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TURFGRASS SCIENCE-NOTES

Mowing and Nitrogen Source Effects on Ammonia Volatilization from Turfgrass

Agronomy and Soils Dep. Auburn Univ., 201 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849

^* Corresponding author (eguertal{at}acesag.auburn.edu).

Although NH₃ volatilization can be a pathway of N loss from turfgrass systems, the magnitude of this loss has not been well quantified, especially from N sources other than urea. The objective of this research was to evaluate NH₃ volatilization as affected by N source and mowing of those N sources. The study consisted of mowing treatments (mowed or not mowed) and N sources: (i) urea, (ii) S-coated urea, (iii) polymer-coated urea, (iv) methylene urea, (v) ammonium nitrate, and (vi) composted sewage sludge. Mowing treatments were applied by mowing the N sources, which had been applied to bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) putting greens. The fertilizers were collected and taken to the laboratory for NH₃ volatilization measurements, without additional watering. Treatments were applied at an N rate of 14.7 g m^–2 to the surface of bentgrass plugs contained in 1-L jars. Ammonia volatilization over 10 d was measured via boric acid trapping. Two experiments were conducted: one with loamy sand (Exp. 1) and one with an 80:20 sand–peat (v/v) greensmix (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, mowing never affected NH₃ volatilization, so mowing was eliminated from Exp. 2. Over the 10-d measurement period, urea had greatest total NH₃ volatilization, with most released in the first 2 d. Polymer-coated urea released the least NH_3, with greatest release 9 and 10 d after treatment. In descending order, amounts of NH₃ volatilization were urea, S-coated urea, methylene urea, composted sewage sludge, ammonium nitrate, and polymer-coated urea.

Abbreviations: IBDU, isobutylidene diurea • SCU, S-coated urea • SGN, size guide number