Feature Story
Compost Incorporation and Microclover Overseeding in ‘Yukon’ Bermudagrass By Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., and Adam Nichols, Hampton Roads Ag. Research and Extension Center, and Michael Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Virginia Tech/Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
I
nstallation and maintenance of turfgrass requires a number of inputs, including fertilizer application. With the increased concern over nutrients moving into the Chesapeake Bay, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, there is interest in ways to reduce fertilizer inputs. Through a grant funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, we are cooperating on a project with the University of Maryland and Penn State in a research project to do just that.
establishment. Each trial includes four treatments: • no compost/ no microclover addition • compost addition without microclover • microclover seeding without compost • addition of compost and microclover A perennial clover that closely resembles white clover, microclover fixes nitrogen, so it may be an alternative to application of nitrogen fertilizers. Within each of the treatments, half of the plot received no additional fertilizer, while the other half received 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 ft2 yearly. Microclover has smaller leaves and flowers than white clover, and thus it may blend better into turfgrass stands (Photo 1). At Virginia Tech, we evaluated compost addition and microclover seeding in ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass,
Our research
Photo 1: Standard white clover (larger leaf) vs. microclover (smaller leaf).
The overall objectives of the project are to evaluate and promote the adoption of compost incorporation prior to turfgrass establishment as a best management practice, to evaluate the incorporation of compost after turf establishment and to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by incorporating microclover at seeding or after turf
Table 1. Mean percent turf and weed cover of newly established ‘Yukon” bermudagrass, seeded July 2, 2012. July 23
Trt. #
August 1
August 22
September 22
Turf%
Weed%
Turf%
Weed%
Turf%
Weed%
Turf%
Weed%
1
‘Yukon’ bermuda Compost
2 lbs./1,000 ft2 2" incorporated
27%
62%
54%
43%
49%
51%
45%
54%
2
‘Yukon’ bermuda Compost Microclover
1.9 lbs./1,000 ft 2" incorporated 0.1 lbs./1,000 ft2
29%
63%
44%
45%
45%
55%
39%
56%
3
‘Yukon’ bermuda No compost No microclover
2 lbs./1,000 ft2
5%
91%
16%
74%
16%
83%
11%
88%
4
‘Yukon’ bermuda Microclover No compost
1.9 lbs./1,000 ft 0.1 lbs./1,000 ft2
1%
96%
5%
91%
3%
96%
1%
99%
19
20
17
17
16
17
17
16
LSD (p = .05)
22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org