THE FOLIAR ABSORPTION OF UREA-N BY TALL FESCUE AND CREEPING BENTGRASS TURF

The absorption and assimilation of 15N-labeled urea applied to the foliage of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) turf was examined under a controlled environment. Each source of N was dissolved in deionized water to a final concentration of 25 g N liter-1 and spray-applied at a rate of 5 g N m-2. Absorption of the fertilizer-N over a 72 hr period, as measured by 15N analysis of tissue digests, averaged 55% for the two species. Absorption was also estimated by a washing procedure which measured the urea remaining on the foliage, and by the increase in total N in the plant tissue. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.