Effects of different nitrogen resources on plant growth and turf quality of some cool climate grass plants

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different nitrogen resources on plant growth and turf quality of some cool season turfgrasses in 2017 and 2018 years at Osmangazi Municipality, Directorate of Parks and Gardens, Nursery Plant, Bursa, Turkey (40° 14'N, 29° 02'E, 92 m above sea level). The experiment was set out as two factors in randomized blocks with three replications. Nitrogen resources [slow release fertilizer (Biosmart 23-5-7), vermicompost (Sesol) and chemical fertilizer (%21 ammonium sulfate)] were first factor and different cool climate grass plants (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Poa pratensis) were second factor. According to the results of the experiment; among the turfgrasses, Festuca arundinacea has given the best turf color and quality. This turfgrass was followed by Lolium perenne. The lowest performance was observed in Poa pratensis. The best results were obtained from ammonium sulfate in terms of nitrogen sources. However, in some observations and measurements, slow release fertilizer and ammonium sulfate also gave the best results, while the lowest turf color, quality and clipping yield were obtained from vermicompost. Although slow release fertilizer is not superior to ammonium sulfate fertilizer, in most observations it gives values over 6, which is the lower limit of acceptable color and quality values. Accordingly, slow release fertilizer can be applied in areas where there is no high expectation about grass color and where environmental pollution is expected to occur as a result of nitrogen leaching.