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Frequency of Fertilizer Applications and Centipedegrass Performance

Dep. of Agronomy, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA 30223-1797.

^* Corresponding author.

Centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.] is a low maintenance grass widely used throughout the southeastern United States. Improper fertilization continues to be a major concern and results in Centipedegrass decline. With low fertilization, the grass has a pale green color that is often unacceptable to many turfgrass managers. This research was initiated to determine the influence of frequency of annual fertilizer treatments on turfgrass quality. Treatments were arranged in a split plot design with frequency of annual fertilization treatments as main plots and N rates as subplots. Soil type was a Cecil sandy loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludult). The quality of Centipedegrass treated with 50 kg N ha^–1 in April and repeated at the same rate in July for a total rate of 100 kg ha^–1 was equal to or better than that from a single application of 100 kg N ha^–1 in April. Centipedegrass quality from split applications (April + July) was also equal to or better than that when a total of 100 kg N ha^–1 was split into three or four equal applications over the growing season. The exception occurred in September in 2 of 4 yr when the quality of Centipedegrass was better when N was applied in three and four annual applications. Centipedegrass decline measured by quality and stand density occurred in plots treated with 100 kg N ha^–1 in April after 3 and 4 yr of consecutive applications. Decline was not evident when N was applied annually at 100 kg ha^–1 in split applications. At 0 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 Centipedegrass failed to provide sufficient growth to maintain an acceptable stand. Also, after two consecutive years without N applications, centipedegrass quality declined, which indicates that some N is necessary every year.

Received for publication February 15, 1988.