Boron Fertilization of Bentgrass

Although many states recommend boron (B) fertilizer for fiber, fruit, and vegetable crops, information about B fertilization of turfgrasses is lacking. The objective of this research was to examine the effects of B fertilization on clipping yield, shoot production, and turf color in a creeping bentgrass {Agrostis palustris Huds. [= A. stolonifera var. palustris (Huds.) Farw.]} putting green. Both greenhouse and field studies were conducted, with B added at rates of 0, 1, 2, and 3 mg kg−1 B in the greenhouse study, and rates of 0, 1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 kg B ha−1 in the field study. Bentgrass in the greenhouse study was grown in a sand and peat mix, while bentgrass in the field study was grown on a native soil (loamy sand) putting green. Studied bentgrass cultivars were Penn A2, Penn G1, Penn G6, SR1020, Dominant, L‐93, Crenshaw, and Penncross. In the greenhouse study, dry weight of bentgrass shoots increased as B rate increased. In the field study, in one year of two, B uptake by bentgrass increased as B rate increased. Dry weight of clippings, thatch depth, shoot density, and turf color were unaffected by B fertilization, indicating that B fertilization in the loamy sand soil was not needed. Increases in shoot dry weight observed in the greenhouse study suggest that further study of B fertilization of bentgrass in sand‐based greens might be warranted.