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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417402
Research Project: Improved Plant Genetic Resources and Methods to ensure Resilient and Productive Rangelands, Pastures, and Turf Landscapes

Location: Forage and Range Research

Title: Nitrogen status of mixed clover and Kentucky bluegrass dicultures in a greenhouse setting

Author
item BOYLE, PAIGE - Utah State University
item KOPP, KELLY - Utah State University
item DAI, XIN - Utah State University
item Bushman, Bradley
item JOHNSON, PAUL - Utah State University
item GROSSL, PAUL - Utah State University

Submitted to: International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2025
Publication Date: 7/12/2025
Citation: Boyle, P.E., Kopp, K., Dai, X., Bushman, B.S., Johnson, P.G., Grossl, P. 2025. Nitrogen status of mixed clover and Kentucky bluegrass dicultures in a greenhouse setting. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70019.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70019

Interpretive Summary: Because legumes can transfer nitrogen to surrounding turfgrass, clover inclusion in lawns represents a potential means of reducing supplemental fertilizer application while still providing the nitrogen needed for quality turf. Mixed clover-grass pasture stands also produce more aboveground biomass than grass monocultures, indicating that carbon balance of diculture lawns may also benefit from clover inclusion. Clovers other than white clovers have not been widely tested for turf and clover lawn mixtures, and it is unclear how they might impact nutrient transfer or respond to nitrogen fertilization. In this study we evaluate how much carbon and nitrogen strawberry, crimson, white, and rose clovers fix and transfer to the soil and the associated turfgrass and whether nitrogen fertilization impacts carbon and nitrogen transfer.

Technical Abstract: Because legumes can transfer nitrogen to surrounding turfgrass, clover inclusion in lawns represents a potential means of reducing supplemental fertilizer application while still providing the nitrogen needed for quality turf. Mixed clover-grass pasture stands also produce more aboveground biomass than grass monocultures, indicating that carbon balance of diculture lawns may also benefit from clover inclusion. Clovers other than white clovers have not been widely tested for turf and clover lawn mixtures, and it is unclear how they might impact nutrient transfer or respond to nitrogen fertilization. In this study we evaluate how much carbon and nitrogen strawberry, crimson, white, and rose clovers fix and transfer to the soil and the associated turfgrass and whether nitrogen fertilization impacts carbon and nitrogen transfer.