Efficiency of Foliar Versus Granular Fertilization: A Field Study of Creeping Bentgrass Performance

ABSTRACT

Limited information comparing foliar versus granular fertilization of turfgrasses is available. The objective of this research was to evaluate liquid and/or granular N fertilization on turfgrass quality, clipping yield, and root biomass of ‘L-93’ creeping bentgrass. Treatments consisted of two annual nitrogen (N) inputs, 127 and 190 kg ha⁻¹, using 100% granular urea fertilizer, 50% granular urea + 50% liquid urea fertilizer, or 100% liquid urea fertilizer. These results suggest a rate of at least 190 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ is needed to maintain acceptable bentgrass quality in the transition zone of the U.S. Combining both liquid and granular methods appear superior compared to relying on one method exclusively.

Keywords:

• clipping yield
• creeping bentgrass
• granular fertilization
• liquid fertilization
• putting green
• root ash weight
• root dry weigh
• total clipping nitrogen
• turfgrass
• visual quality

Notes

∗,

∗∗,

∗∗∗Significant at the 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001 probability level, respectively.

∗,

∗∗Significant at the 0.05 and 0.001 probability levels, respectively; NS = not significant at 0.05 level.

∗,

∗∗∗Significant at the 0.05 and 0.001 probability levels, respectively; NS = not significant at 0.05 level.