green world Let Science Guide Us AN INDUSTRYWIDE PUBLICATION OF THE NEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Vol. 17 No. 1 August 1987 Do You Remember? Perhaps you do not remember the story of these pictures or you may be new to New Jersey turf, but the tale re­ lates to this state’s wet seasons. New Jersey's great acreage of wetlands has expanded in the 1987 season. Parks, golf courses, and some other types of turf areas are often built in very wet areas for various reasons. Some of the resulting drainage prob­ lems are unique and difficult. challenge of new or so-called facts. A scientist who is loose or flip with accu­ rately reporting the truth is unlikely to be a good scientist. Also, those who do ap­ plied work in the biological sciences must strive to maintain integrity in their work. Finally, good scientists are usually humble. We live in a world of great depen­ dency on the sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics. Yet students in school often evade science courses for an easier academic life and our so­ ciety often refuses the intellectual en­ lightenment of science. Many give more attention to obsessive mysteri­ ous cult worship and astrology than to science. A recent study at the Univer­ sity of Pennsylvania indicated: (1) in­ creased viewing of television’s dramat­ ic programs creates a negative feeling about scientists, (2) greater TV view­ ing increases willingness to put restric­ tions on science, and (3) scientists are “killed” on prime time TV more than any other group. While science remains a respected profession, we might assume some of the opinions reflected above are true. The person who is a professional sci­ entist or gets involved in science is forced to respect a different mental discipline than most. The very nature of a scientist’s work requires frequent Without reflecting further on the nature of a scientist, how do we attain better science in our complex society? Our world needs the highest quality science. How can this goal be reached? An under­ standing of science and its uses is a first, useful step. Steps to Good Science Some of the modern day problems with science start with mistakenly calling things science or scientific proof where neither can exist. The magnitude or mis­ direction of this failure is serious, but the cure is better science. Are we striving in­ tensely enough for the best science in our working world? When an answer is needed, the solution should be pursued with the best effort. There is no place for superficial research. Reducing scientific mistakes would enhance many difficult situations in our lives, our government, our turf, our landscape, and our agricul­ ture. In this era, better science in our re­ search, decisions, teaching, and techni­ cal utterances will give better health, save money, and enrich our lives. With poor science, problems will be solved slowly or remain unsolved and we may be led into more blind alleys. continued on page 4 Figures 1 and 2 The first picture is from Green World of 1976 and was taken at the Picatinny Arsen­ al’ Club. The top is essentially the basement sump pump setup. The installation below was operated by suction from water running through a pipeline. continued on page 5 OPINIONS AND COMMENTS Timeliness When working with turf, as with most other biological things, timeli­ ness is a key factor. Learning this les­ son from experience is one reason “we should get better with age.” Last year, I urged timely fertilization for quick recovery of summer devastated Kentucky bluegrass turf. Some ferti­ lizer in the September - early October period, along with the cooler tempera­ tures, rain, and possibly less severe mowing, will heal quickly all but large voids. In this issue, I will comment on the timeliness of seeding new turf and overseeding of old turf. Time of Seeding a New Turf Seeding in late August until Septem­ ber 1 is the time for establishing cool season grasses in our climate. This gives the maximum chance of favora­ ble weather for establishment and ma­ turity before the devastation of sum­ mer strikes. Seeding later or in other seasons can succeed, but it is a poor second choice. With Kentucky blue­ grass and its slow starting, I have known sod growers to cancel intended seeding rather than face the in­ creased chance of an inadequate growth from late seeding. Extra care, protection, and costs are required for untimely seeding. Spring seeding has a high percentage of failure. At this season, the turf-type ryegrasses give one of the best chances for useful re­ sults. Timeliness of Overseeding Turf The results of overseeding are often a disappointment. Yet it is important to heal the larger voids in turf as soon as possible. Late September is the best possible overseeding season in the New Jersey-type climate. Seeding at other seasons is less efficient or Sustaining Members — NJTA 1986-87 Leon's Sod Farm Leonard Reinhardt, Inc. Lesco, Inc. L J. Makrancy & Sons Lofts Seed, Inc. MacAndrews & Forbes Co. Metro Milorganite, Inc. Middletown Sprinkler Co. Monsanto Agricultural Products Co. Montco I Surfside Morris Co. Park Commission National Lawn Serv., Haines & Son Newton Country Club Nor-Am Chemical Co. Paige Electric Corp. Panther Valley G & CC Partac Peat Corp. Pfeiffers' Pfarms Equip. Co. Pocono Turf Supply QQ’s “The Trailer Place” Rapp Sod Farm Reed’s Sod Farm Reid Sod Farm Rick's Cycle Center Paige Electric Corp. Panther Valley G & CC Partac Peat Corp. Pfeiffers' Pfarms Equip. Co. Pocono Turf Supply QQ’s “The Trailer Place” Rapp Sod Farm Reed’s Sod Farm Reid Sod Farm Rockland Chemical Co. Rosedale & Rosehill Cemetery Royal Lawns of Monmouth Rumson Country Club O.M. Scott & Sons Sands Country Club Seacoast Labs Storr Tractor Co. Superior Chemical Product Surf Landscaping Sweetin’s Landscaping, Inc. Toms River Lawn & Sprinkler Inc. Trenton Country Club Tuckahoe Turf Farms Vaughan Seed Co. Washington Twp. Parks & Rec. Wildwood Golf & CC Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Wilpat Turf Sprinklers, Inc. Woodbridge Center Woodruff/Lerco Lawns of So. Jersey The past always looks better than it was. AABAR, INC. A & A Lawn Sprinklers A-L Service A. Lombardi Landscaping Aquarius Irrigation Supply Aqua-Flo Aquashade, Inc. Arthur's Landscape & Irrigation Co. Atlantic Distributors Barefoot Grass Lawn Service Barnes Landscape Basking Ridge Golf Course, Inc. Bellusci Landscaping Brickman Industries, Inc. Brouwer Turf Equipment Bruedan Corp. Bunton Turf Products, Inc. W. A. Cleary Corporation Coastline Equipment Co. Coger Farms & Garden Ctr. D & J Landscaping Double Eagle Equipment Co. Dow Chemical USA Du Brows's Nurseries Elite Land Care Evergreen Lawn Sprinklers Fairway Colf Car, Inc. Farmstead Golf & CC Fertl-Soil Turf Supply, Inc. Fiddler's Elbow CC Florence Landscaping SVC., Inc. Forest Hill Field Club Garfield Williamson, Proform Gimni Cricket, Inc. Green Grass Landscape Svc., Inc Grass Roots Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc. Homestead Landscaping Homestead Lawn Sprinkler Co., Inc. Horizon Estates International Seeds Irrigation Unlimited Inc. Jade Run Turf & Sod Farm Jep Sales, Inc. Jesco, Inc. Jimni Krickett, Inc. Keystone Lawn Spray, Inc. Lawn Doctor I Matawan Lawn Doctor Mountainside/Cranford Lebanon Chemical Co. Lee Rain, Inc. poor, yet any success it gives in clos­ ing voids promptly is useful. A slicing machine or other tool that gives seed contact with soil is important. In spite of low efficiency of overseeding, it is often the only recourse for introducing a de­ sirable new grass. When turf is thin, timely fertilization will often eliminate the need for overseeding. □ REE OPINIONS AND COMMENTS The Role of Turf-type Ryegrasses in Lawns Most everyone in turf has observed the turf-type ryegrasses for a few to more than a dozen years. Many are us­ ing this grass regularly or exclusively, while others do not use it. These rye­ grasses are a valuable component in the Kentucky bluegrass type of sunny lawn. When ryegrasses are used in a seed mixture, any appreciable excess above twenty pounds per acre has a very destructive effect on seedlings of Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. This plus its habit of surviving as scat­ tered plants in shade makes it objec­ tionable for this turf purpose. I am not sure how or when turf-type ryegrasses only should be used for lawn turf. They can be the "work horse” of many 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch lawns. If a Kentucky blue­ grass component is not present, over­ seeding of the turf ryegrasses may be needed at one to three year intervals to help maintain a uniform cover. The number of lawns with all ryegrass will increase. Time will tell us more on the appropri­ ateness of this monoculture. □ REE 1987 OFFICERS OF THE N.J.T.A. Jack Poksay, President William Waddington, V President Ralph Engel, Secretary Joseph Dodgson, Treasurer Joe DeSantis, Past President Henry Indyk, Expo Chairman EXECUTIVE BOARD Samuel Leon Richard Hurley Joseph W. Manning, Jr. Robert Dobson Robert Dickison David Pease Ed Milewski Steve Stys PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP-DRESSING HEAT TREATED BOTH AVAILABLE IN BULK OR BAGS 201-637-4631 201-637-4191 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK GREAT MEADOWS, N.J. 07838 beam CLAY THE PROFESSIONAL S CHOICE . . SINCE 1922 BEAM CLAY IS THE RED BASEBALL MIX USED BY THE U.S.A. AND CANADA. PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ACROSS SPECIAL MIXES FOR PITCHER'S MOUNDS, HOMEPLATE AREAS & WARNING TRACKS. ABSTRACT— New Seedings and Lime Procedures by D.W. Koch and G.O. Estes Agronomy Journal 78:567-571. 1986 The purpose of the study was to compare the response of plants to lime with and without soil incorporation. A study was conducted on a fine, sandy loam in New Hampshire with an initial pH of 5.6. Mixtures of timothy Phleum pratense L., orchardgrass Dactylis qlomerata L., alfalfa Medicaqo sativa L., and birdsfoot trefoil Lotus cornicu- latus L. were seeded with unincorpo­ rated surface lime and conventional in­ corporation by disking. Rates of dolo­ mitic lime application were 4.5 and 9.0 Mg ha-1, and were made in August, 1976. P and K were applied to all plots in April, 1977. The incorporated plots were disked again before seeding in May, 1977. With no tillage, paraquat was used the day before seeding. Sur­ Parkmaster The Professional for large areas. 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 Storr Tractor Co 3191 U.S. Highway 22 Somerville NJ 08876 201/722-9830 TORO The Professionals that keep you cutting CONTROL THATCH, PROMOTE HEALTHY TURF & SMOOTH PLAYING SURFACES face liming without tillage gave less vigorous seedlings and slower estab­ lishment. There was no difference in seedling density with liming or seeding method. Yields of plant material in the seeding year were greater with incor­ poration of lime than with no incorpora­ tion. With a 4.5 Mg ha-1 lime rate, yields over six years were not different for liming method. The rate of 9.0 Mg ha’1 of incorporated lime gave a six year yield advantage. During this time inter­ val, the high rate gave increased pH to a depth of only 10 cm (4 inches). Alfal- fa-orchardgrass was more responsive to lime than birdsfoot trefoil-timothy. [Editorial Comment — The incorpo­ ration (disking) of lime after application showed significant benefit only on plots with the higher rates. This sup­ ports the contention that larger appli­ cations of lime can increase the rate of downward movement. The study shows that lime on the surface is less than ideal and a shortcoming of varia­ ble nature. Lime in a test of this type in a more severe summer climate would likely have reduced droughtiness. The test results emphasize the importance of applying enough lime to correct the need, and also it supports waiting enough time for responses to occur for determining the total benefit. The stud­ ies of Sprague, et al., (1938-41), and Engel (1951) showed the slowness of lime penetration. The former study also reported the more active form of lime (hydrated) gave no significant in­ crease in penetration rate. □ REE Turf Seed Treatment Seed treatment with an appropri- ate fungicide can protect turf seed during germination and first stages of seedling growth. This can be especial­ ly valuable in warm, wet weather or with bentgrass germination. Dr. Bruce Clarke has done some research on this and will have a comprehensive ar­ ticle on turf seed treatment in a future issue. □ REE Just be glad you are not getting all the government you are paying for. — Will Rodgers WILD FLOWER MIX The low-maintenance beauty treatment for any landscape Pinto - beautiful to look at and easy to maintain. Ideal for parks, roadsides, golf course roughs, indus­ trial sites. Perennials and annuals that reseed themselves and give you a painted pic­ ture of reds, blues, pinks, yellows - year after year. Available either as 100% wild flowers or as a Meadow Mix combined with a fescue to aid soil stabilization. Pinto Wild Flower Mix... the natural way to a perma­ nent, beautiful landscape. Lofts Seed Inc. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (201)356-8700 LOFTS For more information call John Morrissey or Marie Pompei at (800) 526-3890. A great man is one who can have great power and not abuse it. — Henry L. Doherty Let Science Guide Us continued from page 1 Another major step to good science is dedication to learning the truth. Yet the fallibility of people is such that we placidly accept things that do not seem right, lack evidence, or contain biases. Complete objectivity is not al­ ways easy to achieve. During my re­ search years, I tried to question my­ self and review the evidence of new or disturbing findings. It took time but I tried to sort out and evaluate all sin­ cere criticisms of my research. The quest for scientific knowledge needs the challenge of the new coupled with avoidance of mistakes and untruths. Do we discipline ourselves into good scientific procedure? Do we use sta­ tistics? When number ratings are giv­ en to comparative biological research responses, do significant differences occur? The big question becomes: “How real are these differing results?” Sometimes, variability is so great that differences are meaningless. Statis­ tics are valuable and are commonly used as a test of confidence on data of scientific study. They are unneces­ sary occasionally for some research tests when differences are consis­ tently large. While statistics are es­ sential tools, they do not give abso­ lute proof. Unfortunately, useful sta­ tistics are omitted in many studies where they could give us confidence levels for research data. Some rea­ sons for this omission are: (1) a lack of appreciation, (2) insufficient time allowed for statistical techniques, and (3) failure, for whatever reason, to re­ veal evidence showing the meaning­ fulness of differences. Look for sta­ tistical tests of confidence on re­ search data as part of the process of accepting conclusions as real. Another failure of research is draw­ ing conclusions based on chance as­ sociation rather than on hard, scientif- ic logic. Some years ago, an avian study with confined feeding that in­ cluded high rates of DDT resulted in thin egg shells and a poor hatch of eggs. This has led to many and con­ tinuing interpretations about birds being endangered by thin egg shells caused by DDT. These statements appear to have generated from one study that was reported. The test was based on artificially high dosag­ es of DDT given to mother birds that ate little else. With low food intake, low calcium follows and thin egg shells would be expected. Those re­ sponsible for this “thin egg shell” project had an obligation to clarify this issue before or after publication as a warning against overtheorizing on this point. Yet we have heard this “thin egg shell” story as gospel re­ peatedly and we shall hear it many continued on page 5 WE CAN HELP YOU GROW better quality turf Jonathan Green stocks more bluegrass, fine textured rye­ grass and turf-type tall, fescue varieties than any other seed house in the mid- atlantic and eastern states. Jonathan Green stocks an entire range of insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and specialty turf products for professional lawn services, golf courses, municipalities, sod growers, hydro-seeders and all landscape contractors. Jonathan Green provides you with product information, custom turf care programs and prompt knowledgeable attention to your particu­ lar turf problems... large or small. FOR THE FASTEST SERVICE IN THE EAST CALL Jonathan Green FARMINGDALE, NEW JERSEY 07727 1-800-526-2303 201-938-7007 IN NEW JERSEY OUT OF STATE Let Science Guide Us continued from page 4 more times. In addition, another loose scientific step is the quick, emotional banning of the valuable hydrocarbon insecticides of some years ago. An ironic aspect of this situation was the finding of vast quantities of hydrocarbons in the earth’s water and soil that were not cross-checked with treated and un­ treated soil or the actual tonnage of manufactured chlorinated hydrocar­ bons. This omission seems al, the more inconceivable with consideration of such findings as the work of Frazier, , of the Department of Soil et al. Science, University of Wisconsin, as was reported in the September, 1970 issue of Pesticide Monitoring, Vol. 4. Thirty-two of thirty-four samples of soil taken in 1909-1911 and sealed tightly in glass jars (25 years before the man­ ufacture of chlorinated hydrocarbon in­ secticides) gave the hydrocarbon re­ action. Does nature make its own hy­ drocarbons or is the chemical identifi­ cation test faulty? How long can or should this country indulge in making decisions on the use or banning of chemicals without the facts when vital information is obviously missing? Chemicals and the Future Will we lose additional chemicals of great importance to kneejerk emotion, a lack of good scientific study, biases, or inability to recognize the truths of science? Pseudo-scientific procedure and cult thinking can push our society into a tangle of confusion, cause us to follow a lot of third- and fourth-rate techniques and follow more proce­ dures that are wasteful or worthless. Along with misreading results of re­ search, it is easy to anticipate too much from tests. Useful answers often do not develop or are sufficiently ob­ scure that there is a tendency to grope for conclusions where little or no infor­ mation exists. It is important to avoid building more answers than were prov­ en by the research. The impact and folly of this pitfall is seen in various ways. For example, a turf group was ill-advised to use a pre­ emerge for annual bluegrass control on the greens of several of their golf courses. This was done in spite of re­ search that showed a lack of evidence for success. After five or six years of treatments, the program was aban­ doned as ineffective. This might be dismissed as bad luck or simply poor science, but one person of the turf groups salvaged a science lesson by saying, "Now we know why scientists insist on thorough evidence before general use of the new.” In a more positive vein, a lot of mon­ ey is spent on research in the USA and good results have been put to use in many fields of endeavor. It will help if those not in research would under­ stand the needs and support the re­ countrY club greenskeeper Lebanon Pro Professional Turf Products Lebanon TOTAL TURF CARE P. O. Box 189, Dayton, NJ 08810 P. O. Box 180, Lebanon, PA 17042 A division of Lebanon Chemical Corporation search scientist in his follow-through efforts on important work. Success in research does not come easily. It in­ volves hard work, perseverance and ingenuity. The acclaimed scientist will usually say that a little luck in select­ ing the research leads is important. Science deserves respect, needs good thought before starting, patient study of results that develop and an open mind. Equally important is sup­ port of modest or large amounts of money to accomplish the work. Chem­ istry will contribute greatly to better turf and society. Hopefully, scientific study will be the best and science can fulfill its important role. Anything less is bad business. □ REE Do You Remember? continued from page 1 Picatinny Arsenal Club installed sump pumps, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, which were used to maintain a lower water table in boggy fairways. Seab- right used pumps to speed relief of wet and slight depressions that were slow in drying. Portable pumps will work, but this is often inefficient with New Jer­ sey’s frequent rains. Free water at the surface does more than interfere with turf use. We know it interferes with maintenance, and also can kill grasses with scald or the an­ aerobic condition of stagnant water. Excessive wetness ruins good soil structure that is needed for the best grass. My purpose in showing the pictures is to encourage whichever type of de­ vice is needed to avoid excess water. It is possible that basic drainage will be adequate. If it is not, a good sump starts without waiting for management, daylight, or a work day. Although there may not be a storm drain or other dis­ posal area within reach, this need not be an insoluable problem for ponds continued on page 6 Do You Remember? continued from page 5 that develop occasionally in wet weather periods. Spreading the pumped water on high grounds, such as a rough, will usually suffice in these cases. I am not proposing pumps as a sub­ stitute for good basic soil drainage. But adequate removal of excess wa­ ter is better than suffering the wet­ ness or being forced to reseed. Just as it was true years ago, sump pumps or portable pumps still may be the im­ mediate and best answer on many oc­ casions to the problems of excess water in the wet New Jersey climate. The Golf Course Superintendent’s Life “I have so many troubles that if anyth­ ing happens to me today it will be at least three weeks before I can worry about it..” William Smart, Hudson Valley Foreground Worth Repeating The Lord’s Prayer contains 56 words... Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address contains 266 words... The Declaration of Independence contains 3,000 words... but a Government regulation on the sale of cabbages contains 26,911 words. [from "This Week” in Farm Bureau] Green World is published three times a year by the New Jersey Turfgrass Asso­ ciation, P.O. Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Consulting editors: Ralph En­ gel and Rich White; production editor and layout artist: David Crismond. Wilfred Mac Donald, Inc. 340 Main Avenue Clifton, NJ 07014 201-471-0244 •Jacobsen •Olathe • National • Gravely •Giant Vac •Broyhill • Cushman • Howard • Smithco • FMC •Terra-Care Comments on Chemicals tions of uncertain validity are used to estimate the risk to humans exposed to very small doses from effects of large doses of the chemicals on labora­ tory animals. [from Summer 1987, "Council for Agri­ cultural Science and Technology’’] Are agricultural contaminants in groundwater and drinking water threa­ tening human health? The only ad­ verse effects of an agriculture-related chemical substance in groundwater that have been verified are from ni­ trate. This is derived from nitrogen fer­ tilizers, human and animal wastes, and other, organic residues. The hazard of excess nitrate in drinking water for in­ fants is well known, but problems are rare. In rural areas where water from shallow wells may contain excess ni­ trate, parents are advised to supply in­ fants with bottled water for the first year. Pesticides, which have been highly publicized, have not been implicated in adverse health effects. If detected, pesticides generally are present at concentrations less that 1 part per bil­ lion (ppb). Concentrations up to 20 or 50 ppb or higher are found only occa­ sionally. The dosage of a chemical in­ gested is critical in determining its ef­ fect; the effect increases with the dos­ age. Possible adverse health effects of chemicals in parts-per-billion or parts-per-trillion concentrations, mea­ surable by modern analytical tech­ niques, currently are of concern. The biological effects of most chemicals cannot be measured at such concen­ trations. The toxic effects of chemicals are understood to be absent below a thres­ hold of no-effect dose dependent on the potency of the chemicals; howev­ er, whether this is true for chemical carcinogens is controversial. For such chemicals, mathematical extrapola­ 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.