The Golfdom Files: Controlling factors in successful fertilizer use
By H. Burton Musser
If you look into the archives of Golfdom, some pretty heavy hitters have been published in the magazine. In the March 1955 edition, Penn State’s H. Burton Musser wrote on the topic of fertilizers. ¶ Musser stated that between 1948 and 1955 there were 25 articles printed on fertilizer issues in “popular magazines,” and 33 major talks were given on the subject at conferences. In addition, another 50 papers in technical publications dealt with some phase of fertility that had a direct bearing on turf. ¶ From that collection of information he noticed that most authors and speakers agreed on basic technological principles and the way those principles should be applied. Musser put together those agreed-upon principles, and we have condensed them below. To read the full article visit golfdom.com/exclusive.
An analysis from this standpoint of what has been said and written shows that our knowledge of the subject can be classified into five main concepts, or groups of facts and procedures. These are the controlling factors in successful fertilizer use.
- The tremendous influence of the soil on the kind, quality and effectiveness of the fertilizers we apply.
- The specific differences in the fertilizers themselves.
- The way in which grass uses nutrient materials.
- The procedures and practices best adapted to conform with and take advantage of the above technological facts.
- The economic considerations involved. Cost always is a factor in any fertilizer program.
Relationship to Soil Condition
To further emphasize this dependence of maximum fertilizer utilization on basic principles, let’s look at its relationship to soil physical condition. When fertilizer is applied to established turf, the only way in which it can get into the soil is to be dissolved in water and carried down. This is true whether it is applied in dry form or as a liquid in which it is in solution. If water does not penetrate because of heavy thatch or surface compaction, the fertilizer cannot do so. Unless it gets into the soil where roots can absorb it, it is of little value. Under such conditions the best correction is opening channels for its penetration by mechanical methods.
Complications of Weed Problem
Weeds are another important consideration. Heavy infestations of Poa annua or crabgrass on greens and fairways tremendously complicate the fertilizer picture. It is not good technique to apply fertilizer at times when the weeds are growing best and will make more effective use of the fertilizer than the grass. There is no question but that there have been instances when the weed problem was intensified in this way. The solution, however, is not simple. There are many times when fertilizers must be used to keep the grass in condition so that it will be better able to combat weed invasion, even though there is danger of weed stimulation. Where this is a serious problem, often, we get the most out of fertilizers only when they are used in connection with herbicidal treatments which will eliminate the weeds or set them back to such an extent they cannot compete.
Cost Factors
Any discussion of getting the most out of fertilizers cannot ignore the cost factor. The actual dollars and cents value of “what is in the bag or bottle.” The actual cost per unit of plant nutrient materials plus differences in time and labor of applications must be considered. If a unit of nitrogen in one fertilizer costs twice as much as in another, this must be taken into account. But is first cost the only thing, or always even the most important thing? Undoubtedly it would be, if all nitrogen was in the same form and could be handled in the same way. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are material differences in rate of availability, safety and ease of application, frequency of application, stimulation of growth and rate of loss.
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