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MLSN
Minimum levels for sustainable nutrition—MLSN—is a modern method for interpreting soil tests for turfgrass.
Do you have an idea why they recommend so much K?
When I make nutrient recommendations, I recommend a quantity of each element that ensures the grass can get all of that nutrient that the grass can use. I also make the recommendation with a thought about the soil.
Micah Woods
2024-10-18
2 min read
Nitrogen rate as a pendulum swing
One of the many ways to learn is through conversations with industry veterans. Their wisdom about how turf is managed now, and how it was managed in the past, can be invaluable.
Micah Woods
2024-08-04
3 min read
A turf (and soil) paradox
The usual way of thinking about soil nutrients and turf quality is something like this: when the amount of a soil nutrient is low, the turf quality won’t be as good as it would be if that nutrient were more abundant in the soil.
Micah Woods
Last updated on 2024-07-10
8 min read
A problem with the controls
Remember the experiment I wrote about that evaluated a lot of different fertilizer “programs”? The control treatment in that experiment was urea, monoammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and ferrous sulfate. That urea-based treatment, which Dr.
Micah Woods
2024-06-24
5 min read
Nitrogen harvested in clippings: calculation update for 2024
I use a method based on clipping harvest and normal leaf nitrogen content to find the estimated nitrogen harvest. I adjust this based on species, because there are differences in the clipping volume to dry mass conversion based on what type of leaf we are working with.
Micah Woods
2024-06-07
2 min read
Soil testing on the Cornell Turfgrass Show
Frank Rossi and Carl Schimenti had a discussion on the Cornell Turfgrass Show about soil testing, fertilizer, the Park Grass experiment, weeds, and some good ways to sell fertilizer. Also, that perennially hot topic of silicon.
Micah Woods
2024-05-30
2 min read
The time component of soil test interpretation
Soil nutrient levels are dynamic. They change. In non-saline situations, the nutrient levels go down as the grass grows and uses some quantity of the soil nutrients.1 This is why the SLAN medium ranges seem so high, and why the MLSN method of soil test interpretation is so much more precise when making fertilizer recommendations for turfgrass.
Micah Woods
2024-05-07
3 min read
A couple problems with year-round soil nutrient analysis
The Green Section Record (Volume 62, Issue 4) has an interesting article by Chris Neff making a case for year-round soil nutrient analysis. Specifically, he wrote that: To adequately make decisions regarding these crucial fertilizer applications, it is imperative to conduct soil sampling throughout the year to assess soil properties and current nutrient levels, which play a pivotal role in the overall health and performance of the course.
Micah Woods
2024-03-04
2 min read
Monthly maximum N or annual maximum N
I sometimes talk about maximum N. You may have heard me refer to the standard amount of N. I discussed that with Michael Bekken in this ATC Doublecut episode. What do I mean by these quantities of N?
Micah Woods
2023-11-13
3 min read
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