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| Publication Type:
| Newsletter |
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| Author(s): | Robey, Mel |
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| Author Affiliation: | Director of the turfgrass management program at College of the Desert, Palm Desert, FL |
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| Title: | From the professor's desk |
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| Source: | Golden State Fairways. Vol. 3, No. 3, April 1991, p. 9-10. |
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| Publishing Information: | Las Vegas: R/K Communications Group, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Chlorosis; Iron; Color; Soil amendments; Iron chlorosis; Turfgrass quality; Alkalinity
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| Abstract/Contents: | "Yellowing or chlorosis of turfgrasses in the cooler winter months is common. As long as the soil temperatures remain above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ammoniacal nitrogen fertilizers can be used to maintain the deep green color golfers expect. As soil temperatures drop below this, alternative fertilizers must be chosen. Superintendents often switch to iron as the nutrient to maintain color in the winter. Only small amounts of iron are required by the plant, but when it is deficient, chlorosis develops and must be corrected by selecting the correct form of iron to apply to the turf." When selecting a fertilizer with iron as the single nutrient element, some basic facts need to be considered. It is important to remember that iron has two basic forms: ferric, which is only slightly soluble; generally not considered available iron for plant uptake; appears reddish/yellow when in the soil; and occurs in well-aerated and well-drained soils. Ferrous iron is readily soluble; easily absorbed by plant roots; and turns a grey color in poorly-drained and poorly-aerated soils. Iron salt fertilizers containing ferrous iron should be selected for greening up turfgrasses. Since the iron is in the soluble form, it can be utilized by the plants right away. As soils become more calcareous (pH increasingly higher than 7.0), the ferrous iron becomes more rapidly tied-up as the iron reacts with the oxides, hydroxides and phosphates in these alkaline soils. Alkaline water sources also create problems when applying ferrous iron in liquid form. The iron in alkaline water faces the same problems as when applied to the soil. Most of the iron will change to the ferric form if left to sit for a period of time. Ferric iron is considered unavailable, or extremely slowly available, to the plants due to the alkalinity of the soils. "Iron deficiencies occur whenever soils are very alkaline and are high in phosphates, manganese and zinc. High accumulations of thatch and organic matter in the rootzone may cause iron to become unavailable. Waterlogged, compacted soils produce iron deficiencies in grass plants." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Robey, M. 1991. From the professor's desk. Golden State Fairways. 3(3):p. 9-10. |
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MSU catalog number: SB 433 .C187 |
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