Grass needs during spring greenup

okgrassguy – posted 25 March 2006 20:29

What is the most important nutrient, element or factor influencing spring greenup in bermuda? The reason I ask is that since warm season grasses in the late summer early fall devote more energy to storing carbohydrates instead of leaf growth, and can take in more K than it needs and store it. Does the stored carbohydrates speed up spring greening? Also since I mow early in the season am I removing too much of this energy reserve therefore slowing down greenup?

wrangler – posted 26 March 2006 08:47

okgrassguy,It appears that you have a firm grasp of basic fertility mgt. I feel like I am “preaching to the choir” but in my opinion nitrogen is the key to fast greenup in the spring. Nitrogen will also speed up the decomposition of remaining thatch and encourage a better C-N ratio at the surface.

The pedigree of bermudagrass can dictate spring greenup as much as fertility. For instance if you are managing Tifsport or 419 you will want to wait to apply nitrogen because it will encourage weed growth and put more preasure on your herbicide. Also if you are far north in the transition zone be careful to encourage early growth that may be damaged from a late frost. .

okgrassguy – posted 26 March 2006 11:31

So in your opinion the stored carbohydrates are more for winter survival of roots & crowns

wrangler – posted 26 March 2006 17:44

okgrassguy,

Yes.

K will aid in winter injury and drought stress. Several factors will aid in faster greeenup. First is genetically controlled, second is the removal of thatch and winter desicated leaf material (more sunshine to soil and new leaves) third is adequate fertility especially nitrogen. Managing bermudagrass agressiviely early in the spring seems to make spring deadspot disease more visible.