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Phosphorus Requirements of St. Augustinegrass Grown in Sandy Soils
Author(s) -
Liu Min,
Sartain J.B.,
Trenholm L.E.,
Miller G.L.
Publication year - 2008
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/cropsci2007.09.0506
Subject(s) - phosphorus , soil water , dry weight , human fertilization , biology , zoology , significant difference , agronomy , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , mathematics , statistics , organic chemistry
Phosphorus fertilization of St. Augustinegrass [ Stenotaphrum secondatum (Walt.) Kuntze] is performed on the basis of soil tests designed for agronomic crops. The objectives of this study were to determine the critical minimum P application rate and soil and tissue P concentration of St. Augustinegrass grown in sandy soils. Three studies were conducted in a glasshouse using a Pomona sand, two Tavares sands, and a Pottsburg sand. Established pots of ‘Floratam’ St. Augustinegrass received P at 0, 0.14, 0.27, 0.54, and 1.09 g m −2 every four weeks for 16 weeks for Study 1 and 12 weeks for Studies 2 and 3. Critical minimum tissue P concentration was determined to be 1.8 g kg −1 on dry weight basis. Minimum P application rate was 0.14 g m −2 4‐wk −1 to obtain acceptable turfgrass quality and growth rate. Additional growth was not observed when Mehlich‐1 P level was greater than 7, 8, 9, and 5 mg kg −1 for Pomona sand, Tavares sand (a), Pottsburg sand, and Tavares sand (b), respectively. Phosphorus fertilization would not be recommended if soil Mehlich‐1 P concentration is above 10 mg kg −1 for sandy soils or tissue P level is beyond 1.8 g kg −1 on dry weight basis. Phosphorus application of 0.14 g m −2 4‐wk −1 is recommended when P is required.