Full TGIF Record # 121006
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    Last checked: 01/25/2017
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Publication Type:
i
Professional
Content Type:Q & A
Corporate Author(s):USGA Green Section
Title:Value and use of complete commercial fertilizers; disease control with fertilizers; sulphate of aluminum
Section:Questions and answers
Other records with the "Questions and answers" Section
Source:The Bulletin of the United States Golf Association Green Section. Vol. 9, No. 7, July 1929, p. 130-131.
Publishing Information:Washington, DC: USGA Green Section
# of Pages:2
Question:"We are sending you a sample of a complete commercial fertilizer which is said to contain 4 per cent nitrogen, 12 per cent soluble phosphoric acid, and 4 per cent potash. We tested this fertilizer on a part of a practice green, and the grass on which it was used showed a wonderful growth. This green was attacked by small brown-patch, and the part of the green on which this fertilizer was tested was much less affected by brown-patch than the rest of the green, on which sulphate of ammonia had been used. It is claimed that on account of this being a complete fertilizer, it develops a healthy growth of grass and consequently lessens the severity of attacks of brown-patch. It burned the grass when applied at a rate of 3 pounds to 1,000 square feet, although it was watered in. Your advice that we use sulphate of ammonia to counteract the slight alkalinity of the soil is being followed with good results. We have suffered from several attacks of small brown-patch but have checked the disease with calomel and corrosive sublimate. Our neighboring courses have not had anything like the trouble we have had from brown-patch neither last year nor so far this year. We are told that sulphate of aluminum would create an acid condition in the soil. Your analysis of our soil showed a pH of 7.5, and you accordingly advised the use of sulphate of ammonia. Your advice in these matters will be appreciated."
Source of Question:Indiana
Answer/Response:"We are familiar with the fertilizer of which you send us a sample, and there is no doubt that on certain soils it gives very fine results. For fertilizing fairways and occasionally putting greens a complete fertilizer–that is, one containing the three principal elements which plants require in their growth, which are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash–is beneficial. On golf courses, however, the development of the leaf of the plant, and not its stem or fruit, is mainly desired, and the chief plant food required for golf turf is therefore nitrogen. Accordingly a complete fertilizer which is comparatively high in nitrogen content is preferable on golf courses. In the sample you send the nitrogen content is low in comparison with the phosphoric acid content. A fertilizer containing 12 per cent nitrogen, 4 per cent phosphoric acid, and 4 per cent potash would be more valuable for turf work. We consider the price of the fertilizer which you send us much too high for the plant food value contained. If you would ask any fertilizer dealer to prepare a fertilizer with a formula of 4-12-4, such as your sample,you would find that it would cost you much less than the sample in question. Regarding the complete control of brown-patch with fertilizers, we know of no fertilizer which will accomplish this result, although any fertilizer which will stimulate a healthy growth of grass will lessen the damage from brown-patch. It is quite true that turf is sometimes badly injured from brown-patch after being fertilized with sulphate of ammonia. This is often due to the fact that the nitrogen in the sulphate, being so readily available, produces a rapid growth, which temporarily weakens the plant and makes it more susceptible to disease. For this reason we recommend using sulphate of ammonia, or any other fertilizer, sparingly during brown-patch weather. Do not be too anxious to make your soil acid. The occasional use of sulphate of ammonia will gradually put the soil on the acid side, but it is the nitrogen in this fertilizer which is most valuable and not its tendency to make the soil acid. Do not use sulphate of aluminum. It is quite likely to prove toxic to the grass. Besides, it can not be considered a fertilizer, as it contains none of the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, or potash, which are the known elements on which plants feed."
Keywords:TIC Keywords: Ammonium sulfate; Cultural control; Disease control; Fertilizer evaluation; NPK fertilizers; Nutritional value; Recommendations; Rhizoctonia blight
Language:English
References:0
ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
USGA Green Section. 1929. Value and use of complete commercial fertilizers; disease control with fertilizers; sulphate of aluminum. Bull. U.S. Golf Assoc. Green Sec. 9(7):p. 130-131.
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https://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/?file=/1920s/1929/2907130.pdf#page=1
    Last checked: 01/25/2017
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