Factors Affecting Foliar Nitrogen Uptake by Creeping Bentgrass

Abstract

F oliar N fertilization is an increasingly common practice in the turfgrass industry. This trend is due to ease of application of foliar N fertilizers, their compatibility with other commonly applied turf care products, and the ability to uniformly apply low doses (<2 g m -2 ) of N to high-value areas of turf.Tracer and nontracer techniques have been used to estimate fertilizer N absorption by turfgrass leaves. The tracer approach uses the stable isotope, 15 N, to directly quantify plant uptake of labeled fertilizer N. The nontracer, or indirect, alternatives include the difference method and a washing technique. The difference method compares plant N concentration with and without fertilization and ascribes any increase for the fertilized treatment to fertilizer N uptake. The washing technique quantifies N uptake as the difference between the amount of fertilizer applied and the amount recovered in a foliar rinse.Indirect methods have been used in several studies to quantify foliar N uptake by turf. The earliest of these was reported by Wesely et al. (1985) for five cool-season turfgrasses maintained in a growth chamber. Their results, using the difference method, showed 31 to 61% uptake in the first 72 h after application, depending on species and cultivar. In a subsequent field study, Wesely et al. (1988) found 49 to 59% uptake by the difference method following repeated ABSTRACT Turfgrass managers frequently apply N as a foliar spray when low application rates are desired. This practice is believed to promote foliar N uptake that benefits turf; however, very little information is available concerning the quantity of N absorbed by turfgrass foliage or the effect of various spray parameters on foliar N uptake under field conditions. This research was conducted to evaluate fertilizer N uptake efficiency of foliarly applied 15 N to creeping bentgrass [Agrostis stolonifera var. L. palustris (Huds.) Farw. 'pennlinks'] under field conditions. The effects of spray volume, N carrier, adjuvant addition, and tank mixing with commonly applied turf care products (e.g. chlorothalonil) on foliar N uptake were conducted to evaluate foliar uptake of fertilizer 15 N by creeping bentgrass. From 6 to 34% of foliar-applied N was taken up mostly within 2 h and completely by 4 to 6 h after fertilizer application. Uptake efficiency increased significantly when spray volume was decreased but was unaffected by N carrier, adjuvant addition, or tank mixing.

Foliar and Granular Fertilizer Effects on Creeping Bentgrass and Soil Nutrient Levels

“…Foliar N uptake is lower during cool temperatures and higher N rates resulted in lower total N uptake (Stiegler et al, 2011). Henning et al (2013) found lower N uptake of 6 to 34% in Pennlinks creeping bentgrass than Stiegler et al (2011) found in Penn A1 creeping bentgrass. The authors attributed type of spray nozzle to the difference between their results and Stiegler et al (2011).…”

“…The authors attributed type of spray nozzle to the difference between their results and Stiegler et al (2011). Stiegler et al (2011) used a hollow cone nozzle that produced a finer droplet size than the flat fan nozzle Henning et al (2013) used. The finer spray droplet may result in more uniform spray coverage on leaf tissue and greater nutrient uptake.…”

Role of Nano-fertilizer in Plants Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE)

“…In 2021, Mejias et al reviewed the potential use of nano-fertilizer as an innovative approach to reduce N losses and improve NUE by taking look at some consideration for animal food chain in grassland [26]. Since perennial crops have longer photosynthetic seasons that increase seasonal light interception and precipitation efficiencies, which can naturally increase NUE, a comprehensive analysis is needed on the potential use on N Nano-fertilizer on grassland [27][28][29]. Foliar application of Urea recorded beneficial and useful in grass covers but with high N volatilization losses [30].…”

Nanofertilizers: A Cutting-Edge Approach to Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Grasslands

“…A comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits of using nitrogenous nanofertilizer in grasslands and its impact on N losses to the environment has to be addressed, considering, among others, its agronomic and physiological properties, growing rates, plant architecture and use, compared to annual and/or perennial crops, given that in perennial crops nutrient carryover is usually seen from one season to the next one due to retranslocation from the annual plant parts, which can naturally increase NUE (Weih et al, 2011) Additionally, perennial crops tend to have longer photosynthetic seasons resulting from earlier canopy development and longer green leaf duration, increasing seasonal light interception efficiencies and precipitation interception (Tilman et al, 2009), including retention of potential foliar applications. There are important factors to assess when using these new formulations applied to grass, to improve NUE use efficiency and losses, like N molecules type and size, temperature, specific surface area, and urease activity, among other considerations (Bowman and Paul, 1992;Ryle and Stanley, 1992;Henning et al, 2013a). This review focuses on the potential use of N nanofertilizers as a novel approach to improve NUE in grasslands and their role in reducing environmental impact, with a focus on the decrease of N losses into the environment.…”