Surfactant Coated Fertilizers Enhance Quality and Increase Nitrogen Uptake in St. Augustine Turfgrass.

Soil surfactant applications are known to improve quality and increase nitrogen uptake in turfgrass systems. Strict fertilizer ordinances in Florida have banned the use of fertilizer during the rainy season. The objective of this trial was to determine if surfactant coated fertilizer could enhance quality of turfgrass and increase longevity of fertilizer in a ‘Floratam’ St. Augustine lawn (Stenotaphrum secondatum).  A field trial was conducted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during peak dry season. Treatments consisted of sulfur coated urea (SCU) (39-0-0), urea (46-0-0), surfactant coated SCU (SCSCU) and a surfactant coated urea (US).  Following fertilizer guidelines, fertilizer was applied as a one -time application in March, 2014. Results indicate a non-significant trend for better visual, color and NDVI ratings for the coated fertilizer treatments compared to the non-coated versions. Nitrogen content and uptake was either the same or greater in the coated fertilizer treated grass.   There was a trend for US to increase volumetric water content when compared to SCU. These results suggest that it is plausible for surfactant coated fertilizers to augment and maintain turfgrass aesthetics and perhaps reduce nitrogen input.