Effect of Fertilizer on Pinegrass in Southern British Columbia

Abstract

Response to fertilizers of pinegrass dominated vegetation on Gray Wooded soils was tested in pot and field trials. Ammonium nitrate applied at 100 and 200 kg N/ha increased the yield, nutritive value, and palatability of pinegrass; this increase was accentuated when S in the form of gypsum was applied with N. Response to P, K, and a solution of micro nutrients was negligible. Most of the applied S and all of the applied N were depleted from the upper root zone by the end of the second growing season. At the higher rates of application, only 14% of the N was recovered by pinegrass. This value was even smaller at the lower rates of application. Sulfur considerably improved the ability of pinegrass to respond to N fertilization and 23% of the N was recovered when 100 Kg S/ha was applied with the N. Soils were analyzed for NO3-N, SO4-S, field moisture and organic C. These two elements and organic C were found to be mainly concentrated near the soil surface, which experienced the greatest fluctuation in moisture content.