Fertilizer Rate Effects on Forage Yield Stability and Nutrient Uptake of Midland Bermudagrass

Authors

• John A. Guretzky, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Maru K. Kering, Samuel Roberts Noble FoundationFollow
• Jagadeesh Mosali, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OKFollow
• Eddie Funderburg, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OKFollow
• Jon T. Biermacher, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OKFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2010

Citation

Journal of Plant Nutrition 33 (2010), pp. 1819–1834; doi: 10.1080/01904167.2010.503831

Comments

Copyright © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used by permission.

Abstract

Our objectives were to document effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer rates on forage yields and uptake of N, P, and K by Midland bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] on a Minco fine, sandy loam in southern Oklahoma. After six years of this long-term experiment, forage yield responses to fertilization were mixed and depended on year. Stability analysis indicated forage yields responded positively to N fertilization during favorable weather conditions but negatively during poor weather conditions. Application of 112 kg N ha⁻¹ provided the best yield stability and mean annual forage yield among treatments, 11.5 Mg ha⁻¹, across years. In years with near-average weather conditions, uptake of N, P, and K increased linearly with N application rate. Limited water holding capacity of the soil and high soil P and K may have contributed to the limited yield responses to fertilization in this semi-arid environment.