Greens Maintenance: Fertilization

Information courtesy of Texas A&M University Turf Grasshttp://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/golf/gcindex.html

Objectives

• Purpose of fertilization in turf grass• Taking soil samples to determine

nutrient requirements• Proper selection of fertilizer• Calculating fertilizer in turf grass• Fertilizer spreader calibration

Why fertilizing is important?

• Fertilizer – Supplies essential nutrients to the grass plant for adequate growth and maintenance of plant functions.

• Different turfgrass species require different amounts of fertilizer

• Fertilizer should be put out at a constant rate not all at one time!– Plants cannot handle mass amounts of

fertilizer and will be lost to leaching or run-off– Provide adequate nutrients throughout the

growing season • April through September

Why are soil samples important?

• Measure relative nutrient status of soils• Used as basis for profitable and

environmentally responsible fertilizer application.

• Sample handling is very important in gaining an understanding of the nutrients needed

• Time of the year may affect the soil sample

• Increase production yields

Taking a soil samplePre-Sampling• Label sampling bag– See the following site:

http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/soilsample/soilsample1.html

• Clear litter from the surface• Use spade, soil probe, or soil auger

Taking a soil sample

During Sampling• Take a sample from 10 to 15 areas of the

location you are wanting to sample. • Approximately 1 pint of the composite

soil sample is required to conduct analysis

• Avoid sampling small gullies, slight field depressions, terrace waterways, or unusual areas

• When sampling fertilized fields, avoid sampling directly in fertilized band

Taking a soil samplePost Sampling• Fill out sampling form• Include payment with sample. • Keep record of area represented by

sample taken• Be sure sample numbers match sample

number on bags Send Soil Samples to:

Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory2474 TAMU

College Station, TX 77843-2474

Proper selection of fertilizer

• Most important component in fertilizer is nitrogen

• Three numbers separated by dashes that make up the “analyses”– Represents a percentage of Nitrogen,

Phosphorous, and Potassium (N-P-K) – Three of the highest demanded

nutrients

Proper selection: Calculating price / pound

• Comparing price per pound should be conducted to determine which fertilizer is most economical

• Steps in calculating price per pound:1. Determine which nutrient you want to

calculate2. Divide by 100 for decimal equivalent 3. Multiply by total weight of fertilizer4. Divide by number of pounds of nutrient

to get price per pound of nutrient 5. Repeat for other nutrients 6. Compare to other fertilizers

Calculating fertilizer in turfgrass Steps in determining your fertilizer needs

1. Get a good estimate of the total size (in square feet) of your lawn using tape measures, or number of paces, etc... and record that number (ex. 13000 square feet)

2. What rate of nitrogen do you want to put down on your lawn? We recommend not going above 1 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet.

3. What is the first number in the analysis of your bag of fertilizer? (ex. 15 - 5 - 10) This number corresponds to the percentage of nitrogen in the bag. The second number corresponds to the percentage of phosphorous and the third number, potassium.

http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/calculators/fertsheet.html

Fertilizer spreader calibration

• Select a spreader that will work best for you.

• Most common include:– Drop spreader– Rotary Spreader

Drop Spreader Rotary Spreader

Drop Spreader Calibration• Items needed to calibrate spreader

– Measuring tape– Accurate scale– Cup or tray to hold fertilizer pellets– Broom and dust pan– Calculator– Know your desired application rate– Have your desired fertilizer

1. Familiarize yourself with the drop spreader– What is the width of the drop pattern?

2. Lay out a calibration distance on a smooth clean floor (approximately 10 feet)3. Mark your calibration distance with objects or paint4. Run spreader over the calibration distance dropping fertilizer onto the floor.

– Walk at a normal speed– Open the fertilizer spreader before you enter the calibration area and

close after you pass other end of calibration area5. Collect all fertilizer within calibration area6. Weigh the fertilizer collected on a scale

– Based on amount of fertilizer collected, determine if spreader is calibrated correctly

Rotary Spreader Calibration

• Items needed to calibrate spreader– Know your desired application rate– Have your desired fertilizer– Catch pans to collect fertilizer– Scale– Calculator

• Steps to calibrate spreader1. Determine the width of the “throw pattern”

a. Walk at a normal rate of speedb. How far in each direction do the pellets fly?

2. Lay out catch pans in a perpendicular line to the line of travela. Pans should be equal distance apart from each other.b. Lay out as many pans as possible

Rotary Spreader Calibration cont.• Steps to calibrate spreader

1. Determine the width of the “throw pattern”

a. Walk at a normal rate of speedb. How far in each direction do the pellets fly?

2. Lay out catch pans in a perpendicular line to the line of travel

a. Pans should be equal distance apart from each other.b. Lay out as many pans as possible

3. Walk toward the line of the catch pans and walk directly over the center pan.

4. Open the spreader before you reach the line of pans and close the spreader after you have passed the pans

a. Will ensure that all fertilizer thrown to the sides and behind is accounted for.

Rotary Spreader Calibration cont.

5. Determine desired application rate and the analysis of fertilizer being used.

a. Visit following link for example: Aggieturf6. Measure amount of fertilizer in each catch pan after

disbursement.a. Center pan should have the most and the out pans should

have the leastb. Should produce a bell shaped curvec. If you overlap 100% or wheel to wheel coverage then the

bell shaped curve patterns overlap and the result is a consistent amount of fertilizer on all areas of the turf.

7. Pour contents of each pan into clear cupa. Place center catch pan cup in the middle

and move outward in each directionb. A bell shaped look should be present

8. Weigh the fertilizer from the center catch pan disbursement

Rotary Spreader Calibration cont.

Good example of fertilizer pattern

Bad example of fertilizer pattern

A Look Back…

• Purpose of fertilization in turf grass• Taking soil samples to determine

nutrient requirements• Proper selection of fertilizer• Calculating fertilizer in turf grass• Fertilizer spreader calibration

For more information on fertilization visit the following website:http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/golf/fertilization.html