Determination of the effect of nitrogen doses on different turf mixtures used in football fields

This research was conducted at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University between 2020 and 2022 years with the aim of determining the effects of different nitrogen doses on some cool-season turfgrass mixtures commonly used on football fields. In the study, eight different turfgrass mixtures were created using Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca rubra var. commutata, and Poa pratensis, and five different nitrogen doses (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/m2) were applied. In the research, parameters such as emergence rate (days), ground cover speed (days), cold resistance (1-9), ground cover rate (1-9), leaf texture (mm), leaf color (1-9), regeneration power (1-5), tiller number (number/dm2), general appearance (1-9), dry matter yield (g/m2) and nitrogen content (%) were determined. According to the variance analysis results, both grass mixtures and nitrogen doses had statistically significant effects on all of the characteristics examined in the research. Depending on the mixtures, emergence rate ranged from 12.33 to 16.73 days, coverage rate ranged from 23.80 to 28.13 days, cold resistance ranged from 5.13 to 7.13 points, coverage degree ranged from 5.53 to 7.67 points, leaf texture ranged from 1.86 to 2.86 mm, leaf color ranged from 2.20 to 7.23 points, regrowth capacity ranged from 2.00 to 3.73 points, tiller count ranged from 185.40 to 268.93 per dm2, overall appearance ranged from 3.17 to 7.67 points, dry matter yield ranged from 595.19 to 925.87 g/m2, and nitrogen content ranged from 1.71% to 2.14%. Mixtures such as 50% L. perenne + 50% F. arundinacea, 25% L. perenne + 50% F. arundinacea + 25% F. rubra var. commutata, and 40% L. perenne + 30% F. arundinacea + 30% P. pratensis exhibited superior characteristics. In the research, as nitrogen doses increased, cold resistance, coverage degree, leaf texture, leaf color, regrowth capacity, tiller count, overall appearance, dry matter yield, and nitrogen content in plant tissues showed increases. According to the results, in football fields to be established in Burdur province and similar ecological conditions, grass mixtures with a high proportion of F. arundinacea and L. perenne species should be preferred, and a monthly nitrogen application of 6 g/m2 should be regularly applied.