Nitrogen Allocation of Three Turfgrass Species and Turf-type Buffalograss Management. Kevin W. Frank A DISSERTATION. Presented to the Faculty of

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1 Nitrogen Allocation of Three Turfgrass Species and Turf-type Buffalograss Management by Kevin W. Frank A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College of the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major: Interdepartmental Area of Horticulture and Forestry Under the Supervision of Professors Roch E. Gaussoin and Terrance P. Riordan Lincoln, Nebraska February, 2000

2 DISSERTATION TInE Nitrogen Allocation of Three Turfgrass Species and Turf-type Buffalograss Management BY Kevin William Frank SUPERVISORY COMMITfEE: 4~ Signature ~#u/v" Dr. Roch Gaussoin Typed Name APPROVED DATE Signature Dr. Terrance Riordan Typed Name? /' "~~/c'~~2a/la-lvl'~ ) Signature Dr. Robert Sherman Typed Name ~fi~ Signature Dr. Lowell Koser Typed Name ~,,~'- Si "--,, ~~---:o.~ Dr. John Doran Typed Name Signature Typed Name ~ GRADUATE COLLEGE ~ UNIVERSI1Y OF NEBRASKA

3 NITROGEN ALLOCATION OF THREE TURFGRASS SPECIES AND TURF-TYPE BUFFALOGRASS MANAGEMENT Kevin William Frank, Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 2000 Co-Advisors: Roch E. Gaussoin and Terrance P. Riordan Environmental concerns about reducing the amount of chemicals and water applied to turfgrass have resulted in interest in using buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm] as a turfgrass. Buffalograss has commonly been cited as having minimal response to nitrogen applications but nitrogen use in the species has not been thoroughly investigated. Research was conducted to compare nitrogen allocation among Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and buffalograss and to determine nitrogen rate and mowing height effects on buffalograss. Double-labeled ammonium nitrate with 5% 15Nenrichment was applied at 24 and 49 kg N ha- 1 to Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue and at 49 and 98 kg N ha- 1 to buffalograss to determine nitrogen allocation in verdure, thatch, roots, and soil. For the buffalograss cultivars, the soil accounted for the largest percent of nitrogen recovered from fertilizer and for Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue the thatch layer and soil accounted for the largest percent of nitrogen recovered from fertilizer. The average total nitrogen recovery in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue at the 24 and 49 kg N ha- 1 rates was 95 and 73%, respectively. The

4 average total nitrogen recovery in the buffalograss cultivars at the 49 and 98 kg N ha- 1 rates was 51 and 31%, respectively. Low nitrogen recovery in buffalograss indicated potentially significant volatilization and denitrification losses. Nitrogen was applied at 0, 24, 49, 98, and 195 kg N ha- 1 and mowing heights of 2.5,5.0, and 7.5 cm were imposed on four buffalograss cultivars at sites in Nebraska, Kansas, and Utah to determine nitrogen rate and mowing height effects. Significant nitrogen rate x year interactions revealed that the 98 kg N ha- 1 rate sustained quality, while lower nitrogen rates did not. For NE turfgrass quality was best at the 2.5 and 5.0 cm mowing height, 378 performed well at all mowing heights and 'Cody' and 'Texoka' were best at the 5.0 and 7.5 cm mowing height.

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS J would like to thank my major advisors Dr. Roch Gaussoin and Dr. Terrance Riordan for their guidance, support, and friendship throughout my graduate program. I thank my committee members, Dr. Robert Shearman, Dr. Lowell Moser, Dr. James Power, and Dr. John Doran for their guidance and expertise. I would also like to thank all the members of the Turfgrass Science Team and the Department of Horticulture for their assistance throughout the years. Special thanks are in order to Mr. Lannie Wit and Jeff Witkowski for their help and advise in maintaining my turfgrass plots and to Ms. Margaret Bloom for her expertise in analyzing and interpreting the 15Nsamples. I also acknowledge Dr. Jack Fry, Dr. Eric Miltner, and Dr. Paul Johnson for cooperating on the buffalograss management research project. J would also like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Walter Stroup for his excellence in statistical consulting. Thanks are in order to the United States Golf Association and the Nebraska Turfgrass Foundation for their funding of my research projects. I would like to thank my sisters and their families for supporting me throughout graduate school. I thank my parents, AI and Jane Frank for their unending support, guidance, and understanding throughout school. Without them none of this would have been possible. Finally, J would like to thank Patty Rhodes for her friendship and encouragement, you helped me through some difficult times and for that I will forever be in your debt.

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables List of Figures II ix Chapter 1. Nitrogen Allocation of Three Turfgrass Species " 1 Abstract 1 Literature Review 3 Materials and Methods 14 Results and Discussion, 20 Conclu~ons 73 Literature Cited 76 Chapter 2. Turf-type buffalograss management 80 Abstract, 80 Literature Review 81 Materials and Methods 85 Results and Discussion 88 Conclusions " 155 Literature Cited 157 Appendix, 159

7 ii LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Soil bulk densities of Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and the buffalograss selections Repeated measures analysis of variance table for nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%NRFF) in all components of NE and NE in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%NRFF) in NE and NE at all sampling dates in 1997 and Ammonium-nitrogen concentration in buffalograss selections at soil depths _ Ammonium-nitrogen concentration in buffalograss at soil depths for the selection x depth interaction at the late spring 1997 sampling date _ Nitrate-nitrogen concentration in buffalograss selections at soil depths Nitrate-nitrogen concentration in buffalograss at soil depths for the selection x soil depth interaction Nitrogen derived from fertilizer and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%NRFF) in buffalograss roots at the 49 and 98 kg N ha- 1 rates in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer in roots of NE and NE at all sampling dates in 1997 and Analysis of variance table for total buffalograss root dry weights in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer in buffalograss verdure at the 49 and 98 kg N ha- 1 rates at all sampling dates in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer in verdure of NE and NE at all sampling dates in 1997 and

8 iii Table 1.13 Repeated measures analysis of variance table for nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%NRFF) in all components of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in 1997 and Soil nitrogen derived from fertilizer for the species x sampl ing date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue at all sampling dates in 1997 and Ammonium-nitrogen concentration in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue soils Nitrate-nitrogen concentration in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue soil depths Nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the species x soil depth interaction Nitrogen derived from fertilizer in roots of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue for all sampling dates in 1997 and 1998 " Analysis of variance table for Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue root dry weights in 1997 and 1998 " Nitrogen derived from fertilizer in the thatch layer of Kentucky Bluegrass and tall fescue for all sampling dates in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%) in the verdure of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue for all sampling dates in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer in the verdure of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue for all sampling dates in 1997 and Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) and percent nitrogen recovered from fertilizer (%NRFF) of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in 1997 and Analysis of variance table for buffalograss quality at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site 89

9 iv Table 2.3 Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Nebraska site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss quality at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss quality at the Utah site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site 105

10 v Table 2.15 Mean buffalograss quality for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss color at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss color at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Kansas site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss color at the Utah site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Utah site 121

11 vi Table 2.28 Mean buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss density at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Nebraska site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss density at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Kansas site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss density at the Utah site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the first nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the first nitrogen application in 1997 at the Utah site 132

12 vii Table 2.41 Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the first nitrogen application in 1998 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the mowing height effect at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss density for the cultivar x mowing height interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Utah site Mean buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site " Analysis of variance table for buffalograss clipping weights at the Nebraska site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss clipping weights at the Kansas site Analysis of variance table for buffalograss clipping weights at the Utah site Mean buffalograss clipping weight for the nitrogen rate effect at the Utah site in Mean buffalograss clipping weights for the mowing height x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site '.' 146

13 viii Table 2.54 Mean buffalograss clipping weights for the mowing height x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Kansas site Mean buffalograss clipping weights for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Mean buffalograss clipping weights for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site 152

14 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Soil nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) for the selection x N rate x sampling date interaction in buffalograss Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in buffalograss roots for the N rate x sampling date interaction and regression of NDFF on sampling date for each nitrogen rate Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in buffalograss roots for the selection x sampling date interaction and regression of NDFF on sampling date for each buffalograss selection ' Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in buffalograss verdure for the N rate x sampling date interaction and regression of NDFF on sampling date for each nitrogen rate Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in verdure for the buffalograss selection x sampling date interaction Total nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) for the selection x N rate x sampling date interaction in buffalograss Soil nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) for the species x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in roots for the species x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in the thatch layer for the species x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in verdure for the species x N rate x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in verdure for the N rate x sampling date interaction and regression of N rate on sampling date for NDFF in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) in verdure for the species x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue 66

15 x Figure 1.13 Total nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) for the species x sampling date interaction in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue Buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site Buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Nebraska site Buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Buffalograss quality for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Buffalograss quality for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Nebraska site Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site 116

16 xi Figure 2.11 Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Kansas site Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1996 at the Utah site Buffalograss color for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application in 1998 at the Utah site Buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Buffalograss color for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four 'Neeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site Buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Nebraska site Buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Kansas site Buffalograss density for the nitrogen rate x year interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application at the Utah site Clipping weights for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four \Veeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Regression of clipping \Veights on the 0 to 49 kg N ha- 1 rates for buffalograss cultivars at four \Veeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site Regression of clipping 'Neights on the 49 to 195 kg N ha- 1 rates for buffalograss cultivars at four \Veeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Nebraska site 150

17 xii Figure 2.23 Clipping weights for the cultivar x nitrogen rate interaction at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Regression of clipping weights on the 0 to 49 kg N ha- 1 rates for buffalograss cultivars at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site Regression of clipping weights on the 49 to 195 kg N ha- 1 rates for buffalograss cultivars at four weeks after the second nitrogen application in 1997 at the Kansas site 154