IPM Concepts

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IPM Concepts For Sport Fields
David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The BugDoc Landscape
Entomologist The Ohio State University
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IPM Concepts
Program - Way of Thinking
Preventive - Reactive
Single Control - Multiple Controls
Pest Thresholds
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IPM Principles and Concepts
Pest Management versus Pest Eradication
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A Definition
IPM is a process where the selection,
integration, and implementation of pest control
(biological, chemical or cultural) is based on
predicted economic, ecological, and sociological
consequences.
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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM Core Concepts

• No single pest control method will be
  successful.
• Monitoring (sampling) of the pest is constantly
  needed.
• Mere presence of a pest is no reason to justify
  action.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM is NOT

• a biological control program
• an organic program
• a pesticide free program
• the most expensive approach
• the least expensive approach

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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM is

• a decision making process that
• is based on ecological, economic and
  sociological values/restrictions,
• uses pest monitoring and sampling,
• and considers all of the control options.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Traditional Approaches (based on crops)

• sample pest populations on a regular basis.
• develop pest economic injury levels.
• determine economic threshold levels (action
  thresholds) for each crop and pest.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Problems Applying Field Crop Concepts to
Athletic Fields

• athletic fields are aesthetic crops
• general public fear of chemicals
• turf is a perennial that changes over time
• plant stress is caused by field usage

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Urban Approaches (for landscapes)

• Key Plants - plants prone to damaging pest
  problems.
• Key Pests - pests that can cause serious damage
  or plant loss.

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Do you use IPM and not realize it??

• Use targeted applications?
• Look before you spray?
• Select least toxic pesticides? (soaps, oils,
  Bt)
• Keep records of pest activity?
• Practice turf health care?

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The IPM Process

• Ask, What is the cause of the pest problem?
• Can the cause be eliminated?
• Will Turf Health Care reduce or eliminate the
  pest?
• Are cultural or biological controls available
  and effective?
• What is the least toxic pesticide or pesticide
  usage strategy?

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Turf Selection

• AVOID Contractors Blend!!!!
• Use blend of CULTIVARS of SAME species, not
  several species!
• Turf-Type (dwarf) tall fescues are well adapted
  to Ohio sport fields, especially lower
  maintenance ones!
• Ryegrasses establish fast, but are disease and
  drought prone!
• Kentucky bluegrass establishes slow, requires
  extensive fertilizer water!

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Fertilizing Sport Fields

• Use fertilizers to increase root depth and
  density and increase stem density.
• Return clippings to turf to recycle nutrients.
• Use slow release, balanced fertilizers and/or
  urban composts.
• Concentrate fertilizer applications for periods
  of root growth - late April to mid-May and again
  in October into November.

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Weed Control Approach (BASIC STRATEGY - dense,
tall turf tends to reduce weed invasion)

• Mow high, 2 inches MINIMUM.
• Promote root growth fertilize in early spring
  and/or fall.
• Reduce wear traffic rotate goals and field
  design if possible develop practice fields core
  aerify twice per year.
• Overseed or slit-seed when needed.
• Use herbicides only when necessary.

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Turf Weeds
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Are there herbicide alternatives?

• Corn gluten meal has demonstrated preemergent
  herbicide activity.
• Rather expensive and a weak herbicide.
• Most of action is likely nutrient value from
  decomposition of meal - added fertility thickens
  turf and reduces weed invasion!

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Insect Control Approach (BASIC STRATEGY - use
resistant turf species and create deep root
systems)

• Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass w/o endophyte
  fine fescues w/o endophytes are most susceptible
  to surface insects.
• Ryegrasses and fescues with endophytes are
  resistant to surface insects.
• Fertilize in spring fall, reduce irrigation
  in summer to discourage grubs.
• Use insecticides only when necessary.

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Turf Insects
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Are there alternatives to insecticides?

• Insect parasitic nematodes are effective, but
  expensive and inconsistent.
• Milky disease of Japanese beetles does not
  affect other species of grubs. In Ohio, the
  disease is a weak pathogen that will eventually
  occur naturally. Very expensive to apply.
• Endophytes provide long term, consistent
  control (of surface insects).

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Simple slit seeding of endophytic ryegrass into
KBG resulted in a 30 to 50 stand of endophyte -
enough to control surface insects!
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Why do we want quality athletic fields for our
schools or municipalities?

• Pride (it looks better!)
• SAFETY! (It has been shown time and again that
  a high quality turf playing surface reduces
  athletic injuries!)

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Our view on television!
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Typical School reality for athletic fields!
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Most common problems with school/municipal
athletic fields

• Manager has little or no turf maintenance
  training and insufficient time and personnel to
  maintain the turf.
• Poor turf varieties on native soils.
• Soil compaction, poor drainage, low fertility,
  improper mowing.
• Too much multi-purpose usage!
• Coach demands usage, mowing height!

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Sport Fields are DIFFERENT from Lawns!

• Sport fields require higher fertility amounts
  to maintain root and stem density.
• Sport fields should drain rapidly.
• Sport fields should be kept growing through
  summer season - irrigation.
• Sport fields will need repair or renovation on
  a regular basis.

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General Sport Field Maintenance

• Needs 4 to 6 pounds Nitrogen/1000ft2/ year
  (twice that of lawns).
• Preemergent herbicides may reduce seed
  germination needed in reseeded areas. Avoid
  usage.
• Broadleaf herbicides may be needed annually
  until density reduces invasion. Apply when no
  play is expected.
• Mowing frequency may be double that of lawn
  areas (2 - 3 times per week)

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General Sport Field Maintenance

• Should be irrigated during drought months to
  keep turf green.
• Core aerify at least once per year, prefer two
  times per year.
• Overseed once or twice per year, especially in
  wear places.

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Long Term Goals for School Municipal Sport
Fields

• Separate general use fields from
  varsity/tournament fields.
• Attempt to keep varsity field only for sport
  events and other special events.
• Require most practice to take place on general
  use fields.
• Design general use fields so that goals can be
  relocated (change wear patterns regularly).

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Final Recommendations

• Have school/municipal district develop a
  general management plan for grounds (play areas,
  lawns and ornamental plants) and athletic fields
  (general use and varsity sports). Emphasize
  improving turf cultivars, define fertilizer
  rates, and identify what pesticides are
  acceptable and when.
• Provide funding and time for maintenance
  personnel to receive training on turf and
  ornamental plant care.

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Other Options

• Many districts have little to no funding for
  grounds and sport field maintenance.
• Parent groups may assist by providing special
  funding or help. You will need a well defined
  management protocol that can be followed by such
  novices.
• Many local lawn care companies will donate
  materials and personnel to maintain lawns and
  athletic fields. They will gladly follow YOUR
  protocols IF you have them!