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Fertilizers and Fertilizers and Turfgrass Turfgrass FertilityFertility
Why Fertilize?Why Fertilize? Supply plant nutrients Supply plant nutrients Improve plant healthImprove plant health Enhance appearanceEnhance appearance Improve pest toleranceImprove pest tolerance
Basic Plant NeedsBasic Plant Needs OxygenOxygen
Water Water
Light Light
NutrientsNutrients
Growing mediumGrowing medium
NutrientsNutrients Macro (primary)Macro (primary)
Macro (secondary)Macro (secondary)
Micro (minor)Micro (minor)
Macronutrients Macronutrients (primary)(primary)
Nitrogen (growth, color)Nitrogen (growth, color)
Phosphorus (root development)Phosphorus (root development)
Potassium (stress tolerance)Potassium (stress tolerance)
Macronutrients Macronutrients (secondary)(secondary)
Calcium (cell wall structure)Calcium (cell wall structure) Magnesium (photosynthesis)Magnesium (photosynthesis)
Sulfur (growth, color)Sulfur (growth, color)
MicronutrientsMicronutrients
Iron (chlorophyll)Iron (chlorophyll)
Zinc (chlorophyll)Zinc (chlorophyll)
Manganese (chlorophyll)Manganese (chlorophyll)
MicronutrientsMicronutrients
Copper (enzyme activator)Copper (enzyme activator) Boron (water balance)Boron (water balance) Molybdenum (nitrogen utilization)Molybdenum (nitrogen utilization) Chlorine (photosynthesis) Chlorine (photosynthesis)
Primary Nutrients
Nitrogen (N)Nitrogen (N) Key element in turfgrass Key element in turfgrass
nutritionnutrition Promotes leaf and stem growthPromotes leaf and stem growth Essential component of Essential component of
chlorophyll moleculechlorophyll molecule Involved in regulating the uptake Involved in regulating the uptake
of other key nutrientsof other key nutrients
Phosphorus (P)Phosphorus (P) Used in the formation and transfer Used in the formation and transfer
of energy within the plantof energy within the plant Influences early root development Influences early root development
and growthand growth Encourages plant establishmentEncourages plant establishment
Primary Nutrients
Potassium (K)Potassium (K) Used by plant in large Used by plant in large
quantities, second only to quantities, second only to nitrogennitrogen
Key component in the Key component in the formation of carbohydratesformation of carbohydrates
Encourages rooting and wear Encourages rooting and wear tolerancetolerance
Enhances drought and cold Enhances drought and cold tolerancetolerance
Key component in cell wall Key component in cell wall developmentdevelopment
Primary Nutrients
Secondary Nutrients
Calcium (Ca)Calcium (Ca) Strongly influences proper soil Strongly influences proper soil
pHpH Essential to strong cell wall Essential to strong cell wall
structure and cell divisionstructure and cell division Can improve soil structure, Can improve soil structure,
water retention and infiltrationwater retention and infiltration
Magnesium (Mg)Magnesium (Mg) Plays an important role in Plays an important role in
photosynthesis and chlorophyll photosynthesis and chlorophyll productionproduction
A necessary component in A necessary component in many essential enzyme systems many essential enzyme systems within the plantwithin the plant
Important in aiding the Important in aiding the translocation of phosphorus translocation of phosphorus
Secondary Nutrients
Sulfur (S)Sulfur (S) Works with nitrogen to produce Works with nitrogen to produce
new protein for plant growthnew protein for plant growth Plays an important role in the Plays an important role in the
utilization of oxygen by the plantutilization of oxygen by the plant Influences the level of activity of Influences the level of activity of
soil microorganismssoil microorganisms
Secondary Nutrients
Micronutrients
Iron (Fe)Iron (Fe) Necessary for the Necessary for the
formation of formation of chlorophyllchlorophyll
Deficiencies are most Deficiencies are most common in wet, cold or common in wet, cold or high pH soilshigh pH soils
Aids in the activation of Aids in the activation of a number of a number of biochemical processes biochemical processes within the plantwithin the plant
Manganese (Mn)Manganese (Mn) Important in the formation Important in the formation
of chlorophyll and the of chlorophyll and the activation of initial growth activation of initial growth processprocess
Generally available in Generally available in sufficient quantities in the sufficient quantities in the soilsoil
Micronutrients
Boron (B)Boron (B) Necessary for plant Necessary for plant
reproductionreproduction Helps maintain optimum Helps maintain optimum
water balance in plantswater balance in plants
Micronutrients
Molybdenum (Mo)Molybdenum (Mo) Essential to the process of Essential to the process of
nitrogen utilizationnitrogen utilization Is less available under Is less available under
acidic (low pH) soil acidic (low pH) soil conditionsconditions
Micronutrients
Zinc (Zn)Zinc (Zn) Necessary for the Necessary for the
production of production of chlorophyll chlorophyll
Micronutrients
Copper (Cu)Copper (Cu) Important in the synthesis of Important in the synthesis of
certain plant growth substancescertain plant growth substances Serves as an activator for several Serves as an activator for several
essential enzymesessential enzymes Needed only in small quantities; Needed only in small quantities;
large amounts can be toxic to large amounts can be toxic to turfgrass plantsturfgrass plants
Deficiencies are usually only Deficiencies are usually only found in highly alkaline soils found in highly alkaline soils (high pH) organic soils or heavily (high pH) organic soils or heavily leeched soilsleeched soils
Micronutrients
Fertilizer BasicsFertilizer Basics
What is Fertilizer?What is Fertilizer? Supplies basic plant Supplies basic plant
nutrientsnutrients
NitrogenNitrogen
PhosphorusPhosphorus
PotassiumPotassium
The Fertilizer LabelThe Fertilizer Label
N - NitrogenN - Nitrogen
P - PhosphorusP - Phosphorus
K - PotassiumK - Potassium
Fertilizer LabelsFertilizer Labels Must be on every bagMust be on every bag Must contain: Must contain:
Net weightNet weight Guaranteed analysisGuaranteed analysis Manufacturer name & address Manufacturer name & address
Fertilizer LabelsFertilizer Labels
May contain:May contain:
Percent CSRN or WINPercent CSRN or WIN Percent additional Percent additional
nutrients other than nutrients other than NPKNPK
Source of nutrientsSource of nutrients
Fertilizer LabelFertilizer Label
Fertilizer AnalysisFertilizer Analysis(N-P-K)(N-P-K)
Percentage by weight of nutrientsPercentage by weight of nutrients
Elemental nitrogenElemental nitrogen (N)(N)
Available phosphorusAvailable phosphorus (P(P22OO55))
Soluble potashSoluble potash (K(K22O)O)
Fertilizer RatioFertilizer Ratio
Analysis reduced to lowest Analysis reduced to lowest whole numberwhole number
16 - 4 - 8 (analysis)16 - 4 - 8 (analysis)
4 : 1 : 2 (ratio)4 : 1 : 2 (ratio)
High N to K Ratios High N to K Ratios (2:1 or higher)(2:1 or higher)
General maintenanceGeneral maintenance
Green upGreen up
Accelerated top growthAccelerated top growth
High K to N Ratios High K to N Ratios (1:2 or higher)(1:2 or higher)
Low potassium levels Low potassium levels
Improve stress tolerance Improve stress tolerance
Disease resistanceDisease resistance
Balanced N to K Ratio Balanced N to K Ratio (1:1)(1:1)
General maintenance General maintenance
Stress conditionsStress conditions
Reduced top growthReduced top growth
High Phosphorus FertilizersHigh Phosphorus Fertilizers
Starter fertilizersStarter fertilizers
Low P levelsLow P levels
THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE
Feast or FamineFeast or Famine
The FeastThe Feast(Excess Soluble N)(Excess Soluble N)
Accelerated top growthAccelerated top growth
Weak root growthWeak root growth
Excess clippingsExcess clippings
Pest susceptibilityPest susceptibility
The FamineThe Famine(Fertilizer Deficiency)(Fertilizer Deficiency)
Poor colorPoor color
Weak, thin turfWeak, thin turf
Pest susceptibilityPest susceptibility
The SolutionThe Solution
Proper fertilizer ratio(s)Proper fertilizer ratio(s)
Proper timingProper timing
Challenge and SolutionChallenge and Solution
Fertilizer Fertilizer ConsiderationsConsiderations
Fertilizer FillerFertilizer Filler
““Make-weight” material added Make-weight” material added to fertilizer to make up the to fertilizer to make up the difference between weight of difference between weight of plant nutrient ingredient and plant nutrient ingredient and balance of weight in a ton.balance of weight in a ton.
Fertilizer FillerFertilizer Filler
““Make Weight”Make Weight”
Low vs. High AnalysisLow vs. High AnalysisAnalysisAnalysis
12 - 4 - 812 - 4 - 8
18 - 6 - 1218 - 6 - 12
24 - 8 - 1624 - 8 - 16
““Filler” per tonFiller” per ton
1040 lb1040 lb
573 lb573 lb
106 lb106 lb
Fertilizer MathFertilizer Math
Made SimpleMade Simple
Determining Coverage / BagDetermining Coverage / Bag(50# Bag)(50# Bag)
(24-5-11)(24-5-11)
24 2 = 12(000) ft.24 2 = 12(000) ft.22
50 # bag only50 # bag only 1 # nutrient / 1,000 ft.1 # nutrient / 1,000 ft.2 2 onlyonly
÷
Nutrients 2 = coverage / 1,000 ft.Nutrients 2 = coverage / 1,000 ft.22÷
Determining Product / Determining Product / 1,000 ft.1,000 ft.22
# / bag coverage = # / 1,000 ft# / bag coverage = # / 1,000 ft2 2 ÷
50# 12(000) = 4.2# / 1,000 ft50# 12(000) = 4.2# / 1,000 ft22÷
Calculating Bags Per AcreCalculating Bags Per Acre
4 # / 1,000 ft.4 # / 1,000 ft.22 x 43.56 = 174 # / acre x 43.56 = 174 # / acre 174 # / acre 50 # / bag = 3.48 174 # / acre 50 # / bag = 3.48 bags / acre bags / acre
÷
# / acre # / bag = bags / acre # / acre # / bag = bags / acre ÷
Nitrogen SourcesNitrogen Sources
Natural Organic Natural Organic FertilizersFertilizers
Nitrogen combined with carbon, Nitrogen combined with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and in hydrogen and oxygen, and in some cases other elements, to some cases other elements, to form very complex compounds. form very complex compounds.
(i.e. sewage sludge, poultry manure, (i.e. sewage sludge, poultry manure, blood meal etc.)blood meal etc.)
Synthetic Organic Synthetic Organic FertilizersFertilizers
Synthetically combined materials Synthetically combined materials containing carbon and two or containing carbon and two or more of the following elements; more of the following elements; oxygen, hydrogen or nitrogen.oxygen, hydrogen or nitrogen.
(i.e. urea, IBDU & methylene urea's)(i.e. urea, IBDU & methylene urea's)
InorganicInorganic
Carbon is not a component of it’s Carbon is not a component of it’s basic chemical structure.basic chemical structure.
(i.e. ammonium sulfate, diammonium (i.e. ammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate & monoammonium phosphate & monoammonium phosphate)phosphate)
TemperatureTemperature OsmosisOsmosis Microbial actionMicrobial action HydrolysisHydrolysis Physical Physical
breakdownbreakdown
Nutrient Release Mechanisms
Temperature is a factor in the activity of soil Temperature is a factor in the activity of soil microorganism which break down certain microorganism which break down certain nutrient sources into their plant available form. nutrient sources into their plant available form. Cold soil temperatures decrease the activity Cold soil temperatures decrease the activity level of these microorganisms.level of these microorganisms.
Temperature
The tendency of fertilizer to pass through The tendency of fertilizer to pass through it’s outer coating, into the soil. This it’s outer coating, into the soil. This equalizes the fertilizer concentration equalizes the fertilizer concentration between the fertilizer granule and the soil.between the fertilizer granule and the soil.
Osmosis
Naturally occurring microorganisms break Naturally occurring microorganisms break down a variety of fertilizer coatings and down a variety of fertilizer coatings and nutrient sources into more basic compounds, nutrient sources into more basic compounds, which then allows the plants to use them.which then allows the plants to use them.
Microbial Action
A chemical reaction in which water breaks A chemical reaction in which water breaks down a compound such as a fertilizer coating.down a compound such as a fertilizer coating.
Hydrolysis
An example of conditions affecting the An example of conditions affecting the physical breakdown and release of nutrition physical breakdown and release of nutrition is: is:
The solvent effect of water on fertilizer The solvent effect of water on fertilizer coatings and nutrients.coatings and nutrients.
Physical Breakdown