Technical Report
 

Foliar Fertilization of Grass Grown for Seed

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/technical_reports/zk51vr43f

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  • In Southern Oregon, grass seed production occupies a small acreage, but is an important part of agronomic crop production. The high value of sod quality bentgrass seed (Agrostis palustris Huds.) led to some growers supplementing soil fertilizers with foliar fertilizers in an attempt to increase seed yield. However, this practice had not been tested under controlled conditions. The objective of this research was to determine whether growers could increase yield, reduce clean out costs, and/or improve seed test weight by applying foliar fertilizers during the reproductive phase of crop growth. Foliar fertilizers were applied “in boot”, three weeks later, at both times, or at neither time to commercial fields of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.),or bentgrass in a randomized complete block design. Foliar fertilizers contained N, P, K, S, Zn and B. Treatments were repeated over three growing seasons. Seed yield, test weight, and clean-out were not consistently or significantly improved by applying foliar fertilizers in boot and/or three weeks later. This was true regardless of the amount of soil fertilizer applied before the growing season. While yield was improved in certain instances, change in net return due to foliar fertilization was unpredictable, with large gains and losses both present. Based on these results, application of foliar fertilizers for grass seed production cannot be recommended for the cropping conditions of this study.
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