| Abstract/Contents: | Studied benefits of fall and dormant nitrogen (N) applications on creeping bentgrass at Cherokee Country Club and on fescue-dominated turf at Yahara Hills Golf Course. Treatments were 3 annual N rates (1, 2, or 3 lbN/1000ft2 for fescue and 2, 4, or 6 lb/1000ft2 for bentgrass) applied in 5 schedules: traditional (40% of rate in May and Sept., 20% of rate in July), fall (40% in June and Oct., 20% in Aug.), 2/3 fall and 1/3 dormant (40% in June, 20% in Aug., 26.7% in Oct., 13.3% in Nov.), 1/3 fall and 2/3 dormant (40% in June, 20% in Aug., 13.3% in Oct., 26.7% in Nov.) and dormant (40% in June and Nov., 20% in Aug.). Application schedules, growth rates, root densities, and color ratings are provided in tables. In fall of 1988, in fescue bentgrass, the fall schedule did not cause top growth surge and no enhancement of color relative to the traditional treatment. In 1989, fall N did stimulate fescues and bentgrass growth rates from mid-April to approximately the end of the first week in May with bentgrass showing the greatest increase in Spring growth. Spring growth progressively declined in both turfs with a shift from fall to dormant N application although it remained significantly greater than traditional except at the lowest N rate. Early stimulation of growth by fall N was short-lived. Growth was influenced by N rate, not N Schedule, once early spring N was applied in the traditional schedule. In root development, N schedule had no significant influence in the fescue dominated turf. In bentgrass, higher root density in April was achieved with the dormant N schedule at the highest N rate. In August, N bentgrass, fall schedule N at the lowest rate reduced root density. Shifting from traditional to fall N schedule improved turfgrass color at all 3 rates, particularly at the lowest N rate. Shifting from fall to dormant resulted in no further color improvements. Verdure was not altered in fescue-dominated turf by N treatments. Bentgrass verdure measured in August was reduced slightly at 4lb N rate in the fall, 2/3 fall, and 1/3 fall schedules. |
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