Zinc
Manganese
rootzone can, if linked with excess iron, cause black layer. Again, it is very rare that a turf manager will need to purchase sulphur to rectify a sulphur deficiency, as sulphur is available linked to so many other nutrients required by turf. Three obvious options are to use a balanced fertiliser where the potassium is derived from potassium sulphate, or to use either sulphate of ammonia as a nitrogen source or, thirdly, if you have an iron shortage, use ferrous sulphate.
Zinc (Zn) - Zinc is required for the production of proteins and is vital for the plant to reach maturity with adult strength. The Yara Phosyn trials showed that turf plants grown without zinc were stunted and weak.
As Zinc has a very high atomic weight (65.38) it is virtually impossible to ‘flush’ it through the rootzone so, if you have an excess which can lock up phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and iron are the best options to ensure that no more zinc is applied, and to increase the cec of the rootzone so that the amount of zinc is proportionally less than the other nutrients.
Copper
Iron
Manganese (Mn) - Excess manganese can be toxic to the turf, so the safest option is to apply this nutrient in a foliar form so that the soil levels do not increase. Manganese is required for the production of chlorophyll, so it will help provide good colour. It is also required for the uptake of nitrogen. Manganese is a required trace mineral for all known living organisms.
Copper (Cu) - Copper has numerous functions within the plant, but is primarily responsible for root metabolism, the utilisation of nitrogen and for reproductive growth and tillering. A shortage of copper is often identified by a thin sward.
Iron (Fe) - After the primary nutrients, Iron is probably the most widely used element in turf management, the main reasons being that it is good for hardening the turf and, so, assisting with disease resistance. It also provides colour. Most turf managers are now using chelated iron rather than ferrous sulphate. The reason for this is that black layer is created by excess iron and sulphur with insufficient oxygen, so the use of ferrous sulphate is applying two of the elements of black layer. If black layer is a potential problem, colour can be increased
Boron
Sulphur
with the application of other nutrients such as manganese.
Boron (B) - You should be realistic with all soil reports. I have never seen turf in the UK that is showing symptoms of a boron deficiency. However, I always check that boron levels are not suddenly increasing as this would indicate a problem elsewhere, possibly a lockup of the other nutrients. Boron is required to assist with the uptake of all the nutrients.
Sodium (Na) - Sodium is not a nutrient that is required by cool season grasses, but I suggest that you always test for it as, if levels are too high, this can be toxic to the plant. As a general rule, if the levels of sodium exceed the levels of potassium you have a problem, as both are salts and the plant will take up the most available salt - potassium has benefits to the plant; sodium is toxic to the plant.
Richard Lawrence, Managing Director, Environmental Turf Technology Ltd. Tel: 01524 381999 E-mail:
ask@emailett.co.uk
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