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

Henning, Shelby

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

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

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

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

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Shelby W. Henning

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