Turf Exam 2 Questions With 100% Correct Solutions.

Which three macronutrients are most commonly referred to in a fertilizer analysis - AnswerPhosphorus Potassium Nitrogen What are two strategies that can be used to improve a salted soil - Answer-Irrigation Gypsum How many essential elements do turfgrasses require? Why are they often referred to as essential elements - Answer-17 For oxygen, food, water movement Define CEC? Why is monitoring CEC so important for turfgrass growth and development - AnswerCation Exchange Capacity Higher CEC tends to make more fertile that retains more nutrients, low CEC soils retain less nutrients. Clays contribute to CEC, high sands mean less CEC What does 15-5-10 fertilizer analysis indicate - Answer-15-Nitrogen 5-Phosphorus 10-Potassium Why is potassium often considered a plant health element? What role does it play in the turfgrass plant - Answer-Guard cells- water retention, drive transpiration Increases carbohydrate storage- root growth Which macronutrient is not tested for in a routine soil test? why - Answer-Nitrogen- present in different forms in the soil Expensive to test for What is the goal of a soil test - Answer-soil that is chemically beneficial, to plant rooting and nutrient uptake, all while minimizing excess nutrient input/loss and/or to prevent damage to plant growthWhat role does potassium play within turfgrass health and growth - Answer-Plant immobile, root growth to stabilize plants, with water loss What are 3 factors that must be known when calculating the amount of fertilizer to apply - AnswerScenario of the type of turf use Species or plant type Soil pH What are two amendments that are routinely used to adjust acidic soil pH so that they are less acidic - Answer-Liming Replace sodium What element has a larger hydration radius and leads to defloculation of soil structure - Answer-Sand True False: Phosphorus often requires frequent applications since it is very mobile in soils - AnswerFalse True/False: A healthy stand of turf should have 3%-5% N contained in a tissue test - Answer-True True/False: St. Augustingrass is noted for its excellent cold tolerance - Answer-False True/False: Precipitation is a major factor that influences soil pH - Answer-True True/False: It is typical to take a soil test immediately following a fertilizer application - Answer-False True/False: Bulk density is an indicator of compaction - Answer-True Be familiar with how soil structure, soil texture, and soil density both affect turf health, and how they may be amended or changed - Answer-Silt and clay retain moisture for plants, sand does not Clay is responsible for nutrient retention Finer texture soils compact well, Coarse texture does not compact us much Ideal soil compaction- 1.25-1.55Lighter soils tend to have more sand, heaver soils smaller soil fraction Common ways of softening- adding sand or irrigation Air-rating- opens the more compact soils Adding organic materials makes softer soils harder Be familiar with quick release fertilizers and their typical analyses. Ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, Diammonium phosphate, Urea - Answer-Typical analyses-33-0-0, releases nitrogen in the soil Ammonium becomes nitrate in the soil. Sulfate adds acid to soil- lime corrects acid in soil Calcium- lowers soil pH, Nitrate- doesn't affect pH Diammonium- 18-46-0 Urea- enzyme break down responsible for nitrogen release Be familiar with slow release fertilizer sources. Urea formaldehyde, sulfur coated urea, polymer coated urea, isobutylidene diuerea - Answer-Spoon feeding approach