Academic Programs

 Certificate Program

 Classes by Phil Busey

 Degree Requirements

 Golf and Sports Turf

 Grass Biology

 Landscape IPM

 Living Lawn

 Turfgrass Culture

 Research Interests

 Weed Science

Turfgrass Culture, ORH 3222c (4 credits)
Which fertilizer to buy?

Phil Busey, turf@ufl.edu 954-577-6337 (office)

The purpose of this is to understand the relative value of fertilizers available.  One approach is to start by looking at the price per unit nitrogen (N).  A 30-pound bag of Sunni Green, analysis 18-4-10, sold for $7.85  Therefore, the bag contained 30 x 18% nitrogen, or 5.4 pounds, at a price of $1.45 per pound.  The reasons to start by looking at nitrogen are that it is the most expensive major ingredient to put in the bag, and it is the supplemental nutrient needed in the largest quantity by the turf plant.  The next questions after price per nitrogen are:  (1) What other ingredients are present, especially is there iron?  (2) Is the nitrogen of good quality, either ammoniacal (reduces soil pH) or slow release?  (3) Are there other special considerations, e.g., packaging problems, or other ingredients, either beneficial (e.g., weed control) or detrimental (e.g., high Chlorine content).

List of fertilizers, contents, price information, and comments.  Products displayed at a South Florida Hardware Store, 3 April 1992.  Unit cost ($ per active pound) is calculated based on pounds active per bag, either N (nitrogen) or an indexed value.  The "index" considers equal value for N=P=K=Mg=S, and 10X value for other nutrient elements.  Fertilizers are listed alphabetically.