1 of 2 articles in which we discuss some basic principles of turf nutrition.

In all seriousness the last thing anyone needs, is to be overwhelmed, and have to resort to an escape to an island retreat!

This is an attempt to help you choose the top fertilizers for sports turf, and develop cost-effective fertilization strategies that don’t break the bank. The end result is we hope better high-performance turfgrass.

In this we cover:

• Granular vs Liquid Fertilizers for Turf.
• Timing and Frequency of Fertilizing turf grass.
• The 4 R’s of Turf nutrient management.
• Soil fertilizers for turf grass.
• Foliar fertilizers for turf grass.
• Best Practices.
• The spray tank compatibility of Nutrients.

One key difference between the turf industry and other sectors like horticulture, relates to the critical importance of the rapid uptake of foliar nutrients.

Unlike growing apples, where uptake speed may not be a direct concern, turf grass requires quick uptake to ensure optimal growth and health.

This is because, when you regularly mow high-performance turf grass, the window for foliar uptake is narrow. When you mow this physically removes plant material. If fertilizer remains outside the plant and is mown off, it’s gone for good.

This means that your choice of nutrient is important when it comes to both soil and foliar feeding turfgrass.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Your Turf.

Granular vs. Liquid Fertilizers for High Performance Turfgrass.

When it comes to your fertilizer choice, there are several factors to consider with Turf nutrient management.

The easiest option is to simply buy what your sold. I’d hope that you are a bit more inquisitive than that though. The alternative is to make a choice to get the best results and value for money.

Granular fertilizers give a slow, relatively continuous release of nutrients, which ideal for long-term maintenance.

On the other hand, liquid fertilizers give a much quicker nutrient delivery, and these are ideal to immediately correct any deficiencies.

Organic and Synthetic Turf Fertilizers

The choice between organic and synthetic fertilizers also plays a crucial role in turf health.

While synthetic fertilizers offer consistent nutrient delivery, organic options claim to promote long-term soil health, eco-friendly turf management, improve microbial activity, and reduce fertilizer runoff.

Application Timing and Frequency for High Performance Turfgrass.

When you apply a fertilizer, and how often are important, and depend on factors such as turf grass type, climate, and the season.

Cool-season grasses like bent grass and ryegrass benefit from early Spring and late Autumn applications, whilst warm-season grass really pushes on with a Spring or early Summer fertilization.

Environmental Considerations and Best Practices for High Performance Turfgrass.

Turf managers should try and prioritize the environment with a sustainable turf management strategy.

Nutrient runoff from fertilizers has detrimental effects on local water bodies. To mitigate these impacts, turf managers should adopt the “4R’s of nutrient management for turf”.

The aim of the “4R’s” is to limit any environmental impact with the use of effective fertilization strategies.

• Right source. Use the right fertilizer that meets what your turf needs, and looks after turfgrass soil health.
• Right Rate. Use these at the right rate.
• Right Time. Time your applications to align with turf growth.
• Right Place. Focus applications on where turf is actively growing. For example, consider seasonal turfgrass nutrition for golf courses and how it varies.

What is the difference between foliar and soil fertilization?

Soil Uptake: The Traditional Method to Produce High Performance Turf.

This is the traditional and most common way to feed turfgrass, and grow high performance turf. This relies on the existing root system to take up nutrients from a fertilizer that you apply to the soil.

How Soil Uptake Works.

When you apply fertilizers to the soil, they dissolve with irrigation or rainfall, and release nutrients into the soil solution.

Turf roots then absorb these nutrients as they encounter them in the soil. Although this method is slow, it is more sustained, with nutrients gradually moving through the soil over time.

Advantages of Soil Uptake

• A significant percentage of soil-applied fertilizers in use in the turf industry are slow-release. These provide a consistent, long-term release, without any surge growth.
• Soil uptake promotes steady growth. This makes it ideal to establish a robust root system, and maintain healthy turf over an extended period.

Limitations of Soil Uptake.

• Factors such as temperature, soil moisture or soil chemistry all influence nutrient availability. For example uptake is slower in colder months or dry conditions.

Effective Fertilization Strategies For High Performance Turfgrass with Foliars.

Foliar Uptake.

Foliar uptake involves the uptake of nutrients through the leaf surface. A liquid fertilizer is sprayed onto turf grass, which then enables nutrients to be absorbed by the leaves.

How Foliar Uptake Works.

• When you apply nutrients to the leaves, these penetrate through the stomata or cuticle. They enter the plant more rapidly than via the soil.
• With foliar applications you get more control. Foliars are very flexible, and are the best way to meet the turf’s immediate needs.

The Benefits of Foliar Feeding for High Performance Turfgrass.

• Foliar nutrition gives immediate availability. It is highly effective to correct deficiencies in high-performance turfgrass.
• Foliars allow you to spoon feed nutrients.
• Because you apply nutrients directly to the foliage, there is a low risk of runoff in comparison to soil applications. This makes foliar uptake a more eco-friendly option.
• Foliars are a good way to get soluble nutrients into the turf with no harm to the soil biology.

Limitations of Foliar Uptake for High Performance Turfgrass.

• Foliars don’t last long. This means that you need to apply them more often.
• They are rapidly taken up by turf but are not stored as efficiently as soil nutrients.
• High concentrations of foliar fertilizers or poor timing can cause leaf burn. This is especially the case under hot or sunny conditions.
• Foliar uptake is most effective for trace elements. You need to apply major nutrients like N, P, and K in higher quantities, and you can achieve this best via the soil.
• You need the right equipment to apply them properly to high-performance turfgrass.
• You need to apply some nutrients to the soil. This is because high-performance turfgrass needs them for certain soil biological processes. These include Mo, B, Si, S, P and Ca.

Foliar feeding of nutrients does not substitute for good soil management¹Totten, Frederick & Liu, Haibo & McCarty, Lambert & Baldwin, Christian & Bielenberg, Douglas & Toler, Joe. (2008). Efficiency of Foliar Versus Granular Fertilization: A Field Study of Creeping Bentgrass Performance. Journal of Plant Nutrition – J PLANT NUTR. 31. 972-982. 10.1080/01904160802043171. , but rather supplements it.

However, foliar nutrition is the most efficient way to supply secondary nutrients such as S, Ca, Mg and trace elements.²Gaussoin, R., C. Schmidt, K. Frank, T. Butler, H. Liu, W. Jarvis, and C. Baldwin. 2009. Foliar uptake of nutrients applied in solution to Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), Annual bluegrass (Poa annua var. reptans (Hausskn.) and Ultra-Dwarf Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis Burtt- Davy). International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (University of California Davis). Paper 1396.

Choosing Between Foliar and Soil Uptake.

For most turf managers a combination of foliar and soil applications is ideal to produce high performance turfgrass. Here’s how each might be used:

• Soil-based fertilizers, such as slow-release products, are the foundation to build strong, high performance turf.
• Use foliar fertilizers to make “tweaks” e.g. seasonal adjustments or to rapidly correct nutrient deficiencies.

Best Practices for Foliar and Soil Fertilization

The following are general tips for soil and foliar fertilizers.

Soil Fertilization Tips.

• Apply during active growth periods. Adjust the rate and frequency based on soil test results.
• With “straights”, water deeply after you apply granular fertilizers. This moves them into the root zone and reduces burn potential. In contrast it is not necessary to water in ureaformaldehyde based products like Sirflor 38.

Foliar Fertilization Tips.

• Apply in the cool of the day (early morning or evening). This reduces the risk of leaf burn, and maximizes uptake.
• Apply when it is dry and not windy.
• Apply at low rates and more frequently to prevent burning.
• Use low salt inputs. This reduce the chances of burning.
• Try to use solution grade fertilisers for foliar sprays. These readily dissolve, and are less likely to block filters and nozzles.
• Apply regularly so that you maintain nutrient levels.
• A final tip is to add a small amount of material with a high point of deliquescence. This helps the spray stay moist on the leaf for longer. This increases the time available for uptake. Suitable options include K and Ca Nitrate, and Potassium acetate.

General Rules on Fertilizer Solubility.

• All Ammonium, Nitrate, K, Na and Cl salts are soluble.
• All Oxides, Hydroxides and Carbonates are insoluble.
• All Sulphates are soluble except for Calcium Sulphate.

Tank Compatibility Rules.

• Urea, Potassium Chloride (Muriate of Potash) and Potassium Nitrate are compatible in solution with one another, and most other fertilisers.
• P, S, Ca, Mg and trace elements are generally not compatible. This means they are likely to react with other salts in solution.

Part of an effective fertilization strategy, is to ensure that what you mix in your spray tank doesn’t block nozzles, form insoluble precipitates or drop out of solution.

Below are some examples of products that you should not mix together. If you do, there is a good chance that they will form insoluble precipitates and settle to the bottom of the tank.

• Ammonium Sulphate. Do not mix this with Ca salts like Calcium Nitrate.
• Phosphorus fertilisers (MAP and MKP). Do not mix either of these with any Ca or Mg salts, or with metal Sulphates of Zinc or Iron.
• Potassium Sulphate. Do not mix this with Ca salts.
• Calcium Nitrate. Do not mix with Ammonium Sulphate, MAP, MKP, Potassium Sulphate, Magnesium Sulphate, metal Sulphates, or Boron (B) fertilisers.
• Magnesium Sulphate. Do not mix with MAP, MKP, Ca salts or B fertilisers.
• Boron Fertilisers. Do not mix with Ca salts, Mg salts or metal Sulphates.
• Metal Sulphates. In this group are Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu Sulphate. Do not mix these with MAP, MKP, Ca salts, or B fertilisers.

Key Takeaways for High Performance Turf Managers.

Both soil and foliar uptake methods have roles in turf management. If you understand the strengths and limitations of each, turf managers can create a more precise and balanced fertilization plan. This ensures that nutrients are available when and where the turf needs them most.

A combination of both approaches optimizes turf health, improves resilience, and contributes to a more environmentally responsible nutrient management strategy.

In Part 2 we discuss how the nutrient form has a big impact on your results.

• What are the key differences between urea, nitrate and ammonium forms of N
• What are the differences between chelates, suspension concentrates, and sulphates?
• What options are best to use in tank mixes that contain several products?
• How do sunlight and the season impact on what nutrient form to use?
• What gives you the best results?

Please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions.