Nitrogen Utilization by Bromegrass as Influenced by Source of Nitrogen and by Rate and Time of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application

The particular importance of nitrogen in the nutrition of grasses is generally recognized. Observations of many investigators as well as the results of fertilizer tests have pointed out the extra-ordinarily high nitrogen requirement of grasses for optimum yields, especially bromegrass. A comprehensive study was done about the influence of rate and time of applications of different nitrogenous fertilizers on the intake of nitrogen by bromegrass. This experiment was conducted to compare applications of anhydrous ammonia with applications of other nitrogen fertilizers as to their effects on yield and composition of bromegrass. Very large increases in yield of forage were obtained with each fertilizer, and significant increases were obtained with each added increment of nitrogen compared to unfertilized forage. Considering all rates of nitrogen application collectively, increases in forage yields obtained with anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate were about equal. Advisor: H. F. Rhoades