Effects of Mowing Height, Nitrogen Rate, and Potassium Rate on Palmetto and Raleigh St. Augustinegrass

St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] is utilized in Louisiana and other Southern states for home lawns, and to a lesser extent for commercial lawns. Under moderate management, it provides an adequate stand of turf but when maintained at a higher level it will provide a denser, greener, and better quality stand of turf. There is limited information on the nutrient content of St. Augustinegrass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of both Palmetto and Raleigh St. Augustinegrass under high (H) and low (L) combinations of the following factors: 2 mowing heights (5.0 and 7.5 cm); 2 nitrogen (N) levels (227 and 454 g N 93 m−2 month−1; and 2 potassium (K) levels (227 and 454 g K 93 m−2 month−1). The treatment combinations were (mowing, N, and K), HHH, HHL, HLH, HLL, LHH, LHL, LLH, and LLL. Plots received a micronutrient fertilizer in 06 and 08 and were irrigated as needed. Color, density, texture, uniformity, and quality were determined monthly (04–10). Plant tissue samples were collected and analyzed for macronutrient and micronutrient contents. There were treatment differences for both macronutrients and micronutrients for both cultivars under all treatments.