Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


 FOR CARPET AND VARIETIES OF BAHIA GRASS
 -----O ON LESS ACID SOILS
 These grasses will sod and make fair growth on many soils
without fertilization. The following fertilizer applications be-
fore planting stimulate rapid sodding and growth:
 1. 400 pounds per acre of a 4-8-8 (complete fertilizer) or a similar
 grade; or
 2. 300 to 500 pounds per acre of superphosphate (18% P0Os); or
 3. 1,000 to 1,800 pounds per acre of rock or colloidal phosphate; or
 4. 500 to 1,000 pounds per acre of basic slag.

 Growth will be best with No. 1 because nitrogen, phosphorus
and potash are supplied. Growth of grass treated with rock,
colloidal or superphosphate or basic slag will be improved greatly
if nitrogen and potash equivalent to 400 pounds of 4-0-8 fertilizer
per acre are applied in addition.
 On the more acid soils lime at the rate of 1 ton per acre should
be added also, especially for Bahia grasses. Either dolomitic
limestone, which supplies calcium and magnesium, or ground
limestone, which supplies only calcium, may be used. Growth
responses of pasture grasses indicate that the sources of
lime do not differ appreciably when rates of application are
similar.
 FOR BERMUDA VARIETIES, DALLIS AND
 PANG1LA. GRASSES
 These grasses require richer soils than carpet and Bahia
grasses. (The soil should be limed at the rate of 1 ton per acre
and treated with 400 to 600 pounds per acre of 4-8-8 or similar
fertilizer before planting. )
 Recent tests also indicate that minor elements such as copper,
 zinc and manganese encourage more rapid sodding after lime
 and complete fertilizer have been supplied on some soils. The
 minor elements should not be used unless the soil has been limed
 and fertilized. Copper appears to be the most important minor
 element on sandy soils. The minor elements may be tried alone
 or as a mixture at the following rates: Copper sulfate 10 to 20
 pounds per acre; zinc sulfate 5 to 10 pounds; manganese
 sulfate 10 to 20 pounds; and borax 5 to 10 pounds per acre.
 Minor elements have proven most beneficial on soils of southern
 and central Florida.
 Legumes.-The following fertilizer treatments may be used
 for establishing clovers: