Greens Maintenance: Fertilization

1. Greens Maintenance: Fertilization Information courtesy of Texas A&M University Turf Grass http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/golf/gcindex.html

2. Objectives • Purpose of fertilization in turf grass • Taking soil samples to determine nutrient requirements • Proper selection of fertilizer • Calculating fertilizer in turf grass • Fertilizer spreader calibration

3. Why fertilizing is important? • Fertilizer – Supplies essential nutrients to the grass plant for adequate growth and maintenance of plant functions. • Different turfgrass species require different amounts of fertilizer • Fertilizer should be put out at a constant rate not all at one time! • Plants cannot handle mass amounts of fertilizer and will be lost to leaching or run-off • Provide adequate nutrients throughout the growing season • April through September

4. Why are soil samples important? • Measure relative nutrient status of soils • Used as basis for profitable and environmentally responsible fertilizer application. • Sample handling is very important in gaining an understanding of the nutrients needed • Time of the year may affect the soil sample • Increase production yields

5. Taking a soil sample Pre-Sampling • Label sampling bag • See the following site: http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/soilsample/soilsample1.html • Clear litter from the surface • Use spade, soil probe, or soil auger

6. Taking a soil sample During Sampling • Take a sample from 10 to 15 areas of the location you are wanting to sample. • Approximately 1 pint of the composite soil sample is required to conduct analysis • Avoid sampling small gullies, slight field depressions, terrace waterways, or unusual areas • When sampling fertilized fields, avoid sampling directly in fertilized band

7. Taking a soil sample Post Sampling • Fill out sampling form • Include payment with sample. • Keep record of area represented by sample taken • Be sure sample numbers match sample number on bags Send Soil Samples to: Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory 2474 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-2474

8. Proper selection of fertilizer • Most important component in fertilizer is nitrogen • Three numbers separated by dashes that make up the “analyses” • Represents a percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (N-P-K) • Three of the highest demanded nutrients

9. Proper selection: Calculating price / pound • Comparing price per pound should be conducted to determine which fertilizer is most economical • Steps in calculating price per pound: • Determine which nutrient you want to calculate • Divide by 100 for decimal equivalent • Multiply by total weight of fertilizer • Divide by number of pounds of nutrient to get price per pound of nutrient • Repeat for other nutrients • Compare to other fertilizers

10. Calculating fertilizer in turfgrass Steps in determining your fertilizer needs • Get a good estimate of the total size (in square feet) of your lawn using tape measures, or number of paces, etc... and record that number (ex. 13000 square feet) • What rate of nitrogen do you want to put down on your lawn? We recommend not going above 1 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet. • What is the first number in the analysis of your bag of fertilizer? (ex. 15 - 5 - 10) This number corresponds to the percentage of nitrogen in the bag. The second number corresponds to the percentage of phosphorous and the third number, potassium. http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/calculators/fertsheet.html

11. Fertilizer spreader calibration • Select a spreader that will work best for you. • Most common include: • Drop spreader • Rotary Spreader Rotary Spreader Drop Spreader

12. Drop Spreader Calibration • Items needed to calibrate spreader • Measuring tape • Accurate scale • Cup or tray to hold fertilizer pellets • Broom and dust pan • Calculator • Know your desired application rate • Have your desired fertilizer • Familiarize yourself with the drop spreader • What is the width of the drop pattern? • Lay out a calibration distance on a smooth clean floor (approximately 10 feet) • Mark your calibration distance with objects or paint • Run spreader over the calibration distance dropping fertilizer onto the floor. • Walk at a normal speed • Open the fertilizer spreader before you enter the calibration area and close after you pass other end of calibration area • Collect all fertilizer within calibration area • Weigh the fertilizer collected on a scale • Based on amount of fertilizer collected, determine if spreader is calibrated correctly

13. Rotary Spreader Calibration • Items needed to calibrate spreader • Know your desired application rate • Have your desired fertilizer • Catch pans to collect fertilizer • Scale • Calculator • Steps to calibrate spreader • Determine the width of the “throw pattern” • Walk at a normal rate of speed • How far in each direction do the pellets fly? • Lay out catch pans in a perpendicular line to the line of travel • Pans should be equal distance apart from each other. • Lay out as many pans as possible

14. Rotary Spreader Calibration cont. • Steps to calibrate spreader • Determine the width of the “throw pattern” • Walk at a normal rate of speed • How far in each direction do the pellets fly? • Lay out catch pans in a perpendicular line to the line of travel • Pans should be equal distance apart from each other. • Lay out as many pans as possible • Walk toward the line of the catch pans and walk directly over the center pan. • Open the spreader before you reach the line of pans and close the spreader after you have passed the pans • Will ensure that all fertilizer thrown to the sides and behind is accounted for.

15. Rotary Spreader Calibration cont. • Determine desired application rate and the analysis of fertilizer being used. • Visit following link for example: Aggieturf • Measure amount of fertilizer in each catch pan after disbursement. • Center pan should have the most and the out pans should have the least • Should produce a bell shaped curve • If you overlap 100% or wheel to wheel coverage then the bell shaped curve patterns overlap and the result is a consistent amount of fertilizer on all areas of the turf. • Pour contents of each pan into clear cup • Place center catch pan cup in the middle and move outward in each direction • A bell shaped look should be present • Weigh the fertilizer from the center catch pan disbursement

16. Rotary Spreader Calibration cont. Good example of fertilizer pattern Bad example of fertilizer pattern

17. A Look Back… • Purpose of fertilization in turf grass • Taking soil samples to determine nutrient requirements • Proper selection of fertilizer • Calculating fertilizer in turf grass • Fertilizer spreader calibration For more information on fertilization visit the following website: http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/golf/fertilization.html