Selecting Types of Nutrition Based on the Needs and Physiology of the Turf. Balancing Foliar and Granular Applications to Satisfy Plant Requirements

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2 ODGCSA and TTA

3 Selecting Types of Nutrition Based on the Needs and Physiology of the Turf Balancing Foliar and Granular Applications to Satisfy Plant Requirements

4 True Foliar Fertilization Science or baloney? When can it be useful? Incorporating it into your annual fertility strategy and program What about liquid beneficial supplements? Nutrition vs Fertilization

5 Background Unrealistic, escalating expectations for putting quality create a real dilemma for Superintendents For turf health, it s all about carbohydrate reserves For putting quality, it s all about consistency, controlled growth, and color

6 What s It Like Being a Superintendent Today? Unrealistic expectations in a TV age Every customer is a grass grower at home

7 What s It Like Being a Superintendent Today? Every customer is a grass grower at home Global warming, wild weather extremes like Mother Nature is the biggest player in the game

8 The Superintendent s Dilemma Your agronomic goal is to produce a healthy plant and to maximize root mass But players really care only about surface results cosmetics, color, consistently fast speeds, true roll

9 Agronomics vs Cosmetics Agronomics Root mass Healthy turf Stress tolerance, disease resistance Cosmetics Great color Consistency Controlled Growth Putting quality (speed, roll) What you do to provide a great surface especially low mowing heights undermines your agronomic goals

10 Turf is Not Ag You re not growing a crop; you re managing a surface for a sport Controlled growth is essential For putting speeds and consistency To reduce thatch accumulation For retaining carbohydrate reserves

11 Root Carbohydrates Carbohydrate Reserves in Cool Season Turf Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bent Poa

12 Your Mission Give the players what they want Give the plant what it needs The four Cs for successful greens management Color Control Consistency Carbohydrate reserves

13 No Simple Answers There are no silver bullets. It all matters: water quality and quantity, compaction, thatch accumulation, soil profile, growing environment sunlight/shade, air movement, quality of cut To keep turf healthy, you need both medicine (fungicides) and food (nutrition) The quality, quantity, and timing of the nutrition you give your turf are all important

14 Research Update Summary (Hull, Ervin, Richardson, McCarty, Gaussoin) Some herbicides and PGRs foliar absorbed The first research on foliar absorption was documented in 1844 Radio-isotope use in early 1950 s opened the door for accurate foliar nutrient absorption studies All plant nutrients including some beneficial elements have been reported absorbed by foliage

15 Research Update Summary Younger leaves have better foliar absorption There are many situations in turf management when root function Lower leaf side (with more stomata) absorb more nutrients than upper side of the leaf is restricted when foliar Cuticle formation has been studied genetically, and genetic control of cuticular penetration is possible applications would not only be beneficial but the only practical Neutral ion absorption seems more efficient than cation way and anion to absorption apply nutrients. Turfgrass Trends: Sept. 2000

16 Stomata are a potential entry point for foliar-applied fertilizers Absorption is at its peak when stomates are fully open Factors such as salinity, heat, and water stress will cause stomates to close

17 Stomatal opening as a function of light % stomatal opening :00 4:00 8:00 12:00 4:00 8:00 Well-watered Drought

18 True Foliars vs Traditional Liquids (Stomates and Transcuticular Pores) True Foliars can enter both stomates and transcuticular pores Transcuticular pores are always open Traditional liquids rely on stomates to enter the leaf tissue

19 Relying on Traditional Liquids for Your Foliar Strategy

20 True Foliars vs Traditional Liquids There are many more transcuticular pores than stomates but traditional liquids are too big to enter the small pores Stomates 20,000 per square centimeter Transcuticular Pores 10,000,000 per square centimeter

21 Chemical factors affecting nutrient uptake Diffusion - movement of chemicals from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration 17 K+ ions K+ K+ K+ Leaf surface K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ Cuticle wax K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ K+ 7 K+ K+ K+ ions K+ Surface cells K+ Ions will move from the higher conc. (left side) to lower conc. (right side)

22 Electrical gradient affects nutrient movement Active transport movement of chemicals against an electrical gradient Leaf surface Ectodesmata (transcuticular pores) Cuticle GC GC Cell Wall slight negative charge on cell wall

23 Nutrient Absorption into Leaf Cells Nutrients absorbed through leaves enter the cellulose cell walls (apoplasm) of leaves just as ions absorbed by roots and transported through the xylem would Nutrient ions are absorbed by leaf cell protoplasts just as they would be by root cells

24 Stomatal Openings Transcuticular Pore Spaces

25 Stomatal Openings Historically, the entryway into foliage for liquid fertilizers and solubles. Transcuticular Pore Spaces These are ALWAYS OPEN, more numerous, but SMALLER.

26 Formulated so that the molecular structure is small enough to pass through the pores and penetrate into the turfgrass plant. True Foliar

27 Ok, So What? What does that mean to me? When could it be useful?

28 Advantages of True Foliar Nutrient Application through Leaf Tissue Nutrients enter the plant more rapidly than when applied through the soil: quick response Minimizes problems of nutrient-poor soils or soils that readily immobilize nutrients Nutrients are more efficiently utilized when surface soil is dry or subirrigation is used Nutrients will be readily available when roots are stressed or have been killed

29 Why Foliar Feed Turfgrass? During periods of tissue hardening prior to the onset of environmental stress Good results with plants under stress Including diseases like anthracnose and dollar spot Amount of material applied are so low that applications in dry form would be difficult Flexibility usually applied every 7-14 days Can be adjusted to meet exact needs based on soil & tissue testing

30 When it is colder, root activities slow sown

31 When plant, environmental, and soil conditions are restricted or less favorable for root nutrient absorption

32 A foliar application may help with recovery after aerification

33 Follow the Physiology of the Plant How you feed your turf should match the plant s nutrition needs and its ability to process the food you give it There are times for granulars and times for True Foliars It is essential to understand when to use each to maintain a healthy plant and at the same time achieve the putting speeds, color, and quality demanded of today

34 During summer cool season turfgrasses have minimum capacity for root absorption.

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36 The Season Expectations go up at the same time that mowing heights go down This is also the same time when cool season turf is at its lowest potential Respiration exceeds photosynthesis Root mass declining High soil temperatures (often combined with high soil moisture content) Disease pressure high

37 The Season Think of your turf as a patient in intensive care The diet should be like an I-V You must control the energy and reserves expended by the plant You must control nitrogen inputs to control thatch accumulation be precise

38 Nitrogen Effects on Turf - Shoot growth - Root growth - Carbohydrate reserves - Thatch accumulation Increasing N

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42 There are synergetic effects between PGRs and True Foliar fertilization PGRs reduce clipping growth and help nutrient relocation to roots; spoon foliar feeding increases chlorophyll contents, then better photosynthesis and energy production. PGRs have positive effects on root growth, stress tolerance; foliar fertilization may further enhance these effects. PGRs have positive effects on pest resistance; foliar fertilization enhances pest resistance as well, particularly, foliar diseases.

43 PAYOFF: Efficiency Controlled Growth Rapid color response Consistency Limit thatch accumulation True Foliar Formulated so that the molecular structure is small enough to pass through the pores and penetrate into the turfgrass plant.

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45 Annual Fertility Strategy to Build and Retain Carbohydrate Reserves in a 3-4 lb N Program Spring: True Foliar for early season color and quality and after early aerification and aid with recovery from winter dormancy ½ lb of N from granular to stimulate photosynthesis and aid recovery from later aerification The season: lbs of N from True Foliar applications Autumn: lbs from granular to build carbohydrate reserves

46 What About Beneficial Supplements? Humic Acid Fulvic Acid Foliar portion of humates (low molecular size) Natural anti-oxidant Natural chelater, electrolyte Stimulates metabolism, root growth Enhances photosynthesis Seaplant extract

47 Seaplant extract Amino Acids Vitamins High in cytokinins Growth by cell division, not elongation Cell enlargement Development and stability of chloroplasts Carbohydrate storage What does that mean to you? Can I add seaplant extract to turf and get all those benefits?

48 Does Seaplant Extract Supplementation Work on Turf? Increased photosynthesis VA Tech University, Rutgers University Increased chlorophyll content Kansas State University Increased availability of soil moisture and solubles in the soil VA Tech University Salinity Stress Drs. Carrow and Duncan

49 Does Seaplant Extract Supplementation Work on Turf Increased plant anti-oxidants (stress tolerance) Rutgers University Increased disease resistance Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan State, U of Arkansas Increased root mass and turf color and quality without stimulating shoot growth Kansas State University, VA Tech

50 Putting All This Together for a Precise, Complete Nutrition Program True Foliar nutrients Beneficial supplements Balance agronomics and cosmetics..\program Book 2007\2007 TME Bentgrass Summer.xls

51 Return on Investment from a properly designed and timed True Foliar Nutrition Program Great surface results Color and quality Consistency Controlled growth Less thatch Carbohydrate reserves Speed and true roll Healthier turf Disease resistance, stress tolerance Increased root mass, carbohydrate reserves

52 Thank You! Please let us know if we can do anything for you. The Herod Seeds Team --Danny Knaresboro --Mark McCaughan --Steve Slominski --Jim Wilson --Mike Huey --Dick Fisher, CGCS The Milliken Team --Geoff Simril Have a great year!