Winter Turf and Nutrient Management Research Update
Dr. Kevin W. Frank, Payton Perkinson, and Eric Galbraith
Michigan State University
Long-term nitrogen leaching
Since the summer of 1998 leachate samples have been collected from the monolith lysimeters at the HTRC and analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen. July 2023 marked 25 years of consecutive leachate collection and 33 years since turfgrass was established on the lysimeters.
Key Points:
1. After six years of the high N rate, 5 lb. N/1000 ft. 2 /yr, mean annual nitrate- nitrogen concentrations have increased from 1.1 to a high of 5.7 ppm in 2022.
2. Dormant season leaching continues to be a point of concern for the high N rate application.
This research will continue to measure nitrogen leaching in a continually managed turfgrass system and provide insight into the effect of fertilizer rates on nitrogen leaching from mature turfgrass stands.
Read the Full Report