Shoot and Root Growth Response of Perennial Ryegrass to Fertilizer Placement Depth

Abstract

A better understanding of turfgrass growth responses to the vertical placement of nutrients in the soil is needed if growth responses are to be maximized. This greenhouse work examined the shoot and root growth responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to placement of N‐P‐K fertilizer at various depths in a sandy clay loam and in a sandpeat mixture. Fertilization at the 5‐, 10‐, and 15‐cm soil depths produced greater verdure and total root mass than fertilization at 0 cm in both the sandy clay loam and sand‐peat. Root mass increases occurred within the 5‐ to 35‐cm zone of the sandy clay loam and the 10‐ to 35‐cm zone of the sand‐peat with subsurface fertilization. Water use efficiency was increased 11% in the sandy clay loam with 10 and 15 cm deep fertilization and 21% in the sand‐peat with 5 cm deep fertilization compared with surface fertilization. Except for P, nutrient accumulation with subsurface fertilization matched or exceeded that achieved with surface fertilization. Management practices that position nutrients below the soil surface and as deep as 15 cm can improve turfgrass growth responses to fertilizer. Further research needs to relate irrigation, fertilization, cultivation, and soil modification practices to fertilizer placement, and subsequently shoot and root growth responses.

A Review of Turfgrass Fertilizer Management Practices: Implications for Urban Water Quality

“…Subsurface fertilizer applications in two soils (sandy clay loam and sandy-peat mixture) increased shoot and root development compared with surface fertilization. Water use efficiency for perennial ryegrass subjected to subsurface fertilization in both the sandy clay loam (11% increase at 10 and 15 cm depths) and sandy-peat mixture (21% increase at 5 cm) was greater than with the surface fertilization treatment (Murphy and Zaurov, 1994). Incorporation of fertilizers into soil by methods such as core cultivation and topdressing alters turfgrass response to applied nutrients (Waddington and Duich, 1976), especially under conditions where the downward movement of nutrients is restricted (e.g., compacted soils) (Agnew and Christians, 1993).…”

“…Studies have suggested that broadcast fertilization of turfgrass may limit the development of deeper root networks (Bowman et al, 1989;Murphy and Zaurov, 1994). In a greenhouse study, Murphy and Zaurov (1994) compared 'Gettysburg' perennial ryegrass response to fertilizer applications at multiple soil depths (0, 5, 10, and 15 cm) and concluded that fertilizer placement can affect turfgrass growth and water use efficiency. Subsurface fertilizer applications in two soils (sandy clay loam and sandy-peat mixture) increased shoot and root development compared with surface fertilization.…”

Role of Mineral Nutrition on Root Growth of Crop Plants – A Review

“…Drew (1975) reported that barley root weight increased in the zone of nutrient localization and decreased in the deficient zone. Murphy and Zaurov (1994) reported that N fertilization at the 5, 10, and 15 cm soil depths produced greater root mass than N fertilization at 0 cm soil depth or surface fertilization. Wang et al (2008) reported that the maize roots grew optimally in the N100 and N200 N treatments, whereas in the N400 treatment they showed limited root growth.…”

Phytoremediation of Aged Petroleum Sludge: Effect of Irrigation Techniques and Scheduling

“…Studies on wheat and barley have shown that root biomass increases with subsurface application of N, P, and K (Jackson et al, 1992; Kushnak et al, 1992; Jackson and Caldwell, 1989; Drew, 1975). Murphy and Zaurov (1994) found that subsurface application of fertilizer increased root biomass with depth in perennial ryegrass whereas broadcasting fertilizer on turf may stimulate aggressive rooting in the surface soil while limiting deeper root development.…”