Premium
Fate and Transport of Nitrogen Applied to Six Warm‐Season Turfgrasses
Author(s) -
Bowman D. C.,
Cherney C. T.,
Rufty T. W.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2002.8330
Subject(s) - cynodon dactylon , zoysia japonica , leaching (pedology) , leachate , cynodon , nitrogen , agronomy , horticulture , nitrate , biology , chemistry , soil water , ecology , organic chemistry
A greenhouse study compared six warm season turfgrasses {common bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass ( C. dactylon × transvaalensis ), centipedegrass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.), ‘Raleigh’ St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze], ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica Steud.), and ‘Emerald’ zoysiagrass ( Z. japonica × tenuifolia )] for NO 3 ‐N leaching and N use efficiency. Sod was established in sand‐filled columns and managed under worst‐case conditions to promote nitrate leaching. Ammonium nitrate was applied at 50 kg N ha −1 on seven dates, with the final application labeled with 15 N. Leachate samples were collected and analyzed for NO 3 ‐N and NH 4 ‐N and clippings were analyzed for total N. Leaching losses were high following the first N application, ranging from 48 to 100% of the NO 3 ‐N and 4 to 16% of the NH 4 ‐N applied. Nitrate loss from subsequent applications was reduced substantially, while NH 4 leaching was essentially eliminated. There were significant differences among species for leachate NO 3 ‐N concentration and cumulative N leached, with St. Augustinegrass being the most effective and Meyer zoysiagrass the least effective at minimizing NO 3 leaching. Nitrogen recovery by the turf ranged from 63% for Meyer zoysiagrass to 84% for hybrid bermudagrass. Root length density (RLD) varied significantly among species at depths >30 cm, and was negatively correlated with NO 3 leaching loss. These results document differences between the warm season turfgrasses for NO 3 leaching potential, possibly related to root distribution, and emphasize that species selection is an important factor in minimizing environmental impacts from turfgrass management.