Magazine - Nutrition of Sports Turf in Australia

By Jerry Spencer in Book Reviews on 2nd Jun 2009 19:45

Nutrition of Sports Turf in Australia shows how to grow a healthy, stress-tolerant turf capable of withstanding high levels of wear. It covers the concepts and principles of plant growth and the function of primary and secondary nutrients, micronutrients and soil organic matter.
 
The book goes on to explain how to choose the correct fertiliser strategies for establishment and post-establishment phases for cool-, transitional- and warm-season turf grasses throughout Australia. It contains a comprehensive treatment of all types of fertilisers such as compound NPK; slow-release liquid; nitrification and urease inhibitors; and sulphur-coated and polymer-coated products. While not endorsing any particular product, the book looks at them from an analytical perspective showing how they differ and discusses their various applications in each climatic zone. 

Appendices complete the volume with detailed information on everyday, practical issues that concern turf managers such as how to lower or increase soil pH, conversion factors for elemental to oxide conversions and vice versa, and how to interpret soil analysis for turfgrass use.

Features

* Includes cool, transitional and warm season turf grasses
* Covers the basic principles of plant growth and the function of primary and secondary nutrients, micronutrients and soil organic matter
* Comprehensive treatment of all types of fertilisers including compound NPK, slow release liquid, nitrification and urease inhibitors, sulphur coated and polymer coated products
* Gives fertiliser strategies for both establishment and post-establishment phases
* Appendices contain detailed information on everyday, practical issues that concern turf managers
 
Contents
Introduction
Primary nutrients
Secondary nutrients
Micronutrients
Straight Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK) fertilisers
Micronutrient fertilisers
Slow release fertilisers for turf
Controlled release fertilisers
The use of combination products in the Australian turf and nursery industries
Putting it all into practice
Establishment
Post establishment fertiliser strategies
Fertigation
Appendix I: Soil acidity
Appendix II: Sulphur: calculating the rate of sulphur to apply to achieve a pH reduction
Appendix III: What happens to soil in the presence of sodium
Appendix IV: Dealing with the issue of high sodium soils
Appendix V: Nutrient Conversion Factors
Appendix VI: Properties of slow release fertilisers
Appendix VII: Soil and tissue testing
Appendix VIII: Interpreting soil analysis for turfgrass use
Appendix IX: Salt index and partial salt index of commonly used turf fertilisers
Appendix X: Soil and tissue testing
Appendix XI: Interpreting soil analysis for turfgrass use
Bibliography

Reviews
"This book is a further tool in the hands of all turf growers giving an insight to all fertilisers that we use."
The Bowling Greenkeeper, December 2008

Jerry Spencer has spent over 20 years in the turf and horticultural industries, in roles ranging from advisory to product development both here and in the UK. He has had over 50 articles published and also a book on pesticide management in the turf industry.

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Read more articles in Book Reviews, by Jerry Spencer or from June 2009.