Time for a fertilization quiz

[lorenzo piedra]

Today using my patented piedra-o-green ride on fertilization/pesticide application vehicle I applied "some" fertilizer to a turf area of 80K (it's a good round number) square feet.

The quiz question is if I applied ten-50lb bags of 32-5-7-50%SCU how many pounds of N per square foot did I apply?

Bonus question: Why would one apply this quantity of material and what usage be the turf in question?

And please Mr. Ric kindly hold back your answer for 48 hours to see if we have any real "players" in this group.

[Christian grower]

Today using my patented piedra-o-green ride on fertilization/pesticide application vehicle I applied "some" fertilizer to a turf area of 80K (it's a good round number) square feet.

The quiz question is if I applied ten-50lb bags of 32-5-7-50%SCU how many pounds of N per square foot did I apply?

Bonus question: Why would one apply this quantity of material and what usage be the turf in question?

And please Mr. Ric kindly hold back your answer for 48 hours to see if we have any real "players" in this group.

I would say you applied 2# of N per 1M.

I don't have an answer to the bonus question.

[Seascape]

Im not going to answer your first stupid question,,,as for the bonus,,, you may be trying to grow out a fungi?

[Ric]

Im not going to answer your first stupid question,,,as for the bonus,,, you may be trying to grow out a fungi?

Mike

Lets be nice, Saint Piedra is trying to give you the education that you really need. Now I am not a cool season C-3 expert like he is. However Christan Grower has gotten the first part correct. you have gotten the grow out part right but for the wrong reason.

Now remember it is sometimes better to kiss the ring of greatness (even if you have your tongue in your cheek) than to spit on it.

Now if you re-read Saint Piedra question, you just might find a big hint. Saint Piedra Is kind of hitting you on the head with a 2X4, with this hint.

[lorenzo piedra]

Actually Mr. Ric Seascrape could be right if the application took place about five or six weeks ago if the turf had heavy damage from snow mold but unfortunately he is not in the right "ballpark".

[Seascape]

Actually Mr. Ric Seascrape could be right if the application took place about five or six weeks ago if the turf had heavy damage from snow mold but unfortunately he is not in the right "ballpark".

I hear ya ric,,, at this point i wish to retract any defiancy ive inserted as to not hash this thread,,, I have a strong suspicion its going to be constructive.

However,,,,,,,, as for "ballpark" i disagree,,gimme some credit mr. piedra,,theres an abundance of fungis that could warrant an attempt to grow out. Red thread for example could easily be an issue right now,,been just right here,,,maybe a tad cool but it wouldnt shock me. So can we go out on a limb and say i was at least in the "ball park"?

As for the reason you are looking for,,,I'll have to ponder on it.

Oh,,,one more thing. Before we get any further,,,Mr. peidra,,on this particular turf,, how long have you had this program?

[Ric]

Mike

Let me wipe the egg off my face for once. Not being in C-3 cool season turf I forgot about your winter fungus. Last night, Saint Piedra read me the riot act on the telephone. However, Fungus is not the main reason for this treatment. We all know what kind of turf areas Saint Piedra likes to specialize in, so the hints are like being hit by a Line Backer.

[GroundKprs]

Sports field management strategies are not useful in dealing with ornamental turf. 50 years ago, grass was grass, but in any decent turf seminar today, you will have sessions for golf turf, sessions for other sports turf, and general turf sessions that will help you with ornamental turf.

It makes no sense to the knowlegable ornamental turf manager to consider using sports turf principles on ornamental turf. So everyone doing just ornamental turf can just leave this stone unturned. You'll not learn anything useful.

[Seascape]

Well than perhaps he is trying to increase his residual,,,could be the area sees an abundance of water? But no,,i dont know what he likes to specialize in.

[Ric]

Mr Jim

Are you telling me that pound of "N" a week of Ammonium Nitrate I put on a Polo field wouldn't work on ornament turf?

Because I know you and Saint Piedra very well; I have talked on the phone with both of you this week. I know where you are coming from on this thread. I am not sure it will do the harm that you think it might. Now because I don't work in C-3 cool season turf, I have forgotten more about it than than most know. In fact I have forgotten everything I ever knew about C-3.

My area of the world has calcareous sandy with no Hydraulic conductivity or CEC. This in combination with insect and fungus pressure makes it very hard to grow good turf. Weeds become secondary to healthy turf because a healthy turf is the best defends for weeds.

Now My main point is: We don't always get perfect lawns to take care of. We don't always get them in the most opportune time of the year. We normally get new customers because their lawn are in trouble and at the wrong time of year to make a showing. SPORT TURF management can be of value to ornamental turf to bring it back. Now once it is a health ornamental turf, then management practices should be for ornamental turf and not sports turf.

Case in Point Saint Piedra is talking about a football field that was played hard up until December and then let alone until this spring when it was in trouble. He now has the job of making it health again before the fall season. In the mean time Soccer players will abuse the field some more over the spring and summer season. His management practice must be High High maintenance on a limited budget. Will he do everything by the book?? I think not. His budget per thousand is not a pittance of Augusta's. He will do what he thinks is the most reasonable at the cost. Can we learn from him? I say yes. Will the university studies back him up?? You say no and I will agree but then, How many guys are practicing proper turf management. How many fertilizer companies are selling home owners 46-.001-.004 as Turf Builder bonus S for $ 24.00 a 30 lb bag.

Ps. You are both my friend but not each others friend. I don't ask that you guys be buddies. Only that you understand your differences. One is premium and the other frugal management practices. Both have an economy market.

Mike

This post answers your question about The Frugal Agronomists specialty

[Seascape]

Well im out of my arena if you start talking sport turf. However i wouldnt be afraid to take some on. Certainly i could learn something.

So now that its been brought up,,, what would a typical (if there is such thing) application program look like ,,lets say on a football field?

How many cuts does a football field see per year?

What are typical maintenance events during off season? During play season?

Ya know one thing ive always wondered,,, how do they install sod and play a national championship 6 days later or less? And theres no significant damage to speak of? I thought perhaps staples,,,but that would be hazardous youd think.

I know some fields probally arent irrigated,,, what than? Water truck?

Oh,,, and Mr. piedra,,, seen this synthetic turf yet? Probally not doing you any favors is it? Being you specialize in sport turf. Ya know,,, i heard it mentioned that it could start trickling into the consumer market. Imagine that ,,,artificial turf on residentials. Thats an ugly thought,,,not just in my wallet,,,but rid live turf altogether? I know,,fat chance.

Im gonna take a chance lookin like and idiot,,off the top my head,,,a turf grass mix is primarilly fescue? But what would a premium blend look like?
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[btammo]

The sod installed for play 6 days later, is not installed like you would for a lawn. It is brouht in on pallet type platforms and put together like a big puzzle, so you could change any section at any time if you need to. The one biggest problem is that this type of turf wont hold up against alot of traffic i.e Giants Stadium. You have the Giants, Jets, Soccer, all sorts of action on that turf.....just didnt hold up, and therefore abandoned. I remember Emmitt Smith's quote after playing on that field. "This is the worst field that I have ever played on in my entire life....including high school".

[lorenzo piedra]

Seascrape,

Too many questions too little time.

If you apply 2 lbs of N at one shot how often do YOU think it needs mowing?

I am not go into detail about my sports field programs and give my hard info away for free to the general public.

The NEW syn fields cost about $750K to install and they actually require maintenance!!! Who knows how long they last but the mfgs are saying 10 years.

So for the price of just 1 syn field you can build and maintain three "professional" quality (like Beaver stadium at Penn State) fields.

[Seascape]

[QUOTE=lorenzo piedra]If you apply 2 lbs of N at one shot how often do YOU think it needs mowing?

QUOTE]
I didnt ask how "often" its cut,,i asked an annual count *** head. I highly doubt you are pouring N at that rate the entire growing season. Would make sense to me to let the turf relax during off seasons,,,I have really no interest in "how often" I asked "how many". Something tells me you dont know.

btammo,
Thanks for the explanation. You gotta wonder how the maintenance supervisor felt when Emmitt Smith said that. Lets ask Mr. Piedra !

Edited by Admin

[Ric]

i asked an annual count **** head.

Trout

Saint Piedra gave you no reason for you to call him "**** Head". But you have given me a reason to call you TROUT.

Mike

Sport Turf like Golf Courses are high maintenance turfs, that require professional management. Soil and Tissue samples should be taken on a regular basic to monitor progress. Different treatment are used for different areas of the field let alone different areas of the country. Professional turf management can not be learned from a single thread. We are talking about an education that people like me went to college for many years to learn. Even after all those years I don't know SQUAT. In fact University PhD study this all their lives and still don't know it all.

Now community Sport fields are "Push Up" fields (native soil or fill dirt). There is no consistence to the quality of this soil. Therefore one management plan will not work. A real Turf Professional needs to know the Physical properties (Physical properties of soil are measured in terms like texture, structure, particle size distribution, particle shape, density, infiltration, percolation, hydraulic conductivity, and water potential etc.) and the Chemical Properties (Chemical properties are measured in terms like cation & anion exchange, salinity, pH, redox potential, and volatilization etc.) of the soil they are working with.

Bottom line is: Community Sport fields Do Not have the BUDGET for true Professional Turf Management.

Now My own experience with Community Sport Fields was with the local High School. They contacted me early August to get the Football field ready for a game the last week of August. Once the season was over they were no long interested until next August. One year I jumped on the band wagon Pro Bono Publico and even landscaped the End Zones with Blue and Yellow flowering plants to match the school's Blue and Gold colors. Now after over 60 man hours and $ 1,500.00 of my own money they showed their appreciation by Mis-spelling my company name and not listing my phone number in the sports program.

Groundskper= Jim

I should never of answered your reply. You were right. I have the Education but, You have the Common Sense and years of Experience.