Assessing the impacts of various nitrogen sources on some cool season turfgrasses

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different nitrogen resources on plant growth and turf quality of some cool season turfgrasses in 2017 and 2018 years at Bursa Osmangazi Municipality, Directorate of Parks and Gardens. The experiment was set out as two factors in randomized blocks with three replications. Nitrogen resources [slow release fertilizer (Biosmart 23-5-7), vermicompost (Sesol) and chemical fertilizer (21% ammonium sulphate)] were first factor and different cool season turfgrass (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Poa pratensis) were second factor. The plot size is 1 x 2 = 2 m-2 and the sowing norm is 40 g m-2. In the study, forever variety of perennial ryegrass, Debussy variety of tall fescue and Shannon variety of Kentucky bluegrass were used as plant materials. According to the results of the experiment; among the turfgrasses, Festuca arundinacea has given the best turf color and quality. This turfgrass was followed by Lolium perenne. The lowest performance was observed in Poa pratensis. The best results were obtained from ammonium sulphate in terms of nitrogen sources. However, in some observations and measurements, slow release fertilizer and ammonium sulphate also gave the best results, while the lowest turf color, quality and dry matter yield were obtained from vermicompost. Although slow release fertilizer is not superior to ammonium sulphate fertilizer, in most observations it gives values over 6, which is the lower limit of acceptable color and quality values. Based on these results, it can be said that slow-release fertilizer is not much superior to ammonium sulfate fertilizer, but it performs as well as it does. However, due to the phenomenon of nitrogen leaching that occurs in nitrogen fertilizers used in the fertilization of turfgrass plants, it is known that groundwater pollution and related environmental and health problems occur. Although the slow-release fertilizer used in the experiment did not yield the best turfgrass color and quality values at all observation dates, it did yield values above the lower limit of 6, which is considered acceptable, in most observations. Therefore, in areas where there are no high expectations regarding turf color, the application of slow-release fertilizer will both ensure the attainment of an acceptable turf color and contribute to environmental protection.