Golf Course Fertilizing

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Golf Course Fertilizing
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Components of Fertilizer

• The three main components of a balanced
  fertilizer include nitrogen, phosphorus and
  potassium.
• Fertilizers may also include trace amounts of
  iron, sulfur, zinc, etc., but these are not
  always identified
• A bag of fertilizer will show the percentages of
  the three main components (as 20-10-10, for
  example).

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• Nitrogen, the first element in the series, is
  usually the most important of the three when
  growing grass. Its presence governs growth
  (height)
• Phosphorous and Potassium are more important for
  flowering and fruiting.
• Calculations for application of fertilizer are
  usually determined by the amount of nitrogen
  needed.

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Calculating Fertilizer Applications

• Suppose that a golf course has 2.5 acres in
  greens and that we need to apply four pounds of
  nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
• You have on hand 150 40-pound .bags of 20-10-10
• How many bags do you need to apply?

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Calculations

• One acre 43,560 square feet
• 2.5 ares X 43,560 108,900 square feet
• 108,900ft2 / 1000ft2 108.9 units of 1000ft2
• 4 lb/1000ft2 108.9 435.6 lbs of Nitrogen
• 40 lbs 20 Nitrogen 8 lbs Nitrogen/bag
• 435.6 lbs / 8 54.45 bags of fertilizer
• Therefore, 55 bags are needed.

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Variations

• Compute cost of nitrogen per pound
• Choose fertilizer if need is expressed in both
  nitrogen and phosphorous (1-1, 2-1, etc.)
• Cheapest source to use if different types at
  different costs.
• Multiple applications per year
• Differential applications to greens, fairways,
  etc.