Principles of Turfgrass Management in Spanish!

Transcripción

Principles of Turfgrass Management in Spanish!
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table
of contents
NORTH CAROLINA
MAY/JUNE 2004
8 18
8 green light on lawns
Can Biological Controls
Work Against Insects
in Turfgrass?
18 24
feature story
Let the Games Begin…
Maintaining Athletic Fields
During Heavy Use
more articles…
16 Report from the Turfgrass Center
TurfFiles: At the “Centere” of the Industry
28 Green Light on Commercial Turf
Principles of Turfgrass Management for
Hispanic Turf Care Professionals
departments
6
36
38
42
42
4
From the Executive Director
Gatherings of the Green: Recent Events
Green Report: Industry News
TCNC Calendar of Events
Index of Advertisers
N o r t h C a r o l i n a Tu r f g r a s s
■
May/June 2004
■
w w w. n c t u r f g r a s s . o r g
24
green light on golf
Nitrogen Fertilization on
Golf Courses: A Water
Quality Problem?
The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina
(TCNC) serves its members in the industry
through
education,
promotion
and
representation. The statements and opinions
expressed herein are those of the individual
authors and do not necessarily represent the
views of the association, its staff, or its board of
directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors.
Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or
TCNC members, does not constitute an
endorsement of the products or services featured
in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly
publication. Copyright ©2004 by the Turfgrass
Council of North Carolina. North Carolina
Turfgrass is published bimonthly. Subscriptions
are complimentary to members of TCNC.
POSTMASTER: Send change of address
notification to TCNC, P.O. Box 289, Southern
Pines, NC 28388. Postage guaranteed.
Third–class postage is paid at Franklin, TN.
Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions:
North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of
material published here. Permission requests
should be directed to TCNC. We are not
responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts
and photographs. Contact the managing editor
for contribution information. Advertising: For
display and classified advertising rates and
insertions, please contact Leading Edge
Communications, LLC, P.O. Box 680142,
Franklin, TN 37068–0142, (615) 790–3718, Fax
(615) 794–4524. Deadlines are the first of the
month prior to the following month’s
publication. (Example: August 1 for the
September issue.)
I
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from
the
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
That’s my story…
and I’m stickin’ to it!
H. EUGENE MAPLES
This Isn’t Your Father’s TCNC!
I
n the last issue, we talked about The Danger Zone.
About how all of the valuable products and services that
TCNC offers are affected by member support… or lack thereof.
TCNC’s greatest challenge, and that of every loyal member, is to
help everyone keep an eye on the big picture. We bring the
industry together. In education, in government-relations
protections, in research clout and in total industry recognition and
economic-impact muscle, TCNC is the reason every sector of our
industry is so prosperous and progressive today—period.
And the credit clearly goes to all of our strong and positive
members who “get it.” The challenge is to make an impression on
everyone else out there. When was the last time you sorta browbeat a
friend, colleague or competitor about all of the ways—or perhaps just
one particular way—that TCNC works for you every day?
Just looking around us, we can see that our whole industry and
each of our individual business interests are growing and changing
at a rapid rate. If we don’t keep up with growth and change? Well,
what’s next?
Look at all of the progressive and targeted ways TCNC is
working for you… each and every member, in each and every
industry sector! I think most of you would agree that this isn’t your
father’s industry anymore!
TCNC Demo Days & Knowledge Networks
Our newest educational-service product is really catching on! From
last October in Concord and Greensboro to Hickory on March 9,
this thing is rolling! Over 250 turfgrass professional took advantage
of four hours of the best golf, aquatics and lawn-care education,
plus they checked out a whole soccer complex full of crank-it-up
rolling stock and supply vendors. Coming up soon, on June 2,
we’ll be in the labs and classrooms and on the extensive grounds
of Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. Then it’s on to
Concord and Greensboro again in October.
TCNC TurfPAC Fundraisers
Thanks to a whole host of right-on volunteers that you know and
love, the new spring and fall TCNC TurfPAC Fundraiser Golf
Tournaments are also really catching on. Currently the most
underappreciated service that TCNC provides, TCNC TurfPAC and
the TCNC Government Relations Committee are aggressively led by
our industry’s very own political guru, Sam Lang.
Together, they are the reasons you are not hounded by
environmental extremists or regulated out of business by pesticide
applicator posting and pre-notification. Together, they are solely
responsible for the six-figure state and new federal funding that has
made The Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research &
Education at NC State University a reality. Our turfgrass faculty
scientists, working within The Center, are now capable of
leveraging industry-generated NC Turfgrass Foundation
6
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May/June 2004
■
contributions at a better than six-to-one rate. Believe it!
If you still think bothering to support TCNC TurfPAC isn’t
cool… think again!
New NCSU Turf Field Lab Facility
Through TCNC work and strong industry support, NC State is
moving the venerable Turf Field Lab research plot site from the old
eight-acre location on Hillsboro Street to a spacious new state-of-theart location at the Lake Wheeler Road Research Unit just south of
Raleigh. In conjunction with a special request by the North Carolina
Sod Producers Association, we are planning a come-as-you-are, workin-progress informal tour of the soon-to-be-impressive new facilities
on May 18. Call if you are interested in walking and talking.
New Turfgrass Field Day
Speaking of Field Days, we are moving the traditional NC State
Turfgrass Field Day from mid-May to August 11. Together with
NC State faculty, this date move (by popular demand) will serve all
of our golf, lawn-care, sports-turf and sod-producer sectors much
better. There is simply a lot more to see in August in the areas of
varietal performance, nutrient management, disease and weedmanagement research.
Please take special note that the traditional NCSU Landscape
Field Day at the JC Raulston Arboretum will still be on the thirdWednesday-in-May date of May 19. The Landscape Field Day will
still include the popular NCLGA Product & Equipment Show in the
afternoon. If you haven’t had time in the past because of all of the
joint field day activities, check it out!
Learn & remember what “TIE” Is!
In the boldest move yet to serve all of you better, TIE is coming in
January. TIE? Our industry’s grand showcase annual event in
January is now, officially known as Turf Industry Expo. TIE.
Changing yet again to meet your dynamic needs in a bold new way,
we’re moving from Charlotte to the exciting and versatile multi-tower
Adam’s Mark Hotel and Grand Pavilion Complex in Winston-Salem.
In September or October, we’ll unveil a totally new education and
TIE Showcase daily-schedule template that will max-out your
learning experience and time efficiency. Stay tuned—you don’t want
to miss this one!
TCNC Means Business
If anybody that does turfgrass in the state of North Carolina thinks
that they and their business can get along without being a strong part
of the big picture… think again. You may not have a burning need for
everything that we do. But, for goodness sake! Try to step back and
find even just one thing that you can get a’hold of with us.
If we don’t stick together as a whole industry, what are we?
That’s the danger zone! w w w. n c t u r f g r a s s . o r g
North Carolina Turfgrass is
the official publication of the
Turfgrass Council of North Carolina
P.O. Box 289
Southern Pines, NC 28388
910–695–1333
fax 910–695–1222
www.ncturfgrass.org
TCNC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
H. Eugene Maples
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Marsha Richardson
Published by:
Leading Edge Communications, LLC
P.O. Box 680142
Franklin, TN 37068–0142
615–790–3718
fax 615–794–4524
[email protected]
TCNC OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Mike Willey
Bayer Environ. Science, 919-870-8689
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VICE PRESIDENT
Dean Baker
Kinston CC, 252-527-9464
7621 Whitepine Road • Richmond, VA 23237
TREASURER
Charles Tomlinson
NC-DOT, 919-733-2920
SECRETARY
John Clark
Pro Green, Inc., 828-430-8833
PAST PRESIDENT
Ron Gilmore
Prestonwood CC, 919-467-6288
DIRECTORS
Dean Baker, Kinston
Gil Grattan, Raleigh
Rob Hamrick, Ashville
P.J. Lenihan, Winston–Salem
Rick Neisler, Council
Keith Noxon, Southport
Jonathan Rigsbee, Greensboro
Derek Smith, Raleigh
Jeremy Boone, Western Turfgrass Assoc.
Chuck Borman, Carolinas GCSA
Steve Dorer, Triangle Turfgrass Assoc.
Michael Haq, N–S Turfgrass Assoc.
Doug Lowe, Piedmont GCSA
Leon Lucas, Carolinas Golf Assoc.
David McCart, NC Sod Producers Assoc.
Keith Noxon, Cape Fear GCSA
Chris Parham, Eastern Turfgrass Assoc.
A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Tu r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a
7
green
light
ON LAWNS & LANDSCAPES
Can Biological Controls
Work Against Insects
in Turfgrass?
by Sarah R. Thompson, Ph.D. student in the Dept. of Entomology, and Rick L. Brandenburg, Ph.D.,
Professor of Entomology and Co-Director of the Center for Turfgrass Research and Education,
North Carolina State University
M
ost turfgrass managers would agree that biological control is not a major component of their
integrated pest management (IPM) program. Typically, their concern is that biological agents will
not provide immediate results, but instead will take time to develop, allowing for damage in the
meantime. Often, clientele demands do not permit the signs of damage that can be produced very
quickly by many turf pests.
Figure 1: Mole cricket infected with
Beauveria bassiana
This research is supported jointly by the
North Carolina Turfgrass Foundation
and the NCSU Center for Turfgrass.
Our research tests
indicate great
potential for the use
of entomogenous
fungi for control of
turfgrass pests.
Additionally, for the turf manager, possible restrictions concerning
application, follow-up procedures and/or storage of the biological
control agents may not be feasible. These restrictions may involve
applying the product during specific times of the day to prevent
degradation in the environment, irrigation both before and after
application, and storage in cool, dark places. The product’s
manufacturer may make other restrictive recommendations, as well.
Nonetheless, although these concerns are all valid, the use of
biological products for insect control should be considered as a
component in all IPM programs. To satisfy federal laws regarding the
registration, sale, distribution and use of pesticides, as well as to assuage
growing public concern over the negative effects of chemicals, more
environmentally sound strategies for controlling pests—including biological
products—must be employed.
In 1996, the passing of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) called for a
re-evaluation of previous laws concerning pesticides. As a result, the Act set
tougher safety standards for both new and old pesticides. Since this law took
effect, many of the older classes of chemicals that were heavily relied on by golf
course superintendents, sod farmers and lawn-care providers are no longer
available for use on turfgrass.
The older groups of broad-spectrum chemicals provided quick preventative
and rescue treatments against many groups of insects. These products were
relatively inexpensive, readily available and had long residual activity for
extended periods of control. The newer products, although very effective against
target insects, are generally more expensive (due to the long and vigorous
process involved to bring them to market) and may provide a narrow spectrum
of control for only a few pests. Also, some of these products do not offer the
same level of residual activity, meaning that the timing of application must be
accurate, and preventative approaches must also be taken.
The FQPA also requires continued evaluation of registered chemicals every
Continued on page 10
8
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May/June 2004
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green light
continued
fifteen years and evaluation of tolerance
levels every ten years. In other words,
some of the products that meet today’s
standards may not meet the standards of
the future. Consequently, research and
improvement must continue on biological
control agents, so that they will be
affordable, practical and safe options for
pest control in the future.
Another issue that has surfaced recently
is growing public concern over the use of
pesticides to improve the aesthetics of the
environment. Many pesticide opponents
feel that chemicals should be used only to
help protect our food sources from crop
loss or to prevent disease transmission to
humans or animals. In their opinion, then,
acceptable pesticide uses do not include
improving the cosmetic appearance of
commodities such as turfgrass and
greenhouse ornamentals.
In fact, in Canada, municipalities have
been given the right to ban pesticides used
only for cosmetic purposes within their
jurisdiction, including those applied to
turfgrass in public parks, commercial
properties, home lawns, school grounds
and golf courses. As people continue to
become more environmentally conscious,
these bans may spread into communities
within the United States. This is another
reason why biological agents must be
considered for control of turfgrass pests.
Biological agents in action
Biological control is defined as the use of a
living organism (a natural predator,
parasite or pathogen) for control of a pest
species. One such control agent that has
been explored for turfgrass pests is the
naturally occurring soil fungus, Beauveria
bassiana. This fungus is insect specific,
meaning that it will not cause any
negative effects on the plant itself, but
instead targets and kills only insects. B.
bassiana works by penetrating into the
insect’s body cavity, eventually causing
death by depleting necessary nutrients.
One of the great things about this type of
biological control is that the infected
insects produce additional fungal spores
that remain in the soil and can infect
other nearby insects.
A number of factors determine the
success of fungi that are entomogenous
(meaning that they reproduce inside
insects) for insect control, including
contact between the target insect and
the fungal spores, the specificity of the
strain for the particular insect, and the
ability of the spores to remain viable in
the environment. A two-year research
program at NCSU focused on these
three factors by using mole crickets as
the model insect pest. The project
involved examining mole crickets’
avoidance responses towards the
presence of the spores, testing different
rates of three different strains of B.
bassiana for infection, and measuring the
viability of the spores over time when
applied to turfgrass.
The remaining sections of this article
will focus on the spore viability tests that
measured the persistence (lifespans) of
infective spores when applied in the field.
How we conducted our research
The spore viability tests took place in
three different parts: a preliminary
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greenhouse study (to verify techniques
under controlled conditions) and two field
studies, one in August 2002 at Sea Trails
Plantation (Sunset Beach, NC) and the
other in June 2003 at Tri-State Sod Farm
(Newton Grove, NC). All three tests
involved spraying the fungal spores, which
were formulated in an emulsifiable oil
carrier, to the surface of the turfgrass and
applying post-irrigation.
Three different strains of B. bassiana
were included in these studies. In the
greenhouse and 2002 field tests, strains
DB-2 and 10-22 (JABB of the Carolinas,
Pine Level, NC) were evaluated. The
2003 field test also examined DB-2 and
10-22, but added a commercially available
strain formulated as BotaniGard (Emerald
Bioagriculture Corporation, Butte, MT).
The greenhouse test consisted of small
shoebox-sized containers that were filled
with approximately 3 cm of field-collected
sandy soil and topped with pieces of
bermudagrass sod. Both field studies took
place in locations with bermudagrass on
similar sandy soil conditions.
Prior to application, the viability of all
three strains was examined and found to
be greater than 80% in all cases. The
control plots in each test were sprayed
only with water, so that the viability of
the naturally occurring background
population of B. bassiana could be
determined. On all slides, only 10-30
spores were identified as B. bassiana in the
control plots, so there was very limited
impact on the treatment viabilities from
this background population.
Our research results
Results from the greenhouse study showed
that 17-18% of the spores from both DB-2
and 10-22 remained viable for 28 days
after application. The decline in viability
was similar for both of these strains during
the course of this study. The background
spores from the field-collected soil
averaged between approximately 40% and
60% viable, showing a consistent trend in
the viability of naturally occurring spores.
One very interesting point to note is
that at Day 0 (zero) in the greenhouse
study, both of these strains were over
80% viable, while after 24 hours in the
field, they had decreased to less than
Continued on page 12
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May/June 2004
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green light
continued
70% viable. It appears that the initial
period of exposure to environmental
conditions has a great impact on the
ability of the spores to survive. However,
if they make it through the first 24 hours,
the rate of decline in viability remains
rather constant.
The 2002 field study showed a similar
decrease in viability for strains DB-2 and
10-22, with the latter strain being
numerically higher on all days examined.
After two and a half weeks, both of these
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12
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May/June 2004
■
strains persisted, and over 30% of the
spores recovered were still viable and
capable of infection. An average of 45% of
spores collected from the control plots at
this site remained viable at any given time.
The field study conducted in 2003
supported the data from the previous
year, with both DB-2 and 10-22 showing
very consistent trends over time. The
third strain tested, BotaniGard, did not
perform as well in the field, with fewer
spores remaining viable at all
examination dates in comparison to the
other two strains. Once again,
background spores were detected in the
control plots, but in very small numbers
and averaging close to 40% viability.
Significance to turfgrass managers
Our research data indicate that
entomogenous fungi are capable of
withstanding the harsh conditions that
are often present in North Carolina
during the summer months, including
high temperatures, ultraviolet radiation,
and dry and acidic soils. Strain-specific
differences appear to determine the
persistence of B. bassiana spores when
applied to turfgrass. Strain differences
were also observed in regard to infection
rates and mole-cricket avoidance
behaviors, and as a result, strain selection
has been determined to be a critical factor
for success of this biological control agent.
These spore viability tests indicate
great potential for the use of
entomogenous fungi for control of
turfgrass pests. Although mole crickets
were used in these studies, the results
have implications for biological control
of many different turfgrass pests. Ongoing
research in this area focuses on
determining the specific environmental
factors that contribute to spore mortality
and methods to minimize them.
Additional work includes examining
various formulations that will minimize
insect-avoidance behaviors and isolating
the most efficacious strains for significant
turfgrass pests found in North Carolina.
With continued efforts, the goal of
having every turfgrass manager
incorporating biological controls agents
into his/her IPM program is one step
closer to becoming a reality. t o
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C
ontinuing funding through the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education, as well as
through the North Carolina Turfgrass Foundation, is being used to redesign the TurfFiles website at NC
State. The major changes promise many exciting benefits for every turfgrass manager.
In the past year alone, for instance, TurfFiles (www.TurfFiles.ncsu.edu) has undergone major
visual and technological restructuring, all designed to make it more user-friendly and helpful for
turf managers. New pages have been designed; data files have been moved to a new, more
powerful server; and new graphics and photos have been integrated into pages to enhance the
information and more easily convey ideas. The type and volume of industry-specific content
available on the new site has changed, as well, improving the site’s efficiency for users.
Importantly, TurfFiles has become a more visual site, incorporating pictures and graphics
wherever possible. After all, how many ways can you describe dollar spot and still not be certain
you have dollar spot? With the new TurfFiles, if you’re reading about dollar spot, you’ll see a
picture of dollar spot.
These types of changes increase the information content on the site and affect the download
capabilities for the average user, necessitating changes in how the site is packaged so that it is
still accessible. It also increases the need for more storage capacity for that information, as well
as new hardware and software for the developers.
TurfFiles now incorporates many new user-friendly features for improved usability standards,
data management and accessibility. Use of a re-worked navigational system coupled with a dropdown menu structure and a Microsoft database-driven backbone allow users quicker access to
information and focused client requests.
Additional new applications specific to the turfgrass industry include: turf career postings, a
North Carolina turfgrass tour, academics, research and turf people. These new features provide
turf-specific information at the click of a button. As we approach a spring deadline, development
continues to progress in the plant-identification and weed-management decision aids. These
decision aids will be an interactive, question-and-answer-based tool for identifying broadleaf and
grassy weeds, as well as a source of site-specific management advice. Thousands of images and
information have been categorized, processed and stored on the server and the database. They
will be dynamically loaded into pages as requested by the user.
This information is housed on a Windows 2003 server, using a Microsoft.Net development
platform and XML web services to connect the data to the website dynamically. This package
stands as a cutting-edge large-scale configuration, predominantly intended for high-demand,
high-load and high-impact website delivery, as is required by TurfFiles.
In order for TurfFiles to stay current, it is in constant need of upgrades and revisions to balance
content and media technologies. Because of the high level of expertise and skill-set needed to
develop and maintain a site of this complexity and magnitude, Jenifer Jordan has joined our staff
as our full-time web-application engineer.
The advancing technology allows us to develop better ways to present information, making
TurfFiles and its content accessible to more people. For example, several of the existing
extension publications are available as .pdf files. These .pdf files need to be converted to .html
files so that more people can access them. This improves TurfFiles compliancy with Section 508
16
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May/June 2004
■
government standards, which dictate that information on websites that are even partially funded
through the government are accessible to everyone, regardless of how slow or how fast their Internet
connection is.
Accessibility also refers to how easily TurfFiles is accessed through web search engines and how easily
a user can find information they are looking for on the site. The avenues of accessing documents on
TurfFiles have increased at least three-fold with the new database structure.
Long-term goals for TurfFiles include adding programming for statistical compilation and information
gathering on how TurfFiles is used. Tracking frequently accessed pages, and how users are finding
TurfFiles and those pages, allows further web-page development and improved use. Eventually, content
could be based on the specific user’s needs. For example, an athletic field director could request and
receive site information and email alerts specific to their component of the industry.
TurfFiles intends to be the best one-stop website in the country for turfgrass information. We believe
we’re well on our way to reaching that goal, and we invite you to visit the site to see what you think for
yourself! Go to www.TurfFiles.ncsu.edu. The Center for Turfgrass Environmental
Research & Education at NC State University
2004 Board of Advisors
Board Chairman
Supply/Manufacturing
Bob Bell
(704) 393-8873
[email protected]
Golf
Ron Gilmore
(919) 467-6288
[email protected]
Lawn & Landscape
Maintenance
P.J. Lenihan
(336) 768-7999
[email protected]
Sod Production
Charles Harris
(910) 692-9928
[email protected]
Center Co-Directors
Utility and Sports Turf
Chris Fay
(336) 256-0437
[email protected]
Dr. Rick Brandenburg
(919) 515-8876
[email protected]
Dr. Fred Yelverton
(919) 515-5639
[email protected]
Dr. Tom Rufty
(919) 515-3660
[email protected]
Center Associate Director
Emily B. Erickson
(919) 513-2034
[email protected]
University
Administration
Dr. Steve Leath, NCSU
(919) 515-1946
[email protected]
Dr. Marihelen Glass, NC
A&T
(336) 334-7520
[email protected]
17
feature
story
by Liz Nutter
18
■
May/June 2004
■
P
ity the poor sports-turf manager, who carefully
nurtures a smooth, green athletic field, getting it ready
for game season, only to then watch it get fiercely and
repeatedly trampled, torn up and pounded into the dirt. Of
course, taking player abuse and intense traffic in stride is the
primary point of athletic turf. Maintaining a safe and
aesthetically pleasing playing surface, however, especially during
heavy field use, can be a turf manager’s toughest challenge.
For expert advice on helping you keep your athletic fields at peak performance,
even during ball season, North Carolina Turfgrass brings you the insight and wisdom
of two of the state’s most-respected sports-turf authorities—Dr. Art Bruneau,
professor of Crop Science at North Carolina State University, and Tommy Walston,
head groundskeeper at Grainger Stadium (home of the Kinston Indians professional
baseball team) and winner of the Sports Turf Managers Association’s 2003 “National
Class A Sports Turf Manager of the Year” award.
According to Dr. Bruneau, bermudagrass is the predominant turf on most sports
fields in North Carolina, with the exception of fields at higher elevations in the
western part of the state. With any species of sports turf, attention to basic cultural
practices—proper mowing, fertilizing, irrigating and aerifying—is crucial. Sometimes,
though, the secret is knowing when to do what.
Time and timing
“The first key factor in keeping a sports field at its best is time,” says Walston.
“You must really spoil your field during the playing season, and that takes a
tremendous amount of time. It also takes a commitment to never settling for OK,
which means a lot of attention to detail.”
Consequently, Walston continues, the second key factor is timing. “Due to
practices, games and weather, sports-turf managers have only a few windows of
opportunity when they can get onto the field for maintenance. You must really be
organized, so that you don’t miss those critical times when you can mow, fertilize,
aerify or whatever needs to be done. If you wait until ‘next time,’ you may hit a
long stretch of rain or wear and tear, and the turf will pay a price for that delay.
Planning ahead is what makes it in sports-turf fields.”
Drainage
Certainly, a major problem facing some sports-turf managers is a lack of adequate
drainage on their fields. “Ideally, a sports field should have been graded correctly at
the time of construction,” Walston says. “If the field is properly graded, the majority
of drainage problems can be eliminated.”
Often, unfortunately, few school planners or administrators understand the proper
design and grading of athletic surfaces. “For instance, I recently visited a new high
school where the grading was horrendous,” Walston recalls. “The crown on the
softball field was overkill—although it drained well, the outfielders were throwing
way uphill. You need a happy medium, where you have sufficient drainage but you
don’t affect the play of the game.” According to Dr. Bruneau, the proper slope for
most sports fields should be between 1% and 1.75%, depending on the sport and the
local conditions.
Whenever possible, new-school planners should be alerted—beforehand—to the
intricacies involved in athletic-field construction, says Walston. “We have great
sports contractors in the industry—experts who know exactly how much slope each
type of field needs—but the people who plan and build the schools don’t always use a
sports contractor to grade the athletic fields. Instead, they’ll call a road grader or a
local farmer with a tractor and a box blade. Then they end up with problems.”
Whenever grading work is done, the contractor should be instructed to save the
existing topsoil. “If you are completely renovating or building a field, make sure to
stockpile any topsoil that is present on the existing site,” says Dr. Bruneau. “Once the
FINDING THE
FUNDING
In times of tight budgets, sports turf
managers frequently face difficulty in
finding the money to pay for proper
turf maintenance. In fact, as Walston
points out, “Administrations
responsible for funding decisions
too often focus on the ‘glamour
stuff’ like grandstands, lighting, the
score board, etc. At many facilities,
the last thing that gets funding is the
playing surface.”
For instance, despite its
importance in athletic-turf
maintenance, an aerator may be
financially out of reach. “But let’s
say you work for a county school
system with four schools,” Bruneau
suggests. “There’s no reason the
school system needs to buy four
aerators. Instead, the four turf
managers could share one aerator.
Or a local golf course may be
willing to do the aerification from a
public relations standpoint. It
doesn’t hurt to ask.”
Peer pressure can be equally
effective in drumming up support for
increased funding. “For example,
you could take just one of the
schools in the system and really do
everything that needs to be done to
upgrade that school’s field,”
Bruneau says. “When parents and
supporters of other schools come to
a game and see how much better
that one field looks, they can help
put pressure on their own school
administrators to find the funding for
their own school.”
19
feature
story
continued
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subsoil is properly graded and the crown is in place, redistribute the topsoil. Uniform
distribution and depth of topsoil will reduce the potential for variability in performance and
future management.”
Aerification
Proper aerification, says Walston, can be a sports-turf manager’s most valuable tool for
maintaining athletic turf during ball season. “Aerification can do an enormous amount of
positive things for a field,” he explains. “Mainly, aerifying helps improve drainage and
alleviates compaction. In many ways, aerification will push the turf to make it healthier,
perform well and survive during heavy traffic.”
Dr. Bruneau strongly agrees. A key priority for sports-turf managers, he says, “should be to
aerify, aerify, aerify. I’ve never seen a field that has been over-aerified. What I mean by
aerifying, though, is where you actually pull cores from the ground, not just where you punch
holes in the ground. Core aerifying allows for good air exchange in the soil, which is
important for root growth. Also, dragging the cores afterwards and letting them fill in low
spots will help level the surface. Shatter-core aeration, which vibrates or quakes the soil, can
also be used in some instances to reduce the effects of compaction, but it will not bring soil
to the surface.”
For the aerification to provide a true benefit to the turf, though, the equipment should
leave holes every three to four inches, Bruneau says. “Some people have old drum aerifiers
that they run over the field only once, so they have holes too far apart to be very beneficial.
In that situation, they’re not pulling up enough soil or getting enough holes. You may have
to go over the field several times in order to get twelve to sixteen holes per square foot.”
In general, Bruneau does not recommend filling in low spots, holes or divots with sand on
heavy soils. “That’s how you make adobe brick,” he says. “In many instances, the turf
manager is better off dragging the cores to fill in the low spots.”
Bruneau and Walston both point out that turf managers should carefully schedule core
aerification during a break in field use, to allow time for the turf to recover. According to
Bruneau, most bermudagrass fields would benefit from coring in the late spring and again in
mid-summer, which is exactly what Walston does at Grainger Stadium.
“In addition to our spring aerification, our most-intense aerification occurs in summer,
during a two-week period when my guys are on All-Star break or on the road,” Walston
says. “That’s when I can heavily aerify and verticut and still allow the field to recover by
the time the team starts playing at home again. A turf manager must be organized enough
to look ahead and get ready for that window, with all the needed equipment lined up and
ready to go.”
When he can’t core aerify, Walston slice aerifies. “During the season, we will slice aerify,
and we can still play a game that night,” he says. “It doesn’t have the tremendous effect that
core aerification will, but it’s better than doing nothing until after the season.”
Mowing
Bruneau recommends that sports-turf managers stick to the basics about mowing. In other
words, keep the grass mowed at the proper height for that kind of turfgrass, and keep up with
the correct frequency of mowing.
Bruneau points to a Texas A&M study reporting that the shorter that bermudagrass is
mowed within a given recommended range, the denser and more wear-resistant the surface.
“If you mow it shorter, you get more shoots that thicken up the turf, which makes it better
able to withstand traffic,” says Bruneau. “You can hold more games on those fields than you
can if you don’t mow often enough.”
How often is often enough? “When our team is in town, we mow our field every day.
When the team is out of town, we mow every other day,” Walston says. “Realistically, a highschool turf manager may not be able to mow every day, but certainly the more often, the
■
May/June 2004
■
feature American Turf Equipment Co., Inc.
story
continued
better.” Dr. Bruneau adds that many
bermudagrass fields would benefit by being
mowed two to three times weekly.
Fertilization
Fertilization, both before and during ball
season, is also important. Again, Dr. Bruneau
recommends following the recommended
fertilizer schedule for whatever species of
grass a turf manager is trying to maintain.
“Begin by taking a soil sample and
submitting it for analysis,” he says. “This will
determine if you need to add lime,
phosphorus or potassium. A turf manager
cannot visually determine these nutrient
requirements. That can be done only by
chemical analysis. Soil samples can be taken
any time of year.”
If you don’t maintain an adequate
fertilization program, then the turfgrass
suffers a double whammy during times of
heavy use, says Walston. “Bermudagrass is a
great turfgrass for athletic fields, but it does
require a good bit of nitrogen, and it
constantly needs to be fed. When you back
off of that feeding, the turf simply won’t
recover as quickly as it should during times
of heavy traffic. At that point, the turf will
weaken and weeds will become more
prevalent.”
Consider the timing needed to prepare a
high-school football field. “You really have
only a six-to-eight-week growing season on
bermudagrass before the teams start playing
on August 1,” says Walston. “So you’ve
really got to be on your fertilization
program in June and July, even in May, to
push that grass to get thick and healthy
and ready to absorb the stress of wear and
tear. If it starts out weak, when you’re ready
to play on it, you’ll be fighting an uphill
battle all season long.”
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Irrigation
“Irrigation is important, but many facilities
over-irrigate, due to a lack of understanding
of what’s best for the turf,” Walston
comments. “Often, the problem is that the
person in charge of turf maintenance is the
team coach or someone else who simply
doesn’t have a background in turf. He or she
doesn’t know that lightly watering every day
21
feature
story
continued
encourages the turf roots to grow too shallow. Overwatering can also create a soggy or
slippery field that is certainly not a safe surface.”
Dr. Bruneau adds that playing on a wet field will also result in a very hard, compacted
surface. Therefore, you should irrigate only when the turf really needs it.
That also means you can’t put your irrigation on automatic timers and then walk away
from them. “The best turf managers monitor their irrigation needs every day,” says
Walston. “If it rains one day, they’ll shut their system down. Or if they know they need a
dry field on Friday, they’ll back off on the irrigation on Wednesday or Thursday. And if it’s
supposed to rain on Tuesday or Wednesday night, they may not water on Sunday or
Monday, to keep their fields from being saturated by Friday. You can’t just take into
account today’s weather—you need to stay aware of what kind of weather is predicted
between today and your next athletic event.”
PREVENTING
LIPS ON
BASEBALL
FIELDS
Weed control
Most turf managers know that a thick stand of healthy turfgrass will usually choke out
most weeds. But how do you prevent weeds on athletic fields that end up with bare
areas from heavy use?
“Dr. Fred Yelverton at North Carolina State University has convinced me that only
two applications of weed-control products on bermudagrass will take care of 90% of the
weed problems,” says Walston. “The first application, in February or March, should be a
pre-emergent product to control warm-season weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass. That
way, when the bermudagrass comes out of dormancy in spring, it won’t have to compete
against weeds and it can just stretch out, grow and take over. Then, in October to early
December, an application of a broad-spectrum pre-emergence/post-emergence herbicide
like simazine will control most winter annual weeds. Those two applications can have a
tremendous impact on weed control on athletic fields, for not a whole lot of money.”
“One of the biggest safety
problems I’ve seen is on
baseball and softball fields
where lips have been created
from improper dragging of the
infield dirt,” says Dr. Bruneau.
“When the infield dirt is
dragged outwards, toward the
Make knowledge a priority
“Many athletic-turf managers weren’t originally trained for turfgrass, but they’ve still
been thrust into that position,” says Walston. “And too often, they do things only
because the guy in that job before them did it a certain way. That’s why they should
always become members of their local turfgrass and sports-turf associations, which often
offer free seminars to help them learn the best ways to do things. When you’re on a
limited budget and you make a mistake, you may not have the money later to come
back and fix that mistake. So, it’s best to try to make the right decisions first, and your
local association can really help you with that. Here locally, the Eastern North
Carolina Sports Turf Association conducts several seminars to help educate sports turf
managers, and we have more information on our website at
www.easternncsportsturf.org.”
Bruneau recommends that sports-turf managers also take advantage of the
exceptional (and free!) information available on NCSU’s TurfFiles website at
www.turffiles.ncsu.edu. For instance, two calendars are posted: (1) Tall Fescue and
Kentucky Bluegrass Athletic Field Calendar and (2) Bermudagrass Athletic Field
Calendar. The site also has information on how to renovate a field and what to do
under drought-stress conditions.
Keeping an athletic field in top shape even during hard play isn’t easy, but it’s well
worth the effort, not only in terms of player safety and aesthetics. In fact, as Walston
concludes, “A great playing surface that looks good and feels good underfoot is a real
mental and motivational boost for your team. They walk out onto the field and say,
‘Hey, this is really nice. I’m ready to play.’ And, ultimately, that’s the whole purpose—
and the best reward—for what we do as sports turf managers.” grass in the outfield, it catches
on the edge of the grass area
and starts to build lips, or small
ridges or berms of dirt. Lips can
trip up players and can also
cause a ball to bounce in an
unpredictable direction like a
skeet. You can avoid creating
lips by dragging the infield
skinned areas correctly, parallel
with the grass. Or you can use
a power rake or even hand
brooms to brush the dirt out of
the grass back onto the skinned
area. Basically, if you avoid that
build-up of dirt right at the
edge of the grass, you won’t
have a problem with lips.”
22
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May/June 2004
■
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green
light
ON GOLF
Nitrogen Fertilization on
Golf Courses: A WaterQuality Problem?
by Tom Rufty, Ph.D., and Dan Bowman, Ph.D., Research Professors with the Center for Turfgrass
Environmental Research and Education, North Carolina State University
A
three-year field study was conducted to determine whether golf courses were a major cause of
nitrogen pollution of ground and surface water in eastern North Carolina. At experimental sites on
ten golf courses, intensive testing indicated that little inorganic nitrogen leached from the turfgrass
system and the potential for water pollution was very low.
Figure 1. Experimental design for
environmental studies at 10 golf courses
in eastern NC. Nitrogen fate was
followed by analysis of samples from
clippings, soil cores, soil solution,
shallow wells, and streams.
This research is supported jointly by the
North Carolina Turfgrass Foundation
and the NCSU Center for Turfgrass.
Although this research was conducted
on golf courses, the results are also
applicable to other warm-season
turfgrass areas in North Carolina.
24
■
As is the case in many areas of the United States, there is
concern in North Carolina about the quality of water supplies,
especially in the eastern part of the state where periodic algal
blooms and fish kills occur. The main culprit in these
environmental systems is nitrate nitrogen. Many articles have
been published in the popular press stating that golf course
fertilization is a main cause of the water-quality problem, but
there has been little scientific basis for this conclusion.
We initiated a study several years ago to determine whether
golf course fertilization might actually be an environmental
problem. When the project began, it quickly became obvious
that past research would not supply the answer. Many recent
water-quality research projects had focused on fertilizer run-off.
It seemed unlikely, however, that run-off was a major problem
in North Carolina river basins, because best management
practices (BMPs) are commonly used. The BMPs for turfgrass
fertilization were established by N.C. State research/extension faculty many years
ago and are widely followed by turfgrass managers throughout the state. These
practices specify that fertilizers should not be applied before anticipated rain
events, and the practices prescribe light watering at the time of application to
ensure rapid biological use. Most golf course superintendents are well informed,
and they closely adhere to BMPs to minimize adverse environmental impacts and
to control their own costs!
If fertilizer run-off were not a problem, then the main concern would be
nitrogen leaching downward in the soil. Indeed, information coming from
environmental studies with natural and agronomic systems indicated that nitrate
losses occurred primarily through leaching and not surface run-off. Research
funded by the USGA had addressed nitrate leaching in turfgrass systems, but
almost all experiments were done on newly constructed plots. Because soil
characteristics and the ecology of established turfgrass fairways would be very
different from those in constructed plots, there was no way to extrapolate results
from the USGA project to a landscape scale.
May/June 2004
■
green light
ON GOLF
continued
Our research approach
To try to clear up the issue of whether North Carolina golf courses
were a major cause of water pollution, we initiated an extensive
field-research project to follow the fate of nitrogen in
bermudagrass fairways. The goal was to develop a nitrogen budget
that would account for uptake by bermudagrass, retention and
downward movement of nitrogen (N) in the soil profile, as well as
any loss of N into adjacent streams and lakes.
The scope of the project dictated its complexity. Detailing N
movement requires crossing several scientific disciplines,
including turfgrass agronomy and physiology, soil physics and
hydrology, and soil microbiology. As a consequence, a group of
research faculty was assembled with expertise in each of the
disciplines. The large project was made possible by environmental
research grants from the North Carolina Legislature. Funding also
was provided by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina, which
offered support even with the prospect of negative results for the
turfgrass industry.
Experimental sites were established on ten golf courses in
eastern North Carolina. The locations were chosen based on
several criteria. One was that they represented a variety of soil
types, because soil texture strongly influences leaching. Secondly,
we wanted to examine golf courses of different ages, thinking that
older courses could have very different levels of organic matter
and compaction compared to younger ones. Thirdly, it was
important that the research be located on golf courses willing to
cooperate and put up with our intrusion.
As shown in Figure 1, multiple plots were established on each
site for periodic collection of clippings during the bermudagrass
growing season. Transects were run from adjacent natural areas,
across roughs and fairways to a stream. Four transects were used at
each site to allow appropriate statistical analysis of data. Along
the transects, soil cores were taken to a depth of 4 feet, four times
a year (bracketing fertilization periods), to resolve patterns of
nitrate accumulation in the soil profile. Suction lysimeters were
installed at 6", 12" and 18" depths, which allowed direct sampling
of soil solution for nitrate analysis. The lysimeter samples were
collected on a weekly basis. “Nests” of shallow wells, 8' to 20'
deep, were installed for sampling of subsurface water flows. Water
samples were collected weekly from streams at points where they
entered and exited the golf course.
As implied above, this was the first comprehensive study of
nitrogen fate in bermudagrass fairways in a natural setting. The
experiment ran for three years, and the golf course
superintendents were asked to maintain their normal
management practices throughout. The general fertilization
protocol in this geographical area is to supply 2.5 lbs. to 3.5 lbs. of
nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft./year, mostly during the bermudagrass
growing season from May through September.
Expected results
Our initial expectation was that we would find high nitrate
levels in soil solution and subsurface water beneath the turfgrass
system and, consequently, a high potential for water pollution.
This came from simple reasoning:
• The golf courses ranged from 10 to 100 years old, and
even in the youngest, soil organic-nitrogen levels should
have been in equilibrium or approaching equilibrium. That
meant soil organic-nitrogen levels were stabilized and would
not increase from year to year.
• Since clippings were not removed from any of the sites,
fertilizer inputs should approximate losses. Taking into
account fertilization rates and yearly rainfall (~ 45 in/yr), it
was estimated that groundwater should contain about 50 –
100 ppm nitrate.
From the earliest analyses, it became evident that our initial
expectations were wrong.
Nitrogen in the turfgrass/soil system
One of the initial surprises in the study was the realization that
more nitrogen was being incorporated into clippings during the
growing season than was being supplied in fertilizer. Nitrogen
uptake efficiency was calculated from the clipping harvests and
analyses, and values generally ranged from just over 100% to as
high as 300%. The calculation indicates that nitrogen was being
rapidly cycled in the system. In other words, fertilizer N was taken
up into the grass; cut clippings were rapidly being degraded by soil
microbes, releasing N back into the soil; and the soil N was being
reabsorbed by the turfgrass.
The soil cores revealed that nitrate levels in the soil profile
beneath the turf always were very low, ranging from 1 to 3 mg/kg
of soil. The levels were similar to those found in natural areas
adjacent to the course that were not fertilized, and the levels were
much lower than those reported in studies with fertilized
agricultural crops. The nitrate levels were uniformly low with
depth from the soil surface, so there was no indication of
accumulation anywhere within the soil profile. Also, nitrate was
not elevated in the days and weeks following fertilizations,
probably reflecting the high uptake efficiency by the turfgrass.
Samples from the lysimeters, which were taken with greater
frequency, also indicated that soil-solution nitrate was low.
The placement of wells allowed sampling of subsurface water as
it flowed beneath fertilized fairways from higher natural areas to
low-lying streams. The subsurface flows would contain nitrate that
leached downward through the soil to the water table.
There were two major findings. First, some elevation in nitrate
could be seen as subsurface water moved from unfertilized, natural
areas to the fairways, but levels were relatively low, ranging from
~ 2 to 8 ppm. This is much lower than the predicted range of 50
to 100 ppm. Second, and most importantly, nitrate declined to
almost undetectable levels (less than 1 ppm) as the flow
approached streams. The water samples contained high levels of
dissolved organic carbon (~ 8 to 20 ppm). The high carbon levels,
coupled with anaerobic conditions, presumably led to denitrification, i.e. transformation of nitrate to nitrogen gas that was
released into the atmosphere.
In agricultural fields, leaching of fertilizer nitrate generally leads
to nitrate accumulation in the soil that “bleeds” into adjacent
streams or lakes over extended time periods. We have found no
25
green light
ON GOLF
continued
evidence that fertilization of fairways
causes an increase in nitrate in adjacent
streams. Stream nitrate levels generally
were low (less than 0.5 ppm) and actually
tended to decrease during water passage
through the golf course. All of the
superintendents maintained vegetation
along streams, which evidently absorbed
a portion of the available nitrate.
Significance to the industry
The results from the field studies are
consistent among all locations, always
indicating a very low potential for
nitrate contamination of ground and
surface waters. In the past two years, the
research has been expanded to include
five additional sites in other parts of
North Carolina where soils and
topographies are different than those in
the East. Up to this time, we have not
found any evidence indicating
significant pollution problems.
Our findings may come as a surprise to
many people working in the water-quality
area, just as they were to us. Turfgrass
systems have particular characteristics,
however, that are atypical of the
agricultural world, where almost all
previous landscape-scale research has
been done. One is the fertility approach.
Turfgrasses are usually fertilized three or
four times during the growing season with
relatively small amounts of nitrogen (~ 42
lbs./ac.), so the system is not overloaded
and predisposed to leaching. Also, most of
the root system is fully developed when
the fertilizer is added. By contrast, a corn
crop would receive the same total amount
of fertilizer, but in one or two applications
early in the growing season. It has been
estimated that corn takes up only about
50% of the nitrogen applied.
A second notable difference with
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IN
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CUSTOM
May/June 2004
BLENDS
■
turfgrasses is the density of the root
system. Nitrogen uptake efficiency is a
function of root absorption surface. The
fine roots of turfgrasses typically form a
dense matrix several inches into the soil,
and individual roots can extend
downward as much as two to three feet.
Nitrogen entering the root zone is rapidly
taken up from the soil solution.
A third difference is the very high
microbial activity in the soil just beneath
turfgrasses. The thatch layer at the soil
surface provides an ideal environment for
microbial communities, and microbial
biomass greatly exceeds that found in
natural or agricultural soils. High
microbial activity and efficient uptake by
the root are key components of efficient
nitrogen cycling, which causes fertilizer N
to be retained within the system.
Another key characteristic of
turfgrasses that is different from
traditional agriculture is the large
amount of carbon being deposited into
the soil. With irrigation and frequent
fertilizations, bermudagrass is grown in a
relatively stress-free environment. Large
amounts of organic material are
generated, and none is removed by
harvesting. The carbon in the organic
material provides an energy source for
microbial activity that, in turn, drives
degradation and de-nitrification
processes.
The evidence that we have assembled
thus far suggests that managed turfgrasses
may serve a similar function as the
riparian buffers being constructed to
protect streams and lakes from nitrate
contamination. The purpose of the
riparian buffers is, primarily, to intercept
nitrate in subsurface water flows. Buffers
function by providing a carbon source
that is used by microbes for denitrification in the anaerobic conditions
present close to stream banks, an effect
analogous to that observed in our
research. With this in mind, it is
conceivable that turfgrass systems may
occupy an important role in strategies to
protect water supplies in the future.
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27
green
light
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
Principles of Turfgrass
Management for Hispanic
Turf Care Professionals
by Dr. Alfredo Martínez, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia (Experiment Station,
Griffin, GA) and MSc. Marco T. Fonseca, Horticulture Department of Horticulture and State Master
Gardener Coordinator
[Editor’s note: This article recaps a seminar presented during the 42nd Annual Turfgrass Conference and Show (Turfgrass Council of North
Carolina), January 5-7, 2004, in Charlotte North Carolina. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of TCNC.]
F
ollowing the English version of this article is the exact same article in Spanish. Feel free to make
copies of this article and distribute them to your Hispanic employees.
Plant species used as turfgrass are a diverse group of plants. Therefore they have
very different characteristics. However, general characteristics can be observed.
Crown: Growing point at the base of the plant. Root: Originates from the crown
and absorbs nutrients, water and anchors the plant. The aboveground part of the
plant groups the stems and leaf blades and takes in light and carbon dioxide,
producing nutrients and sugars through photosynthesis. A leaf consists of a blade
and a sheath; the blade is the broad upper portion, and the sheath is the lower
portion that encircles the stem. The ligule is a thin membranous band or ring of
hairs which ends in ear-like lobes called auricles. Nodes are the bulbous joints on
stems. Some turfgrass species produce one plant, while others produce stems
called rhizomes and stolons that grow horizontally below and above ground.
Rhizomes and stolons produce new
plants at their nodes.
Proper mowing,
along with proper
watering, can be
the critical factor
in the appearance
of established
turfgrass.
28
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May/June 2004
■
P a r t s
green light
a n d
E q u i p m e n t
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
Classes of grasses
Turfgrasses can be classified according to their
botanical differences, but on a practical level it
is useful to consider them in terms of the
climates they prefer and the times of the year
they grow best. They fall into two categories:
cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses.
Cool-season species
Cool-season grasses grow well in the northern
United States. They grow actively in cool
spring weather and slow down or go dormant
in the heat of the summer when temperatures
reach 30°C. In areas with hot summers, they
usually must be grown with irrigation.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a dense,
clumping grass that is able to grow in the sun
or shade. It is fast growing and drought
tolerant, and it requires relatively low nitrogen
regimes. Sow 8 to 10 pounds of seed per 1,000
sq. ft. Tall fescue will germinate in 7 to 10 days
and requires a mowing height of 1 to 3 inches.
Fertilize with 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per
1,000 sq. ft. per year.
Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is a
cool-season grass that forms a medium-tocoarse textured lawn. It is used as a temporary
turfgrass or as overseeding on a dormant warmseason turfgrass such as bermudagrass. Sow 5 to
10 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. Mow at 1 to 2
inches and fertilize with 2 to 3 pounds of
nitrogen for every 1,000 sq. ft.
Williamston, NC 27892
800.334.3388
Email: [email protected]
Hydro Seeder
Warm-season grasses
These turfgrass species grow most vigorously
during warm summer months. Some undergo
dormancy and turn brown or yellow in fall or
winter. Others, particularly those grown in mild
winters, may stay green all year. Some of the
most popular warm-season turfgrass species
include zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, St.
Augustinegrass and centipede.
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp) is a tough,
aggressive, creeping grass with a fine-to-rough
leaf texture. It is tolerant to heat and drought
and is able to endure some cool shade and cool
temperatures. Sow 1 to 2 lbs. of hulled seed per
1,000 sq. ft. (or plant plugs 6" apart). Keep
turfgrass weed-free while it becomes
established.
Bermudagrass (Cyanodon spp) is a warmseason grass that grows by sod, sprigs or stolons;
newer varieties included seeded types. It is a
good-looking dense grass. It stands up to wear
and tear, as well as hot summer weather. It is
29
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ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
one of the most popular grasses in the South, including North
Carolina. There are two types of bermudagrass in the market:
common bermudagrass and hybrid bermudagrass. Sow 1 to 2
lbs. of seed per 1,000 sq. ft. (up to 10 lbs. in the Southeast).
Seed germinates in 10 to 30 days. Mow at 1", as frequently as
every two weeks. On hybrid bermuda, plant 2" sprigs at 12"
apart. Fertilize with 2 to 4 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a robust,
fast-growing, coarse-textured warm-season grass with broad
dark grass blades. St. Augustinegrass is one of the most shadeand heat-tolerant species, and it is somewhat tolerant to salt.
It requires intensive maintenance and fertility. Plant 3" to 4"
sod plugs at 1-foot intervals any time during the growing
season. During slow growth in spring and fall, keep the grass
free of weeds while it becomes established. Mow regularly at
1" to 3". Fertilize frequently with up to 3 to 6 pounds of
nitrogen for every 1,000 sq. ft. per year. Applications of
ferrous sulfate or chelated iron will enhance the appearance
and help to prevent chlorosis or yellowing.
Centipede (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a relatively finebladed, dense-growing turfgrass that thrives in sandy, acidic
soils and requires low fertility. Centipede presents light green
30
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May/June 2004
■
blades with leafy stolons. Sow seed at 1 to 2 lbs. per 1,000 sq.
ft. Plant sprigs or sod plugs on one-foot centers. Water
thoroughly when centipede shows signs of stress wilted and
discolored leaves. Apply iron sulfate if chlorosis appears. Mow
at 1" to 2". Fertilize with 2 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per
year on heavy soils and 2 to 3 lbs. of nitrogen on sandy soils.
Establishment, maintenance and fertilization
Turfgrasses can be established by seeding or vegetative
planting. Buying poor quality plants or seed often results in
less-than-satisfactory performance, pest problems and general
disappointment. Selection is especially important when
establishing a turf species. Read the information on the seed
tag carefully, and make sure you purchase seed with no
noxious weed seed and low levels of other crop seed. One way
to be sure you have seed or planting material that is true to
type, free of noxious weed seed and contains low levels of
other crop seed is to purchase certified seed or sod. Control
perennial weeds with a nonselective herbicide.
Remove debris and clear ground of paint, concrete and
other materials. Plan for easy maintenance and a pleasing
appearance of turf. Avoid terraces, steep grades, poorly drained
green light
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
Feed Your Turf Beautiful With
continued
areas and heavily shaded spots. Install tile drain
in poorly drained areas. Get professional advice
about the type of drain and installation.
A 2% to 3% percent slope is needed for
proper drainage away from buildings. If
grading is needed, remove the topsoil (usually
4" to 8") and stockpile it nearby. If the final
grade is to be appreciably higher than the
present level, build protective walls to save
trees. Shape the underlying subsoil to the
desired contour and redistribute the topsoil
uniformly above the subsoil.
Water the area to enhance settling. To avoid
standing water, fill areas that settle unevenly.
Mix 1 to 2 cubic yards of peat moss per 1,000
sq. ft. into the top 6" to 8" of subsoil if heavy
clay or very sandy soils are present. Clay soils
are prone to compaction and require frequent
aerification.
Following modification, take soil samples
from the areas, to determine soil pH and
nutrient requirements. A single soil test may be
all that is necessary, provided there are no
obvious differences in soil texture, terrain or
trouble spots in the various areas. Collect soil
samples to a depth of 3" to 4" from several
locations, and mix them together to produce a
composite sample. Send or take approximately
1 cup of the air-dried soil sample to your
county Cooperative Extension Center.
Incorporate lime and fertilizer (as needed)
into the top 6" to 8" of the soil using a rototiller. Unless the entire potential root zone is
uniformly limed and fertilized, turfgrass roots
will never successfully occupy this zone and
will die during stress periods.
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Camp Chemical Corporation
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1-800-682-3165 or 336-597-2214
Mowing
Proper mowing, along with proper watering,
can be the most critical factor in the
appearance of established turfgrass. Good
mowing techniques enhance the appearance of
the turf and increase its vigor.
Turfgrass stressed by mowing too low is more
prone to disease, weed invasion, drought and
traffic stress. Also, removal of most of the leaf
blade limits food production. Limited food
production decreases root, rhizome and stolon
growth. Plants with limited food production
and a limited root system will not have
vigorous growth. A vigorous, dense turfgrass
area is one of the best defenses against weed
invasion. Weak grass plants with a limited root
system are more prone to drought damage.
31
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ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
It is particularly important to mow high during dry weather.
Mowing height varies for different turfgrass species. The
second critical factor is mowing the lawn on a frequent basis.
The grass should be mowed so that no more than 1/3 of the
leaf blade is removed. If the desired height is 3", mow the
grass when it has grown to 4".
Mowing frequency will change throughout the year with
different weather patterns. Cool-season grasses such as
Kentucky bluegrass may require mowing twice a week in the
spring, but only every 7 to 10 days in the summer. Warmseason grasses such as bermudagrass may need more frequent
mowing in the summer than in the fall or spring.
Watering
As a general rule, turfgrass species in North Carolina will
need 1" of water every week. However, many factors
determine watering amount and frequency.
The best way to irrigate an established turfgrass is on an asneeded basis. Grass blades will begin to wilt as the moisture
begins to be depleted in the soil. If 30% to 50% of the turf
shows signs of slight wilting—such as curled blades and a gray
appearance—it is then time to water with 1" of irrigation.
The turf should fully recover within 24 hours. Then wait until
the turf shows signs of wilting again before watering. Localized
dry areas or hot spots should be watered by hand or by a
separate sprinkler to those spots only and not the whole area.
This method of watering works for any soil type and
environmental condition. Proper watering practices will help
maintain turfgrass species with less mowing and thatch
buildup. Proper watering will also help develop a deep root
system, making plants less susceptible to damage by pest and
environmental stresses.
Diseases
Brown patch is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. This
disease is characterized by circular patterns of dead grass.
The turf turns brown, and the grass blades rot off. Brown
patch can spread in an area from 1 inch to 20 feet. In
numerous cases, new leaves may emerge in the center of the
circular patch, giving the diseased areas a doughnut-shaped
appearance.
Brown patch is most common in St. Augustinegrass,
zoysiagrass, bentgrass and ryegrass. The disease is less
common in centipede and bermudagrass.
Brown patch occurs from late spring through early fall
(temperatures between 65-85°F). High humidity and high
nitrogen fertility contribute to rapid disease spread. Control:
Scout often, as early detection is key to controlling the
disease. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization. Water timely
and deeply. Avoid frequent light irrigation to reduce
humidity. Increase air circulation. Reduce thatch (no more
than 1/2" thick).
Dollar spot is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia
homoeocarpa. The disease is characterized by the appearance
of white patches of up to 2 inches in diameter. The
32
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May/June 2004
■
infection requirements of the disease are 50°F to 85°F (early
spring and late fall), with cool nights and warm days and
more than 10 hours of leaf wetness per day. Dry soil and low
nitrogen fertility promotes growth of the fungus. Control:
Maintain adequate nitrogen levels. Avoid drought stress.
Water deeply. Avoid extended moisture on leaves, and
remove dew in morning. Increase air circulation. Mow at
recommended height.
Pythium blight is caused by the fungus named Pythium
spp. The disease is characterized by the presence of small,
irregular water-soaked areas. Turf can turn brown,
orange/bronze and light/tan color. Highly infected areas are
characterized by numerous spots, which merge in the
wettest areas. The turf dies rapidly, collapses and appears
matted. Infected tissue feels oily to touch. If high humidity
is present, fluffy and cottony white mycelium can be seen
early in the morning. Control: Use treated seed when reseeding. Water management is essential. Correct overwatering and drainage problems. Do not over-fertilize with
nitrogen. Promote light and air penetration. Avoid pockets
of excessive humidity.
Fading and melting out are caused by the fungi
Curvularia and Helminthosporium sp, respectively. Both fungi
are common inhibitants of thatch and soil and can cause
disease when potassium is low and drought stress occurs.
They are most common in bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and
centipedegrass. Factors that promote disease incidence
include high temperature, drought stress, low aeration,
shade and excessive nitrogen. Control: Prevent drought
stress to the turf. Water properly. Perform a soil test to
insure adequate potassium. Address excessive thatch.
Protectant fungicides are available to control the disease.
Fairy ring is produced by different Basidiomycetous fungi
and affects all turf types. The disease is most common and
damaging on centipede, zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass.
The symptoms are circular or semi-circular bands. The
disease is caused by different types of fungi and is most
damaging on sandy soils of low fertility. The disease is
favored by heavy thatch. Control: Spike or aerate affected
areas. Water heavily, use extra fertilizer where appropriate,
replace soil and/or treat with fungicide.
Centipede decline is a disorder (not a disease) mostly
caused by improper and excessive fertility and high pH,
heavy thatch and compacted soils. Nematodes have been
associated with the disease. Control: Perform a soil test and
avoid over- or improper fertilization. Use a 3-1-2 fertilizer
ratio. Aerate to improve root growth. De-thatch.
Gray leaf spot, or Pyricularia grisea, affects St.
Augustinegrass and tall fescue. The leaf-spot disease is
favored by high nitrogen and excess moisture. Optimal
temps 77°F to 86°F. Control: Avoid excessive applications
of nitrogen, and follow proper watering practices. Reduce
thatch when excessive. Reduce shade. Avoid herbicide use
when temperatures are above 85°F. Protectant fungicides
are available. w w w. n c t u r f g r a s s . o r g
green light
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
Los Principios y Bases del
Manejo de los Céspedes
Dr. Alfredo Martínez, Programa de Céspedes y Plantas Ornamentales Urbanos. Departamento de
Fitopatología, Universidad de Georgia. Experiment Station, Griffin GA. y MC. Marco T. Fonseca,
Departamento de Horticultura y Coordinador Estatal del Programa de Maestros en Jardinería
Introducción
Los céspedes son un grupo diverso de plantas que agrupan una
variedad de especies, por lo tanto estos pueden tener
características muy diferentes. A pesar de su diversidad, se
pueden apreciar algunas características generales. Corona: Es la
base de la planta. Raíz. La raíz se origina de la corona y es la
parte de la planta que absorbe los nutrientes y el agua del suelo y
sirve como ancla de la planta. Zacate. Es la parte aérea de la
planta y agrupa a los tallos y las hojas, todo este conjunto de
órganos toma luz y bióxido de carbono produciendo nutrientes y
oxigeno a través de la fotosíntesis. Hojas. Consisten de la lámina
de la hoja y el cuello de la hoja; La lámina es la parte superior de
la hoja y el cuello se forma en la parte inferior y envuelve al
tallo. Lígula: Esta es una membrana ligera que envuelve a tallo,
usualmente abajo del cuello. Lo nudos son las uniones que se
encuentran en los tallos. Algunos céspedes producen solo una
planta y una raíz, sin embargo algunos otros producen rizomas y
estolones los cuales crecen horizontalmente dentro y sobre el
suelo, de estos crecen otras plantas.
Clases De Céspedes
Los céspedes han sido clasificados de acuerdo a sus diferencias
botánicas, pero a nivel practico, ellos han sido considerados de
acuerdo a el clima y a las estaciones en los que crecen mejor. De
acuerdo a estos parámetros, los céspedes se pueden clasificar en
dos categorías: Céspedes de invierno (temperaturas templadas) y
céspedes de verano (temperatura calientes)
Céspedes de invierno
Estos céspedes crecen en temperaturas frescas y templadas. La
mayoría de estos céspedes se utilizan en la parte norte de Estados
Unidos, ya que crecen activamente durante la primavera sin
embargo entran en dormacia durante los meses de verano
cuando la temperatura sobrepasa los 30 grados Centígrados. En
área donde la temperaturas no son tan extremosas durante el
verano, estos céspedes se pueden mantener verdes a través de
una irrigación intensa.
Tall Fescue (Festuca Arundinacea) es un césped denso, de bajo
mantenimiento, tolerante a la sombra, de crecimiento rápido y
tolerante a la sequía, además de que necesita muy poco
nitrógeno. Siembre 4-5 Kg. de semilla por 1000 pies cuadrados.
Este césped germina a los 7-10 días y requiere de una altura de
poda 1 ? -3 pulgadas. Fertilice este césped utilizando medio a un
Kg. de nitrógeno por cada 1000 pies cuadrados.
Centeno anual. (Lolium multiflorum) es un césped de textura
media, usado mayoritariamente como un césped temporal. Este
césped se utiliza como sobresiembra de un césped de verano que
esta dormante como lo es el césped Bermuda. Siembre 2.5 a 5
Kg. por cada 1000 pies cuadrados (5 a 10 Kg. por cada 1000 pies
cuadrados si se sobresiembra). Requiere de una alturas de poda
de 1 ? -2 pulgadas. Fertilice con 1 a 1.5 Kg. de nitrógeno por
cada 1000 pies cuadrados
Céspedes de verano
Estos céspedes crecen vigorosamente durante los meses de
verano, algunos de ellos se tornan dormantes y tienen un color
Amarillo o café durante el otoño y el invierno. Sin embargo
algunos pueden sobrevivir el frió o adaptase y seguir verdes
durante todo el año. Algunos de los céspedes de verano mas
populares son: el césped tipo Zoysia, el césped Bermuda, el San
Agustín y el Césped Ciempiés.
Tipo Zoysia (Zoysia spp). Es un césped de verano que crece por
medio de estolones y tiene una hoja de textura fina. Es tolerante
al calor y la sequía y que tolera algo de sombra y temperaturas
frescas. Siembra 0.5 a 1 Kg. de semilla por cada 1000 pies
cuadrados (o plante estolones cada 6 pulgadas). Manténgalo
libre de malezas hasta que se establezca por completo
Césped tipo Bermuda (Cyanodon spp). Es un césped de verano
que crece por medio de estolones, tolerante a veranos y climas
calurosos, es también tolerante a un uso fuerte y a la sequía. El
césped Bermuda es muy popular en el área del sur de Estados
Unidos incluyendo Carolina de Norte. Existen dos tipos
principales de zacate Bermuda. El Bermuda común y el Bermuda
híbrido. Siembre 0.5 a 1 Kg. de semilla por 1000 pies cuadrados
por ano (hasta 5 Kg. en el sur/suroeste). La semilla germina en
10-30 días. Pode hasta una altura de ? pulgada por 1000 pies
cuadrados. En el césped Bermuda híbrido, plante cuadritos de 2
pulgadas cada 12 pulgadas. Pode una altura de ? -1 pulgada, y
con una frecuencia de 2 semanas durante todo el estadio de
crecimiento. Fertilice con 1o dos kilos por cada 1000 pies
cuadrados por ano.
Césped tipo San Agustin (Stenotaphrum secundatum). Es un
césped de verano con una complexión gruesa y robusta con
hojas verde oscuro. El césped San Agustín tolera la sombra, el
calor y suelos salinos, requiere de suelos fértiles y de un buen
manejo. Plante pedazos de césped de 3-4 pulgadas con un
intervalo de 1 pie entre cada trozo, plante durante cualquier
estadio de crecimiento. Durante la primavera y el otoño
especialmente mantenga libre de malezas hasta que se establezca.
Pode a una altura de 1-3 pulgadas. Fertilice frecuentemente y use
de 1.5 a 3 Kg. de nitrógeno por cada 1000 pies cuadrados. Las
aplicaciones de sulfato ferroso o hierro quelado pueden mejorar
33
green light
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
la apariencia del césped San Agustín previniendo clorosis o
amarillamiento.
Césped Ciempiés (Eremochloa ophiuroides). Es un césped de
color verde claro con hojas de lámina fina y una textura de
dura a medio. Debido a sus bajos requerimientos de manejo y
fertilización este césped se le ha llamado césped del hombre
flojo. Siembre la semilla de ciempiés a una cantidad de 0.5 –1
Kg. por cada 1000 pies cuadrados. Plante estolones o pedazos
de césped a una distancia de 1 pie. Riegue profusamente
cuando el césped Ciempiés muestre signos de estrés como lo
son: marchito o con las hojas decoloradas. Aplique hierro si
aparece clorosis en las hojas. Pode a 1-2 pulgadas, fertilice con
1 Kg. De nitrógeno por cada 1000 pies cuadrados por año en
suelos arcillosos y 1 a 1.5 Kg. En suelos arenosos.
Establecimiento, Mantenimiento y Fertilización
Hay dos maneras de establecer un césped. El primero es
usando semillas y el segundo es usando material vegetativo
como estolones y rizomas. Casi todos lo céspedes de invierno
se establecen usando semillas. La mayoría de los céspedes de
verano se establecen usando material vegetativo. El primer
paso para tener éxito en el establecimiento de céspedes es la
preparación adecuada del suelo. Sin importar si se usa semilla
o material vegetativo el suelo debe ser cuidadosamente
cultivado. Antes de sembrar la semilla o usar estolones o
“sod”. Haga muestras y análisis de suelo para determinar las
necesidades de fertilizante y cal. Cualquier oficina de
extensión agrícola le puede ayudar a hacer este análisis.
Elimine material o residuos de la construcción como ser rocas,
cemento y madera. Al igual que troncones de árboles que
fueron cortados durante la nivelación y construcción. Si estos
materiales no son removidos terminan causando depresiones y
áreas con problemas de enfermedades y pobre crecimiento en
el césped. Una vez arado y hechas todas las preparaciones el
suelo debe ser nivelado permitiendo un drenaje adecuado. Si
durante el nivelado se elimino la capa superficial o capa
organiza del suelo, será necesario agregar material orgánico. Se
debe mezclar completamente alrededor de 10 yardas cúbicas
de material orgánico por cada 1000 pies cuadrados de césped.
Mezcle al mismo tiempo el fertilizante y cal dolomítica
recomendados por el análisis de suelo. Al finalizar todos estos
preparativos se tendrá un perfil de 8 a 10 pulgadas de suelo
con todas las condiciones adecuadas pare el crecimiento
vigoroso de las raíces de un césped de superior calidad.
En general los céspedes de invierno son establecidos usando
semillas. Seleccione semillas con alto porcentaje de
germinación y libres de impurezas y malezas. Disperse las
semillas usando un sembrador. Hay varios tipos de
sembradores; inyección, boleo y aspersión. Para aseguras una
distribución uniforme divida las semillas en mitad o cuartos y
siembra áreas pequeñas. Siembre en ambas direcciones nortesur, este-oeste. Una vez sembradas las semillas deben ser
mojadas para agilizar la germinación. En algunos casos será
necesario usar una cobertura de paja para proteger las semillas
y evitar se sequen o sean lavados en la escorrentía del riego o
lluvia. La época más adecuada para la siembra de céspedes de
invierno es en el otoño, En Carolina de Norte entre
septiembre y octubre. Por el contrario la mayoría de los
34
■
May/June 2004
■
céspedes de verano se establecen usando material vegetativo.
Se siembran a finales de la primavera. En Carolina de Norte la
mejor época para establecer céspedes de verano es mayo y
junio. Durante el periodo inicial de establecimiento es
importante mantener un buen nivel de fertilidad y de
humedad haciendo los riegos y fertilizaciones siguiendo las
recomendaciones del análisis de suelo. En ausencia de un
análisis la aplicación de formula completa de fertilizante en
una proporción no mayor a dos libras por 1000 pies cuadrados
proveerá los nutrientes necesarios.
Si las condiciones de crecimiento son adecuadas el
césped estará firmemente establecido en uno a dos meses.
Un programa de mantenimiento garantizara un césped
vigoroso y de alta calidad. Las siguientes son algunas de
las prácticas agronómicas requeridas para obtener un
césped de primera calidad.
Los céspedes pertenecen al grupo de plantas que crecen en
cualquier parte del mundo y son plantas muy eficientes. La
mayoría de los granos que alimentan al mundo pertenecen a
las gramíneas. Son plantas que requieren un balance de los
tres elementos principales de toda formula de fertilizante
Nitrógeno (N), fósforo (P) y potasio (k). Nitrógeno es quizás
el nutriente más importante en el cultivo de céspedes. Es el
elemento que las plantas requieren en mayor cantidad, el
nitrógeno es también muy soluble lo que hace que se pierda
rápidamente. La aplicación de fertilizante debe hacerse de
acuerdo a las demandas de la planta y periodos de rápido
crecimiento. El nitrógeno puede existir en dos formas,
sintético y orgánico. Urea, Sulfato de amonio y nitrato de
amonio son ejemplos de fertilizantes inorgánicos o sintéticos.
La mayoría de estas formas de nitrógeno son fáciles de aplicar,
económicos y rápida absorción. Algunos por su alta
concentración pueden causar daños foliares y quemar raíces
cuando se aplican en cantidades inadecuadas. Las fuentes de
nitrógeno orgánico como las compuestas y aboneras. Son
buenas fuentes de nitrógeno orgánico pero se encuentra en
forma no disponible para el uso inmediato de la planta. El
nitrógeno está amarrado en los diferentes tejidos orgánicos y
dependen de microorganismos y temperatura para
descomponer y poder ser usados por los céspedes. Durante la
estación de frió la actividad de los microorganismos es muy
limitada y mucho de los nitrógenos orgánicos no están
disponible a las gramas.
Poda
El corte del césped tendrá mucha influencia en la apariencia
del césped. La altura, frecuencia y filo de las podaras son
componentes importantes del corte del césped. Hoy dos
tipos de chapeadores o podadoras de césped. Las de
cuchillas rotatorias o tambor de 5 a 6 cuchillas y las una
cuchillas circular. Las cuchillas deben tener buen filo para
hacer corte limpio de las hojas de la grama. Nunca se debe
corta más de un tercio de la altura de la hoja. La altura a
que se corta el césped depende en parte de la especie de
grama y las condiciones de crecimiento. La mayoría de los
céspedes se deben podar a una altura de dos pulgadas.
Cuando se usan cuchillas podadoras sin filo los céspedes
tienen una apariencia de desgarre y descolorido. Cuando se
green light
ON COMMERCIAL TURF
continued
deja crecer mucho las hojas tiene a acamarse y a menudo hay
un aumento de enfermedades. Recuerde recortar gradualmente
para lograr establecer la altura adecuada. Durante periodos de
sequía es preferible corta media o una pulgada más alta de lo
normal. Al final de la primavera se puede cortar el césped al
ras del suelo para estimula un crecimiento rápido y
reverdecimiento del césped.
Riego
Como regla general los céspedes que crecen en Carolina de
Norte necesitan una pulgada de agua por semana. Sin embargo
hay otros factores que determinan la cantidad y frecuencia del
riego. Los más importantes son: el tipo de suelo, el tipo de
grama, la frecuencia de las lluvias, la temperatura y el viento.
Durante periodos de sequía y altas temperaturas el riego en
cantidades adecuadas es importante para mantener la buena
apariencia y calidad del césped. La mejor hora para regar es
durante las primeras horas del día, antes de la salida del sol. Los
riegos a esta hora del día evita que los céspedes permanezcan
húmedos por mas de lo necesario y evitan el crecimiento de
enfermedades. Trate de mojar completamente un perfil de suelo
de 6 o más pulgadas de profundidad. Usando aspersores esta
puede tardar alrededor de 3 horas. Sin embargo, un riego de esta
duración produce escorrentías y pérdidas de agua. La duración
del riego debe ser ajustada a la capacidad de absorción o
infiltración del suelo. La otra práctica que se debe evitar es riegos
superficiales y frecuentes. Esta práctica de riego solo humedece la
capa superficial de suelo y produce el crecimiento de raíces
superficiales que tienden a ser dañados por extremas
temperaturas altas del verano y bajas durante el invierno.
Renovación
Las renovaciones se hacen cuando más del 50% del césped ha
perdido la calidad y apariencia. Lo primero que se debe hacer
antes de iniciar cualquier renovación del césped es determinar la
causa del daño. Considere si el daño fue causado por prácticas
agronómicas inadecuadas (riego, fertilización, poda, herbicidas)
por exceso de humedad, heladas del invierno, sombra excesiva,
insectos o enfermedades. O simplemente es una variedad de
césped no adaptado a la región. Una vez determinada la razón
del daño haga las renovaciones durante los periodos de óptimo
crecimiento del tipo de césped dañado. Si es césped de verano a
principios de verano y si es de invierno a finales del otoño.
Revise las épocas de establecimiento para determinar la mejor
época de hacer trabajos de renovación. Una práctica que mejora
las condiciones de crecimiento de césped es la aeración del
suelo. Especialmente en suelos muy compactos, las prácticas de
aeración mejoran la penetración del agua y oxigeno en las zonas
crecimiento de las raíces.
Plagas de los Céspedes
Mancha Parda
La enfermedad es causada por el hongo Rhizoctonia solani y se
caracteriza por la aparición de manchas circulares de césped seco
y muerto. El césped se torna café y las hojas se pudren en desde
la base. La enfermedad puede ocupar unas áreas que van desde
unos centímetros en área hasta varios metros. En la mayoría de
los casos, plantas nuevas empiezan a crecer en el centro de la
mancha dando una apariencia de una rueda o un dona. La
enfermedad es común en los céspedes San Agustín, Zoysia,
Zacate Bent y el Centeno anual y poco menos común en los
céspedes Ciempiés y Bermuda. Control. Vigilancia: La detección
temprana es clave en el control de la enfermedad. Evite una
fertilización excesiva de Nitrógeno. Riegue a tiempo y de una
forma profunda. Evite irrigación leve y frecuente para reducir
humedad. Reduzca el <thatch> (no mas de 2 cm. de
profundidad)
Mancha Dólar
El agente causal de la enfermedad es el hongo Sclerotinia
homoeocarpa. La enfermedad se caracteriza por la aparición de
manchas blancas de unos 4 cm. en diámetro. Control. Mantenga
niveles nitrógeno adecuados. Evite el estrés por sequía. Aplique
riego pesado. Evite humedad en las hojas por mucho
tiempo/quite el roció en la mañana. Incremente la circulación
del viento. Pode a la altura recomendada.
Tizon por Pythium
El agente causal de la enfermedad es el hongo llamado Pythium
spp. La enfermedad se caracteriza por la presencia de áreas
irregulares acuosas. El césped se torna café, anaranjado o de color
plomizo. Las áreas afectadas se caracterizan por la aparición de
numerosas manchas las cuales coalecen en las zonas mas
húmedas. El césped muere rápidamente. Los tejidos infectados
tienen una consistencia aceitosa. Si persiste la alta humedad, en
las mañanas se puede observar un micelio blanco y algodonoso.
Control. Use semilla tratada cuando resiembre. El manejo del
agua es esencial. Corrija riego excesivo/problemas de drenaje.
No sobre fertilice con N. Promueva la penetración de luz y aire.
Evite áreas de humedad excesiva.
Senescencia prematura y quemadura
Estas dos enfermedades son causadas por los hongos Curvularia
y Helminthosporium sp respectivamente. Los dos hongos son
habitantes comunes del suelo y pueden causar enfermedades
cuando el Potasio en el suelo esta muy bajo y hay condiciones
de sequía. La enfermedad es más común en los céspedes
Bermuda, Zoysia y Ciempiés. La enfermedad se ha manifestado
más comúnmente en los pasados 2-3 anos. Control Evite
estrés por sequía al césped; riegue apropiadamente; prueba de
fertilidad del suelo asegurese de que tenga una buena cantidad
de Potasio. Maneje la cantidad de humus. Existen fungicidas
para su combate.
Anillos de hada
La enfermedad es causada por varios hongos de la clase de los
basidiomicetos.Afecta todas las clases céspedes. Es más común y
devastadora en ciempiés, zoysia y San. Agustín. Los síntomas son
bandas circulares o semicirculares. La enfermedad es causada por
diferentes tipos de hongos. La enfermedad es más dañina en los
suelos arenosos y de baja fertilidad, también se favorece por la
acumulación. Control. Haga hoyos o airee las áreas afectadas.
Riegue abundantemente. Fertilice apropiadamente. Remplace el
suelo afectado. Trate con fungicida. A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Tu r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a
35
gatherings
of the
green
RECENT EVENTS
TCNC Demo Days & Knowledge
Networks… in Hickory, a record
crowd attended on March 9!
by Gene Maples, TCNC Executive Director
O
On March 9, a record attendance of more than 250 enthusiastic turfgrass-management professionals
gathered in the classrooms and on the soccer-baseball complex of Catawba Valley Community College in
Hickory for the western version of the popular new TCNC Demo Days & Knowledge Networks regional
program series.
Maples photo/TCNC
For many
attendees, the
best golf program
of the day may
have been
headliners
Dr. Bruce Martin
from Clemson and
Dr. Leon Lucas
from the Carolinas
Golf Association.
36
■
The exciting day was co-hosted and ably manned by volunteers
from the Western Turfgrass Association, the Foothills
Landscape Management Association and students and staff
from CVCC. Golf course superintendents from far and wide
came to hear Dr. Lane Tredway report the latest dollar-spot
management. They also filled the classrooms for Leon Warren’s
program on “The Top 10 Worst Weeds in Turf.” For many
attendees, the best golf program of the day may have been
headliners Dr. Bruce Martin from Clemson and Dr. Leon Lucas
from the Carolinas Golf Association.
Complete with a panel of professionals, the program gave the
most extensive information ever heard in these parts on “The
Management & Performance of the New Putting Green Varieties.” The real-life,
under-the-gun panel consisted of TCNC member experts Guy Hollar (Rock
Bark GC), Robert Arrington (Catawba CC) and John Clark (ProGreen, Inc.),
who all did a marvelous job of relating their hands-on experiences.
Lawn and landscape managers were treated to Dr. Joe Neal’s “The Dirty Dozen
Weeds in the Landscape” and Dr. Lane Tredway’s “Tall Fescue Disease
Management” program. Perhaps the most eager audience of all earned two hours
of Aquatics license credit by completing Steve Hoyle’s “Aquatic Weed
Management” class. TCNC is committed to providing additional aquatics class
opportunities at other Demo Days & Knowledge Networks locations this year.
Midway through the spectacular outdoor equipment-and-supply demo period,
a worth-the-trip indoor lunch of famous Bennett’s Barbeque was literally
consumed by the capacity crowd of attendees and vendors. Introduced by CVCC
Environmental & Life Sciences Division Chair Darrell Kiser, CVCC President
Dr. Cuyler A. Dunbar spoke to the lunch assembly with highly complimentary
and motivational comments about our industry’s professionalism and constant
quest for knowledge.
Both before and after lunch, some 25 equipment-and-supply vendors were
busy with inquisitive customers from all over the western Piedmont and
mountain areas at this real live crank-it-up event.
Other TCNC Demo Days & Knowledge Networks locations this year include
Wayne Community College in Goldsboro on June 2, and Concord and
Greensboro in October. May/June 2004
■
Helping you
l o o k
1004 Washington Post Road
New Bern, NC 28560
phone: 252-637-9261 • fax: 252-636-1965
website: www.mackilweanturffarm.com
email: [email protected]
y o u r
• 419 Bermuda
Celebration Bermuda
• El Toro Zoysia
Cavalier Zoysia
• Centipede
• St.Augustine
b e s t
• 42'' Big Rolls
• Standard 1 yd rolls
• Installation Available
• Sprigs: Bermuda or Zoysia
• Broadcast or Row Planting
green
report
INDUSTRY NEWS
TCNC member Lou Ballew honored as
“First Lady of the Green Industry”
T
his past January, Mrs. Louise Jenkins Ballew received a Special Recognition Award at the 2004 Green & Growin’
show Awards Banquet in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Clark Wooten of Tri-State Turf presented Lou with the
award and honored her as the “First Lady of the Green Industry.”
Lou started in the green industry in marketing and sales in 1968, at a time when women were not
foremost in the agricultural industry. Lou built the company she worked for, Oakland Plantation Turf, to a
level of national status, and along the way, she built an industry. Her involvement in legislative activities
for nurserymen, landscapers, turfgrass managers and sod producers has helped the industry grow and
contribute millions of dollars towards agricultural expansion in North Carolina.
At the presentation of her award, Gene Maples and Marsha Richardson of TCNC, made the following
comments: "Lou Ballew is a positive thinker and doer. Her cheerfulness, insightfulness and creativity are
an absolute inspiration. Her compelling presence, her energy and the gleam in her eyes are purely
contagious. She can brighten a room, spark an idea, advance a project or give you a hug when you need
it. She is, without question, a true friend, a mentor and a role model. Lou harbors within, a productive,
loving concern for each one of us and for our Industry that is without equal in this or any other day. With
love, admiration and best wishes!" Cape Fear High School baseball field
named STMA’s Baseball Field of the Year
T
he baseball field of Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, earned the 2003 Sports Turf Managers
Association (STMA) “Baseball Field of the Year Award” in the High School/Parks and Recreation division. The
Award presentation took place during the STMA Awards Banquet held on January 23, 2004, in San Diego,
California, in conjunction with the Association’s annual conference.
The Cape Fear High School baseball field was first established in 1969. The first step of renovation began
with the sodding of the infield during the summer of 1989. Continual improvements have been made to
the field since that time, as Horticulture Instructor Terry W. Nance has incorporated sports-field
maintenance educational programs and hands-on training into his classes. For the past two years, he has
established a sports-field management crew of students who provide the pre-game, game-time and postgame baseball field maintenance.
The commitment to excellence in overall field quality, safety, playability and appearance earned the
Cape Fear High School Baseball Field the Field of the Year honors.
The Field of the Year Awards are presented for top maintenance of natural playing surfaces and support
facilities in four major sports areas: baseball, softball, football and soccer. The Field of the Year and Sports
Field Complex of the Year Awards are the highest honor STMA bestows upon a facility. Matthew Martin, area turfgrass agent
and TCNC member, receives award
M
atthew Martin, area specialized agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, has been
recognized by the state’s local chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), a national honor society for Extension
professionals. ESP is an honorary fraternity dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension
System and to developing the Extension profession and the professional.
Martin received the State Early Career Award from the Xi Chapter of ESP at its 2003 annual meeting in Raleigh. Based in Brunswick
County, Martin also serves New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties, providing diverse and valuable research-based turfgrass
information programs. He teaches and promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for golf course superintendents, landscape
contractors, homeowners and other turfgrass managers. 38
■
May/June 2004
■
6441 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
Pickups
Dump Trucks
Van Bodies
Build to Your Specs
We Deliver Anything
in North Carolina
John Olivera
704.634.7022 • 800.821.6087
green report
INDUSTRY NEWS
continued
Legislative Update:
Competing for Research Grant Money
N
orth Carolina needs to loosen rules on hiring, purchasing and construction if it wants its public research universities to
remain competitive for grant money, according to a study presented by Huron Consulting Group to a legislative
committee. The consulting company also recommended that the state resist the temptation to dip into university
overhead receipts—the portion of research grants earmarked to pay for building space, utilities and other costs of businesses.
Some legislators have argued in the past that the state should receive a portion of those funds.
Election 2004, Ag Endorsement
Although he was the only candidate for NC Agriculture
Commissioner that did NOT visit the NC Turfgrass Show in January
to meet and greet (although his company did exhibit), Tom Gilmore
announced he has received endorsements from several prominent
Democrats, including former Governor Jim Hunt. Gilmore, a plant
nursery co-owner in Guilford County, is a former House member and
deputy human resources secretary.
Research funded by federal and private dollars has resulted in the
formation of 54 startup companies and 409 patents since 1997.
Legislators were told that some state policies could dampen that kind
of economic development and recommended several changes,
including allowing universities to have more flexibility in salaries and
health benefits so they can recruit more and better researchers;
changing state purchasing rules to allow schools to choose vendors
who offer better services and products; and easing of restrictions on
construction and leasing so that researchers can move into research
space more quickly and easily.
Education News, NCSU Golf
North Carolina State University is trying to figure out whether it
can raise $15.8 million from private donors to build the golf course
on Centennial Campus, along with a research-and-training center
and a two-story clubhouse with an outdoor terrace. If the answer is
positive, the golf course could become part of NCSU’s capital
campaign, which will be publicly started in the fall. The university
said it needs the golf course as soon as possible for academic and
athletic reasons. The university is teaching its second class of majors
in the professional golf-management program, a degree that leads
graduates to jobs as golf professionals. The golf course would also be
used by the men’s and women’s golf teams, which now have no
home course, and by students in the turfgrass research program in
NCSU’s College of Ag and Life Sciences.
News from Washington
To combat activist groups’ endless flow of lawsuits against the EPA, the
turfgrass industry has been called upon to speak out to protect both
endangered species and the use of turf pesticide products. The activists’
lawsuits accuse the EPA of failure to implement the Endangered Species
Act compliance process for registering pesticides. The Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) supports the regulatory process,
developed jointly with the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife and the National
Marine Fisheries Service. This process establishes a formal,
comprehensive multi-agency review procedure to protect endangered
species while minimizing impacts to users of professional and consumer
pesticides for both specialty and agricultural uses. One lawsuit already
won in the Western District of Washington state ordered unnecessary
buffer zones up to 300 feet for certain pesticide applications close to
waterways, along with a redundant consumer-education program for
pesticides already approved for use by the EPA. N E W S F R O M T H E N O R T H C A R O L I N A S O D P R O D U C E R S A S S O C I AT I O N
Marketing funds
requested for promoting
NC-grown turfgrass sod
On February 24, 2004, the Executive Committee of the North
Carolina Sod Producers Association (NC-SPA) met with John
Aydlett, marketing specialist with the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, to plan a
major marketing grant proposal to increase demand for North
Carolina-grown turfgrass sod. The grant-funding availability
comes to the state through the USDA Specialty Crops
Marketing program. See page 42 for more information about requesting a copy of the
North Carolina Sod Producers Association Membership Directory.
40
■
May/June 2004
On February 24, 2004, members
from the North Carolina Sod Producers
Association (NC-SPA) met at the NC.
Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer
Services for a marketing-planning
session. Pictured above is NC-SPA
president Keaton Vandemark (seated)
with Commissioner of Agriculture Britt
Cobb. Maples photo/TCNC.
■
Pictured (left to right) are Greg Craver
(Bellevue Manor Turf, Morgantown), Al
Wooten (Quality Turf, Burgaw), John
Aydlett (NC Dept. of Agriculture &
Consumer Services), Keaton Vandemark
(Vandemark Farms, Spring Hope),
Commissioner of Agriculture Britt Cobb,
and David McCart (Piedmont Turf, a
BuySod producer, Maiden). Maples
photo/TCNC.
JULY 26-27
PLCAA Legislative Day on the Hill
& Cemetery Project
Washington, DC
calendar
of events
JULY 27-30
TPI Summer Convention & Field Days
Manheim, PA
TCNC EVENTS
MAY 4
NC TurfPAC Eastern Golf Tournament
Wallace, NC
AUGUST 11
NSCU Turfgrass Field Day
Sandhills Research Station
Jackson Springs, NC
MAY 18
Tour of the new NCSU Turf Field Lab Facility
Lake Wheeler Road Research Unit
Raleigh, NC
SEPTEMBER 24-26
International Lawn, Garden
& Power Equipment Expo
Louisville, KY
MAY 19
NCSU Landscape Field Day &
NCLGA Product & Equipment Show
JC Raulston Arboretum
Raleigh, NC
OCTOBER 6
TCNC Demo Day & Knowledge Network
Concord, NC
OCTOBER TBA
NC TurfPAC Western Golf Tournament
Location TBA
JUNE 2
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC
OCTOBER 27
Greensboro, NC
JUNE 22-23
Turfgrass Regional Seminar and Demo Day
(partnership between TCNC & VTC)
Virginia Beach, VA
JANUARY 17-19, 2005
Turfgrass Industry Expo (formerly known as
the TCNC Annual Conference & Show)
Adam’s Mark Hotel & Grand Pavilion Complex
Winston-Salem, NC
index of
advertisers
A & L Eastern Agricultural Labs, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
American Turf Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
BASF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
BuySod, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Camp Chemical Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Carolina Green Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Carolina Turf Farms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
E & S Soil and Peat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
G & S Turf Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover
Harmon Turf Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Harrell’s Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover
H & H Farm Machine Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Hunter Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
John Deere Worldwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
J.W. Burress, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Lawn Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
LESCO, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Mackilwean Turf Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Modern Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Morgan Sand Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Oakland Plantation Turf Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Outdoor Equipment Distributors, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Parks Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Patten Seed Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Pioneer Seed Supply, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Quality Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Reddick Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Revels Tractor/Greenville Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Slater Turf Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Smith Turf & Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Syngenta Professional Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Turf Mountain Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
NC-SPA Membership
Directories now available
For your sod ordering convenience, the
2004 North Carolina Sod Producers
Association Membership Directories are
now available. Request your copy by
calling NC-SPA at 910/695-1333 or visit
www.ncsod.org. Copies will also be
available through your local county
cooperative extension agent’s office. For
easy reference and contact information,
the Directory lists each sod-farm member
in North Carolina, their location and the
varieties of sod that they grow. 42
■
May/June 2004
■
Greensboro Office:
Pineville Office:
G & S Turf Equipment Co.
G & S Turf Equipment Co.
3507 Associate Dr.
Greensboro, NC 27405
10901 Downs Rd.
Pineville, NC 28134
ph. 888-447-8873
fax 336-621-5949
website www.gsturf.com
ph. 800-732-6567
fax 704-504-5809

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