Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Some Turfgrass Characteristics of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Abstract

The paper aimed to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the yield and some plant characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The study was conducted at Agricultural Research and Application Center of the Faculty of Agriculture in Iğdır University in 2013. In the experiment, eight levels of fertilizers: 0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0 and 70.0 kg N/ha per month were applied in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) during the sixth growing season. A randomized complete block with three replications was used as the experimental design. Nitrogen application affected plant height, green grass yield, plant covering rate, canopy color and turfgrass quality values of perennial ryegrass positively. In both monthly and as the average of nitrogen application, times of application (spring, summer and fall) caused the most uniform turfgrass quality and establishment. Results indicated that although a significant impact was on the character investigated, such as the leaf length, green grass yield, plant cover ratio, canopy color and turfgrass quality, the doses of nitrogen fertilizer have created close to each other in groups. In the stand point of view of all characters, N1, N2 and N3 were located in first group, N4 and N5 in the second group, N6 and N7 in the third group, expect for control (N0). It can be concluded that 40.0-50.0 kg N/ha per month may be more suitable to be used in ryegrass production in the landscape.