2015-2016 ProFACT Nutrient Management for Turf

Nutrient Management
ProFACT Training for Professional Fertilizer Applicators
NJ PLANTS
24 February 2016
Jim Murphy, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist in Turfgrass Management
Dep. Of Plant Biology and Pathology
profact.rutgers.edu
Phone: 848-932-6373
New for 2016
Also New
Training in Spanish
All Materials Translated and Available
1. PowerPoint Presentations
2. CFA Training Manual
3. Training – verbal (Dr. Raul Cabrera)
4. Certification Exam
• Paper
• Online (to be released in 2016)
Nutrient Management
Keys to proper fertilization…
Knowing the adaptation of turfgrass to…
– Soil conditions
– Susceptibility to pests
– Tolerance to other environmental stresses
… allows you to design a sound fertility program
Soil Conditions
Nutrient Management
• Healthy soil leads to a healthy lawn
and ability to withstand pests, heat and drought!
–
–
–
–
Slightly acid soil pH
Sufficient essential nutrients
Adequate organic matter
Not compacted
Soil Testing
Don’t Guess
Nutrient Management
– Soil Test to determine the proper quantities of…
• Lime
• Fertilizer Nutrients (N – P2O5 – K2O)
• Organic Matter
Contact your county Extension office or local soil
testing laboratory
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab/howto.asp
Liming
•
•
•
•
Nutrient Management
Only when soil has excess acidity (low pH)
Preferred pH range – 6.0 to 6.5
Improves nutrient availability
Soil pH > 6.5 can stimulate root disease
(summer patch)
Annual Phosphate Recommendations Based on Soil Test Results
Pounds of Phosphate (P2O5)
Soil Test Result
General Turf
Lawns and Fairways
per 1,000-ft2 per Acre
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
3
2
1
0
0
130
85
45
0
0
High Maintenance*
and New Turfs
per 1000ft2
4
3
2
1
0
*High maintenance turfs include golf greens and tees, athletic fields,
and establishing new turfs including sod fields.
Nutrient Risk
Nutrient Management
Water Quality
• Phosphate and nitrogen pollution of water
• Manure-based composts – very high in phosphate
• Plant-based composts – lower in phosphate
Nitrogen
&
Phosphate
Nutrient Management
Soil Stabilization Lost with Worn-out Turf
Nutrient Management
Water Quality Impaired
soil/sediment loaded with phosphates
Nutrient Management
Chesapeake Bay – sediment/nutrient pollution
Winter Runoff – Phosphate Threat to Water Quality
NJAES / ProFACT
Soil Organic Matter
• < 2% = low soil fertility
• Increase with compost
• Till into soil during
establishment
Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management
On established lawns, topdress with compost
Technique
– Screen (½”) to eliminate clods
– 1 cu. ft. (~7.5 gal) of compost
per 100 sq. ft.
– Larger quantities
require brushing or raking
– Spring & Autumn
Nutrient Management
Know Your Turfgrasses – Pests & Environmental Stresses
7 Oct., 29 days after seeding (8 Sep.)
Tall Fescue
Perennial Ryegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass
Nutrient Management
Susceptibility to Diseases
Turfgrass
Species
Leaf
Spot
Kentucky bluegrass
X
Perennial ryegrass
X
Strong & Slender
creeping red
fescues
X
Chewings fescue
Red
Dollar
Thread Spot
Brown Summer
Patch
Patch
Snow
Molds
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hard fescue
Tall fescue
Gray
Leaf
Spot
X
X
X
Drechslera Leaf Spot
Nutrient Management
• Spring & Autumn
• 58-64°F
• Wet leaves, overcast
foggy weather
• Excessive nitrogen
Fertilization Strategy
• Adequate N, avoid excessive applications in spring
< ⅔ lbs. N per 1,000 sq. ft. (water soluble)
> ⅔ lbs. N per 1,000 sq. ft. use slow release N
Red Thread
Nutrient Management
• Spring & Autumn
• 59-77°F
• Heavy dew, light rain,
fog
• Nitrogen deficient turf
Fertilization Strategy
• Adequate and complete fertility based on soil test
• Light applications of water soluble N when disease is
active (0.2 – 0.4 lbs. N per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Dollar Spot
•
•
•
•
Nutrient Management
Warm, humid days
Cool nights
Heavy dew
Dry soil
Fertilization Strategy
• Adequate nitrogen (N)
• Light, frequent N applications when disease is active
0.2 – 0.4 lbs. N per 1,000 sq. ft.
Brown Patch
•
•
•
•
Nutrient Management
Summer
Surface wetness / humidity
> 68°F at night
Dense, highly fertilized turf
Fertilization Strategy
• Adequate and complete fertility based on soil test
• Slow release sources of nitrogen in summer
< ½ lbs. N per 1,000 sq. ft. per application in summer
Summer Patch
•
•
•
•
•
Nutrient Management
Root disease
Wet, hot weather
82-95°F
> 68°F at night
High soil pH (alkaline)
Fertilization Strategy
• Avoid nitrate fertilizers and alkaline materials (lime)
• Acidifying and slow release sources of nitrogen
• Manganese fertilization may be useful
Summer Patch Disease – July 2013
Mixture Study
Little to no recovery by Nov. 8, 2013 (dry fall)
Fine fescues are slow-growing
Tall Fescue
‘Bullseye’ (33.3%)
‘Faith’ (33.3%)
‘Mustang 4’ (33.3%)
Hard Fescue
‘Beacon’ (50%) + ‘Firefly’ (50%)
Gray Leaf Spot
•
•
•
•
•
Wet, warm weather
82-90°F
New seedings
Moderate to high N
Water soluble N
Fertilization Strategy
• Use slow release nitrogen fertilizers
Nutrient Management
•
•
Grey leaf spot disease – late August & early September seedings
New perennial ryegrass cultivars are tolerant
Snow Molds
Nutrient Management
Microdochium Patch
Gray Snow Mold
• Cool, wet weather
• 32-46°F
• No cover required
(snow or mulch)
• High N fertility that
promotes succulent
tissue
• High K suppresses ???
• High soil pH
• Some bio-organic fertilizers
may promote
• Cool, wet weather
• 35°F
• Deep snow or mulch cover
for long periods
• High N fertility that
promotes succulent
tissue
Snow Molds
Nutrient Management
Fertilization Strategy
• Late autumn, avoid heavy applications of N fertilizer
• Late season N
– Apply a few weeks before dormancy or when leaves are
no longer extending
– Use slow release N fertilizer
Nutrient Management
Microdochium Patch (pink snow mold)
Additional Fertilization Strategies
• Maintain low soil pH (avoid lime)
• Balanced fertility (P & K), soil test
• Some bio-organic nitrogen fertilizer may enhance
White Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Root-feeding near
surface can kill grass
Foraging vertebrate
predators …
… can destroy grass
Nutrient Management
Manure-based organic fertilizers
applied during late June – early July will attract egg-laying beetles
Weed Management
Nutrient Management
• Exclusion – choose weed free land & prevent additions
(weeds in composts, manures, etc.)
• Elimination – prevent build-up & reduce population
• Prevent Establishment – maintain 100% vegetative cover
of soil
• Amelioration – turfgrass selection (early green-up and/or
dense canopy) & enhance turf vigor and density
• Removal – minimize cultivation (autumn best), manual
(choose easy- to-use tools), chemical, physical
Nutrient Management
Other Environmental Stresses
• Moderate to heavily shaded sites
<6 hours of direct sunlight
• Avoid fertilizing when trees actively growing
Nutrient Management
March---April May--------------June---------July-------August Sep.--------Oct.
November
Nitrogen
0.4 - 0.9
lbs / 1,000
Nitrogen
0.4 - 0.9
lbs / 1,000
Nitrogen
0.2 - 0.5
lbs / 1,000
Nitrogen
0.2 - 0.5
lbs / 1,000
Nitrogen
0.5 - 1.0
lbs / 1,000
Nitrogen
0.5 - 1.0
lbs / 1,000
~20% slow
release for
N > 0.7 lbs
~20% slow
release for
N > 0.7 lbs
Low, more
frequent
apps
Low, more
frequent
apps
~30% slow
release for
N > 0.7 lbs
~30% slow
release for
N > 0.7 lbs
Recovery:
less SRN
Recovery:
less SRN
Potash, if
needed
Avoid
Phosphates
Avoid N on
shaded
turf, if
feasible
Potash &
Phosphate,
if needed
Potash &
Phosphate,
if needed
Potash &
Phosphate,
if needed
Potash &
Phosphate,
if needed
Potash, if
needed
Avoid N in
shade
Avoid N in
shade
Avoid N in
shade
Avoid N in
shade
Apply N at
leaf drop
on shaded
turf
Avoid
Phosphates
Nutrient Management
Thank You
&
Have a Great 2016!
• See publications at www.njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs