The more available and tied to the most useful carbon, the better the fertility will be.
As the weather warms, input changes are needed
Posted in Best Turf Management Practices, Spring Turf Management by Curtis Williams
By DALE MILLER
AmeriTurf Agronomist
While spring has officially begun, depending on where you are in the US the grass is at a significantly different period in growth and metabolism.
In the warmer areas, focus will be more on establishment and maturity.
In the intermediate areas the focus will be on carbohydrate support and giving the plant enough soluble/available carbon fuel to support the coming Nitrogen input period to drive the plant to establish and mature.
In the cooler regions, the focus should remain on carbohydrate support to keep the tank full and maintaining the plant, not forcing it or creating unnecessary growth.
Great turf management is about patience and timing. That is not a calendar event or date on the calendar, though turf managers are frequently required to follow calendars for events.
The plant does not care about the club championship, the member guest or the host of special events, often scheduled for the spring season when the weather isn’t quite good enough for full growth and plant support.
This is where the tools available today are far superior to those available years ago.
Soluble carbon options enable the turf manager to much more effectively manage the plant, the biology and the response seen than any time in the past.
The difference is like a candy bar and a steak; both are carbon sources but one is immediately broken down, while the other requires significant energy and time, thus the two illicit completely different metabolic responses.
The same happens with the different carbon sources, Amino Acids, Fulvic Acids, Humic Acids being three key groups though there are others which fit into similar category. Amino Acids being highly responsive, Fulvic Acids intermediate, Humic Acids being slower. Use of these in fertility programs and products dictates response and should be used based on the weather, plant metabolism at that time and biological activity at that time.
Use of Amino Acid based products in the late winter, early spring along with Nitrate based Nitrogen products and high amounts of micro nutrients focused on Magnesium inputs will be most beneficial before the temperatures start to warm up.
As temperatures start to warm, the plant starts to burn up more and more carbohydrates to support the growth “Mother Nature” is initiating. The key is “Mother Nature” initiated. Seldom is it beneficial for turf managers to initiate or force growth. Work with “Mother Nature” in a natural manner and end results will be far superior.
As superintendents add more Nitrogen to the programs in the spring to more quickly transition and establish, it is critical to remember that the plant must move Nitrogen to Amino Acids to proteins to what we see visually – stems, leaves and roots.
That requires either a full tank of carbohydrates or a consistent soluble carbon input to support the Nitrogen used to move the plant.
This is a simple plant physiological fact: the plant makes Amino Acids and that chemistry is well known. An amino acid is a C, H, O, N molecule which can carry other elements depending on what makes most sense at the given time of year.
As spring starts to establish and temps stop the roller coaster from cold to warm, it is very beneficial to add soluble Phosphorus to the program to support root growth the plant wants to naturally initiate in the spring.
Turf plants are not “Foliar” by nature, they are root absorbing and Zylem mobilizing as all nutrients move upward in the plant but that is limited downward. They uptake nutrients from roots most effectively. This means the more available and tied to the most useful carbon, the better the fertility will be.
As Phosphorus is employed in spring programs for the purpose of strong root support and plant energy, you need to have adequate and even elevated levels of soluble Calcium or you will not get the root mass you desire, especially with warm season grasses that are much more root mass challenged.
Frequency of inputs is much more important than abundance or loading of nutrients. As the plant moves from spring to summer, the source of Carbon and Nitrogen should change accordingly to slower availability and use. Typically, it’s much more about controlled and managed growth than excess.
As the weather (and soil) warms, Carbon inputs can move more to Fulvic and Humic sources, and slower breakdown Carbon and Nitrogen should move to sources such as Urea, Ammonium Sulfate or even slower forms of controlled release Nitrogen such as Methylene Urea, Stabilized Urea, or Carbon based Nitrogen which all require significant temperatures and microbial activity to release evenly and consistently.
Let’s not forget Potassium. The best and most effective use of Potassium is in light and frequent applications. There are slower release options, but the smooth, consistent and available release will ensure the best response and plant benefit as Potassium is impacted by many soil factors.
Too many turf managers chase Potassium levels attempting to build Potassium in the soil. Even if this was possible, it will not be of the same benefit as light, frequent, controlled inputs. Adding a Carbon source to Potassium is like icing on the cake. It simply stimulates the uptake and efficient use of Potassium.
Carbon, like Nitrogen, is an element. However, Carbon has long been ignored as a required element or nutrient. At 45% of a plant by make-up compared to 4% for Nitrogen, there is no question why Carbon is becoming the “fertilizer” of choice.
Contact your AmeriTurf Agronomist or Sales Consultant for recommendations that address your specific requirements. We’re here for your success!