Green World AN INDUSTRYWIDE PUBLICATION OFTHE NEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION August 1985 Sulfur — Its Role on Turf Ralph E. Engel and Roy L. Flannery1 (6) Sulfur from the air and man applied sources have been decreasing which has caused an increase in the number of states reporting low sulfur problems. The Sulfur Needs of Turfgrasses — As with other plants sulfur is part of the turfgrass plant. Species and varietal dif­ ferences in sulfur requirement of turf grasses lack definitive study. We might expect, as is true with other characteristics, differences in need are expected among closely related grasses as well as between more diverse species. Management of the grass may affect the sulfur need. Clipping removal is one of the simpler forms of loss. Generously watered turf on coarse tex­ tured or porous soil will have greater sulfur need. Turf soils, low in organic matter, are expected to have greater sulfur need. Turf soils, low in organic matter, are expected to have greater sulfur need. Often these conditions are man-made on areas such as putting- greens and athletic fields. High sand soils of these areas are likely to be lower in organic matter content, especially in earlier years, and are more likely to be sulfur-deficient. Intensively used turf of this type often receives higher nitrogen which increases the sulfur requirement. Turf is grown with a great variety of con­ ditions that will affect sulfur need and abundance. Absorption of sulfur in­ creases in undisturbed soil that is high in clay, hydrous iron and aluminum oxides. Low pH, slow water movement and the presence of nitrates or clorides increase sulfur absorption. In contrast liming and phosphate fertilization affect the turf soil’s ability to absorb the sulfate ion. (continued on page 3) 1 Professor of Turfgrass Science and Ex­ tension Specialist and Professor of Soil, respectively, N.J. Agric. Expt. Station, Rutgers University. A study supported by funds from the N.J. Agric. Exp. Sta­ tion, Project No. E15001-1-85. Vol. 15 No. 2 Changing Ways of Watering Some kind of note about this summer 1985 The Vol. 2 issue of 1984 with the misting articles was at the printer when I saw Jim Simmons’ article on ‘’Misting Greens” in the August 1984 GCSAA issue. Jim’s work sort of wraps up some of things we have been thinking and talking about on watering bentgrass greens in recent years. Also, this and other refinements in watering are a great contrast to remarks of earlier years (most commonly professors and agronomists said “deep watering only on turf”). Whether to mist water or water deeply has become another agonizing decision in some turf areas. Some of you might re-read Jim’s article. The last issue of Green World review­ ed sulfur in soils, plants and the environ­ ment. This general information was a preface for this paper on sulfur use for turfgrasses. In summary of the first paper: (1) Sulfur has major effects on behavior of the soil, (2) It is known that sulfur is necessary and a part of some plant tissues, (3) The amount needed was given as one part to five of nitrogen, (4) Sometimes it is said the amount of sulfur required is not greatly different from the amount of phosphorus, (5) Plants may obtain major portions of their sulfur from the soil, the at­ mosphere and man made applications of some fertilizers and other materials, Does thatch kill turf? I have never believed thatch, as such, kills turf. However, in analyzing turf troubles at this season do not discount poor water penetration, disease, heat and senility problems of the grasses that go with thatch. Often these troubles do no correlate well with thickness of the thatch. REE Comments and Opinions . . Yours and Ours “The Dose Makes Increasing Assurance of Good Turf All of us think about a prescription for easier success with turf. We agree generally that the ingredients of this success are a good soil, a favorable site, experience, good assistants, knowledge, equipment, an ideal climate and a “green thumb.” Getting all these together is difficult and some of these are out of reach for various reasons. Money is one. A green thumb, one of the most im­ portant, can be put to work with little or no cost. A big part of this factor is “timeliness.” We should ask ourselves how we do on this item. Many things done on turf are far less effective and sometimes harmful without proper tim­ ing. Time of seeding or planting involves choosing the season, preparation work and adjusting to the day-to-day weather. Almost everyone agrees that late August offers the best odds for seeding. Do we organize and schedule our work programs to take advantage of this season? If not, are we prepared to take measures such as mulching, extra fer­ tilizer, over-seeding or more herbicides the following spring? At any time of the year, we might evaluate our timeliness performance. An exact calendar schedule is not quite the answer. Often good timing of treatments involves scheduling that fits the stage of growth and “health” of the grass. In some cases we still need research to learn more about the best time for a particular turf treatment. REE New Jersey Population Statistics “Over 70,000 race and pleasure horses are stabled on large and small farms in New Jersey.” N.J. Farm Bureau — June 1985. This would average nearly 3000 horses per county if they were evenly distributed. REE Grass is the stuff parks are made of. Accent on Grass. the Poison” This is the striking title of a book by Dr. M. Alice Ottoboni of Vincent Books, published in 1984. E. E. Waller, Executive Director of MACA comments that ‘Dr. Ottoboni — reminds us that the “tremendous importance of the dose-time rela­ tionship in determining whether or not a chemical will be toxic is well illustrated by the fact that every one of us ingests many lethal doses of many chemicals, both natural and synthetic, during the course of a lifetime. A shocking thought!” She notes there is a lethal dose of caffeine in approx­ imately 100 cups of coffee, solanine in 100-400 pounds of potatoes; oxalic acid in 10-20 lbs. of spinach, and aspirin in 100 tablets.’ The extremist who creates panic sup­ port for banning a useful pesticide because of the death of a laboratory animal fed repeated large doses should reflect on this. REE OFFICERS OF THE N.J.T.A. Joe DeSantis, President Douglas Moody, Vice President Ralph Engel, Secretary William Ritchie Treasurer Dave McGhee Past President Henry Indyk, Expo Chairman EXECUTIVE BOARD Samuel Leon Joseph Dodgson Richard Hurley Joseph W Manning, Jr. James Stewart Robert Dobson William A. Nist John Poksay Ed Milewski Green World is published three times a year by the New Jersey Turfgrass Association, P.O. Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Pal ph Engel, con­ sulting editor; Veronica M. Malone, managing editor. Please address in­ quiries concerning advertising to William Nist, Lebanon Chemical Co., Dayton, NJ 08810. (201)329-4011. The Desire for Turf My recent trip to the International Turfgrass Conference in Italy and France convinced me that turf is ap­ preciated more in those countries than in the USA. As we traveled from one area to another, we were often greeted by local politicians. They discussed how valuable turf was in their area, and they expressed hope that they would have more and better turf. This contrasts sharply with many ac­ tions and remarks in our area. Turf is often a whipping boy for those who seek to convince a following that turf is un­ necessary, is something to satisfy the vanity of snobs and is a “major cause of pollution” rather than an environmen­ tal plus. It is possible that some folks in the USA are contemptuous because they take good turf for granted? Most other countries have less natural green space. This might explain the greater ap­ preciation for the extra dimension of a living green area. One of the most strik­ ing examples was observed in Paris where a new sports center was planned and built in an older area that had no special antiquity value. A fixed minimum of turf and landscape was required for the redevelopment. In addition, the Mayor decreed that the sports building have sloping sides of green grass. If some say the densely populated areas of the USA do not need more green turf and landscape plants, this is no reason to be unappreciative of what we have! REE Summer Solace To some, summer brings days at the ocean, vacation and watermelon. The turf grower has only the beautiful out- of-doors, long working hours in this season of depressing turf failures and the opportunity to learn from ex­ perience, The following comments on life help us find some appreciation of summer. Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. John Dewey It is well to treasure the memories of past misfortunes; they constitute our bank of fortitude. Eric Hoffer Role of Sulfur (continued from page 1) The great variety of turf sites prevents simplification of stating sulfur needs. Turfgrass soils range from good to poor drainage, vary in natural sulfur content and receive differing amounts. Determining Sulfur Needs — The turf­ grass plant is a good indicator of sulfur need. Yellowing of the newer leaves is a symptom of sulfur deficiency. Since there are many other causes of yellow leaf-growth, diagnosis is complicated. Plant tissue and soil tests will help verify the need for sulfur. Dr. Roy L. Goss of Washington State University, Puyallup, Wash., concluded that sulfur Parkmaster The Professional for large areas. tissue levels should not fall below 0.3% in Colonial bentgrass. Plant and soil tests for sulfur are not used common­ ly. In some cases the old empirical technique of sulfur-treated and un­ treated turf might be used as a check on the need for this nutrient. Problems with sulfur often require expert evaluation. Sulfur has several benefits related to annual bluegrass control and disease that may be desirable. Use of sulfur on bentgrass turf was shown by Goss to discourage the encroachment of annual bluegrass. He and others have sug­ gested better sulfur nutrition of the bentgrass as a major reason, but phosphorus availability should not be overlooked. If suppression of annual bluegrass is necessary, it seems best to discontinue phosphorus use for periods of time as lower levels of this nutrient discourage annual bluegrass develop­ ment in bentgrass. With regard to disease, use of sulfur to lower the pH The Toro' Parkmaster mows swaths from 30 inches to 18 1/2 feet wide -up to 80 acres a day. With a 7 or 9 unit hydraulically-controlled frame, it has a compact pattern of gangs for easy mowing, easy transporting The Parkmaster is the mowing tractor built to take Spartan gangs. Comes with powerful gas or diesel engine with cab and roll over protection system (ROPS) optional. TORO Storr Tractor Co 3191 U S Highway 22 Somerville. NJ 08876 201/722-9830 THE PROFESSIONALS THAT KEEP YOU CUTTING. LEBANON PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS QUALITY HOMOGENOUS, FERTILIZERS ALL WITHIN YOUR BUDGET ! LEBANON LEBANON CHEMICAL CORPORATION P.O. Box 189 Dayton, NJ 08810 P.O. Box 180 Lebanon, PA 17042 has been recommended to control Ophiobolus and Fusariums nivale. In locations where these diseases are fre­ quently serious, the use of sulfur to lower the pH might be considered. Some Cautions and Concerns of Sulfur Treatment on Turf — Use sulfur discreetly. Goss states application 1/2 pound on sulfur per 1,000 square feet per year is adequate for nutrition on most sites of their area. Yet, higher rates are commonly used or recommended. Turf injury is not uncommon after sulfur application. Severe damage has follow­ ed application of higher rates. Ferma- nian et al. (Okla. and III.) reported 4,800 Ibs./per acre of sulfur killed most of the bentgrass. Examples of severe injury from use of single heavy applications have been reported but not documented. Steve Cadenelli (Conn.) reported spot kill from individual sulfur granules, of one inch plus in diameter, on bentgrass greens. Intensive use of ammonium sulfate for one-year by Engel on bentgrass mowed at 1/4-inch, lowered the pH to 5.5 and caused the plot to become one large dry-spot in a turf area that was slightly acid (6.2) before treatment. The long-term injury effects of heavy sulfur use on lowering the soil pH of turf have been reported in several studies. The oldest of these was winter injury in Rhode Island following repeated ap­ plication of ammonium sulfate. After 35 years serious winter injury showed on turf where the pH was lowered to 4.0. Similarly, H.B. Sprague et al. at the New Jersey Experiment Station reported serious stress injury on turf when pH decreased to the 5.5 to 5.7 level. More recently reports follow: (1) Nelson reported (Journal of Sports Turf, 1982) severe winter injury on Ken­ tucky bluegrass Poa pratensis in Canada, with applications of 486 to 1175 lbs. per acre for 3 years that lowered the pH from 6.9 to a range of 3.5 to 5.3 at the soil surface just below the turf mat, (2) A golf course in Wisconsin applied (continued on page 4) Jacobsen Turfcat II GW 224 Wilfred Mac Donald, Inc. 340 Main Avenue Clifton, NJ 07014 201-471-0244 •Jacobsen -Olathe •National •Gravely •Giant Vac •Droyhill •Cushman •Howard • Smithco • FMC •Terra-Care affect that increases lime need. Sulfur-coated urea supplies sulfur and it has an acidifying effect. Natural organic materials may con­ tain useful quantities of sulfur. For ex­ ample, activated sewage sludge con­ tains 0.2% sulfur. Other fertilizer materials such as potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate have quickly available forms of sulfur. Normal superphosphates supply ap­ preciable sulfur in the calcium sulfate that is associated with this form of phosphorus. However, little of this type is used in mixed fertilizers except in a formulation such as 5-10-5. Fertilizers with this high ratio of phosphorus is not used commonly on turf. While gypsum is not considered a fer­ tilizer, it is an efficient product for ad­ ding sulfur without lowering the soil pH. Also, It can improve the permeability of compacted surface layers in fine soils. In Conclusion — Sulfur will be an in­ creasing need for turf-growing as sulfur fallout from the atmosphere decreases and sulfur become less common in man- applied materials. More monitoring of the sulfur content of turf areas will be needed in future years. However, sulfur must be used selectively and only as needed to avoid unnecessary problems. Hole of Sulfur (continued from page 1) 440 lbs. of sulfur per acre for two years that lowered the pH from 7.2 to 6.4. Wilt and tire tracking followed. This ended the sulfur treatments and started some corrective liming (Latham Cor­ respondence). The basis for turf injury from intense application of sulfur on turf soils of this region has not been deter­ mined. When sulfur use has a signifi­ cant affect on pH, corrective lime ap­ plications are advisable. The early Sustaining Members July 1985 AABAR, Inc. A-L Service A. Lombardi Landscaping Aquashade, Inc. Brouwer Turf Equipment Chevron Chemical Co. Classic Gardens, Inc. D&J Landscaping Don’s Touch Double Eagle Equipment Co. Dow Chemical USA DuBrow’s Nurseries Elite Lawn Care, Inc. Fertl-Soil Co. Fertl-Soil Turf Supply Inc. Florence Landscaping SVC., Inc. Garden Dyamics, Inc. Garden State Goodall Garfield Williamson, Inc. Green Grass Farm Maintenance Grass Roots Grass Tech Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. Hummer Turfgrass Systems, Inc. Jade Run Turf & Sod Farm Jep Sales, Inc. Jonathan Green & Sons, Inc., Americus Prof. Turfgrass Co., Green Hill Div. Keystone Lawn Spray, Inc. Leon’s Sod Farm Lofts Seed, Inc. MacAndrews & Forbes Co. Manasaquan River Golf Club Metro Milorganite, Inc. Montco/Surf Side National ChemSearch, Div. of NCH Corp. Newton County Club Nor-Am Chemical Co. Rapp Sod Farms Reid Sod Farm Rockland Chemical Co., Inc. O.M. Scott & Sons Seacoast Labs, Inc. Stanford Seed Co. Storr Tractor Co. Superior Chemical Product Sweeney Seed Co. The English Gardeners, Inc. Vaughan-Jacklin Corp. Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Rhode Island tests with ammonium sulfate gave good results with liming. A review of the injury threat from heavy applications of sulfur to lower pH values that reach as high as 7.8 in this high rainfall climate detracts from the practice. In this region the only bent- grass greens with observed trouble from a high pH had been subjected to salt water wash. Noer (1947) Hole of Lime, Vol. 1 reported Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin had many good greens with a pH of 7.5 and higher. The Amount of Sulfur Required — Soil chemists suggest 15 to 50 lbs. per acre of sulfur per year to maintain ade­ quate sulfur for various crops with typical losses and amounts that may fall from the atmosphere. This latter source commonly supplies approximately 30 percent of the plant needs. Irrigation water with 4 ppm of sulfur should satisfy most sulfur needs of turf. Sources of Sulfur for Turf — Fer­ tilizers that contain sulfur are the most efficient way to supply this nutrient for typical turf conditions of this region. Since fertilizers tend to have less sulfur than in earlier years, more fertilizers may be chosen specifically for this nutrient. Ammonium sulfate, often a by-product of the coke industry, has a generous supply of sulfur. It has a high acidifying Mystic KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS Mystic is so aggressive it rapidly fills in divot scars and fights Poa annua invasion making it ideal for use on golf course fairways and tees. It possesses the following characteristics: ★Tolerant of close mowing (3/4”) ★ Provides a dense and aggressive turf ★ Resists Poa annua invasion ★ Fine texture ★ Bright green color Mystic was evaluated at Rutgers University by Dr. Ralph Engel and Dr. C.R. Funk under the experi­ mental designation P-141. For more information contact your local Lofts distributor, or Lofts Seed, Inc. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (201) 356-8700 LOFTS R O C K L A N D FERTILIZERS COMBINATIONS OF NITROFORM I.B.D.U. S.C.U. And And WITH INSECTICIDES PRE-EMERGENCE CRABGRASS KILLERS HERBICIDES GRANULAR LIQUID SELECTIVE AND TOTAL FUNGICIDES GRANULAR FLOWABLE WETTABLE POWDERS INSECTICIDES GRANULAR LIQUID WETTABLE POWDERS DOES IT ALL Ask your supplier or write: ROCKLAND CHEMICAL CO., INC. ® Passaic Ave., West Caldwell, N.J.