Turfgrass Management

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Turfgrass Management

• Alanna L. Neely
• Chapter 6B Supplementary Cultural Practices

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Rolling

• Definition
  .
• Excessive rolling results in
  in established turf. Where major surface
  irregularities exist, sod replacement should be
  done.
• Rolling is important in turf establishment to
• it creates favorable
  for germination and seedling growth.
• Rolling is done to press frost-heaved turfgrass
  back into the soil to minimize
  . Soil should be moist, but not
  during rolling.

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Cont.d

• Following intensive play on football fields,
  rolling is done to press uprooted turf back into
  the soil and this minimize subsequent desiccation
  damage.
• Sod growers often roll prior to harvesting to
• . Thus, shallower harvesting
  depths can be used to minimize soil removal and
  produce a lighter sod
• roll.

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Topdressing

• Definition
  .
• For new plantings, topdressing
• soil partially
  .
• For established turfs, topdressing
• Modifies and controls thatch
• ,
• Promotes recovery from injury or disease
• ,
• Changes characteristics of a turfgrass growth
  medium.

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• Layering can occur where different topdressing
  soils are used over time.
• This can result in disruptions in soil water
  movement and the formation of a series of perched
  and temporary water tables.
• The movement of air and other gases is also
  disrupted resulting in a decline in soil
  aeration.
• Turfgrass rooting in layered soils can be
  severely restricted.
• When topdressing is done in conjunction with
  , this can be more effective in opening up the
  turf for more uniform
• .

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Matting

• The procedure by which a heavy steel mat or
  similar device is pulled across a turf.
• Usually done following
  .
• Often done following
  .
• Also done to debris and work seed
  into a turf that has been vertically mowed and
  overseeded.

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• Optimum soil moisture for matting is usually
  lower than for coring thus
• Soil cores should be allowed to sufficiently
• so they can be
  .
• When too wet, the soil tends .
• When too dry, the soil cores are
  .
• Alternatives to a heavy steel mat are
• .
• For working in loose topdressing soil,
• .

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Wetting agents

• Surface active agents called,
• , are
  .
• A wetting agent is a particular
• class of surfactant that the
• wetting capacity of water in a
• hydrophobic soil or other growth
• medium.

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• Wetting agents are classified as
• 
  .
• wetting agents are readily leached
  from the soil thus, their effects tend to be
  very short-term.
• become bound to negatively
  charged clay and organic colloids thus, they can
  completely waterproof a soil.
• have produced the most
  long-lasting, beneficial effects.

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• Nonionic wetting agents include
• .
• are most effective in
  .
• are most effective in
  .
• are most effective in
  .
• Some nonionic surfactants are blends of different
  materials to provide effective wetting of a broad
  range of soil types.

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• In addition to improved wettability, benefits
  using wetting agents include
• Improved turfgrass growth from increased water
  and nutrient availability.
• .
• Reduced soil erosion and increases seed
  germination.
• .
• Correction of localized dry spots.

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• Concerns associated with the use of wetting
  agents
• , especially at high
  application rate and under heat stress.
• can be reduced and
  effectiveness increased by
  .
• Turfgrass genotype-specific responses some
  cultivars may be unusually sensitive and should
  be adequately tested before a broad program of
  application is initiated.

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Turf Colorants

• Uses
• .
• Cosmetic effects on diseased, damaged, or
  discolored turf.
• 
  .
• Colorant application
• Suitable colorants must be carefully selected to
  ensure satisfactory results.
• 
  .
• Apply to dry turf when temps. Are above
• for best results.

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• Before and After use of turf colorants

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Plant Growth Regulation

• Initially, were used
  to reduce the mowing requirements of utility
  turfs by inhibiting shoot growth. Effects often
  include
• Generally unsatisfactory or inconsistent shoot
  growth inhibition.
• 
  .
• Discoloration and thinning of the turf.
• .
• Reduced turfgrass recuperative capacity.
• 
  .

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• With the introduction of newer materials, the
  effectiveness and utility of PGRs has improved
  and their use has included
• Species conversion within a turfgrass community
  (e.g., annual bluegrass to creeping bentgrass).
• .
• .
• .

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Types of PGRs

• Type I growth inhibition by causing cessation
  of cell division and differentiation in plant
  meristematic regions. This type may be fairly
  effective in seed head suppression.
• Growth-inhibiting subtypes are absorbed and
  
• in their effects.
• Growth-suppressing subtypes are and
  allow some growth to occur following application.
• This type is also referred to as a
  .

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• Type II growth suppression by inhibiting
  gibberellin biosynthesis and causing reductions
  in cell elongation and associated expansive
  growth of susceptible plants. While ineffective
  in suppressing seed head development, seed head
  height may be reduced due to reductions in culm
  internode elongation. Effects are relatively long
  lasting and largely unaffected or actually
  enhanced. As effects are also differential among
  turfgrass species, selective suppression and
  thus control of annual bluegrass mixtures with
  creeping bentgrass is possible. Successive
  applications at low rates have resulted in
  impressive population shifts in treated greens
  and fairways.

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• Other types - these include the class D
• and class E
• PGRs.
• The most popular class E PGR is ethephon
• , which stimulates
  of ethylene, a
• . Among its
  effects is seed-head suppression. It is typically
  used with trinexapac-ethyl on annual bluegrass
  turfs to inhibit seed heads and maintain
  favorable turf color.
• Other class E PGRs include the hormones
  gibberellic acid, cytokinins, auxins, jasmonic
  acid, and alicylic acid. Their use is likely to
• 
  .

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Summary

• Methods and purposes of various cultivation
  methods, including coring, slicing, spiking,
  water-injection cultivation, and vertical mowing.
• Other supplementary cultural practices, including
  rolling, topdressing, and matting, as well as the
  application of wetting agents, turf colorants and
  PGRs.

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Closing Statement

• To the extent that primary cultural operations
  may be inadequate, these supplementary operations
  may provide the wherewithal to achieve and
  sustain a particular turf at the desired level of
  quality. Your understanding and skill in the
  effective use of these operations can make the
  difference between your success or failure as a
  turfgrass manager.