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Nitrogen Fertilization and Mowing Height Effects on Tensile Strength of Bermudagrass Sod 1
Author(s) -
Mitchell C. H.,
Dickens Ray
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1979.00021962007100060039x
Subject(s) - cultivar , ultimate tensile strength , cynodon dactylon , agronomy , human fertilization , nitrogen , field experiment , nitrogen fertilizer , cynodon , biology , chemistry , horticulture , mathematics , zoology , materials science , composite material , fertilizer , organic chemistry
The influence of N fertilization practices and mowing management on sod formation is of interest because both are important economic inputs in commercial sod production. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of mowing height, rate, and frequency of N applications on the sod tensile strength of ‘Tifway’ and ‘Tifgreen’ bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. ✕ C. transvaalensis Burt‐Davy) grown on a Marvyn sl (typic Hapludult). Results of the 3‐year study showed that N rates of 0.25 kg/are produce sod tensile strengths equal or superior to those obtained from rates as high as 1.0 kg/are. Applications of N made at 2‐week intervals produced sods with lower tensile strength than when applications were spaced 4 weeks apart. There were no significant interactions between N rates and application intervals. Both cultivars responded similarly; however, sod strengths for Tifway ranged from 30 to 50% greater than for Tifgreen in all tests. Varying mowing height from 1.25 to 2.50 an did not materially affect sod strength of either cultivar.