Since this is the fresh start to the blog I figured I might as well start with about the simplest but most thought about topics in turf management and where most programs start. This topic will be nitrogen nutrition.
Nitrogen has many roles within the plant and is the nutrient that turf managers will generally use the most of. Nitrogen is a component of chlorophyll which in turn is very necessary for the entire photosynthesis process to take place. Nitrogen is also an important component of amino acids and proteins for cell structure, nucleic acids that allows turfgrass to maintain certain characteristics that are genetic to turfgrass plants and coenzymes which are involved in allowing metabolic reactions to take place within plant cells. Because it is such a valuable component in these processes the plant could not complete its ongoing plant cycles without nitrogen.
Nitrogen also has an affect on shoot growth, root growth, shoot density, plant colour, stress management/hardiness, disease suppression and turfgrass competition. Shoot growth is important as when you add nitrogen you are promoting the plant to grow top growth or more leaf tissue which is one of the most obvious signs of a growing/living turfgrass plant. Nitrogen can increase root growth initially or if nitrogen is supplied in adequate amounts. In instances of excessive nitrogen use it can limit or decrease root development though as eventually we can deplete carbohydrate levels to the point that the plant chooses to produce shoots over roots and either limit or decrease root amounts. Because nitrogen is a valuable component of chlorophyll it has a huge impact on just how green the plant is as chlorophyll is what gives the plant colour. This is also proof as to why the plant turns yellow when nitrogen is deficient.
An example of chlorophyll in action first thing in the spring
Certain plant stresses will relate to nitrogen levels differently. Generally plant hardiness for cold weather will be lower if the plant has been given excessive nitrogen right before freezing as nitrogen can be a limiting factor in this case. The plants ability to deal with heat stress can be improved with nitrogen though as nitrogen can increase the amount of plant respiration carried out. Traffic stress will generally be less in plants with adequate nitrogen as the plant is resilient enough to handle compaction of the plant and resilient enough to recover and grow new tissue as a result of the stress.
Nitrogen amounts can have both positive and negative effects on disease development or suppression of certain diseases. High nitrogen can results in a softer and more fleshy leaf tissue that can be more prone to certain fungi of certain diseases like leaf spot, fusarium and certain warm weather patch diseases. But in turn there are some diseases like dollar spot that are generally less common in turf that has been given adequate amounts of nitrogen. One important factor in dealing with disease and nitrogen management no matter what will always be that if an infection takes place and recovery is necessary; nitrogen will be needed to promote recovery of the plant from the stress it has endured.
Nitrogen levels can also be an important factor in managing stands of turf with more than one turf type. An example of this would with annual bluegrass versus creeping bentgrass. If you want to promote the annual bluegrass than you would want to apply higher levels of nitrogen as it will be more competitive in instances of high nitrogen. If you are trying to promote the bentgrass though, then you would want to slightly limit nitrogen as in this case of lower nitrogen the creeping bentgrass would be more competitive.
If you are looking to add nitrogen to your program with Turf Fuel we would usually look at products like Base N25 and Root Down or many of our premium Turf Fuel G granular products. Other products containing levels of nitrogen include Photo Fuel, Quick Green and Blade Iron.
Base N25 is a 25-0-0 (25% nitrogen) containing slow release nitrogen and Turf Fuel's G2D technology. This is a fantastic nitrogen product for any instances where colour and plant growth are desired or needed as well as helping with all of the other functions that we had previously discussed above. G2D is a blend of conjugated, plant-based hormones that promote plant growth and development while improving shoots, crowns, chlorophyll production and energy conservation.
Turf Fuel is committed to developing products that are not like any other on the market and finding solutions to the problems that have been plaguing turf managers for years. They are committed to always improving the already great products they currently have. Turf Fuel has solutions available from the most simple aspects of nitrogen nutrition to the much more complicated solutions that you have been looking for.
