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Sod & Turf

Quality turf is the foundation of success for any sod producer or turfgrass manager. Unlike most agronomic crops, where success is largely measured by yield, turfgrass quality is determined by a combination of visual, functional, and physiological characteristics. Color, leaf texture, density, uniformity, rooting depth, wear tolerance, stress tolerance, recuperative capacity, and tensile strength all contribute to overall turf performance. These attributes influence not only marketability and appearance but also harvestability, sod handling, establishment success, and long-term turf persistence.

Maintaining superior turf quality requires a nutrient management plan that addresses the specialized needs of this unique crop. Tessenderlo Kerley offers a portfolio of liquid fertilizer solutions that provide the nutrients necessary to produce superior turf while integrating seamlessly into most turf management programs.

Nitrogen Management

Nitrogen is often considered the most important nutrient in turfgrass production and maintenance. For a sod grower nitrogen fertilizer is used frequently to speed growth and ensure rapid canopy development and field coverage. For turf managers, nitrogen promotes desirable color, density, and growth while supporting recovery from wear and environmental stress. Tessenderlo Kerley offers two nitrogen containing products that can benefit turf managers in different ways.

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N-Sure® is a high nitrogen fertilizer that contains 28% nitrogen with 72% of the nitrogen available in a slow release triazone form. This formulation provides both readily available nitrogen for immediate plant uptake and slow-release nitrogen for extended feeding and improved nitrogen use efficiency. N-Sure is extremely safe to apply alone as a foliar application

  • Blends well with quick-release nitrogen sources to provide both immediate and extended turf response
  • Reduces nitrogen losses to the environment
  • Improves nitrogen use efficiency

Ideal for:

  • Foliar applications
  • Fertigation
  • Maintaining consistent green color without excessive growth

Nitrogen and Sulfur Management

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Thio-Sul®, ammonium thiosulfate (12-0-0-26S) is a high analysis nitrogen and sulfur liquid fertilizer that plays an important role in turfgrass management. By providing quickly available nitrogen and thiosulfate sulfur Thio-Sul helps balance the nutritional needs of turfgrass.

  • Provides essential sulfur that is too often overlooked in turf management
  • Thio-Sul can help slow nitrification and improve nitrogen utilization, reducing the potential for nitrogen losses under certain conditions.
  • Can be blended with many other liquid fertilizers to create custom blends

Ideal for:

  • Fertigation
  • Blending with other nitrogen sources such as UAN 32%
  • Promoting early season growth

Potassium and Sulfur

Potassium is often required in substantial quantities, and, in many turf systems, annual potassium requirements may approach those of nitrogen. Potassium is critical for water management in the plant as well as stress tolerance, all important factors when managing high quality turf. Tessenderlo Kerley offers two potassium and sulfur liquid fertilizers that provide essential potassium along with sulfur.

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KTS®, potassium thiosulfate (0-0-25-17S) supplies both potassium and sulfur in a highly available liquid

  • Improves nutrient availability in the soil
  • Enhances nutrient uptake efficiency
  • Improves stress tolerance
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K-Row 23® (0-0-23-8S) provides potassium and sulfur while offering greater flexibility in application programs.

  • Flexible potassium management where sulfur is already sufficient
  • Higher potassium rates without over-applying sulfur
  • Adaptability across different soil conditions

Ideal for (Both products)

  • Blending with N-Sure®
  • Foliar applications
  • Fertigation
  • Fall applications

Calcium and Sulfur

Calcium is an important nutrient in maintaining quality turf and productive soils. While calcium deficiencies are relatively uncommon in turfgrass systems, issues related to soil structure, sodium accumulation, and reduced water infiltration can negatively impact turf performance. Tessenderlo Kerley has a liquid fertilizer that is ideal for addressing some of the most common issues encountered in turf. When used as part of a sound soil management program, this highly soluble source of calcium can aid in sodium displacement, improve water infiltration, and support healthier rootzone conditions.

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CaTs®, calcium thiosulfate (0-0-0-10S-6Ca) provides a soluble calcium source that:

  • Enhances soil physical properties
  • Improves water infiltration in heavier soils
  • Supports root development and improved nutrient uptake

Ideal for:

  • Leaching salts from the rootzone
  • Addressing compaction and water infiltration
  • Improving rootzone health

Conclusion

Whether managing a sod farm, golf course, sports field, or commercial landscape, maintaining high-quality turf requires a balanced fertility program built around sound agronomic principles. Tessenderlo Kerley's portfolio of liquid fertilizer solutions provides turf managers with the flexibility, efficiency, and performance needed to optimize turf quality, improve nutrient use efficiency, and support long-term turf health.

TESTIMONIAL

"Everything was just greener,  it grew better, it was healthier."

Ben Buttrill, Founder of Southern Grown Turf

CaTs and N-Sure Application Guides for Sod and Turf.
CaTs App Guide
N-Sure App Guide