Nitrogen and moss: connecting the dots

Researchers at Kansas State University have been looking at the relationship between nitrogen fertilization and infestation of silvery thread moss (Bryum argenteum) on putting greens, and are seeing an interesting trend that provides further reason to be very conservative about nitrogen fertilization regimes.

In field trials conducted in 2009 and 2010, Cole Thompson and K State colleagues showed that applications of nitrogen — particularly in the form of urea — caused big increases (almost a doubling) in moss infestation levels…