Influence of Fertility Ratios on Winter Hardiness of Bermudagrass1

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Abstract
The influence of different ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on cold tolerance of two golf‐green bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) cultivars was investigated. Samples from field‐produced turf were depleted of soil nutrients before the fertility ratios were applied, then cold‐hardened in a growth chamber prior to being subjected to a standard freezing test. Significant differences occurred among several ratios in the amount of regrowth obtained in the greenhouse following freezing. Differences among treatments became greater with the decrease in tmperature. Ratios in which the levels of nitrogen and potassium were approximately equal and about 4 to 5 times greater than phosphorus gave the greater quantities of regrowth. Inferior treatments were those with higher amounts of nitrogen in relation to the other two nutrients. Of those tested, it was found that a ratio of 4‐1‐6 was superior in producing cold tolerance. These results indicate that a balanced fertility program with emphasis on adequate potassium in late summer would improve the cold resistance of the two bermudagrasses.

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