Nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and composition of Coastal Bermudagrass forage

Forage yields of Coastal Bermudagrass almost doubled following application of the first 400 pounds of nitrogen, as compared with unfertilized check plots, in recent trials at Imperial Valley Field Station. However, additional nitrogen up to 1,600 pounds per acre increased yields only slightly and production dropped off when 2,000 pounds of nitrogen was applied. Late application of nitrogen did not prolong the growing season into the late fall. Heavy applications of fertilizer did not cause an appreciable increase of salt in the soil nor excessive accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in the forage.