Open AccessInfluence of foot traffic, irrigation, nitrogen fertilization, and weather factors on tissue N content in creeping bentgrass ‘Focus’
Author(s) -
Zhou Qiyu,
Soldat Douglas J.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international turfgrass society research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2573-1513
DOI - 10.1002/its2.88
Subject(s) - water content , agrostis stolonifera , irrigation , fertilizer , environmental science , nitrogen , relative humidity , agronomy , chemistry , biology , geography , meteorology , poaceae , organic chemistry , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Tissue nitrogen content is an important indicator of N removal in clippings from putting greens. To help managers determine the average tissue N content, a better understanding of factors controlling turfgrass tissue N content is needed. This study aimed to quantify how different N application rates, foot traffic intensities, soil volumetric water content (VWC), and weather factors influence the tissue N content of creeping bentgrass ‘Focus’ ( Agrostis stolonifera L.). Field experiments on combined effects of foot traffic and nitrogen fertilizer on tissue N content were performed on two greens with 0.6 and 0.9% soil organic matter (SOM) in 2018, where N fertilizer was applied at 0, 10, or 20 kg N ha −1 every 2 wk, and foot traffic intensity was maintained at three rates: 0, 1,800, and 3,600 rounds wk −1 from 16 May to 28 August. A field experiment on the combined effects of VWC and traffic on tissue N content was conducted on the 0.9% SOM green in 2019, with the VWCs maintained at low (12–15%), medium (17–22%), and high (25–29%) levels by hand‐watering, with the assistance of time domain reflectometry; foot traffic intensities were 0, 700, and 1,400 rounds wk −1 from 31 May to 4 October. The tissue N content ranged from 2.5 to 5.0% (average: 3.9%). The N fertilizer rate was the main factor controlling the tissue N content, but foot traffic and VWC had no impact. Temperature, relative humidity, and evapotranspiration on the tissue N content also had minimal or nonexistent impacts.