Abstract
Responses of 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass turf to various fairway cultural practices are not well-established or supported by research results. This study was initiated to evaluate the effects of irrigation frequency, clipping return or removal, and nitrogen rate on leaf and soil nitrogen con-tent in the 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) turf. A 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass turf was established in 1988 on a Sharpsburg silty-clay loam (Typic Argiudoll). The experiment was conducted from 1989 to 1991 under nontraffic conditions. A split-split-plot experimental design was used. Daily or biweekly irrigation, clipping return or removal, and 5, 15, or 25 g N $m-^2$ $yr-^1$ were the main-, sub-, and sub-sub-plot treatments, respectively. Treatments were replicated 3 times in a randomized complete block design. The turf was mowed 4 times weekly at a l3 mm height of cut. Leaf tissue nitrogen content was analyzed twice in 1989 and three times in both 1990 and 1991. Leaf samples were collected from turfgrass plants in the treatment plots, dried immediately at 70˚C for 48 hours, and evaluated for total-N content, using the Kjeldahl method. Concurrently, six soil cores (18mm diam. by 200 mm depth) were collected, air dried, and analyzed for total-N content. Nitrogen analysis on the soil and leaf samples were made in the Soil and Plant Analyical Laboratory, at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA. Data were analyzed as a split-split-plot with analysis of variance (ANOVA), using the General Linear Model procedures of the Statistical Analysis System. The nitrogen content of the leaf tissue is variable in creeping bentgrass fairway turf with clip-ping recycles, nitrogen application rate and time after establishment. Leaf tissue nitrogen content increased with clipping return and nitrogen rate. Plots treated with clipping return had 8% and 5% more nitrogen content in the leaf tissue in 1989 and 1990, respectively, as compared to plots treated with clipping removal. Plots applied with high-N level (25g N $m-^2$ $yr-^1$)had 10%, 17%, and 13% more nitrogen content in leaf tissue in 1989, 1990, and 1991, respectively, when compared with plots applied with low-N level (5g N $m-^2$ $yr-^1$). Overall observations during the study indicated that leaf tissue nitrogen content increased at any nitrogen rate with time after establishment. At the low-N level treatment (5g N $m-^2$ $yr-^1$ ), plots sampled in 1991 had 15% more leaf nitrogen content, as compared to plots sampled in 1989. Similar responses were also found from the high-N level treatment (25g N $m-^2$ $yr-^1$ ).Plots analyzed in 1991 were 18% higher than that of plots analyzed in 1989. No significant treatment effects were observed for soil nitrogen content over the first 3 years after establishment. Strategic management application is necessary for the golf course turf, depending on whether clippings return or not. Different approaches should be addressed to turf fertilization program from a standpoint of clipping recycles. It is recommended that regular analysis of the soil and leaf tissue of golf course turf must be made and fertilization program should be developed through the interpretation of its analytic data result. In golf courses where clippings are recycled, the fertilization program need to be adjusted, being 20% to 30% less nitrogen input over the clipping-removed areas. Key words: Agrostis palustris Huds., 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass fairway, Irrigation frequency, Clipping return, Nitrogen rate, Leaf nitrogen content, Soil nitrogen content.