Golfdom, April 2015

research for real superintendents Hosted by Clark Trossell Ph D clarkthrossell@ bresnan net Super Science tolerating traffic Influence of WInter fertIlIty on MicrodochiuM nivale By Clint Mattox M icrodochium nivale is a disease of major concern in cool humid regions where turfgrass is grown Presently the only methods to ensure control of this disease are through the use of synthetic fungicides Pesticide bans and restrictions have caused concern among turfgrass managers in regard to how they will manage this disease in the future Te objective of this fertility trial is to evaluate the efects of diferent winter fertility combinations in association with simulated golf course traffic in order to assess their potential as alternative management options for Microdochium nivale on Poa annua putting greens A field trial at Oregon State University Corvallis Ore was initiated in September 2013 on a green that was built by placing 6 inches of a sand that met USGA guidelines on a soil subgrade with no drainage All possible combinations of three rates of nitrogen in the form of urea 0 01 and 02 lb per 1000 f2 and fve rates of iron sulfate heptahydrate 0 025 05 10 and 20 lbs per 1000 f2 are applied every two weeks for eight months from the third week of September to the second week of June for two years Treatments are applied in two gallons of spray solution per 1000 f2 at 40 psi Golf course trafc is simulated to replicate 73 rounds of golf a day by walking over the plots with golf shoes fve days a week throughout the trial period Tis corresponds to the average rounds of golf played at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis Ore during the same period Preliminary results show that greatest disease suppression and trafc tolerance is observed on treatments with 20 lbs iron sulfate 1000f2 in combination with 01 lb of nitrogen per 1000 f2 applied every two weeks Clint Mattox Alec Kowalewski Ph D and Brian McDonald are at Oregon State University Clint Mattox can be reached at mattoxgolf@ hotmail com for more information news updates IntroducInG casey reynolds extensIon turfGrass specIalIst at texas a M unIversIty as an extension turfgrass specialist at texas a M university my job is to serve superintendents in texas by conducting applied turfgrass research and extension activities My background is in plant physiology impacts of shade on turf health turf colorants pigments and variety development i received my ph d in crop science with a concentration in turfgrass management from north carolina state university in 2013 and was hired in July 2013 as an assistant professor and extension turfgrass specialist at texas a M university in college station texas current projects we have at various golf courses throughout texas include annual bluegrass timing trials as well as smutgrass and doveweed control trials We have also written a grant proposal as part of the Gcsaas environmental institute for Golf eifG where we plan to document and monitor herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass throughout texas with support from texas Gcsaa chapters in addition to these research efforts our extension efforts include re developing our website producing a turfgrass pest control recommendations guide producing various turfgrass extension publications and providing ceus for pesticide applicator recertification Our research has classified the prOducts and shOwn that cOlOrants can be an attractive and cOst effective alternative tO Overseeding Grady Miller Ph D see story on page 34 April 2015 Golfdom 33 Golfdom com photo by Clint Mattox an overview of the experiment showing the various fertility treatments and the presence of Microdochium nivale