Nitrogen Rate Required for Acceptable St. Augustinegrass and Associated Nitrate Leaching

ABSTRACT The recommended N rates for St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Kuntze.) vary in Florida. This research, conducted in Fort Lauderdale, Citra, and Jay, FL, (2006–2008), aimed to determine the minimum N rate necessary for acceptable St. Augustinegrass and to determine the infl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crop science 2016-01, Vol.56 (1), p.439-451
Main Authors: Shaddox, Travis W., Bryan Unruh, J., Trenholm, Laurie E., McGroary, Pauric, Cisar, John L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT The recommended N rates for St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Kuntze.) vary in Florida. This research, conducted in Fort Lauderdale, Citra, and Jay, FL, (2006–2008), aimed to determine the minimum N rate necessary for acceptable St. Augustinegrass and to determine the influence of N and irrigation rate on NO3–N leaching. Urea was applied in Fort Lauderdale, Citra, and Jay at 98, 196, 294, and 588; 49, 196, 343, and 490; and 49, 98, 196, and 294 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively, based on best management practices. Irrigation was 2.5 mm d–1 and 13.0 mm three times weekly in Fort Lauderdale; 13 mm twice weekly and 26 mm wk–1 in Citra and Jay. In Fort Lauderdale and Jay, lower than recommended N rates mostly produced acceptable turfgrass. Applications of 196 kg N ha−1 (Fort Lauderdale) and 98 kg N ha−1 (Jay) were the lowest rates producing acceptable turf. In Citra, 65% more N was required for acceptable turf than the recommended minimum . Leaching from all N rates was similar, except when N rates exceeded recommendations or when turfgrass exhibited herbicide stress. The high irrigation rate doubled NO3–N leaching compared to the low rate in Fort Lauderdale; irrigation frequency had no influence on leaching in Citra or Jay. The predicted minimum N rate for acceptable turf in Fort Lauderdale was
ISSN:0011-183X
1435-0653
DOI:10.2135/cropsci2015.04.0226