ISHS Acta Horticulturae 627: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Toward Ecologically Sound Fertilization Strategies for Field Vegetable Production
N, P, AND K NUTRITIONAL BALANCE UNDER IRISH CONDITIONS IN THE GROW-IN YEAR OF A GOLF GREEN BUILT ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION (USGA) SPECIFICATIONS |
| Authors: | A. Hunter, B.O. Flaherty, P.M. Giolla Ri |
| Keywords: | European Union standard, Sand rootzone, leaf analyses, rootzone analysis, leachate |
| Abstract:
A United States Golf Association (USGA) specification green was constructed at Teagasc Horticultural Research Station at Kinsealy, Dublin 17. The green was sown with Agrostis stolonifera L. var. Penncross. After satisfactory establishment of the turfgrass, the green was divided into 15 plots, each measuring 3.5 x 3.5m and randomly assigned treatments. Six of these plots contained lysimeters. An experiment to compare two nutritional programmes under Irish growing conditions was set up. Programme 1 consisted of alternating weekly applications of ammonium sulphate and potassium nitrate (13%N, 38%K). Programme 2 consisted of six weekly applications of methylene urea (40%N) together with two weekly applications of potassium sulphate (42%K). Phosphorus was applied over six applications to both programmes. The total quantity of fertiliser applied to both programmes was similar: 29.0 gm.m-2 Nitrogen; 40.15 gm.m-2 Potassium and 2.7 gm.m-2 Phosphorus. Leaf and rootzone analyses were carried out. It was found that water-soluble fertilisers were more efficient producers of a quality sward (density, smoothness, uniformity and colour based on visual appraisal) than slow-release types such as methylene urea. That slow release fertilisers were susceptible to leaching immediately following a major precipitation event and that such leaching breached European Union (EU) limits on several occasions throughout the growing season irrespective of when the fertilisers were applied to the turf. Tissue analysis from both programmes showed potassium and phosphorus to be within their sufficiency range, while analyses of the rootzone samples suggested a deficiency of both elements. Thus, rootzone analysis as a method for determining nutrient application rates for both elements is moot and furthermore that fertiliser applications based on such assessment were very susceptible to leaching. It was observed that programmeplots had better colour throughout the trial. | |
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