PROCEEDINGS 45™ ANNUAL CONFERENCE MID-ATLANTIC GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT ASSOCIATION January 7-8, 1974 SHERATON LANHAM MOTOR INN N E W CARROLLTON, MARYLAND These proceedings were published through e f f o r t of the M a r y l a n d C o o p e r a t i v e the combined E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e , the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d , D e p a r t m e n t of A g r o n o m y a n d the M i d A t l a n t i c A s s o c i a t i o n of G o l f C o u r s e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s . Articles w e r e e d i t e d by J o h n R . H a l l , T u r f g r a s s S p e c i a l i s t , U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d , D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r o n o m y . T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S 1973 - T h e Y e a r T h a t W a s Holman M . Griffin . . Turfgrass Breeding C . Reed Funk In T h e Budgeting: An Economic Billy V . Lessley 1 Seventies . Overview 12 P l a n n i n g , P r e s e n t i n g , & E x e c u t i n g the Alex Watson . . . . . F u s a r i u m B l i g h t of T u r f g r a s s Houston B. Couch . . . . . . Budget „ , . . . . . . . 14 . W h a t ' s N e w In T u r f g r a s s R e s e a r c h John R . H a l l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W h y & W h e n to R e n o v a t e J. J. Murray . . . 5 „ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2k 27 * 33 Renovation Chemicals John C . H a r p e r II kk R e n o v a t ion E q u i p m e n t A , J . Powe 11 , J r 49 1973 - T H E Y E A R T H A T W A S Holman M . Griffin D i r e c t o r , USGA Green Section Mid-Atlantic Region W h a t kind of y e a r d i d w e h a v e in the M i d - A t l a n t i c in 1973? p r o b a b l y d e p e n d e d on y o u r l o c a t i o n as m u c h as a n y t h i n g . W e l l , it F o l l o w i n g are some f a m i l i a r p h r a s e s v o i c e d d u r i n g a l m o s t any g i v e n y e a r and s o m e q u o t e s s o l i c i t e d by v a r i o u s p e o p l e in the f i e l d to characterize 1973. In s p r i n g and f a l l , the h a p p y p e o p l e tell us t h a t , " A n y o n e can g r o w turf in w e a t h e r like this and g o o d turf is to be e x p e c t e d as the least y o u can d o " . would In J u l y and A u g u s t they s a y , " W h a t ' s h a p p e n i n g to o u r c o u r1s1 e ? 1 i ke a f o r m a l a n s w e r at the b o a r d m e e t i n g t o m o r r o w n i g h t . A 1 R a d k o w e n t on r e c o r d as s a y i n g 20 y e a r s in the N o r t h e a s t . it w a s one of the w o r s e y e a r s We ¡n R i c h a r d A n d e r s o n b e m o a n e d the e f f e c t of a i r p o l l u t i o n on t u r f , w h i c h he said p r o m i s e s to get w o r s e if s o m e t h i n g isn't d o n e . A turf r e s e a r c h m a n told m e , "We h e a r d a lot of b a d s t o r i e s f r o m f u r t h e r n o r t h , b u t in m y o p i n i o n , those p e o p l e s i m p l y e x p e r i e n c e d the type of s u m m e r w e go t h r o u g h in this a r e a a l m o s t e v e r y y e a r . A turf e x t e n s i o n m a n s a i d , " 1 9 7 3 w a s one of the w o r s t y e a r s w e h a v e ever had. I saw m o r e lost turf this y e a r than e v e r b e f o r e " . A g o l f c o u r s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t to the s o u t h of the M a s o n - D i x o n line s a i d , "One of the b e s t y e a r s w e e v e r h a d , e s p e c i a l l y f o r b e r m u d a . We s u f f e r e d from lack of rain in O c t o b e r , but n o t h i n g v e r y s e r i o u s " . M r f Ed D e m b n i c k i to the s o u t h in P i n e h u r s t , N . C . s a i d that o v e r a l l , this w a s a v e r y g o o d y e a r f o r h i m and one of the b e s t he h a s h a d in that area. A s a l e s m a n o b s e r v e d , "I d i d n ' t see a n y o n e in real t r o u b l e t u r f w i s e u n l e s s they a s k e d f o r it and n o t too m a n y o f t h o s e . I think we had a pretty good y e a r " . A l l in a l l , I g u e s s y o u c a n p a y y o u r m o n e y and take y o u r c h o i c e . No y e a r in m e m o r y h a s e v e r b e e n w i t h o u t p r o b l e m s and no g o l f c o u r s e I can remember has e v e r been 100% or even close every y e a r . I h a v e been m o r e than a c a s u a l o b s e r v e r A t l a n t i c f o r a l m o s t e l e v e n y e a r s , and I h a v e j o y d u r i n g that p e r i o d , but e v e n m y e x p o s u r e a d i s a s t e r a r e a and m y n e x t three v i s i t s m a y or vice versa. Now of g o l f c o u r s e c o n d i t i o n s in the M i d s h a r e d a lot; of g r i e f ^nfl a lot of is b i a s e d . M y m o r n i n g v i s i t m a y be to be to c o u r s e s t h a t r e f l e c t o n l y p e r f e c t i o n I w o u l d like to recall the w e a t h e r p i c t u r e in 1973. T h e y e a r b e g a n w i t h too m u c h r a i n , e s p e c i a l l y in i s o l a t e d a r e a s , a n d e n d e d w i t h n o t e n o u g h . O c t o b e r w a s r e a l l y d r y in m o s t a r e a s and all c o o l s e a s o n t u r f w a s s t u n t e d and y e l l o w . T h e c o n d i t i o n s w e r e e s p e c i a l l y rough on fall s e e d l i n g s . The lack of rain w h i c h c l e a r s the a t m o s p h e r e m a y a l s o h a v e a g g r a v a t e d the p o l l u t i o n pro-* b l e m that D i c k A n d e r s o n t a l k e d a b o u t . C l i m a t e , h o w e v e r , did n o t s e e m to be as d e c i s i v e a f a c t o r this y e a r as it w a s in 1 9 7 2 . R e m e m b e r h u r r i c a n e A g n e s in J u l y of '72? W e u s e d p o n t o o n s on the m o w e r s a l m o s t all of that y e a r . I am a c u t e l y a w a r e of r a i n f a l l d u r i n g the y e a r o v e r the g e n e r a l a r e a , b u t p r o b a b l y n o t in s p e c i f i c l o c a t i o n s . On site o b s e r v a t i o n of the p r o b l e m s is the s t r o n g p o i n t of the G r e e n S e c t i o n p r o g r a m and the o p p o r t u n i t y to do this is l i m i t e d to m a y b e once o r twice d u r i n g the y e a r at a s p e c i f i c date and t i m e . D u e to these c o n d i t i o n s , I am s t r o n g l y m o t i v a t e d to look at e ^ c h c o u r s e , e s p e c i a l l y if p r o b l e m s are p r e s e n t , w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r the w e a t h e r . A s y o u m i g h t i m a g i n e , this m a k e s f o r some m e m o r a b l e e x p e r i e n c e s of s p e n d i n g the d a y in s o g g y c l o t h e s , h e i g h t e n e d b y the p r e s e n c e of c o l d t e m p e r a t u r e s . T h e s e o c c a s i o n s are n o t o n l y e a s i l y rem e m b e r e d , but s o m e t i m e s h a r d to f o r g e t f o r y e a r s to c o m e . U s i n g s u c h a m e m o r y g u i d e as m y b a r o m e t e r , I h a v e to say I w a s e i t h e r in the right p l a c e s at the right time in 1973 o r it w a s n o t such a bad y e a r w e a t h e r w i s e . On the o t h e r h a n d , it w a s p l e n t y h o t in the s u m m e r , but it d i d n o t s e e m so h o t o r h u m i d as it h a s in m a n y y e a r s p a s t n o r d i d w e h a v e so m a n y b a d d a y s b a c k to b a c k for extended periods. A v i d e o tape o f life's p a s t e v e n t s w o u l d p r o b a b l y be h e l p f u l to all o f us at h o m e and on the g o l f c o u r s e , b u t f o r n o w , w e h a v e to rely on m e m o r y w h i c h is o f t e n h a z y and d i s t o r t e d by o u r m i c r o e n v i r o n m e n t . N o w f o r a recap of w h a t s e e m e d to be some r a t h e r s e v e r e p r o b l e m s in 1 ^ 7 3 , N o o r d e r of i m p o r t a n c e is i n t e n d e d , but the list is h e a d e d b y l a b o r , public; r e l a t i o n s , d i s e a s e s of b l u e g r a s s , i n s e c t s , O S H A , E P A , and an e n e r g y c r i s i s . O n e c o m m o n p r o b l e m e x p r e s s e d by m o s t g o l f c o u r s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s s e e m s to be the q u a n t i t y and q u a l i t y of l a b o r . G o l f c o u r s e w a g e s are n o t c o m p e t i t i v e w i t h i n d u s t r y in the s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a , t h e r e f o r e , w e u s u a l l y get the m a n p o w e r r e j e c t s . T h e s e p e o p l e are b a s i c a l l y u n s k i l l e d and m a n y times u n r e l i a b l e and u n t r a i n a b l ^ . T h i s all m a k e s f o r some real p r o b l e m s w h i c h are r e f l e c t e d by p o o r e r r e s u l t s In e v e r y a r e a of the m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m . P u b l i c r e l a t i o n s s e e m s n o w to be a l m o s t s y n o n y m o u s w i t h p e r s o n a l c r e d i b i l i t y . A lot of p e o p l e in and o u t of p o l i t i c s in 1973 h a d p r o b l e m s w i t h c r e d i b i l i t y and it is p r o b a b l y safe to s a y that these p r o b l e m s o v e r s h a d o w e d o u r real g r a s s g r o w i n g p r o b l e m s . M o r e times than a n y of us w o u l d like to b e l i e v e , I h a v e seen c a p a b l e and able t u r f s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s d i s c h a r g e d o r resign u n d e r p r e s s u r e w h i l e a n e i g h b o r w h o c o u l d b a r e l y h a n g on to h i s g r a s s , and m a n y times d i d n ' t , g e t s a pat on the b a c k and a s i z e a b l e income b o o s t as a vote of c o n f i d e n c e from h i s m e m b e r s h i p . O n l y one t h i n g m a d e the d i f f e r e n c e and that w a s h o w the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t p l a y e d h i s h a n d in c l u b p o l i t i c s . T h e r e are no pat a n s w e r s f o r i m p r o v i n g y o u r p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s i . e . , c r e d i b i l i t y ; b u t h o n e s t y , a f r i e n d l y , s y m p a t h e t i c a t t i t u d e and a t t e n t i o n to d e t a i l s of the j o b y o u w e r e h i r e d to do c a n ' t h u r t . If y o u c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t the g r o w t h and p e r f o r m a n c e of b l u e g r a s s y e a r , y o u w e r e p r o b a b l y m o r e than j u s t i f i e d . this F u s a r i u m roseum r e a c h e d e p i d e m i c p r o p o r t i o n s and since no g o o d c o n t r o l s o r p r e v e n t a t i v e s h a v e b e e n f o u n d , this d i s e a s e w i l l be a triple t h r e a t in 1974. O v e r nine y e a r s ago D r . H o u s t o n C o u c h , then at P e n n S t a t e , p r e d i c t e d that F u s a r i u m roseum w o u l d v i r t u a l 1 y w i p e o u t b l u e g r a s s e s on g o l f c o u r s e s in the U n i t e d S t a t e s . M y f i r s t o b s e r v a t i o n s of this d i s e a s e as a real p r o b l e m to M i d - A t l a n t i c turf came t h r e e y e a r s ago in w e s t e r n V i r g i n i a . S i n c e t h e n , the d i s e a s e h a s s p r e a d like w i l d fire and w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r loss of b l u e g r a s s turf r a n g i n g from s l i g h t to total d e s t r u c t i o n on e v e r y c o u r s e o b s e r v e d from m i d - J u l y on this y e a r . Insects w e r e as b a d as they h a v e b e e n in s e v e r a l y e a r s and in some c a s e s o u r h a n d s w e r e tied by the EPA w h e n it came to u s i n g the m o s t e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l s . T h e last two m i l d w i n t e r s b r o u g h t out m o r e insects than u s u a l and f e d e r a l and s t a t e r e g u l a t i o n s gave us less to f i g h t b a c k w i t h than e v e r b e f o r e . The EPA h a s , o r t h r e a t e n s t o , put a c r u n c h on m a n y of o u r b a s i c c h e m i c a l s u n l e s s w e can m u s t e r e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n to the c o n t r a r y and get it in the h a n d s of the right p e o p l e in time to s t o p w h o l e s a l e r e s t r i c t i o n s . O S H A is looked on as a m e a n s of u p g r a d i n g some s u b s t a n d a r d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , b u t a l s o as a h e a r t l e s s b u r e a u c r a c y b u g g i n g s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s w i t h h e a v y fines f o r m i n o r i n f r a c t i o n s and r e q u i r i n g e n d l e s s p a p e r w o r k . W h e r e w i l l it all e n d ? No one k n o w s , b u t the w a y it is g o i n g , it's g o i n g to take a PhD and a c l e r i c a l s t a f f j u s t to g e t the p a p e r w o r k d o n e b e f o r e w e can s t a r t g r o w i n g g r a s s . Fuel s h o r t a g e s h a m p e r e d some and p r o m i s e to get w o r s e in 197*+, and w h e n w e look a h e a d , w e can m o s t likely e x p e c t f e r t i l i z e r s h o r t a g e s and h i g h e r prices for everything. W h e t h e r 1973 w a s a b a d , g o o d o r an a v e r a g e y e a r is s o m e w h a t a c a d e m i c and in m o s t c a s e s d e p e n d s on w h a t p a r t i c u l a r f a c e t y o u are t a l k i n g a b o u t . It c e r t a i n l y m a k e s y o u w o n d e r w h a t w e w i l l be s a y i n g a b o u t this time in 1975» P e r h a p s I can leave y o u w i t h the t h o u g h t t h a t it is m u c h m o r e i m p o r t a n t to look a h e a d than r e l f e c t on the p a s t , and that w e m u s t look f o r a n s w e r s r a t h e r than e x c u s e s w h e n t h i n g s go w r o n g . O n l y a n s w e r s w i l l s o l v e p r o b l e m s as w e l l as e x p l a i n w h y t h e y h a p p e n e d and p r e v e n t t h e i r r e o c c u r r e n c e . Excuses s i m p l y tell o t h e r s w h y w e f a i l e d . TURFGRASS BREEDING Professor^ IN T H E SEVENTIES C, Reed Funk S o i l s and C r o p s D e p a r t m e n t Rutgers University T h e b r e e d i n g and s e l e c t i o n of t r u l y o u t s t a n d i n g v a r i e t i e s is o n e of the g r e a t e s t n e e d s of the t u r f g r a s s i n d u s t r y . T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y true in this t r a n s i t i o n z o n e w h e r e n e i t h e r the c o o l - s e a s o n n o r the w a r m - s e a s o n g r a s s e s p e r f o r m at t h e i r b e s t . T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t a t t r i b u t e s of an i m p r o v e d t u r f g r a s s v a r i e t y are dependability durability,, r e d u c e d m a i n t e n a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s and a t t r a c t i v e appearance. E a c h of t h e s e c a n be i m p r o v e d as w e add r e s i s t a n c e to d i s e a s e s , insects^ n e m a t o d e s and w e e d s , b e t t e r t u r f - f o r m i n g p r o p e r t i e s a n d t o l e r a n c e of e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t r e s s e s . A d a p t a t i o n to s p e c i a l i z e d u s e s a n d e n v i r o n m e n t s are a l s o i m p o r t a n t , T u r f g r a s s v a r i e t i e s w i t h b e t t e r t o l e r a n c e to s h a d e , w e a r , c l o s e - m o w i n g , a n d p o o r s o i l c o n d i t i o n s w o u l d g r e a t l y e n h a n c e the u s e f u l n e s s of o u r p r e s e n t species* V a r i e t i e s of u n i q u e o r s t r i k i n g c o l o r and a p p e a r a n c e w o u l d be v e r y u s e f u l f o r d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n in s p e c i a l l a n d s c a p e patterns and e f f e c t s . Pest Resistance P l a n t b r e e d i n g o f t e n m a k e s its g r e a t e s t c o n t r i b u t i o n in the d e v e l o p m e n t of v a r i e t i e s w i t h g e n e t i c r e s i s t a n c e to m a j o r d i s e a s e , insect and n e m a t o d e problemsP r o s p e c t i v e r e s t r i c t i o n s on the u s e o f p e s t i c i d e s m a k e g e n e t i c r e s i s t a n c e a n d o t h e r m e a n s of b i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l of e v e n g r e a t e r s i g n i f i c a n c e . V a r i e t i e s u n d a m a g e d by d i s e a s e and i n s e c t s are m o r e r e s i s t a n t to w e e d i n v a s i o n . A few y e a r s a g o , M e r i o n w a s the o n l y K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t y w i t h g o o d r e s i s t a n c e to the H e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m leaf s p o t and c r o w n rot d i s e a s e . Presently, a s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r of o t h e r b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t i e s w i t h g o o d l e a f s p o t res i s t a n c e are a v a i l a b l e . M a n y o f t h e s e n e w e r v a r i e t i e s a l s o h a v e the a d d e d a d v a n t a g e of r e s i s t a n c e to the s t r i p e s m u t d i s e a s e . P r o g r a m s to d e v e l o p r e s i s t a n c e to p o w d e r y m i l d e w a n d d o l l a r s p o t are p r o d u c i n g v a r i e t i e s r e s i s t a n t to p r e s e n t races of t h e s e d i s e a s e s . H o w e v e r , it a p p e a r s that r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t of n e w races of t h e s e d i s e a s e o r g a n i s m s m a y m a k e the r e s i s t a n c e of m a n y of these v a r i e t i e s of a t e m p o r a r y n a t u r e . T h e s k i l l f u l b l e n d i n g and m i x i n g of r e s i s t a n t v a r i e t i e s a n d s p e c i e s m a y be h e l p f u l in p r o v i d i n g the g e n e t i c d i v e r s i t y n e e d e d f o r a m o r e p e r m a n e n t type of resistance«, C o n s i d e r a b l y m o r e e f f o r t n e e d s to be d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s c o n t r o l l i n g the F u s a r i um b l i g h t d i s e a s e t h r o u g h the d e v e l o p m e n t of g r e a t e r g e n e t i c r e s i s t a n c e . A b r e e d i n g p r o g r a m l o c a t e d in the M a r y l a n d , V i r g i n i a a r e a w o u l d be m o s t h e l p ful in this r e s p e c t , T h e r e h a s b e e n v e r y little e f f o r t e x p e n d e d to i m p r o v e the i n s e c t res i s t a n c e of o u r c o o l - s e a s o n t u r f g r a s s e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , s t u d i e s and obs e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e t h a t s u b s t a n t i a l p r o g r e s s m i g h t be m a d e . S c i e n t i s t s at the U n i v e r s i t y o f K e n t u c k y r e p o r t e d c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n in the a m o u n t of sod w e b w o r m i n j u r y o b s e r v e d on d i f f e r e n t s e l e c t i o n s of K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s . A l e x a n d e r R a d k o of the USGA apparently good resistance b e e n n o t e d in a p h i d d a m a g e p l a n t i n g s at A d e l p h i a , N e w Herbicide G r e e n S e c t i o n has s e l e c t e d b l u e g r a s s e s w i t h to c h i n c h b u g a t t a c k . C o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n h a s to K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t i e s in n u r s e r y Jersey. Tolerance T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t u r f g r a s s v a r i e t i e s w i t h s p e c i f i c r e s i s t a n c e to h i g h l y e f f e c t i v e h e r b i c i d e s w o u l d p e r m i t m u c h m o r e s e l e c t i v e c o n t r o l of p r e s e n t w e e d p r o b l e m s . C e r t a i n z o y s i a v a r i e t i e s are h i g h l y t o l e r a n t of a t r a z i n e and s i m a z i n e ( E n g e l , F u n k and K i n n e y 1 9 6 8 ) . T h i s d i f f e r e n c e S u c h t o l e r a n c e p e r m i t s the a p p e a r s to be the r e s u l t of a s i n g l e gene« use of these h i g h l y e f f e c t i v e h e r b i c i d e s in the s e l e c t i v e c o n t r o l of m a n y w e e d s t r o u b l e s o m e in the e s t a b l i s h m e n t and m a i n t e n a n c e of z o y s i a . Would it not be p o s s i b l e to b r e e d a b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t y h i g h l y t o l e r a n t of a c h e m i c a l w h i c h c o u l d then be u s e d to s e l e c t i v e l y r e m o v e b e n t g r a s s o r tall f e s c u e ? R e s e a r c h in this f i e l d s h o u l d be i n i t i a t e d . Shade Tolerance T h e c o m b i n a t i o n of t r e e s , o r n a m e n t a l s h r u b s and t u r f in l a w n s , p a r k s , and r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a s a d d s g r e a t l y to the b e a u t y and e n j o y m e n t of o u r outdoor environment. The development of turfgrass varieties better adapted to such s h a d e d l o c a t i o n s w o u l d be o f g r e a t b e n e f i t . T h e s u c c e s s f u l p e r f o r m a n c e of W a r r e n ' s A - 3 ^ K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s in m o d e r a t e s h a d e d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t i e s w i t h i m p r o v e d s h a d e t o l e r a n c e c a n be d e v e l o p e d . Such v a r i e t i e s m u s t h a v e g o o d r e s i s t a n c e to p o w d e r y m i l d e w and o t h e r d i s e a s e s w h i c h are p a r t i c u l a r l y d a m a g i n g u n d e r m o i s t , s h a d e d c o n d i t i o n s . T h e y m u s t a l s o h a v e the a b i l i t y to limit v e r t i c a l leaf e l o n g a t i o n and t h e r e b y d i v e r t the food p r o d u c e d by p h o t o s y n t h e s i s to t i l l e r i n g , root and r h i z o m e p r o d u c t i o n and c a r b o h y d r a t e s t o r a g e . T h e a b i l i t y of some of the fine f e s c u e s to t o l e r a t e the p o o r , a c i d , i n f e r t i l e s o i l c o n d i t i o n s frequently associated with many shaded locations undoubtedly contributes to t h e i r s u c c e s s as a s h a d e t o l e r a n t c o m p o n e n t of a m i x t u r e . D a r k e r g r e e n , more compact growing types of Poa t r i v i a l is are s h o w i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o m i s e in some s h a d e t r i a l s in N e w J e r s e y , Turf-Type Growth Habit T h e f i n e - l e a f , d w a r f - t y p e b e r m u d a g r a s s e s d e v e l o p e d by D r . G l e n n B u r t o n and o t h e r s i l l u s t r a t e the p r o f o u n d c h a n g e s that can be m a d e in the g r o w t h h a b i t of a species* T h e g r o w t h h a b i t of K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s is g r e a t l y m o d i f i e d b y d a y l e n g t h , light i n t e n s i t y , and t e m p e r a t u r e During short d a y s b l u e g r a s s a s s u m e s a m o r e d e c u m b e n t g r o w t h h a b i t , rate of leaf e l o n g a t i o n is r e d u c e d , and a b u n d a n t t i l l e r i n g o c c u r s . D u r i n g long d a y s g r o w t h is m o r e e r e c t and leaf e l o n g a t i o n is m o r e r a p i d . R e p r o d u c t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t a l s o o c c u r s d u r i n g the long d a y s of late s p r i n g . C o m m o n K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s a n d v a r i e t i e s such as P a r k ; Delta., and K e n b l u e have a r a t h e r e r e c t g r o w t h h a b i t w i t h a rapid rate of v e r t i c a l leaf e l o n g a tion. S u c h v a r i e t i e s w i l l not t o l e r a t e h i g h n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i t y a n d c l o s e mowing e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g the s p r i n g and s u m m e r s e a s o n s , D u r i n g the long days of s p r i n g and s u m m e r these v a r i e t i e s d i v e r t m o s t of t h e i r g r o w t h u p w a r d . Leaf a r e a is m o w e d o f f so f r e q u e n t l y that a g o o d , d e n s e turf is d i f f i c u l t to a t t a i n C a r b o h y d r a t e f o o d r e s e r v e s are d e p l e t e d and such v a r i e t i e s b e c o m e h i g h l y s u s c e p t i b l e to d a m a g e f r o m the H e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m leaf s p o t a n d c r o w n rot d i s e a s e , V a r i e t i e s such as G l a d e and N u g g e t a p p e a r to e x h i b i t the s h o r t - d a y 1ength response of d e c u m b e n t g r o w t h and s l o w leaf e l o n g a t i o n t h r o u g h m u c h m o r e of the y e a r than the c o m m o n type b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t i e s . Increased understanding of the d i f f e r e n t i a l v a r i e t a l g r o w t h r e s p o n s e to d a y l e n g t h s h o u l d be of g r e a t value in b r e e d i n g t u r f g r a s s e s w i t h b e t t e r t u r f - f o r m i n g p r o p e r t i e s and a reduced m o w i n g r e q u i r e m e n t Such p r o g r a m s m a y w e l l m a k e i n c r e a s e d use of g e r m p l a s m c o l l e c t e d from a r c t i c r e g i o n s w h e r e s u m m e r d a y s b e c o m e v e r y l o n g . Color R e n e w e d i n t e r e s t in b e t t e r c o l o r d u r i n g late f a l l , w i n t e r and e a r l y spring h a s b e e n s t i m u l a t e d by r e c e n t r e s e a r c h In R h o d e Island and V i r g i n i a on late fall and w i n t e r f e r t i l i z a t i o n . T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y e v i d e n t in a r e a s of m o d e r a t e l y m i l d w i n t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s and w h e r e turf r e c e i v e s s o m e p r o tection f r o m c o l d drying winds, Kentucky bluegrass varieties differ greatly in t h e i r a b i l i t y to m a i n t a i n g o o d w i n t e r c o l o r Kentucky bluegrass varieties such as A d e l p h i B o n n i e b l u e , M a j e s t i c and G e o r g e t o w n are o u t s t a n d i n g in t h e i r a b i l i t y to retain e x c e l l e n t c o l o r into the w i n t e r and g r e e n - u p e a r l y in s p r i n g . P r a c t i c a l l y any s h a d e of g r e e n c o l o r can be o b s e r v e d in e x p e r i m e n t a l t u r f g r a s s p l a n t i n g . T y p e s like B r u n s w i c k h a v e a v e r y a t t r a c t i v e * b r i g h t , m o d e r a t e l y light g r e e n c o l o r , A d e l p h i and N u g g e t h a v e a b r i g h t ; d a r k g r e e n color It s h o u l d be p o s s i b l e to d e v e l o p t u r f g r a s s v a r i e t i e s of any s h a d e of g r e e n d i c t a t e d by p e r s o n a l p r e f e r e n c e T o l e r a n c e of P r o b l e m Soils T u r f g r a s s is g r o w n on a w i d e r range of s o i l types than any c r o p p l a n t . V a r i e t i e s w i t h s p e c i f i c a d a p t a t i o n to p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m s i t e s can be d e v e l o p e d . B r e e d e r s in H o l l a n d h a v e d e v e l o p e d s a l t - t o l e r a n t fine f e s c u e v a r i e t i e s s u c h as G o l f r o o d f o r use in s t a b i l i z i n g d i k e s , S u c h v a r i e t i e s s h o u l d be v e r y u s e f u l as p a r e n t a l m a t e r i a l in the d e v e l o p m e n t of f e s c u e s t o l e r a n t of the h e a v y a m o u n t s of s a l t u s e d f o r ice c o n t r o l on m a n y of o u r h i g h w a y s . Recent s u c c e s s in h y b r i d i z i n g Bel turf K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s w i t h a C a n a d a b l u e g r a s s s e l e c t i o n s u g g e s t s that a K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s w i t h b e t t e r a d a p t a t i o n to poorsoils c o u l d be d e v e l o p e d , Heat Tolerance I m p r o v e d t o l e r a n c e of o u r c o o l - s e a s o n t u r f g r a s s e s to the s u m m e r h e a t and d r o u g h t c o n d i t i o n s of the t r a n s i t i o n z o n e w o u l d be of g r e a t b e n e f i t . M o s t of the v e r y a t t r a c t i v e , d e n s e , l o w e r - g r o w i n g v a r i e t i e s s e l e c t e d in the c o o l - s u m m e r c l i m a t e s of N o r t h e r n E u r o p e a n d f r o m o t h e r b r e e d i n g and e v a l u a t i o n t e s t s l o c a t e d in less s e v e r e e n v i r o n m e n t s are d i s a p p o i n t i n g in S o u t h e r n t r i a l s . A n e x t e n s i v e p r o g r a m to c o l l e c t and e v a l u a t e a d a p t e d g e r m p l a s m f r o m s u m m e r s t r e s s a r e a s of the M i d - A t l a n t i c a r e a s h o u l d p r o v i d e v a r i e t i e s w i t h g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d s u m m e r p e r f o r m a n c e and d e p e n d a b i l i t y . Reproductive Systems in T u r f g r a s s T h e g e n e t i c i m p r o v e m e n t of a t u r f g r a s s s p e c i e s is d e p e n d e n t u p o n its r e p r o d u c t i o n s y s t e m . T u r f g r a s s e s , like o t h e r p l a n t s , m a y r e p r o d u c e s e x u a l l y or asexually (without s e x ) . Sexual reproduction can result from e i t h e r crossp o l l i n a t i o n o r s e l f - p o l l i n a t i o n . A s e x u a l r e p r o d u c t i o n can o c c u r as e i t h e r v e g e t a t i v e p r o p a g a t i o n or as a p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n . T h e m e t h o d of r e p r o d u c t i o n r e g u l a t e s the a m o u n t of g e n e t i c v a r i a b i l i t y p r e s e n t in a t u r f g r a s s v a r i e t y and a l s o d e t e r m i n e s the b r e e d i n g m e t h o d s and t e c h n i q u e s u s e d to develop improved varieties within a s p e c i e s . SexuaI R e p r o d u c t i on Most turfgrass have perfect flowers containing both male and female components, B u f f a l o g r a s s is an i m p o r t a n t e x c e p t i o n w i t h m a l e and f e m a l e o r g a n s f o u n d on s e p a r a t e i n d i v i d u a l s as in the rule a m o n g a n i m a l s . Corn w o u l d be a n o t h e r e x c e p t i o n as m a l e a n d f e m a l e f l o w e r s are s e p a r a t e d b y t on d i f f e r e n t p a r t s of the same p l a n t . S e x u a l r e p r o d u c t i o n i n v o l v e s the u n i o n of m a l e a n d f e m a l e g a m e t e s a n d s e r v e s to r e c o m b i n e s o m e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of b o t h p a r e n t s in the o f f s p r i n g . B o t h m a l e (sperm n u c l e i of the p o l l e n ) a n d f e m a l e (egg) gametes are p r o d u c e d as a r e s u l t of a r e d u c t i o n d i v i s i o n t e r m e d m e i o s i s . A s a r e s u l t , the s p e r m and e g g c o n t a i n o n l y o n e - h a l f the c h r o m o s o m e s o f the p a r e n t . W h e n u n i t e d in f e r t i l i z a t i o n , the s p e r m a n d e g g c o m b i n e to res t o r e the o r i g i n a l c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r o f the s p e c i e s . N e a r l y all t u r f g r a s s s p e c i e s are m a i n l y c r o s s - p o l l i n a t e d (table 1 ) , E v e n t h o u g h m o s t of t h e s e g r a s s e s h a v e p e r f e c t f l o w e r s , v a r i o u s s e l f i n c o m p a t a b i 1 i t y m e c h a n i s m s c o m b i n e to f a v o r c r o s s - p o l l i n a t i o n . In f a c t , m a n y r y e g r a s s and f e s c u e p l a n t s p r o d u c e little o r no s e e d w h e n p o l l i n a t e d o n l y w i t h t h e i r own pollen-, A n n u a l b l u e g r a s s w o u l d a p p e a r to be the o n l y i m p o r t a n t t u r f g r a s s s p e c i e s r e p r o d u c i n g m a i n l y as a r e s u l t of s e l f p o l l i n a t i o n w h i c h is the b r e e d i n g m e t h o d o f a n u m b e r o f i m p o r t a n t c r o p p l a n t s i n c l u d i n g w h e a t , oats> r i c e , b a r l e y a n d s o y b e a n s « S e l f - p o l l i n a t i o n r a p i d l y leads to a h i g h d e g r e e o f g e n e t i c h o m o z y g o s i t y , A f t e r five o r six g e n e r a t i o n s of s e 1 f - p o l 1 i n a t i o n , t r u e b r e e d i n g lines w h i c h r e p r o d u c e t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a h i g h d e g r e e of g e n e t i c u n i f o r m i t y result O u r l e a d i n g v a r i e t i e s of w h e a t , o a t s , b a r l e y , rice a n d s o y b e a n s r e s u l t e d from the s e l e c t i o n o f such true b r e e d i n g , pure l i n e s . Every p l a n t w i t h i n such a v a r i e t y is g e n e t i c a l l y s i m i l a r to e v e r y o t h e r p l a n t of the v a r i e t y . G e n e t i c i m p r o v e m e n t is m a d e by h y b r i d i z i n g two o r m o r e c o m p l e m e n t a r y p u r e - l i n e p a r e n t s , w a i t i n g five o r six g e n e r a t i o n s f o r the p r o g e n y to b e c o m e h o m o z y g o u s and then s e l e c t i n g the s i n g l e pure line w h i c h r e c o m b i n e s the g r e a t e s t n u m b e r of f a v o r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of the p a r e n t s . C r o s s - p o l l i n a t i o n m a i n t a i n s a h i g h d e g r e e of g e n e t i c h e t e r o z y g o s i t y in the i n t e r b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n . N o two p l a n t s h a v e the e x a c t same g e n e t i c c o n s t i t u t i o n . S e e d c o l l e c t e d f r o m a n y p l a n t give a p r o g e n y s e g r e g a t i n g for many characteristics. Table Mainly 1. M e t h o d of r e p r o d u c t i o n of i m p o r t a n t t u r f g r a s s cross-pollinated A q r o s t i s can ina L . A q r o s t is g i g a n t e a R o t h Aqrostis stolonifera L. Agrostis tenuis Sibth. C y n o d o n d a c t y l on (L.) P e r s . Festuca arundinacea Schreb. F e s t u c a o v i na L . Festuca pratensi s Huds. F e s t u c a rubra L . s u b s p . F e s t u c a rubra L . s u b s p . Lolium muítif1 orum Lam. L o l i u m p e r e n n e L< Poa t r i v i a l is L . Zoys i a j a p ó n i c a S t e u d . Mainly L. fescue spreading) Annual bluegrass dioecious Buchloe dactyloldes Mainly Velvet bentgrass Redtop Creeping bentgrass C o l on i al b e n t g r a s s Bermuda Tal 1 fescue Sheep's fescue Meadow fescue commutata Gaud. Chewings rubra R e d f e s c u e ( c r e e p i n g and Annual ryegrass Perennial ryegrass Rough-stalked bluegrass Japanese 1awngrass self-pollinated Poa a n n u a Mainly species. (Nutt.) Engelm. Buffalograss apomlctic Poa c o m p r e s s a L . Poa p r a t e n s i s L . Canada bluegrass Kentucky bluegrass M a n y of o u r e a r l i e r v a r i e t i e s of c r o s s - p o l l i n a t e d t u r f g r a s s e s inc l u d i n g ' K e n t u c k y 3 1 ' tall f e s c u e , ' S e a s i d e ' , ' A s t o r i a ' and ' H i g h l a n d ' b e n t g r a s s , ' C h e w i n g s ' f e s c u e and ' L i n n ' p e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s are m e r e l y ecotype selections. Naturally occurring, moderately diverse populations w e r e r e c o g n i z e d , n a m e d and i n c r e a s e d as v a r i e t i e s w i t h little o r no e f f o r t b e i n g m a d e to i m p r o v e t h e i r g e n e t i c m a k e u p . M o s t s u c h e c o t y p e s e l e c t i o n s r e s u l t f r o m m a n y y e a r s of n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n and s h o w g o o d a d a p t a t i o n to e n v i r o n m e n t s s i m i l a r to t h e i r a r e a of o r i g i n . In m a n y c a s e s , d i f f e r e n t s e e d lots of the same v a r i e t y m a y v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y formance. in a p p e a r a n c e and per- Recently, turfgrass breeders have been developing synthetic varieties of o u r i m p o r t a n t t u r1f g r a s s s p e c i e s . E x a m p l e s include 'Penncross' creeping 1 bentgrass, f o r t r e s s red f e s c u e and ' M a n h a t t a n p e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s . P r o m i s i n g p a r e n t a l c l o n e s are s e l e c t e d f r o m o l d turf a r e a s , p l a n t i n t r o d u c t ion o r h y b r i d i z a t i o n p r o g r a m s . S u c h c l o n e s are then s c r e e n e d f o r d i s e a s e r e s i s t a n c e and turf p e r f o r m a n c e . T h e b e s t are then t e s t e d f o r t h e i r a b i l i t y to t r a n s m i t f a v o r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s to t h e i r p r o g e n y . F i n a l l y , the c l o n e s w i t h the b e s t o v e r a l l p e r f o r m a n c e are c o m b i n e d to p r o d u c e a s y n t h e t i c v a r i e t y In the c a s e of P e n n c r o s s c r e e p i n g b e n t g r a s s , the t h r e e p a r e n t a l c l o n e s are v e g e t a t i v e l y p r o p a g a t e d to e s t a b l i s h l a r g e , i s o l a t e d s e e d p r o d u c t i o n f i e l d s in W e s t e r n O r e g o n . R a n d o m c r o s s - p o l l i n a t i o n o c c u r s a n d f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n c e r t i f i e d s e e d is p r o d u c e d . F i r s t g e n e r a t i o n s y n t h e t i c v a r i e t i e s such as P e n n c r o s s w i l l h a v e a h i g h e r level of u n i f o r m i t y a n d h y b r i d v i g o r than f o u n d in s u b s e q u e n t g e n e r a t i o n s of s y n t h e t i c v a r i e t i e s p r o d u c e d from s e e d . T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y true w h e r e o n l y a few c l o n e s are u s e d . In the c a s e of M a n h a t t a n p e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s and m o s t o t h e r s y n t h e t i c s , o n l y " B r e e d e r s " s e e d is p r o d u c e d in v e g e t a t i v e l y p r o p a g a t e d s e e d i n c r e a s e f i e l d . T e n p o u n d s of " B r e e d e r s " s e e d of M a n h a t t a n r y e g r a s s p r o d u c e d in an i s o l a t e d c r o s s i n g f i e l d at R u t g e r s w a s u s e d to s e e d a 10 acre " F o u n d a t i o n " f i e l d in O r e g o n . T h e s e e d p r o d u c e d f r o m this 10 acre f o u n d a t i o n f i e l d is a d e q u a t e to p l a n t t h o u s a n d s of a c r e s of c e r t i f i e d f i e l d s w h i c h p r o d u c e m i l l i o n s of p o u n d s of c e r t i f i e d s e e d f o r t u r f e s t a b l i s h m e n t . T h e B r e e d e r s , F o u n d a t i o n and C e r t i f i e d f i e l d s are all e s t a b l i s h e d on i s o l a t e d c l e a n f i e l d s e s s e n t i a l l y f r e e f r o m c o n t a m i n a t ion by o t h e r r y e g r a s s and o b j e c t i o n a b l e w e e d s and m a i n t a i n e d u n d e r c o n s t a n t s u p e r v i s i o n of O f f i c i a l S t a t e I n s p e c t o r s . M i n i m u m t o l e r n a c e s are set f o r o f f - t y p e p l a n t s , o t h e r v a r i e t i e s , f l u o r e s c e n c e l e v e l , a n d g e r m i n a t i o n and p u r i t y p e r c e n t a g e s . U n c e r t i f i e d s e e d c o m e s f r o m f i e l d s u n a b l e to m e e t the s t a n d a r d s of q u a l i t y and g e n e t i c p u r i t y s e t b y the b r e e d e r s and the certification officials. Vegetative P r o p a g a t i on V e g e t a t i v e p r o p a g a t i o n h a s m a n y a d v a n t a g e s in a t u r f g r a s s . M o s t of the i m p r o v e d b e r m u d a g r a s s and z o y s i a v a r i e t i e s are p r o p a g a t e d in this m a n n e r as are m a n y of the c r e e p i n g b e n t g r a s s e s and ' W a r r e n ' s A - 2 0 ' K e n t u c k y bluegrasso In the a b s e n c e of s o m a t i c m u t a t i o n o r c o n t a m i n a t i o n , e v e r y p l a n t in a v e g e t a t i v e l y r e p r o d u c e d v a r i e t y is g e n e t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l to e v e r y o t h e r p l a n t . S u c h a v a r i e t y is h i g h l y u n i f o r m in a p p e a r a n c e and p e r f o r m a n c e . A l l p l a n t s of the v a r i e t y h a v e the same s t r e n g t h s but a l s o the same w e a k n e s s e s . S u c h a v a r i e t y m a y n o t be as w i d e l y a d a p t e d to d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s as a v a r i e t y of g r e a t e r g e n e t i c d i v e r s i t y . V e g e t a t i v e p r o p a g a t i o n g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e s the g e n e t i c i m p r o v e m e n t of a t u r f g r a s s . B r e e d i n g m e r e l y r e q u i r e s the d e v e l o p m e n t of a s u p e r i o r p l a n t o H y b r i d s t e r i l i t y f r e q u e n t l y f o u n d in i n t e r s p e c i f i c c r o s s e s is n o t a p r o b l e m and m a y e v e n be an a d v a n t a g e as in the c a s e in m a n y o f the improved bermudagrasses. A p o m i c t i c Kepi to d u c t j on A p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n is f r e q u e n t l y f o u n d in b o t h K e n t u c k y a n d C a n a d a b l u e g r a s s as w e l l as d a n d e l i o n s ( S o l b r i g 1 9 7 0 a n d m a n y o f the w a r m s e a s o n grasses including tetraploid Bahiagrass (Paspalum n o t a t u m ) . In a p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n the e g g c o n t a i n s a l l the c h r o m o s o m e s o f the m o t h e r p l a n t a n d d e v e l o p s into the e m b r y o o f the s e e d w i t h o u t f e r t i l i z a t i o n . T h e e f f e c t of a p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n is to p r o d u c e o f f s p r i n g t h a t a r e g e n e t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l to the m o t h e r p l a n t . T h u s , a p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n c o m b i n e s the a d v a n t a g e s of " s e e d " w i t h m a n y o f the a d v a n t a g e s of v e g e t a t i v e p r o p a g a t i o n . Hybrid vigor and uniformity are c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of apomictic v a r i e t i e s . A l s o , apo^ m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n h e l p s o v e r c o m e m a n y of the p r o b l e m s of h y b r i d s t e r i l i t y f r e q u e n t l y f o u n d in m a k i n g w i d e c r o s s e s W e h a v e n o t f o u n d a K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s w h i c h is c o m p l e t e l y a p o m i c t i c . A l l v a r i e t i e s a p p e a r to p r o d u c e at l e a s t s o m e s e e d t h r o u g h the s e x u a l p r o c e s s . S o m e K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s p l a n t s a r e h i g h l y o r c o m p l e t e l y s e x u a l in their reproductive b e h a v i o r . O f 100 p l a n t s s e l e c t e d f r o m o l d t u r f a r e a s of the N o r t h e a s t a n d t e s t e d f o r l e v e l o f a p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n , 16 w e r e b e t w e e n 9 0 a n d 100 p e r c e n t a p o m i c t r c , 3 4 w e r e b e t w e e n 8 0 a n d 9 0 p e r c e n t a p o m i c t i c a n d 50 w e r e o v e r 2 0 p e r c e n t s e x u a l ( F u n k a n d H a n 1967)* M o s t of o u r s t a n d a r d c u l t i v a r s o f K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s a r e o v e r 80 p e r c e n t a p o m i c t i c . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f b e t t e r b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t i e s c a n be a c c o m p l i s h e d b y either selection or hybridization. Individual plants collected from old turf a r e a s h a v e a b o u t a 5 0 p e r c e n t c h a n c e o f b e i n g s u f f i c i e n t l y a p o m i c t i c to r e p r o d u c e a s t a b l e v a r i e t y . If s u c h a s e l e c t i o n h a s s u f f i c i e n t m e r i t in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h other a v a i l a b l e a n d p o t e n t i a l l y a v a i l a b l e v a r i e t i e s , it m i g h t be r e l e a s e d a n d e n t e r into c o m m e r c i a l p r o d u c t i o n , Hybridization of K e n t u c k y Bluegras's R u t g e r s h a s been t h e f i r s t i n s t i t u t i o n to e x p l o i t h y b r i d i z a t i o n in the i m p r o v e m e n t o f K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s . H y b r i d i z a t i o n a l l o w s the b r e e d e r to r e c o m b i n e the b e s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f two o r m o r e p a r e n t s into o n e p l a n t . A p o m i c t i c r e p r o d u c t i o n a l l o w s u s to u s e t h i s p l a n t as the f o u n d a t i o n o f an e l i t e h y b r i d v a r i e t y . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f h y b r i d i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s in the g r e e n h o u s e i n v o l v i n g the n i g h t - t i m e p o l l i n a t i o n o f s e l e c t e d b l u e g r a s s p a r e n t s h a s a l l o w e d u s to p r o d u c t t h o u s a n d s o f h y b r i d s f o r e v a l u a t i o n . The best h y b r i d s show p r o m i s e for c o m m e r c i a l use (Pepin and F u n k 1 9 7 1 ) . 1. E n g e l , R . E . , C . R . F u n k a n d 0 . A . K i n n e y . 1 9 6 8 . T h e e f f e c t of v a r i e d rates o f a t r a z i n e a n d s i m a z i n e o n the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s e v e r a l z o y s i a strains. Agronomy Journal 60: 261-262.. 2. F u n k , C . R . a n d S . J . Han* 1967- R e c u r r e n t i n t r a s p e c i f i c h y b r i d i z a t i o n : A p r o p o s e d m e t h o d of b r e e d i n g K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s , Poa p r a t e n s i s . N . J . Agric, Expt. Sta. Bull. 817: 3-14. 3* P e p i n , G . W . a n d C , R . F u n k , 1 9 7 1 . I n t r a s p e c i f i c h y b r i d i z a t i o n as a m e t h o d o f b r e e d i n g K e n t u c k y biuegrass f o r t u r f . C r o p S c i e n c e 11: 4 4 5 - 4 4 8 . 4. S o l b r i g , O t t o T, 1971. T h e p o p u l a t i o n b i o l o g y of d a n d e l i o n s . Scientist 59: 6 8 6 - 6 9 4 , American BUDGETING: AN E C O N O M I C OVERVf.EW B11ly V. Lessley P r o f e s s o r , D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r a l and R e s o u r c e U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d Economics The p u r p o s e of this p r e s e n t a t i o n is to give a g e n e r a l i n t r o d u c t i o n to business p l a n n i n g o r b u d g e t i n g . M r . W a t s o n w i l l m a k e s p e c i f i c a p p l i c a t i o n of b u d g e t i n g in the f o l l o w i n g p r e s e n t a t i o n . T h e s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e of a b u s i n e s s u l t i m a t e l y rests w i t h the d e c i s i o n making a b i l i t y of m a n a g e m e n t . M a n a g e m e n t is the g r e a t u n k n o w n in the o p e r a t ion of a b u s i n e s s . M a n a g e m e n t m u s t m a k e all f i n a l d e c i s i o n s w h i c h w i l l u l t i m a t e l y d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r o r n o t the b u s i n e s s is o p e r a t e d e f f i c i e n t l y and e c o n o m i c a l l y . M a n a g e r i a l d e c i s i o n s m a d e to s o l v e p a s t p r o b l e m s are not n e c e s s a r i l y the p r o p e r d e c i s i o n s f o r p r o b l e m s of t o d a y and p r o b a b l y are not c o m p l e t e l y a p p l i c a b l e to the s o l u t i o n of f u t u r e p r o b l e m s . T h i s is true because b u s i n e s s e s o p e r a t e in a d y n a m i c s o c i e t y . T h a t i s , g o v e r n m e n t a l policies c h a n g e , n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s are i n t r o d u c e d , i n p u t - o u t p u t p r i c e and i n p u t - o u t p u t r e l a t i o n s h i p s c h a n g e and the g o a l s and o b j e c t i v e s of b u s i n e s s e s change o v e r t i m e . T o keep a b r e a s t of c h a n g i n g t i m e , m a n a g e r s m u s t continually e x a m i n e t h e i r b u s i n e s s in o r d e r to m a i n t a i n the p r o p e r a l l o c a t i o n of r e s o u r c e s w i t h i n and o u t s i d e t h e i r o p e r a t i o n if they h o p e to receive a reasonable return to the r e s o u r c e s a n d / o r a s a t i s f a c t o r y level of l i v i n g . A d j u s t m e n t s to c h a n g e c r e a t e p r o b l e m s of w h a t to p r o d u c e , h o w m u c h to produce and h o w to p r o d u c e . T h i s leads to e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s c o n c e r n i n g c o s t and c o m b i n a t i o n s of p r a c t i c e s a n d s y s t e m s w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y lead to m a x i m i z i n g r e t u r n s a n d / o r s a t i s f a c t i o n to the m a n a g e r ( b u s i n e s s ) . To identify and e f f e c t i v e l y a n a l y z e the m o s t p r o f i t a b l e a d j u s t m e n t s a n d the most e f f i c i e n t m e t h o d s f o r o b t a i n i n g these a d j u s t m e n t s , the b u s i n e s s m a n a g e r m u s t be p r o f i c i e n t in the u s e of m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e d u r e s o r m e t h o d s c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e to a n a l y z e e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s . F o r b u s i n e s s m a n a g e r s to e f f e c t i v e l y use m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e d u r e s o r m e t h o d s in e c o n o m i c a n a l y s i s , they m u s t be m a d e a w a r e of these and be t a u g h t the i m p o r t a n c e of e c o n o m i c s in the d e c i s i o n m a k i n g p r o c e s s . W h e t h e r it is r e c o g n i z e d o r n o t , e c o n o m i c d e c i s i o n s are g e n e r a l l y m a d e by f o l l o w i n g a l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s i o n . T h a t i s , the p r o g r e s s i o n o r s t e p s w o u l d include 1) o b s e r v a t i o n , 2) a n a l y s i s , 3 ) d e c i s i o n m a k i n g , k ) a c t i o n taking and 5) a c c e p t i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s . T h e m a n a g e r o b s e r v e s h i s b u s i n e s s as w e l l as o t h e r s i m i l a r o p e r a t i o n s b e f o r e c o m p l e t i n g an a n a l y s i s of a d j u s t m e n t p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r the i n d i v i d u a l b u s i n e s s . T h e a n a l y s i s c o u l d include the c a l c u l a t i o n of c o s t and r e v e n u e f i g u r e s f o r e v e r y p r o d u c t i o n a l t e r n a t i v e . A f t e r the a n a l y s i s , the m a n a g e r m a k e s a d e c i s i o n . If the d e c i s i o n is m a d e to c h a n g e the o p e r a t i o n , c e r t a i n a c t i o n s m u s t be taken to i m p l e m e n t the c h a n g e . R e g a r d l e s s of e c o n o m i c o u t c o m e , the m a n a g e r m u s t a c c e p t the consequences of the c h a n g e . H o w e v e r , this d o e s n o t m e a n that he c a n n o t s t a r t the p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s o v e r a g a i n . There are m a n y t e c h n i q u e s that can be u s e d to a n a l y z e a b u s i n e s s . Howe v e r , b e c a u s e of t i m e , s p a c e and m y a s s i g n e d t o p i c , I w i l l limit m y c o m m e n t s to the g e n e r a l a r e a of b u d g e t i n g . A b u d g e t is a plan o r r e c o r d ( c a p i t a l , l a b o r , c a s h , o p e r a t i n g , c o s t , e t c . ) of the o p e r a t i o n of a b u s i n e s s for some p e r i o d of t i m e . M a n a g e r s n e e d to m a k e both l o n g - r u n and s h o r t - r u n ( a n n u a l ) p l a n s . A l o n g - r u n b u d g e t w o u l d include d a t a f o r a long p e r i o d o r s e v e r a l y e a r s into the f u t u r e . It w o u l d s h o w w h e r e m a n a g e m e1 n t w a n t s to be s o m e t i m e in the f u t u r e . It m i g h t r e p r e s e n t the b u s i n e s s e s l o n g - r u n g o a l . C e r t a i n l y w e realize that no s i n g l e plan w i l l be b e s t f o r all f u t u r e p e r i o d s . Y e t , m a n a g e m e n t m u s t h a v e some g e n e r a l g o a l on w h i c h to base f u t u r e i n v e s t m e n t s . O f c o u r s e , the o u t l o o k m a y be e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t at the end of five y e a r s and m a n a g e m e n t m i g h t be f o r c e d to m a k e a c o m p l e t e l y n e w l o n g - r u n b u d g e t , e v e n if the f i r s t one is p l a n n e d f o r ten y e a r s into the f u t u r e . T h i s w a s m y p o i n t in the i n t r o d u c t i o n w h e n I r e f e r r e d to b u s i n e s s e s o p e r a t i n g in a d y n a m i c s o c i e t y . O n c e a l o n g - r u n p l a n o r b u d g e t , w h e t h e r f o r five o r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s , has b e e n d e c i d e d u p o n , one s h o u l d c o n s t r u c t s h o r t - r u n o r a n n u a l b u d g e t s e a c h y e a r . T h e a n n u a l b u d g e t s h o u l d be m a d e to fit the i n d i v i d u a l y e a r . T h e longrun b u d g e t c o u l d c a l l f o r c e r t a i n i n v e s t m e n t s , c h a n g e s , e t c . at p a r t i c u l a r f u t u r e time p e r i o d s . H o w e v e r , w i t h h i g h p r i c e s ( c o s t s ) , low r e v e n u e s , l a b o r s c a r c i t y , e t c . , m a n a g e m e n t c o u l d be f o r c e d to b r e a k a w a y f r o m the longrun plan f o r the n e x t few y e a r s , and return to it o r a m o d i f i e d plan sometime in the f u t u r e . A l s o , the s h o r t - r u n o r a n n u a l b u d g e t is n e e d e d in p l a n n i n g t r a n s i t i o n from the p r e s e n t to the f u t u r e b u s i n e s s o r g a n i z a t i o n . If a plan is a d o p t e d w h i c h c a l l s f o r m a j o r c h a n g e s , all the c h a n g e s w i l l p r o b a b l y n o t be m a d e in one y e a r . H e n c e , an a n n u a l p l a n w i l l keep m a n a g e m e n t i n f o r m e d on p r o g r e s s b e i n g m a d e t o w a r d r e a c h i n g the l o n g - r u n plan o r goal . C l o s e l y i n t e r t w i n e d w i t h long and s h o r t - r u n b u d g e t s is c o m p l e t e and p a r t i a l b u d g e t i n g . C o m p l e t e b u d g e t i n g r e f e r s to m a k i n g a p l a n f o r the e n t i r e b u s i n e s s o r f o r all d e c i s i o n s of one p a r t of the b u s i n e s s . Partial b u d g e t i n g is u s e d to test the p r o f i t a b i l i t y o f some p r a c t i c e o r o p e r a t i o n w h i c h m i g h t a f f e c t v a r i o u s p a r t s of the b u s i n e s s b u t w h i c h d o e s not c a l l f o r a c o m p l e t e b u s i n e s s r e o r g a n i z a t i o n . C o n s e q u e n t l y , o n l y those c o s t s a n d / o r r e v e n u e s that c h a n g e w i t h the n e w w a y of d o i n g b u s i n e s s m u s t be e s t i m a t e d . F o r e x a m p l e , if m a n a g e m e n t is c o n s i d e r i n g the e c o n o m i c s of two s i z e s o r types of m o w i n g e q u i p m e n t , a p a r t i a l b u d g e t c o u l d be u s e d to d e t e r m i n e the m o s t e c o n o m i c a l a l t e r n a t i v e . H e r e , the d e c i s i o n of e q u i p m e n t size and type w o u l d p r o b a b l y o n l y a f f e c t m o w i n g ( t i m e , c o s t , e t c ) and not the e n t i r e b u s i n e s s o r g a n i z a t i o n . F r o m t h i s , one can see that c o n s i d e r a b l e time a n d e f f o r t can be s a v e d by u s i n g a p a r t i a l b u d g e t . T h e o n l y p r o b l e m is in b e i n g able to j u d g e w h i c h c o s t and return i terns w i l l and w i l l not c h a n g e . T h e b e s t w a y to h a n d l e this is a c c u r a t e l y d e f i n e the p r o b l e m , list all p o s s i b l e e f f e c t s and then s u m m a r i z e the p r o b l e m in b u d g e t f o r m . T h e above b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n d o e s not e x h a u s t the a r e a of b u d g e t i n g . H o w e v e r , it d o e s set the s t a g e f o r the a p p l i c a t i o n of b u d g e t i n g s e s s i o n w h i c h f o l l o w s this p r e s e n t a t i o n . T o o , if m a n a g e m e n t w i l l s t u d y and use l o n g - r u n , s h o r t - r u n , c o m p l e t e and p a r t i a l b u d g e t s , the p a p e r g o e s a long w a y in i n f o r m i n g m a n a g e r s of the i m p o r t a n t a n a l y s i s t e c h n i q u e s a v a i l a b l e to b u s i n e s s e s in a n a l y z i n g e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s r e l e v a n t to i n d i v i d u a l o p e r a t i o n s . PLANNING, PRESENTING, AND EXECUTING THE BUDGET Alex Watson Golf Course Superintendent Sparrows Point Country Club W i t h this p a p e r I h a v e e n d e a v o r e d to give y o u some b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n on b u d g e t i n g . Y o u are all w e l l a w a r e of the f a c t that I c o u l d s p e n d h o u r s on the s u b j e c t , b u t r a t h e r than go into too m u c h d e t a i l I w i l l c o v e r a s t a n d a r d b u d g e t p r o p o s a l and s t a y a w a y f r o m the m a n y c a l c u l a t i o n s . E a c h y e a r as w e a p p r o a c h the f a l l s e a s o n o u r t h o u g h t s and e n e r g i e s turn o n c e a g a i n to the t a s k of p r e p a r i n g a b u d g e t p r o p o s a l . A b u d g e t lists the funds to be p r o v i d e d f o r the n e c e s s a r y c a p i t a l and c u r r e n t e x p e n d i t u r e s r e q u i r e d to m a k e a p l a n w o r k a b l e . In o r d e r to p e r f o r m the m a n y and v a r i e d d u t i e s that c o n f r o n t us as turf m a n a g e r s , w e m u s t take e a c h f a c e t o f o u r m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m and a l i g n o r fit it into a w e l l d e s i g n e d b u d g e t . Let's take a look at j u s t a few of the items w e s h o u l d take into c o n s i d e r a t i o n ; a e r i f i c a t i o n , t o p d r e s s i n g , f e r t i l i z a t i o n , p l a n t i n g , trap w o r k , m o w i n g o p e r a t i o n s , s l i c i n g o r s p i k i n g g r e e n s , leaf r e m o v a l , s t o r m d a m a g e , s p r a y i n g , and, of c o u r s e , v a n d a l i s m . A s has b e e n s a i d on m a n y o c c a s i o n s at s e m i n a r s , f i e l d d a y s , and conH f e r e n c e s ; N o o n e set of c o n d i t i o n s s u f f i c e s to s a t i s f y the n e e d s of e a c h and e v e r y f a c i l i t y " . In the M a r c h 7 1 issue o f the U . S . G . A . G r e e n S e c t i o n R e c o r d , B i l l B e n n e y f i e l d s t a t e s , " C o m p a r i n g T w o B u d g e t s on T w o G o l f C o u r s e s is like c o m p a r i n g two of a n y t h i n g else» T h e y m a y a p p e a r s i m i l a r at the outs e t , b u t the m o r e y o u know a b o u t them the less s i m i l a r they b e c o m e " . 0 . J . N o e r o n c e s a i d , "A g o l f c o u r s e o r t u r f g r a s s f a c i l i t y is not the p l a c e to save m o n e y - o r to w a s t e i t " . W i t h t h e s e t h o u g h t s in m i n d , w e w o u l d h o p e that w h a t is p r e s e n t e d h e r e w i l l be of some v a l u e in h e l p i n g y o u w i t h y o u r b u d g e t ary p l a n n i n g , p r e s e n t a t i o n , a n d e x e c u t i o n . P l a n n i n g the Budget It is h a r d l y n e c e s s a r y to p o i n t out that one n e c e s s i t y f o r e f f i c i e n t m a n a g e m e n t of a g o l f c o u r s e o r t u r f g r a s s f a c i l i t y is the p r o p e r r e c o r d k e e p i n g . A l l d a t a , f o r m s , and p a p e r s c o n n e c t e d w i t h y o u r b u d g e t s h o u l d be r e c o r d e d and f i l e d a c c o r d i n g to a d e f i n i t e s y s t e m . H a v i n g this i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e s a n u m b e r one tool f o r f o r m u l a t i o n of e a c h y e a r s b u d g e t p r o p o s a l . T h e r e are two d a n g e r s w h i c h y o u m u s t be c o g n i z a n t of in p l a n n i n g y o u r b u d g e t . They are: 1. A c o m p l i c a t e d one w h i c h b e c o m e s o v e r l o a d e d and o v e r b a l a n c e d o r 2 . A s y s t e m so c r u d e and s i m p l e t h a t it w i l l not s u f f i c e f o r a c o n t i n u i n g m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m . T h e b e s t s o l u t i o n is a m i d d l e - o f - t h e - r o a d c o u r s e . A s y s t e m w h i c h is f a i r l y s i m p l e , a n d y e t so d e s i g n e d that it can l a t e r be e x p a n d e d o r e l a b o r a t e d u p o n to fit y o u r n e e d s . A b a s i c b u d g e t f o r m c a n be found in B e r t M u s s e r s T e x t - T u r f M a n a g e m e n t . It is s i m p l e and e a s i l y m a n i p u l a t e d to fit a n y t u r f g r a s s o p e r a t i o n . B a s i c a l l y this is the form d e v e l o p e d a few y e a r s a g o and I h a v e u s e d it up to the p r e s e n t timé w i t h o n l y a few m i n o r c h a n g e s . T o s u m m a r i z e o u r form it is as f o l l o w s : A s u p e r v i s o n a l e x p e n s e s ; B . L a b o r ; C . E q u i p m e n t m a i n t e n a n c e and r e p a i r s ; D . G a s o l i n e , o i l , and l u b r i c a t i o n ; E . New equipment; F. Utilities; G. Materials; H . Fertilizer; I. M i s c e l l a n e o u s ; J . M o s q u i t o c o n t r o l ; and K . C o n s t r u c t i o n . N o w - y o u can c o n t i n u e this o u t l i n e to m a k e p a r t i c y 1 a r f a c i 1i t y . it f u n c t i o n a l f o r w h a t the n e e d s are at y o u r Y o u s h o u l d h a v e f o r m s f o r e v e r y n e e d , b u t on the o t h e r h a n d , d o not use f o r m s u n l e s s t h e y h a v e a d e f i n i t e j o b to p e r f o r m . S o m e o n e s a i d that w h e n there is a key on y o u r r i n g , the use of w h i c h y o u c a n n o t tell at a g l a n c e , that key s h o u l d be left at h o m e . A l w a y s b e a r t h i s in m i n d w h e n p r e p a r i n g y o u r b u d g e t . D e t e r m i n e w h a t the n e e d s of y o u r f a c i l i t y are f o r the s e a s o n a h e a d . Is it r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , d r a i n a g e , b e a u t i f i c a t i o n , o r f a i r w a y r e n o v a t i o n ? W h a t do y o u r m e m b e r s o r B o a r d of D i r e c t o r s e x p e c t in the w a y of i m p r o v e m e n t s o r c h a n g e s ? W h a t c h a n g e s do y o u a n t i c i p a t e ? Go o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s f i g u r e s in o r d e r to h a v e some b a s i c ideas and c o n c e p t s of w h a t y o u r e x p e n s e s w i l l r u n . G e t all of this i n f o r m a t i o n and d a t a tog e t h e r , s h a r p e n a f e w p e n c i l s , f i n d a g o o d e r a s e r , h a v e an a d d i n g machine o r c a l c u l a t o r h a n d y and b e g i n . D o n ' t f o r g e t to include any and all i n f o r m a t i o n n e c e s s a r y to p r e s e n t the m i n i m u m e x p e n d i t u r e s r e q u i r e d to m a i n t a i n a w e l l - r o u n d e d , t o p - g r a d e t u r f g r a s s program« U s e the m a n y , m a n y fine t r a d e j o u r n a l s , m a g a z i n e s , and p e r i o d i c a l s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o u r i n d u s t r y . T h e r e is a w e a l t h of i n f o r m a t i o n h e r e j u s t f o r the r e a d i n g , n o w - lets go b a c k to the b a s i c s u m m a r y w e pres e n t e d a few m i n u t e s a g o . S e c t i o n A - (see a p p e n d i x 1) - Include all of the s u p e r v i s i o n a l e x p e n s e s y o u w i l l i n c u r f o r the c o m i n g s e a s o n . If it is r e q u i r e d l i s t y o u r s a l a r y , y o u r a s s i s t a n t o r f o r e m a n s s a l a r y . A d d in e x p e n s e s f o r c o n f e r e n c e s , d u e s (local and n a t i o n a l ) , s h o r t c o u r s e , m a g a z i n e , and trade j o u r n a l s . S e c t i o n B - O u r l a r g e s t and m o s t d i r e c t c o s t in the m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m is l a b o r . W e are a l w a y s c o n c e r n e d w i t h c e r t a i n w a y s of r e d u c i n g c o s t s . We e m p l o y all s o r t s of d e v i c e s such as w a g e r e d u c t i o n , m e c h a n i z a t i o n , and subs t i t u t i o n of p r o d u c t s and m a t e r i a l s . M a n y o f us h a v e f o u n d that at any given time and p l a c e there U , a p o i n t b e l o w w h i c h it is i m p o s s i b l e to reduce o r l o w e r c o s t s . M e c h a n i z a t i o n limits are set by the p r o g r e s s o r i n v e n t i o n and w a g e s c a n n o t be r e d u c e d in this d a y and age if w e are to keep t r a i n e d p e r s o n n e l . W e h a v e to be i n n o v a t i v e and give m o r e C Q h s i d e r a t i o n to the p e o p l e w h o w o r k on o u r t u r f g r a s s f a c i l i t i e s . If j o b i n c e n t i v e s are not a p a r t of o u r p r o g r a m it w i l l f a i l . S u b s t i t u t i o n of c h e a p e r less f a m i l i a r p r o d u c t s and m a t e r i a l s in m o s t i n s t a n c e s reduce o r m a k e some p a r t s of a n y m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m i n f e r i o r . L i s t y o u r n u m b e r of p e r m a n e n t e m p l o y e e s , t h e i r n u m b e r of h o u r s w o r k e d d u r i n g the g r o w i n g s e a s o n , and the n u m b e r of B h o u r s w o r k e d d u r i n g the d o r m a n t s e a s o n . T h i s l a t t e r r e f e r e n c e to d o r m a n c y 1 m b e g i n n i n g to h a v e some a f t e r t h o u g h t s a b o u t as the o n l y item that h a s gone d o r m a n t on o u r f a c i l i t y this s e a s o n is the b e r m u d a g r a s s . G i v e a resume o f e a c h m a n ' s p a r t i c u l a r s k i l l s and a b i l i t y . N e x t add y o u r s e a s o n a l and p a r t - t i m e p e o p l e as to n u m b e r of h o u r s w o r k e d p e r w e e k , p e r s e a s o n . L i s t all p e r s o n n e l ' s i n d i v i d u a l w a g e and total y o u r f i g u r e s . D o n ' t f o r g e t that the e f f i c i e n c y of a n y and all f u n c t i o n s p e r f o r m e d on a turf f a c i l i t y can be c o m p a r e d by a record of the time n e c e s s a r y to p e r f o r m these f u n c t i o n s . In o t h e r w o r d s , m a n h o u r s p e r j o b o r f u n c t i o n is o u r m o s t i m p o r t a n t w a y w o r k done u n d e r o u r p r e s e n t w a g e s c a l e s . c e l l a n e o u s c o s t s such as h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n , W i t h a c o m p l e t e t a l l y on this s e c t i o n you of c o m p a r i n g the e f f i c i e n c y of L a s t l y add in all of y o u r m i s i n s u r a n c e , v a c a t i o n s , and r a i s e s . w i l l have y o u r total l a b o r f i g u r e . S e c t i o n C - E q u i p m e n t m a i n t e n a n c e and r e p a i r . T h i s s e c t i o n c o u l d p r o b a b l y be w o r k e d d i f f e r e n t l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n the r e q u i r e m e n t s of y o u r f a c i l i t y . W e f i g u r e o u r s on a p e r h o l d p e r y e a r total f o r 27 h o l e s of plus g r a s s n u r s e r i e s , t e n n i s c o u r t s , p i c n i c a r e a and c l u b g r o u n d s . We clude all m e c h a n i c a l m a l f u n c t i o n and b r e a k d o w n of m o t o r i z e d e q u i p m e n t , m i g h t w a n t to include a p a r t s i n v e n t o r y and any o t h e r items w h i c h c o m e this c a t e g o r y . most golf inYou under S e c t i o n D - Fuel and g a s o l i n e « T h i s s e c t i o n is s e l f e x p l a n a t o r y and includes all g a s o l i n e , o i l , and l u b r i c a n t s on a b a s i s of c o s t p e r h o l e p e r year. Section E - New equipment« Itemize e a c h p i e c e of e q u i p m e n t n e e d e d a n d give s o u n d r e a s o n s f o r y o u r r e q u e s t s . H a v e b r o c h u r e s a v a i l a b l e as a d d i t i o n a l aids in p i c t u r i n g the n e w p i e c e s . L i s t t r a d e - i n s you m i g h t h a v e o r p r i c e s you m i g h t e x p e c t from sale of u s e d e q u i p m e n t . Y o u c a n d e t a i l e a c h item y o u have r e f e r e n c e to and j u s t i f y all of y o u r r e q u e s t s , Section F - Utilities. This section is a l s o s e l f explanatory. S e c t i o n G - M a t e r i a l s . U n d e r this h e a d i n g list all of y o u r s e a s o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r c h e m i c a l s * s e e d , t o p d r e s s i n g , s a n d , and any o t h e r items n e e d e d . G i v e all n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n on the m a t e r i a l s f o r y o u r p r o g r a m . A d h e r e to EPA s t a n d a r d s as r e g a r d s y o u r s e l e c t i o n o f c h e m i c a l s . S e c t i o n H - F e r t i l i z e r . T h i s is an all i m p o r t a n t c a t e g o r y a n d w e take it as a s e p a r a t e e n t r y in o u r b u d g e t - m a k e u p , T h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d f r o m a w e l l p l a n n e d and b a l a n c e d f e r t i l i z e r p r o g r a m are m a n y , j u s t to list a f e w , i n c r e a s e d t u r f d e n s i t y , m o r e v i g o r o u s root s t r u c t u r e a n d turf c o l o r ; b e t t e r p l a y i n g s u r f a c e ; l e s s e r n e e d f o r c h e m i c a l w e e d c o n t r o l ; and b e t t e r s a t i s f i e d members, L i s t y o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r g r e e n s , t e e s , f a i r w a y s ; and c l u b g r o u n d s and h o w y o u p l a n to use the m a t e r i a l s . Section I - Miscellaneous expenditures. In this s e c t i o n w e h a v e a fund for s t o r e s and s u p p l i e s , s e r v i c e s , a n d g r o u n d s b e a u t i f i c a t i o n . W e a l s o a l l o w a contingency fund for storm or w e a t h e r d a m a g e . S e c t i o n J - M o s q u i t o c o n t r o l . T h i s u n i t is a l s o self e x p l a n a t o r y ; h o w e v e r , if y o u do h a v e t h i s type of p r o g r a m at y o u r f a c i l i t y , be sure that the m a t e r i a l s y o u s e l e c t as c o n t r o l s m e e t the EPA s p e c s . S e c t i o n K - C o n s t r u c t i o n . U n d e r this h e a d i n g i n c l u d e all p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s in i r r i g a t i o n , d r a i n a g e , c a r t p a t h i n s t a l l a t i o n , r e c o n s t r u c t i o n and any o t h e r s i m i l a r items t h a t m i g h t n e e d m o n e t a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n . W h e n y o u h a v e c o m p l e t e d a n d e x p a n d e d y o u r b u d g e t o u t l i n e , go o v e r e a c h s e c t i o n c h e c k i n g y o u r r e q u e s t s and t o t a l s . A f t e r y o u h a v e d o n e this and a r r i v e d at the t o t a l f i g u r e s y o u feel w i l l f u l f i l l the a b s o l u t e n e e d s of y o u r program* then m a k e up a s u m m a r y c o m p a r i n g last y e a r s f i g u r e s w i t h y o u r new proposal« P r e s e n t i n g the Budget • N e x t - arm y o u r s e l f w i t h y o u r n e w p r o p o s a l , u t i l i z e , g r a p h s , i n d e x e s , c a t a l o g s o r e q u i p m e n t , and a n y o t h e r m e a n s n e c e s s a r y to p r e s e n t y o u r b u d g e t in as c l e a r , concise,, and c o m p l e t e a m a n n e r as p o s s i b l e w h e n y o u r c o m m i t t e e or board calls their m e e t i n g . Have copies of y o u r proposal available for e a c h m e m b e r a t t e n d i n g the m e e t i n g ^ so t h a t t h e y c a n f o l l o w y o u r p r e s e n t a t i o n . K e e p in m i n d t h a t y o u are a l s o s e l l i n g y o u r s e l f a l o n g w i t h y o u r m a n a g e m e n t abilities* G o o v e r e a c h a n d e v e r y item on y o u r p r o p o s a l and e x p l a i n the p r o g r a m n e e d s . T e l l it like it is as r e g a r d s b u s i n e s s t r e n d s in the l a b o r market«, m a c h i n e r y , c h e m i c a l , a n d f e r t i l i z e r i n d u s t r i e s b e c a u s e t h e i r p r o b l e m s are a l s o y o u r s u P r e p a r e y o u r s e l f f o r any a n d all q u e s t i o n s that m a y c o m e f r o m y o u r committee,, C o n d u c t y o u r s e l f as a b u s i n e s s m a n and y o u w i l l be p l e a s e d w i t h the r e s u l t s . E x e c u t i o n of the Budget N o w - w h e n the b u d g e t c o m e s b a c k to y o u in a f i n a l i z e d a n d a p p r o v e d f o r m , the last b u t in n o w a y the l e a s t p a r t o f the p r o g r a m is p u t into o p e r a t i o n - b u d g e t e x e c u t i o n . Y o u m u s t p u r s u e the p r o b l e m of m a k i n g y o u r budget w o r k for your facility* D o n ' t f o r g e t - if a n y p a r t of it f a i l s its yours responsibi1ity. Keep y o u r cost account records and bookkeeping system up to d a t e so t h a t y o u can v i s u a l l y c h e c k all s e c t i o n s at a g l a n c e a n d see that y o u are r e m a i n i n g w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of the f i g u r e s y o u p r e s e n t e d . O p e r a t e y o u r d e p a r t m e n t in a b u s i n e s s - l i k e m a n n e r , a n d g e t the m a x i m u m o u t of e a c h d o l l a r invested* S t a y a b r e a s t of j o b s on the f a c i l i t y . C h e c k w i t h y o u r a s s i s t a n t o r f o r e m a n a n d m e c h a n i c as to e m p l o y e e and m a c h i n e r y perf o r m a n c e and m a k e d a i l y c o u r s e i n s p e c t i o n s ^ and a l w a y s be l o o k i n g f o r w a y s to improve operations«, M e c h a n i ze* as n e w e q u i p m e n t h a s b e e n p r o v e n a n d m a d e a v a i l a b l e thus c u t t i n g d o w n m a n hours,, and i n c r e a s i n g e f f i c i e n c y . T h e same is true in s e l e c t i o n o f c h e m i c a l s a n d f e r t i l i z e r s b y c h o o s i n g and u s i n g the m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d m a t e r i a l s t h a t h a v e b e e n t h o r o u g h l y r e s e a r c h e d and p r o v e n in the f i e l d f o r o u r b e n e f i t . H a k e B i ~ w e e k l y 9 M o n t h l y o r q u a r t e r l y r e p o r t s of y o u r a c t i v i t i e s a n d o p e r a t i o n s to y o u r c h a i r m a n o r b o a r d . K e e p them inf o r m e d as to the p r o g r e s s o r b u d g e t e d p r o j e c t s - l o o k a h e a d to the n e x t s e a s o n and c h e c k w i t h p r e v i o u s a n d p a s t b u d g e t e x p e r i e n c e s in o r d e r to come up w i t h a n e w set of p r o p o s a l s and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n s f o r the n e x t b u d g e t s e a s o n . W h e n y o u r o p e r a t i o n f u n c t i o n s p r o p e r l y a n d y o u see y o u r l a b o r s b e a r i n g f r u i t - y o u can then h a v e m o r e time to p u r s u e y o u r hobbies,, w h e t h e r t h e y a r e . f i s h i n g , hunting,, g o l f w i t h f r i e n d s , o r j u s t p l a i n o l d r e l a x i n g on y o u r p a t i o - o u t - b a c k - and e n j o y i n g a b e a u t i f u l s u n s e t . Appendix 1 Date FROM: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ TO: SUBJECT: PROPOSED MAINTENANCE Attached hereto c o u r s e and B U D G E T OF T H E G O L F C O U R S E A N D G R O U N D S F O R Is the p r o p o s e d b u d g e t f o r 197 19" o f the g o l f grounds. budget: Section A . E x p e n s e s o n l y are l i s t e d s i n c e s a l a r y Section B. 1. 2. Labor. is n o t a b u d g e t item. L i s t n u m b e r of m e n w o r k i n g p l u s t h e i r a v e r a g e n u m b e r of h o u r s w o r k e d w e e k l y . A l s o g i v e an i n d i c a t i o n of w h a t t h e y w i l l be d o i n g - w i n t e r and s u m m e r . E x p l a n a t i o n of w h y l a b o r f i g u r e w i l l f l u c t u a t e - o r h o w it can be c o n t a i n e d . - N e w p r o p o s a l s . Section C. E q u i p m e n t and r e p a i r : I n c l u d e d in these f i g u r e s are m e c h a n i c a l m a l f u n c t i o n , and b r e a k d o w n of m o b i l e e q u i p m e n t , and p u r c h a s e o r s p a r e p a r t s . W e w o u l d p r o p o s e - W e w i l l p r e p a r e lists on t r a c t o r u n i t s f o r c h e c k o u t a n d r e p a i r . Section D. Gasoline, oil, Section E. N e w e q u i p m e n t . A t t a c h e d to this p r o p o s a l are b r o c h u r e s of v a r i o u s items t h a t are b e i n g r e q u e s t e d . W e w i l l list e a c h p i e c e o f e q u i p m e n t and give o u r r e a s o n s f o r r e q u e s t . 'Section F. lubrication. 1. Item - e x p l a n a t i o n . 2. Item - e x p l a n a t i o n . 3. Etc. Utilities, telephone service, etc. S e c t i o n Go Materials 1. Chemicals - explanation (brief). 2. Soil conditioners - explanation. 3. S o d to be u s e d - e x p l a n a t i o n . k. Peat moss - explanation budget). 5. Seed - explanation. (if to be s t a n d a r d Section H , Fertilizers. 1ime, etc. Section Miscellaneous expenditures. Grounds beautif¡cation ( p u r c h a s e of t r e e s , s h r u b b e r y , e t c . ) - any e x p l a n a t i o n s . I. We will need item in also extra Section J. M o s q u i t o c o n t r o l o r some o t h e r i n e x p e n s i v e operation. Section K. T o p d r e s s i n g m i x t u r e - if p u r c h a s e d - w e w o u l d p r o p o s e c o n t i n u e d p u r c h a s e of this m a t e r i a l as it c a n n o t be m i x e d by o u r f o r c e s f o r such a p r i c e as w e h a v e b e e n p a y i n g . Section L. Special proposal - i.e. uniform service - explanation. Name Course single Superintendent COUNTRY MAINTENANCE CLUB B U D G E T - 19 GOLF COURSE AND GROUNDS SUMMARY A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J, K. L. Supervision Expenses Labor E q u i p m e n t M a i n t e n a n c e and R e p a i r Gasoline, Oil, Lubricants New Equipment Utilities Materials F e r t i 1 izers Miscellaneous Expenditures Mosquito Control Top Dressing Mixture Uniform Service A m1o1 u n t 11 n 11 11 M 11 11 11 11 ^ Total Amount COUNTRY CLUB MAINTENANCE BUDGET GOLF COURSE AND A. GROUNDS Supervision: 1. B. 19_ E x p e n s e (turf meetings«, c o n f e r e n c e s (local and n a t i o n a l ) , s h o r t courses, magazines, journals, dues, etc. ) Amounts Labor: 1. 2. 3. F u l l time a t t e n d a n t s C o m p l e t e l i s t i n g of all a t t e n d a n t s thei r h o u r l y r a t e s . Amounts and Additional men for summer w o r k . (Apri 1 - N o v e m b e r ) - H o u r l y rates Amounts Miscellaneous labor cost - night watering, emergency, etc. Amount Total Amount Labor E q u i p m e n t m a i n t e n a n c e and r e p a i r p e r h o l e p e r y e a r on h o l e s (a) a m o u n t / h o l e Total Equipment Maintenance Gasoline, o i l , lubrication per h o l e , p e r y e a r on h o l e s (5) a m o u n t / h o l e Fuel o i l , f u r n a c e , s t e a m j e n n y , e t c . Total E. New Amount Amount Amount Fuel equipment Amount Amount Amount 1. 2. 3. Total New F. Amount Equipment Amount Utilities Total Utilities Amount G. Materials 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Chemicals a. Fungicides b. Chlordane c. Etc, Soi1 condi tioner Sod Seed a . T y p e s o f s e e d (a) $_ Herbicides Aqua-Gro Etc. Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount /LB. Amount Amount Amount Amount Total Material Amount Fertilizers 1. 2. T e e s , f a i r w a y s , rough_ X^ a n a l y s i s Greens a. b. c. ton Amount Amount Amount Amount Total M i s e e l l a n e o u s E x p e n d 5 tu res (ground towels, flagpoles, etc. Amount Ferti1izers beautification? Amount T o t a l M i seel 1 a n e o u s M o s q u i to c o n t r o l X u n i t s 1 Gal Amount Total Mosquito K. Top Dressing X tons (S) Uniform Control Mixture 1 ton Amount Amount Total Top L. Amount Amount Dressing service Amount Total Uniform Total Service Budget Amount Amount Remarks: V a r i o u s p i e c e s of n e w e q u i p m e n t are d e t a i l e d on the e n c l o s e d b r o c h u r e s . W e are f a m i l i a r w i t h the v a r i o u s m a k e s and s t a t e that w e can g e t e x c e l l e n t s e r v i c e no m a t t e r w h i c h p i e c e s are purchased. B e l o w w e w i l l g i v e c o m p a n i e s w h o w e can r e c e i v e b i d s from on the m a c h i n e r y and c h e m i c a l s . T h e sod and s e e d m i g h t w e l l c o m e from t h e same c o m p a n i e s as b e f o r e : Equipment A Equipment B Cherhical A Ferti1izer C Etc. X Y Z X Company Company Company Company FUSARIUM BLIGHT OF TURFGRASSES H o u s t o n B» C o u c h P r o f e s s o r , D e p a r t m e n t of P l a n t P a t h o l o g y and P h y s i o l o g y Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University In 1959:, a s e v e r e f o l i a r b l i g h t i n g w a s o b s e r v e d on M e r i o n K e n t u c k y bluegrass in s o u t h e a s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a . T h e s y m p t o m p a t t e r n did n o t fit t h a t of any of the known f o l i a r d i s e a s e s of t u r f g r a s s e s , and i s o l a t i o n s from d i s e a s e d leaves o n l y y i e l d e d p a t h o g e n i c o r g a n i s m s that w e r e k n o w n to incite s y m p t o m s d i s t i n c t i v e from those o b s e r v e d f o r the d i s e a s e in q u e s t i o n . D u r i n g 1960 a n d 1 9 6 1 , this same d i s e a s e w a s f o u n d o c c u r r i n g on M e r i o n K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s , b e n t g r a s s e s and c r e e p i n g red f e s c u e s in e a s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a , eastern O h i o , e a s t e r n N e w Y o r k , N e w J e r s e y , D e l a w a r e , M a r y l a n d and the D i s t r i c t of C o l u m b i a . B e g i n n i n g In I 9 6 0 , and c o n t i n u i n g t h r o u g h the f o l l o w i n g three growing s e a s o n s , p l a n t and s o i l s a m p l e s w e r e c o l l e c t e d f r o m d i s e a s e d t u r f g r a s s stands o v e r the g e o g r a p h i c a r e a o u t l i n e d above* T h e I s o l a t i o n s f r o m d i s e a s e d leaves c o n s i s t e n t l y y i e l d e d two f u n g u s s p e c i e s s p . jioaa. Both of these o r g a n i s m s F u s a r lum r o s e u m and F u s a r S upi trii £» "ctuim were k n o w n to be t u r f g r a s s p a t h o g e n s , but h a d n o t b e e n I d e n t i f i e d as f o l i a r p a r a s i t e s . F u s a r i u m r o s e u m w a s k n o w n to c a u s e a root a n d c r o w n rot of turfg r a s s e s , w h i l e t r i c i n c t u m h a d b e e n r e c o g n i z e d f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s as the c a u s e of " s i l v e r t o p " , a d i s e a s e of t u r f g r a s s f l o r a l tissue* P a t h o g e n i c ! ty t e s t s w i t h i s o l a t e s o f these two f u n g u s s p e c i e s w e r e m a d e on M e r i o n K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s . H i g h l a n d b e n t g r a s s , a n d P e n n l a w n c r e e p i n g red f e s c u e . W h i l e s o m e of the I s o l a t e s w e r e w e a k l y p a t h o g e n i c , a v e r y h i g h perc e n t a g e o f those t e s t e d i n c i t e d 100 p e r c e n t f o l i a r b l i g h t i n g w i t h i n 2 to 5 days f r o m the time of I n o c u l a t i o n . W i t h f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h , it w a s l e a r n e d t h a t the s y n d r o m e of this d i s e a s e c o n s i s t e d o f two p h a s e s - (1) b l i g h t i n g of the foliage and (2) a c r o w n and root r o t . B e c a u s e o f the p r e1 1d o m i n a n t f o l i a r s y m p t o m p a t t e r n , the d i s e a s e w a s n a m e d " F u s a r i u m b l i g h t . S y m p t o m s . - In o v e r a l l v i e w , a f f e c t e d t u r f g r a s s s t a n d s f i r s t s h o w s c a t t e r e d light g r e e n p a t c h e s 2 - 6 inches In d i a m e t e r . U n d e r e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s f a v o r a b l e f o r d i s e a s e d e v e l o p m e n t , the c o l o r of these p a t c h e s c h a n g e s in a 3 6 - 4 8 h o u r p e r i o d to a d u l l r e d d i s h b r o w n , then to t a n , and f i n a l l y to a light s t r a w c o l o r . I n i t i a l l y , the s h a p e s of the p a t c h e s are elongate s t r e a k s , c r e s c e n t s , o r c i r c u l a r patches» T h e m o s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e of the g r o s s s y m p t o m a t o l o g y Is s e e n in the l a t e r s t a g e s o f d i s e a s e d e v e l o p m e n t . A t t h e s e t i m e s , there are p r e s e n t m o r e o r less c i r c u l a r p a t c h e s of b l i g h t e d t u r f g r a s s 1-3 f e e t In d i a m e t e r . Light tan to s t r a w c o l o r e d , t h e y o f t e n h a v e r e d d i s h b r o w n m a r g i n s 1 - 2 inches This w i d e a n d c o n t a i n c e n t e r t u f t s of g r e e n , a p p a1r1 e n t l y u n a f f e c t e d g r a s s . combination produces a distinctive "frog-eye e f f e c t . W h e n o p t i m u m cond i t i o n s f o r d i s e a s e d e v e l o p m e n t e x i s t f o r an e x t e n d e d p e r i o d o f t i m e , these affected areas coalesce» A s a r e s u l t , large a r e a s of t u r f g r a s s m a y be b l i g h t e d . Leaf l e s i o n s o r i g i n a t e b o t h at the c u t tip and at r a n d o m o v e r the e n t i r e l e a f . A t f i r s t , l e s i o n s a p p e a r as I r r e g u l a r l y s h a p e d , d a r k g r e e n b l o t c h e s . These r a p i d l y fade to a light g r e e n , then a s s u m e a r e d d i s h b r o w n h u e , and f i n a l l y become a dull tan. I n d i v i d u a l l e s i o n s m a y i n v o l v e the e n t i r e w i d t h o f the leaf b l a d e and m a y e x t e n d op to 1/2 Inch Sn length» T u r f g r a s s p l a n t s a f f e c t e d p r i m a r i l y .by the root rot p h a s e of the d i s e a s e are stunted;, pale g r e e n in color,, and do n o t r e a d i l y r e c o v e r f r o m m o w i n g o r a d v e r s e w e a t h e r conditions., T h e i r roots are c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a b r o w n to r e d d i s h - b r o w n d r y r o t . A s the d i s e a s e p r o g r e s s e s , these roots b e c o m e d a r k e r In c o l o r due to the c o l o n i z a t i o n of s o i l s a p r o p h y t e s . D u r i n g p e r i o d s of r e l a t i v e l y h i g h s o i l m o i s t u r e , the p i n k i s h g r o w t h o f the p a t h o g e n s can be s e e n on t h e root and c r o w n t i s s u e n e a r the s o i l surface« D i s e a s e C y c l e - Both s p e c i e s of £usa_Hurn s p p . h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d to be t r a n s m i t t e d on t u r f g r a s s s e e d 9 a n d are k n o w n to be c a p a b l e of s u r v i v i n g as s o i l s a p r o p h y t e s . T h e s e two s o u r c e s c o n s t i t u t e the m a i n r e s e r v o i r s of p r i m a r y i n o c u l u m f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the d i s e a s e in n e w l y s e e d e d s t a n d s o f turfgrass» in e s t a b l i s h e d t u r f g r a s s , the m a i n s o u r c e s o f I n o c u l u m are d o r m a n t m y c e l i u m In p l a n t s i n f e c t e d the p r e v i o u s s e a s o n and t h a t c h that h a s b e e n c o l o n i z e d b y the p a t h o g e n s . I n f e c t i o n of the leaves is a c c o m p l i s h e d b y b o t h g e r m i n a t i n g m a c r o c o n i d i a and m y c e l i u m f r o m the s a p r o p h y t i c g r o w t h o f the p a t h o g e n s on the t h a t c h and other organic matter« The highest frequency of primary infections probably o r i g i n a t e s f r o m the l a t t e r source» M a c r o c o n i d i a g e r m i n a t e 12 h o u r s f r o m the o n s e t of f a v o r a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s * P e n e t r a t i o n of i n t a c t leaf s u r f a c e s o c c u r s at the j u n c t i o n o f e p i d e r m a l cells» A t the p o i n t s of d i r e c t leaf p e n e t r a t i o n , there are no o b s e r v a b l e c h a n g e s in h y p h a e m o r p h o l o g y , n o r is d e g r a d a t i o n of the h o s t c e l l w a l l s e v i d e n t . T h e m o s t c o m m o n a r e a of p e n e t r a t i o n of f o l i a g e b y the p a t h o g e n s a p p e a r s to be the c u t e n d s of the l e a v e s . W i t h b o t h d i r e c t p e n e t r a t i o n and e n t r y t h r o u g h c u t leaf t i p s , m y c e l i a l m o v e m e n t is d i r e c t I n t e r c e l l u l a r o v e r an a r e a of 12 o r m o r e c e l l s and then It b e c o m e s intracellular,. P e n e t r a t i o n of ind i v i d u a l p a r e n c h y m a t o u s c e l l s is u s u a l l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a p r o n o u n c e d c o n s t r i c t i o n of the m y c e l i u m at the p o i n t of p a s s a g e t h r o u g h the c e l l w a l l . C e r t a i n i s o l a t e s of £» rose urn a n d £ . tricincturn h a v e b e e n s h o w n to v a r y in t h e i r t e m p e r a t u r e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r o p t i m u m p a t h o g e n i c i t y . A s a g e n e r a l r u l e , h o w e v e r , the f o l i a r p h a s e of F u s a r i u m b l i g h t is m o s t s e v e r e d u r i n g p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d s of h i g h a t m o s p h e r i c h u m i d i t y w i t h d a y t i m e a i r t e m p e r a t u r e s o f 80 - 9 5 ^ F . and n i g h t a i r t e m p e r a t u r e s of 70 F . o r above» T u r f g r a s s g r o w n u n d e r d e f i c i e n t c a l c i u m n u t r i t i o n is m o r e s u s c e p t i b l e to F u s a r l u m blight» I n c i d e n c e a n d s e v e r i t y o f the d i s e a s e Is a l s o g r e a t e s t u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s o f h i g h n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n . A l s o , the d e v e l o p m e n t of F u s a r l u m b l i g h t h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d to be g r e a t e r In t u r f g r a s s w h e n the s o i l m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t h a s b e e n a l l o w e d to be e x t r a c t e d to the p e r m a n e n t w i l t i n g percentage, 'Control» - C u l t u r a l P r a c t i c e s . W h i l e h i g h n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n d o e s I n c r e a s e the s u s c e p t i b i l i t y of t u r f g r a s s to F u s a r l u m b l i g h t , it Is u n l i k e l y that a s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u c t i o n of the d i s e a s e can be e f f e c t e d by r e d u c i n g n i t r o g e n levels» In general,, the level of n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n r e q u i r e d to s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce the s e v e r i t y of F u s a r i u m b l i g h t is w e l l o u t s i d e the range n e c e s s a r y to m e e t the b a s i c n u t r i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the g r a s s . From a f i e l d s t a n d p o i n t , t h e n , n i t r o g e n f e r t 1 1 i z a t l o n 9 and Its e f f e c t s on the d i s e a s e , s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d w i t h r e s p e c t to t h a t c h m a n a g e m e n t . S i n c e the t h a t c h s e r v e s as the m a j o r r e s e r v o i r of i n o c u l u m in e s t a b l i s h e d stands of t u r f g r a s s , a s u c c e s s f u l p r o g r a m of F u s a r i u m b l i g h t c o n t r o l r e q u i r e s that the q u a n t i t y of this m a t e r i a l be h e l d to a m i n i m u m that is c o n s i s t e n t with the p r o p e r m a n a g e m e n t o f the g r a s s s p e c i e s in q u e s t i o n . F o r m o s t turfg r a s s e s , this o p t i m u m t h i c k n e s s Is a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1/2 i n c h . In o r d e r to keep the F u s a r i u m b l i g h t p o t e n t i a l of a s t a n d of t u r f g r a s s to a m i n i m u m , t h e n , increases In the rate of n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n s h o u l d be b a l a n c e d w i t h c o n c u r r e n t I n c r e a s e s in the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of the t h a t c h m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m . R e s i s t a n t V a r i e t i e s . R a n k e d in o r d e r of s u s c e p t i b i l i t y to F u s a r i u m blight,, the b e n t g r a s s e s are the m o s t p r o n e to the d i s e a s e . T h e K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s e s are n e x t In s u s c e p t i b i l i t y , w i t h the f e s c u e s b e i n g m o s t r e s i s t a n t . A m o n g c e r t a i n v a r i e t i e s o f K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s * the range of s u s c e p t i b i l i t y to JF. r o s e u m and JF. t r i e ! n c t u m Is d e t e r m i n e d by a c o m p l e x i n t e r a c t i o n of a i r t e m p e r a t u r e and p a t h o g e n a n d h o s t g e n o t y p e s . Chemical Control. A preventive fungicide p r o g r a m , coupled with thatch c o n t r o l , is e s s e n t i a l f o r e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l of F u s a r i u m b l i g h t . T h e f u n g i cide a p p l i c a t i o n s h o u l d be m a d e I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r the f i r s t o c c u r r e n c e of n i g h t t e m p e r a t u r e s that do n o t d r o p b e l o w 70 F . F o r m o s t e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l of F u s a r i u m b l i g h t , s p r a y 1000 s q u a r e f e e t w i t h 6 g a l l o n s of w a t e r c o n t a i n i n g 5 - 8 o u n c e s b e n o m y l 5 0 % W P . T h e t o t a l a m o u n t of b e n o m y l a p p l i e d to the t u r f g r a s s w i t h i n 1 c a l e n d a r y e a r s h o u l d n o t e x c e e d 8 ounces« 1 8 'WHAT S N E W IN T U R F G R A S S RESEARCH" John R0 Hal 1 Ass i stant Professor Agronomy Department U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d T h e t u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m at the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d is e x p a n d i n g r a p i d l y . S o m e of the e x p e r i m e n t s i n i t i a t e d by D r s , D e a l and P o w e l l are n o w p r o v i d i n g v e r y v a l u a b l e r e s e a r c h i n f o r m a t i o n , T u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h is c o n d u c t e d at the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d P l a n t R e s e a r c h F a r m n e a r F a i r l a n d , M a r y l a n d and o v e r the e n t i r e S t a t e of M a r y l a n d . Y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n and a s s i s t a n c e in h e l p i n g us f i n d sites f o r r e s e a r c h h a s b e e n g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e d , T h e M a r y l a n d t u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m is d e s i g n e d to find s o l u t i o n s to p r o b l e m s that e x i s t a c r o s s the e n t i r e t u r f g r a s s i n d u s t r y . E x p e r i m e n t s are c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c o n d u c t e d to p r o v i d e s o l u t i o n s to p r o b l e m s e x i s t i n g in the sod i n d u s t r y , on h o m e l a w n s , on g o l f c o u r s e s , on a t h l e t i c f i e l d s , p a r k s , h i g h w a y r o a d s i d e s , a i r p o r t s and in c e m e t e r i e s . W e h o p e that this r e s e a r c h w i l l be of v a l u e to all of the p e o p l e m a n a g i n g the m o r e than 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 a c r e s of t u r f g r a s s in the S t a t e of M a r y l a n d . I w o u l d like to e l a b o r a t e u p o n the r e s e a r c h b e i n g c o n d u c t e d that is p e r t i n e n t to g o l f c o u r s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s . T h e r e are 17 d i f f e r e n t e x p e r i m e n t s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d t h r o u g h o u t the S t a t e of M a r y l a n d to e v a l u a t e v a r i e t i e s of K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s , c r e e p i n g red f e s c u e , tall f e s c u e , and p e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s . T o d a t e 5 y e a r s d a t a h a v e been c o l l e c t e d on the K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s t r i a l s . V a r i e t i e s that are p e r f o r m i n g e x t r e m e l y w e l l at the m o w i n g h e i g h t a r e : W a r r e n s A - 3 4 and A - 2 0 , F y l k i n g , B i r k a , G e o r g e t o w n , O r i o n and b l e n d s of M e r i o n , F y l k i n g and P e n n s t a r . A t this time the c o m m e r c i a l a v a i l a b i l i t y of B i r k a 9 G e o r g e t o w n and W a r r e n s A - 3 4 is l i m i t e d . D i s e a s e r e s i s t a n c e is d e s i r e d in all t u r f g r a s s v a r i e t i e s . Extreme r e s i s t a n c e to H e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m leaf spot has b e e n o b s e r v e d on S y d s p o r t , NJE P - 5 6 , W a r r e n s A - 2 0 , M e r i o n , and F y l k i n g and b l e n d s of M e r i o n , F y l k i n g and P e n n s t a r . Thatch data was t a k e n on these 5 y e a r o l d p l o t s d u r i n g the 1973 s e a s o n . Aftejr 5 y e a r s c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t s of t h a t c h h a d a c c u m u l a t e d on v a r i e t i e s such as V a n t a g e , P e n n s t a r , F y l k i n g , B i r k a , S o d c o , NJE P - 3 5 , PSU K - 1 0 7 , O r i o n a n d W a r r e n s A - 1 0 , A - 2 0 and A - 3 4 . T h e l o w e r rates of t h a t c h b u i l d u p w e r e f o u n d on the m o r e c o m m o n K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s e s such as C o u g a r a n d P r i m o . A d d i t i o n a l K e n t u c k y b l u1 1e g r a s s t r i a l s w e r e s e e d e d in the S p r i n g of 1972 and are b e i n g m a i n t a i n e d at a l m o w i n g h e i g h t . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r trial is i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e there are m a n y n e w v a r i e t i e s n o t u t i l i z e d in the 1968 t r i a l s . Varieties p e r f o r m i n g v e r y w e l l in the f i r s t y e a r f o l l o w i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t w e r e F y l k i n g , B a r o n f V a n t a g e , M o n o p o l y , P a r a d e ,n a b l e n d o f V a n t a g e and V i c t a , and W a r r e n s A - 3 4 . This trial m a i n t a i n e d at the 1 m o w i n g h e i g h t s h o u l d p r o v i d e some v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n to g o l f c o u r s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s . T r a f f i c is to be i m p o s e d on these v a r i e t i e s b e g i n n i n g w i t h the 1974 s e a s o n . In a trial i n i t i a t e d in the fall of 1972 on the E a s t e r n S h o r e v e r y g o o d d r o u g h t t o l e r a n c e dn a t a w a s o b t a i n e d f o l l o w i n g the m o n t h o f J u l y , 1973 w h e n the site r e c e i v e d 1 . 2 5 of rain o v e r an a p p r o x i m a t e 40 d a y p e r i o d . Individual v a r i e t i e s e x h i b i t i n g v e r y g o o d d r o u g h t t o l e r a n c e and r e c o v e r y w e r e M e r i o n , K e n b l u e , B a r o n , G e o r g e t o w n , V a n t a g e , N J E P - 5 9 , S o d c o * A d e l p h i and P a r a d e . Blends p e r f o r m i n g w e l l u n d e r these d r o u g h t c o n d i t i o n s w e r e M e r i o n and K e n b l u e , V a n t a g e and W i n d s o r , NJE P ~ 5 7 , 3 0 % H e r i o n - 3 0 % K e n b l u e - 3 0 % A d e l p h i and 10% C r e e p i n g red f e s c u e , 3 0 % M e r i o n - 3 0 % K e n b l u e ~ 3 0 % V i c t a and 10% J a m e s t o w n , k 0 % V i c t a and 6 0 % V a n t a g e , 9 5 % M e r i o n and 5 % M a n h a t t a n and 9 0 % M e r i o n and 10% J a m e s t o w n . L a t e r in the y e a r F u s a r i u m s p p . a t t a c k e d these same p l o t s . V a r i e t i e s e x h i b i t i n g r e s i s t a n c e to F u s a r i u m s p p . w e r e : Kenblue, NJE P - 1 5 1 , Parker Shirling # 2 , Vantage, Sodco a n d b l e n d s of N u g g e t t and P a r k , N J E P - 5 7 a n d NJE P ~ 5 9 , 3 0 % M e r i o n - 3 0 % K e n b l u e - 3 0 % A d e l p h i and 10% J a m e s t o w n C r e e p i n g R e d F e s c u e , 3 0 % M e r i o n - 3 0 % S o u t h D a k o t a Certified* 3 0 % V i c t a and 10% J a m e s t o w n C r e e p i n g Red F e s c u e , 3 0 % M e r i o n - 3 0 % K e n b l u e - 3 0 % V i c t a and 10% J a m e s t o w n C r e e p i n g R e d F e s c u e , k 0 % V i c t a and 6 0 % V a n t a g e , 9 5 % M e r i o n and 5% M a n h a t t a n p e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s and 9 0 % M e r i o n and 10% J a m e s t o w n . T h e s e v a r i e t y t r i a l s w i l l be c o n t i n u o u s l y m a i n t a i n e d in an a t t e m p t to prov i d e g o l f c o u r s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s t h r o u g h o u t the S t a t e of M a r y l a n d w i t h v a r i e t y p e r f o r m a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h is v a l u a b l e to t h e m . P e r e n n i a l r y e g r a s s t r i a l s have b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d and d a t a w i l l be t a k e n on 15 different perennial ryegrass ,! s e l e c t i o n s at m o w i n g h e i g h t s of 0 . 7 5 and 1.5 b e g i n n i n g w i t h the 1 9 7 ^ s e a s o n . C o n t i n u o u s t e s t i n g of n e w h e r b i c i d e m a t e r i a l s is an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f a v i a b l e t u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m . E x p e r i m e n t s are c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c o n d u c t e d at L a u r e l Pines C o u n t r y C l u b t h r o u g h the c o o p e r a t i o n o f M r . G i l b e r t S h a p i r o . E n d o t h a l is b e i n g e v a l u a t e d as a Poa a n n u a h e r b i c i d e . It is b e i n g a p p l i e d at rates of 0 , 4 , 6 and 8 lbs a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r a c r e . T h e initial t r e a t m e n t s w e r e a p p l i e d in the fall of 1973 and w i l l be r e p e a t e d in the s p r i n g of 197^-. F a l l 1973 o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e that the 8 lb rate is p r o v i d i n g s a t i s f a c t o r y r e d u c t i o n of Poa a n n u a w i t h o u t injury to the e x i s t i n g b l u e g r a s s . R e g i s t e r e d and e x p e r i m e n t a l t u r f g r a s s p r e e m e r g e n c e h e r b i c i d e s are c o n tinuously being evaluated. In a s t u d y i n i t i a t e d b y D r . E l w y n D e a l , c o n t i n u e d by D r . A . J . P o w e l l and c o m p l e t e d in 1973 some v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g e f f e c t s of r e p e a t e d a p p l i c a t i o n s of p r e e m e r g e n c e h e r b i c i d e s to K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s turf h a v e bee n n o t e d . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r e x p e r i m e n t w a s c o n d u c t e d on a K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s c r e e p i n g red f e s c u e turf at the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d P l a n t R e s e a r c h F a r m n e a r F a i r l a n d , M a r y l a n d . The t u r f w a s m a i n t a i n e d at a 1" m o w i n g h e i g h t and w a s a n n u a l l y o v e r s e e d e d w i t h c r a b g r a s s . T h e e x p e r i m e n t b e g a n in the s p r i n g of 1966 and w a s c o n d u c t e d t h r o u g h the s p r i n g of 1 9 7 2 . D u r i n g this time e x p e r i m e n t a l m a t e r i a l s w e r e a p p l i e d e a c h s p r i n g . C o m m e r c i a l m a t e r i a l s e v a l u a t e d in this e x p e r i m e n t w e r e b a n d a n e , b a l a n , b e t a s a n , d a c t h a l , t r i c a l c i u m a r s e n a t e and s i d u r o n . T h e b e s t c o m b i n a t i o n of c r a b g r a s s c o n t r o l and t u r f g r a s s q u a l i t y w a s achieved with b e t a s a n , tricalcium arsenate and a new m a t e r i a l called A - 8 2 0 ( N o - C r a b ) (Table 1 ) . T h e o n l y p r o b l e m f o r e s e e n w i t h this n e w m a t e r i a l ( N o - C r a b ) is that the g r a n u l a r f o r m u l a t i o n is e x t r e m e l y light and m i g h t be d i f f i c u l t to h a n d l e . Both g r a n u l a r and e m u l s i f i a b l e c o n c e n t r a t e f o r m u l a t i o n s h a v e b e e n t e s t e d and g r a n u l a r f o r m u l a t i o n s c o n s i s t e n t l y improve the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of p r e e m e r g e n c e c h e m i c a l s . C r e e p i n g red f e s c u e w a s n o t a b l y r e m o v e d from the t r i c a l c i u m a r s e n a t e a n d b a n d a n e p l o t s . D a c t h a l s l i g h t l y r e d u c e d the p o p u l a t i o n of c r e e p i n g red f e s c u e but n o t as s e r i o u s l y as t r i c a l c i u m a r s e n a t e and b a n d a n e . Table 1. Treatment E f f e c t of c h e m i c a l s on p r e e m e r g e n c e c r a b g r a s s c o n t r o l and t u r f g r a s s q u a l i t y at the 1972 P l a n t R e s e a r c h F a r m , F a i r l a n d , M a r y l a n d . Formulation 10 2.5 48 12.5 Ik 2.3 2.3 2.3 50 Bandane Benefi n Ca3As0z* B e n s u l i de DCPA A-820 A-820 A-820 Siduron Check Bayes w X y z Rate (lb a . i . / a ) 5 % LSD W Z G G G G WP G G G WP 35 2 187 12.5 9 k 5 6 12 0 S m o o t h C r a b g r a s s in P l o t 7/21/72 9/8/72 (%) (%) Turfgrass Quality 7/21/72 X 9/8/72 (Rat i n g ) (Rating) 0 6 0 0 10 0 1 0 28 79 0 16 0 0 25 8 26 5 57 80 3.2 6.0 7.2 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.5 5.2 5.0 3.9 2.5 5.5 5.0 6.5 6.0 5.7 5.7 6.0 5.0 5.0 1 1 18 0.9 0.5 /• D u n c a n , D . B . 1965» A B a y e s i a n a p p r o a c h to m u l t i p l e Technometrics 7:171-222. comparisons. T u r f g r a s s q u a l i f y r a t i n g s m a d e on a 0 - 9 s c a l e w h e r e 9 = m a x i m u m t u r f g r a s s q u a l i t y , 6 = a c c e p t a b l e t u r f g r a s s q u a l i t y and 0 = b a r e s o i l . Q u a l i t y e s t i m a t e includes u n i f o r m i t y , d e n s i t y , t e x t u r e and s m o o t h n e s s . B a n d a n e , B e n e f i n , C a j A s O ^ , B e n s u l i d e , D C P A and S i d u r o n w e r e a p p l i e d from 1 9 6 6 - 1 9 7 2 and A - 8 2 0 o n l y in 1972- annually T h e a b b r e v i a t i o n s are G = g r a n u l e 5 E C = e m u l s i f i a b l e c o n c e n t r a t e and W P = w e t t a b l e p o w d e r . T h e n u m b e r in f r o n t of: G is % a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t , W P is % a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t and EC is lb a . i . / g a l . C o n t i n u o u s a p p l i c a t i o n of b a n d a n1 1e and t r i c a l c i u m a r s e n a t e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d the n u m b e r of roots at the 3 d e p t h (Table 2 ) . T h e n u m b e r of roots at the 3" d e p t h w e r e r e d u c e d 8 2 % , 5 2 % , 2 9 % and 2 6 % r e s p e c t i v e l y b y b a n d a n e , tricalcium a r s e n a t e , balan and betasanc S i d u r o n 1a1 n d d a c t h a l h a d little n e g a t i v e e f f e c t u p o n the n u m b e r of roots at the 3 depth. Table 2. Treatment X Bandane Benefin Ca^AsO^ Bensulide DCPA A-820 S iduron Check Residual effect or preemergence crabgrass control chemicals applied on A p r i l 1 8 , 1972 u p o n root c o u n t s taken at a 3 and 6 inch d e p t h on x April 12, 1 9 7 3 , Plant Research F a r m , F a i r l a n d , M a r y l a n d . F o r m u l a t ion 10 2.5 48 12.5 75 2.3 50 G G G G WP G WP Rate (lb a . i . / A . ) 35 2 187 12.5 9 6 12 0 R o o t C o u n t / 1 . 8 s q . inches 6 inch d e p t h 3 Inch d e p t h (Number) (Number) 5.5 22.0 15.0 23.0 27.2 26.5 32.7 31.0 Y a be ab be c be c c 5.7 17.2 15.7 14.2 17.5 17.0 21.0 20.8 B a n d a n e ^ B e n e f i n ^ C a ^ A s O ^ , B e n s u l i d e , D C P A and S i d u r o n w e r e a n n u a l l y from 1966 t h r o u g h 1972 and A - 8 2 0 o n l y in 1 9 7 2 . applied ^ C o l u m n a r m e a n s w i t h the same l e t t e r are n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t the 5 % level of s i g n i f i c a n c e u s i n g D u n c a n ' s M u l t i p l e R a n g e T e s t . Z T h e a b b r e v i a t i o n s are G = g r a n u l e and W P = w e t t a b l e p o w d e r . f r o n t of G and W P is % a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t . a b b ab b b b b at T h e n u m b e r in T h o s e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s w h o are i n t e r e s t e d in r e n o v a t i o n c h e m i c a l s w i l l be i n t e r e s t e d in the n e w m a t e r i a l c o m i n g on the m a r k e t d u r i n g the 197^+ s e a s o n c a l l e d g l y p h o s a t e (Roundup)« T h e m a t e r i a l s such as P a r a q u a t and d a l a p o n have several disadvantages. P a r a q u a t is q u i t e t o x i c to h u m a n s . T h e f a c t t h a t it is n o t t r a n s l o c a t e d to r h i z o m e s m a k e s it r e l a t i v e l y i n e f f e c t i v e a g a i n s t the c o m m o n p e r e n n i a l w e e d g r a s s p r o b l e m s s u c h as q u a c k g r a s s and b e r m u d a g r a s s . D a l a p o n h a s the e x t r e m e d i s a d v a n t a g e of r e q u i r i n g a 60 to 90 d a y w a i t b e f o r e s e e d i n g can be s a f e l y a c c o m p l i s h e d . T h e R o u n d u p m a t e r i a l is t r a n s l o c a t e d to r h i z o m e s and a l l o w s one to c o m e in and s p r a y as late as the m i d d l e of A u g u s t ; w a i t 1 0 - 1 4 d a y s f o r r e g r o w t h , r e s p r a y and s e e d s h o r t l y a f t e r the last s p r a y 0 T h e r e is no injury to n e w s e e d i n g s w i t h the R o u n d u p m a t e r i a l as it is i n a c t i v a t e d by s o i l c o n t a c t . G l y p h o s a t e h a s b e e n t e s t e d at the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d on q u a c k g r a s s and h a s b e e n f o u n d to be a l m o s t twice as e f f e c t i v e at the 3 lb a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t rate as a 10 lb rate of d a l a p o n (Table 3 ) . T h i s c h e m i c a l h o l d s m u c h p r o m i s e f o r the t u r f g r a s s i n d u s t r y . Table 3 . E f f e c t of h e r b i c i d e s a p p l i e d June 1 5 , 1972 on Q u a c k g r a s s C o n t r o l m e a s u r e d in A p r i l 1 9 7 ^ . X Treatment Dal apon (lb a . i . / A . ) Quackgrass VI9/73 (%) 5 10 1.5 3 1.5 3 31 46 17 27 45 82 0 T o t a l n u m b e r of q u a c k g r a s s t i l l e r s control values were calculated. ¡n e a c h p l o t w a s d e t e r m i n e d . Pronami de Glyphosate Check Control Individual S t u d i e s are b e i n g c o n d u c t e d to e v a l u a t e the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of h e r b i c i d e s such as B a s a g r a n , D e s t u n a n d D S M A + 2 , 4 - D f o r c o n t r o l of y e l l o w n u t s e d g e . T h e B a s a g r a n and D e s t u n m a t e r i a l s are n o t on the m a r k e t at this t i m e . T h e c u r r e n t d i s a d v a n t a g e of c o m b i n a t i o n s of D S M A and relate to the f a c t that they d o s o m e t i m e s b u r n turf w h e n t e m p e r a t u r e s are a b o v e 85 F In the p r e s e n c e of d r y s o i l s . T h e B a s a g r a n and D e s t u n m a t e r i a l s a p p e a r to be less p h y t o t o x i c u n d e r s i m i l a r c o n d i t i o n s . A t t e m p t s to s u p p r e s s b e r m u d a g r a s s w i t h a p p l i c a t i o n s of S i d u r o n h a v e m e t w i t h m i x e d s u c c e s s . R e s u l t s a f t e r 3 y e a r s of s t u d y h a v e b e e n less than e x c i t i n g . T h e best results are c u r r e n t l y b e i n g a c h i e v e d w i t h k O lb a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre a p p l i c a t i o n s . T h e two m o s t p r o m i s i n g t r e a t m e n t s w e r e a p p l i e d 20 lbs in M a y a n d 20 lbs in J u n e o r 4 0 lbs in M a y . It is p o s s i b l e that b e g i n n i n g the a p p l i c a t i o n s in A p r i l m i g h t c r e a t e m o r e s u c c e s s f u l c o n t r o l . W i t h this in m i n d o u r 197^ s t u d i e s have b e e n p l a n n e d to i n v e s t i g a t e this p o s s i b i l i t y . F a l l v e r t i c u t t i n g and o v e r s e e d i n g h a v e been as s u c c e s s f u l in r e d u c i n g b e r m u d a e n c r o a c h m e n t as the i n d i v i d u a l s i du ron t r e a t m e n t s . Plots w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d b y Dr„ H a w e s last y e a r in an a t t e m p t to f i n d b e t t e r tee turf f o r the t r a n s i t i o n z o n e . T h e m a i n e m p h a s i s in these s t u d i e s w i l l be to e v a l u a t e the w a r m - s e a s o n g r a s s e s , Z o y s i a and b e r m u d a , in c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h the c o o l season g r a s s e s , K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s and c r e e p i n g b e n t g r a s s . T w o v a r i a t i o n s of the m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s of t o p d r e s s i n g and f e r t i l i z i n g w i l l be imposed on these comb i n a t i o n s . T h e y w i l l be m a i n t a i n e d at a one inch h e i g h t and t r a f f i c w i l l be a p p l i e d a r t i f i c i a l l y . H o p e f u l l y r e s u l t s from these s t u d i e s w i l l h e l p to m a k e g o l f course tee m a n a g e m e n t a little e a s i e r . W o r k c o n d u c t e d by G r e g o r y R i c h a r d s at the U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d to d e t e r m i n e if t h e r e is a v a r i e t a l r e s p o n s e to a i r p o l l u t i o n d a m a g e h a s s u b s t a n t i a t e d that there a r e , in f a c t , v a r i e t a l d i f f e r e n c e s in s u s c e p t i b i l i t y to a i r p o l l u t i o n i n j u r y , V a r i e t i e s that are e x h i b i t i n g r e s i s t a n c e to a i r p o l l u t i o n are N e w p o r t , M e r i o n , W i n d s o r and F y l k i n g . V a r i e t i e s e x t r e m e l y s u s c e p t i b l e to a i r p o l l u t i o n are S o u t h Dakota Certified and K e n b l u e . T h e U n i v e r s i t y of M a r y l a n d t u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m in the D e p a r t m e n t of A g r o n o m y is c o n t i n u a l l y e x p a n d i n g in an e f f o r t to p r o v i d e y o u w i t h n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t m a t e r i a l s c o m i n g on the m a r k e t . A s this t u r f g r a s s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m e x p a n d s its e m p h a s i s c o n t i n u e s to be d i r e c t e d t o w a r d the s o l u t i o n of p r a c t i c a l p r o b l e m s a f f e c t i n g the M a r y l a n d T u r f g r a s s I n d u s t r y in h o p e s t h a t the p r o d u c t i o n of q u a l i t y t u r f g r a s s t h r o u g h o u t the S t a t e o f M a r y l a n d can be a c h i e v e d . WHY AND WHEN TO RENOVATE J . Jc H u r r a y , R e s e a r c h A g r o n o m i s t Agricultural Research Service U . S . D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e 11 T h e d i c t i o n a r y d e f i n e s the w o r d " r e n o v a t e as " t o r e s t o r e to life and v i g o r . " T h i s w o r d and its d e f i n i t i o n is e s p e c i a l l y m e a n i n g f u l w h e n u s e d in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t u r f g r a s s , R e n o v a t i o n is the t e c h n i q u e o r p r o c e d u r e u s e d to b r i n g turf b a c k into g o o d c o n d i t i o n » R e n o v a t i n g can imply a n y t h i n g from m e r e l y r e m o v i n g t h a t c h to c o m p l e t e r e m o v a l of all v e g e t a t i o n , r e w o r k i n g the s o i l s , and c o m p l e t e l y reseeding» H o w e v e r , r e n o v a t i o n is g e n e r a l l y p r a c t i c e d w h e r e the s t a n d of living^ d e s i r a b l e t u r f g r a s s s p e c i e s is so p o o r that the a r e a c a n n o t be i m p r o v e d r e a d i l y t h r o u g h r o u t i n e c u l t u r a l o r m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s but is s u f f i c i e n t to be saved» R e n o v a t i o n o f t e n i n c l u d e s some r e s e e d i n g . T u r f g r a s s r e n o v a t i o n is c e r t a i n l y n o t a n e w c o n c e p t in t u r f g r a s s m a n a g e ment. It has been p r a c t i c e d f o r m a n y y e a r s , a n d I feel p r e t t y safe in s a y i n g that there w i l l a l w a y s be a n e e d f o r r e n o v a t i o n p r a c t i c e s , e s p e c i a l l y on o l d e r e s t a b l i s h e d turf a r e a s . O v e r the last 50 to 75 y e a r s there h a s b e e n g r e a t p r o g r e s s in turf m a i n t e n a n c e but p e r f e c t i o n and p e r m a n e n c y of t u r f g r a s s e s is s t i l l an e l u s i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . W e are s t i l l c o n f r o n t e d w i t h f o r m s of turfg r a s s d e t e r i o r a t i o n o r f a i l u r e w h i c h c a l l f o r some m e t h o d of r e n o v a t i o n . It r e m i n d s me of the t e l e v i s i o n c o m m e r c i a l o r a d v e r t i s e m e n t f o r a c 1e1 r t a i n b r a n d of c i g a r w h e r e the guy s a y s " s o o n e r o r l a t e r w e ' r e g o i n g to get y o u . S o o n e r o r l a t e r , on turf a r e a s of any size r e n o v a t i o n w i l l be r e q u i r e d . On g o l f c o u r s e s w h e r e turf is h e a v i l y u s e d , this Is m o r e l i k e l y to be s o o n e r , than l a t e r . L i g h t r e n o v a t i o n in c o n t r a s t to e x t e n s i v e r e n o v a t i o n implies l i m i t e d w o r k w h i l e l e a v i n g the g o l f c o u r s e In p l a y as the w o r k is a c c o m p l i s h e d . Therefore, t i m i n g b e c o m e s i m p o r t a n t . T h e o b j e c t i v e is to p e r f o r m the w o r k as q u i c k l y as p o s s i b l e a n d w i t h as little I n t e r f e r e n c e of p l a y as p o s s i b l e . T h e time m u s t be c h o s e n w i t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r w e a t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h w o u l d i n f l u e n c e the r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of g r a s s ; a time w h e n l a b o r is a v a i l a b l e ; a time w h e n p l a y is n o t too h e a v y ; and at a time w h e n f u n d s are a v a i l a b l e . T h e r e is w i d e s p r e a d a g r e e m e n t that fall Is the b e s t time to r e n o v a t e c o o l s e a s o n g r a s s e s . S p r i n g is the n e x t b e s t t i m e . G r o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r the r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the g r a s s e s are m o r e f a v o r a b l e In the f a l l . S e e d g e r m i n a t i o n and s e e d l i n g g r o w t h are f a s t e r a n d there is less c h a n c e of w e e d e s t a b l i s h m e n t . A l s O p the c o o l - s e a s o n t u r f g r a s s e s h a v e the a d v a n t a g e o f a m u c h l o n g e r favorable g r o w i n g p e r i o d b e f o r e h a v i n g to m e e t the h o t , u n f a v o r a b l e s u m m e r - g r o w i n g p e r i o d . Fall r e n o v a t i o n u s u a l l y p e r m i t s a m u c h b e t t e r d i s t r i b u t i o n of l a b o r , T h e b e s t time to r e n o v a t e w a r m - s e a s o n g r a s s e s is in the s p r i n g o r e a r l y s u m m e r w h e n the grass grows more vigorously» I m p r o p e r l y t i m e d r e n o v a t i o n f r e q u e n t l y r e s u l t s in w e e d i n v a s i o n , The p e a k Poa a n n u a and c r a b g r a s s g e r m i n a t i o n p e r i o d s s h o u l d be a v o i d e d w h e n possible. Poa a n n u a g e r m i n a t i o n is at a p e a k fn the fall w h e n d a y t i m e soil t e m p e r a t u r e s are less than 80 F and n i g h t t e m p e r a t u r e s are 50 to 70 F . C r a b g r a s s g e n e r a l l y g e r m i n a t e s in the s p r i n g a n y t i m e a f t e r s o i l t e m p e r a t u r e s e x c e e d 65 F . If s p r i n g r e n o v a t i o n is n e c e s s a r y , the r e n o v a t i o n of c o o l - s e a s o n g r a s s e s s h o u l d be done e a r l y e n o u g h to a l l o w the t u r f g r a s s e s to r e c o v e r o r b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d b e f o r e c r a b g r a s s g e r m i n a t i o n b e g i n s in late A p r i l o r e a r l y M a y . P r e e m e r g e n c e h e r b i c i d e s s h o u l d be u s e d to a l l e v i a t e w e e d p r o b l e m s f o l l o w i n g p o o r l y t i m e d o r s p r i n g r e n o v a t i o n of w a r m - s e a s o n g r a s s e s . Siduron is the o n l y h e r b i c i d e that w e k n o w can be u s e d s a f e l y to c o n t r o l c r a b g r a s s at the time of s e e d i n g of c o o l - s e a s o n g r a s s e s , B e n t g r a s s , b e c a u s e it d o e s not r e s p o n d w e l l to c o l d e r w e a t h e r , s h o u l d be r e n o v a t e d as s o o n a f t e r the L a b o r D a y w e e k e n d as p o s s i b l e . T h e t i m i n g of r e n o v a t i o n of K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s turf is less c r i t i c a l b e c a u s e it r e s p o n d s to c o o l t e m p e r a t u r e s b e t t e r and c a n , if p r o p e r l y m a n a g e d , s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p e t e w i t h Poa a n n u a . H o w e v e r » w h e n K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s is m o w e d to 3/*+inch h e i g h t , a n n u a l b l u e g r a s s w i l l p e r s i s t » if e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e g r e a t e s t b u r d e n on the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t f a c e d w i t h a n e e d f o r improvem e n t is the d e c i s i o n of w h e t h e r to r e n o v a t e o r n o t to r e n o v a t e , and the m e t h o d and d e g r e e of r e n o v a t i o n r e q u i r e d to p r o d u c e s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s . D e s p i t e s c i e n t i f i c e f f o r t , the b e s t d e c i s i o n s to these q u e s t i o n s s t i l l l a r g e l y remain a p a r t of the A R T o f t u r f g r a s s m a n a g e m e n t . T h e d e g r e e of r e n o v a t i o n r e q u i r e d is d e t e r m i n e d by the b a s i c c a u s e ( s ) of the d e t e r i o r a t i o n of the turf in the f i r s t p l a c e , If s u r f a c e s o i l c o m p a c t i o n w a s the c a u s e of p o o r t u r f , light r e n o v a t i o n m a y be all that is n e c e s s a r y , If the g r a s s s p e c i e s is u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , then e x t e n s i v e r e n o v a t i o n w o u l d be r e q u i r e d . When d e m a n d f o r use o f the t u r f a r e a is g r e a t , s u c h as on g r e e n s , c o l l a r s , and t e e s , and i m p r o v e m e n t is n e e d e d , light r e n o v a t i o n m a y r e s u l t in s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s t e m p o r a r i l y and m o r e e x t e n s i v e r e n o v a t i o n a c c o m p l i s h e d l a t e r . B e f o r e r e n o v a t i o n the c a u s e o f turf d e t e r i o r a t i o n s h o u l d be d e t e r m i n e d ; w h a t c a u s e d the p o o r turf in the f i r s t p l a c e ? S o m e of the m o s t c o m m o n c a u s e s of t u r f d e t e r i o r a t i o n a r e : a) p o o r m a i n t e n a n c e p r a c t i c e s ; b) injury due to i n s e c t s , d i s e a s e s , and w i n t e r k i l l i n g ; c) improper soil fertility and u n f a v o r a b l e s o i l r e a c t i o n s . O n c e the c a u s e is d e t e r m i n e d , c o r r e c t i v e s t e p s s h o u l d be m a d e b e f o r e r e n o v a t i o n o r d u r i n g r e n o v a t i o n to c o r r e c t the e x i s t i n g p r o b l e m , and then set up the r e q u i r e d m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m to p r e v e n t its r e o c c u r r e n c e . P r a c t i c e s such as f e r t i l i z a t i o n , w a t e r i n g ^ m o w i n g , and c o n t r o l of d i s e a s e s , i n s e c t s , and w e e d s are n o r m a l l y p e r f o r m e d in a r o u t i n e m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m . F a i l u r e to p e r f o r m s a t i s f a c t o r i l y o r a d e q u a t e l y one o r m o r e of these p r a c t i c e s w i l l lead to a d e c l i n e in turf q u a l i t y . If such is a l l o w e d to p e r s i s t , r e n o v a t i o n w i l l e v e n t u a l l y be r e q u i r e d to restore the t u r f . W h e n d i a g n o s i n g t u r f g r a s s d i f f i c u l t i e s , v i s u a l o b s e r v a t i o n s w i l l sometimes d i s c l o s e m a n y o b v i o u s p r o b l e m s , b u t m o r e o f t e n d o n o t reveal the b a s i c c a u s e s of p o o r t u r f . D i s e a s e s and w e e d s m a y not be b a s i c c a u s e s of p o o r turf« T h e y m a y r e s u l t b e c a u s e of p o o r t u r f . T h e y o f t e n come in as the t u r f g r a s s w e a k e n s . A r e n o v a t i o n p r o g r a m m u s t include o t h e r p r a c t i c e s in a d d i t i o n to those that c o n t r o l d i s e a s e s and kill w e e d s . T w o b a s i c r e a s o n s f o r loss of t u r f , e s p e c i a l l y in the M i d - A t l a n t i c R e g i o n , are c o m p a c t i o n of the s o i l and an e x c e s s thatch l a y e r on the s u r f a c e of the s o i l . E i t h e r one o r b o t h of these c o n d i t i o n s can lead to p a r t i a l o r c o m p l e t e loss of t u r f . T h e s e two c o n d i t i o n s , e i t h e r s i n g l y o r in c o m b i n a t i o n p r o d u c e , c o n t r i b u t e t o , o r a g g r a v a t e the m a i n t e n a n c e of g o o d h e a l t h y t u r f . T h i s m a y s o u n d r a t h e r e x a g g e r a t e d , but e v e n a h u r r i e d a n a l y s i s of turf p r o b l e m s o c c u r r i n g f r o m d a y to d a y w i l l p r o v e the s t a t e m e n t c o r r e c t . Thatch o r c o m p a c t i o n w h e n d e v e l o p e d b e y o n d an a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l , i n t e r f e r e s w i t h w a t e r i n g , f e r t i l i z i n g , d i s e a s e and insect c o n t r o l , and m o w i n g . C o m p a c t i o n and t h a t c h b u i l d u p are g r a d u a l d e v e l o p m e n t s ; t h e r e f o r e , if w e can p r e v e n t , c o n t r o l , o r e l i m i n a t e them as t h e y d e v e l o p , w e m i g h t e l i m i n a t e the n e e d f o r r e n o v a t i o n later» S o i 1 C o m p a c t I on T h e a d v e r s e e f f e c t s of s o i l c o m p a c t i o n v s , g o o d p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n of soil as r e l a t e d to p r o p e r d r a i n a g e a n d a e r a t i o n h a v e b e e n e m p h a s i z e d rep e a t e d l y in turf c o n f e r e n c e s , the p r o f e s s i o n a l j o u r n a l s , and trade m a g a z i n e s f o r the p a s t 30 y e a r s , T u r f g r o w n on c o m p a c t e d s o i l s is s h a l l o w r o o t e d and less v i g o r o u s . T o u n d e r s t a n d w h y t h i s Is p e r h a p s it w o u l d be w e l l to r e i t e r a t e some of the p r i n c i p l e s I n v o l v e d . S o i l is c o m p o s e d of s o l i d p a r t i c l e s a n d p o r e s p a c e s . T h e p o r e s p a c e s are f i l l e d w i t h a i r and w a t e r . It is the r e l a t i v e a m o u n t of a i r and w a t e r in pore s p a c e s that is c r i t i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t to g o o d p l a n t g r o w t h . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a i r a n d w a t e r Is d e t e r m i n e d by the s i z e , n u m b e r , and c o n t i n u i t y of p o r e s p r e s e n t , Sn a s o i l w i t h g o o d p h y s i c a l s t r u c t u r e the s m a l l p o r e s a d j a c e n t to the s o i l p a r t i c l e s are s u r r o u n d e d b y a thin film of c a p i l l a r y w a t e r and the r e m a i n i n g l a r g e r p o r e s are f i l l e d w i t h a i r . F o l l o w i n g a rain o r I r r i g a t i o n , w a t e r d r a i n s f r o m the large p o r e s and a i r d i f f u s e s In. T h u s , g o o d d r a i n a g e a n d a e r a t i o n go t o g e t h e r ; t h e y c a n n o t be separated, In a w e l 1 - a g g r e g a t e d s i l t loam s o i l , a f t e r d r a i n a g e to f i e l d c a p a c i t y , the p o r e s p a c e w o u l d c o n t a i n a b o u t 5 0 % w a t e r and 5 0 % a i r . T h e a m o u n t of s p a c e that Is f i l l e d w i t h a i r at a n y one time is ref e r r e d to as the a i r p o r o s i t y . A e r a t i o n , the e x c h a n g e of a i r in the s o i l w i t h that In the a t m o s p h e r e , Is n e c e s s a r y to s u p p l y the p l a n t roots w i t h o x y g e n f o r r e s p i r a t i o n and the r e m o v a l of e x c e s s c a r b o n d i o x i d e and o t h e r p o t e n t i a l l y toxic g a s e s f r o m the s o i l . A e r a t i o n is b r o u g h t a b o u t by d i f f u s i o n . A i r , c o n t a i n i n g o x y g e n , d i f f u s e s t h r o u g h the a i r - f i l l e d p o r e s of the s o i l , o x y g e n d i s s o l v e s In w a t e r and d i f f u s e s t h r o u g h the w a t e r to the r o o t . C a r b o n d i o x i d e , p r o d u c e d by r e s p i r a t i o n , f o l l o w s the same g e n e r a l p r o c e s s o u t o f the s o i l . T h e d i f f u s i o n rate o f o x y g e n t h r o u g h the pore s p a c e s is d i r e c t l y p r o p o r t i o n a l to the f r a c t i o n of s o i l w h i c h is a i r . In o t h e r w o r d s , the g r e a t e r a m o u n t of a i r space» the f a s t e r d i f f u s i o n w i l l be C o m p a c t e d s o i l s d i f f e r f r o m n o n - c o m p a c t e d s o i l s p r i n c i p a l l y in the s i z e , number* a n d a r r a n g e m e n t of p o r e s p a c e , S o i l p a r t i c l e s are c o m p r e s s e d o r s q u e e z e d t o g e t h e r r e d u c i n g the p o r e s p a c e . A s the p a r t i c l e s m o v e , the large p o r e s p a c e s are f i l l e d f i r s t . T h u s the ratio of large p o r e s to s m a l l p o r e s is c h a n g e d , T h i s c h a n g e in r a t i o is i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e the large p o r e s are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r e n t r y of w a t e r and a i r into the s o i l w h i l e the s m a l l p o r e s are m o r e r e l a t e d to the w a t e r h e l d In the s o i l . A s the d e g r e e of c o m p a c t i o n I n c r e a s e s , s o i l a e r a t i o n is d e c r e a s e d I n v e r s e l y to the p o i n t w h e r e r e s p i r a t i o n and root g r o w t h is r e s t r i c t e d . D e a t h o f the root s y s t e m e v e n t u a l l y o c c u r s . S e v e r e l y c o m p a c t e d s o i l s can a l s o m e c h a n i c a l l y Impede root p e n e t r a t i o n t h r o u g h the s o i l . R o o t s n e e d o x y g e n f o r r e s p i r a t i o n . E q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t , t h o u g h perh a p s not so w e l l r e c o g n i z e d , Is that o x y g e n is r e q u i r e d f o r the u p t a k e of m i n e r a l n u t r i e n t s and w a t e r f r o m the s o i l . W i t h o u t the p r e s e n c e of o x y g e n the p l a n t s s u f f e r f r o m m a l n u t r i t i o n o r d e s i c c a t i o n e v e n t h o u g h the soil m a y c o n t a i n s u f f i c i e n t q u a n t i t i e s o f w a t e r and e s s e n t i a l elements for good growth. C o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n e x i s t s in v a l u e s of o x y g e n r e p o r t e d as b e i n g c r i t i c a l f o r the g r o w t h of d i f f e r e n t g r a s s s p e c i e s ; t h u s , no s i n g l e v a l u e can be g i v e n as o p t i m u m o r m i n i m u m , In g e n e r a l , g r a s s e s a p p e a r to be m o r e t o l e r a n t of low o x y g e n l e v e l s than m a n y o t h e r a g r o n o m i c and h o r t i c u l t u r a l c r o p s . T h i s h a s r e s u l t e d In the m i s c o n c e p t i o n that freq u e n t and light I r r i g a t i o n can s u p p l y a s u f f i c i e n t a m o u n t of o x y g e n f o r root g r o w t h . If d r a i n a g e is e x c e l l e n t , as on w e 1 1 - c o n s t r u c t e d s a n d g r e e n s , some of the w a t e r - t o l e r a t i n g g r a s s e s , such as Poa a n n u a and c r e e p i n g b e n t , m a y s u r v i v e on the o x y g e n in fresh w a t e r , H o w e v e r , in m o s t casesp e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g h o t w e a t h e r * the rate o f o x y g e n d i f f u s i o n in w a t e r m a y be I n a d e q u a t e to s u p p l y s u f f i c i e n t q u a n t i t i e s f o r root g r o w t h . O x y g e n d i f f u s e s a b o u t 10*000 times f a s t e r In a i r than in w a t e r . W a t e r m a n a g e m e n t b e c o m e s i m p o s s i b l e o r e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t on c o m p a c t e d s o i l s . W a t e r I n f i l t r a t i o n Is r e d u c e d a n d the a m o u n t of s u r f a c e r u n o f f Is I n c r e a s e d . H i g h a r e a s are u s u a l l y d r y . W a t e r m u s t be a p p l i e d m o r e o f t e n to m e e t the n e e d s o f the t u r f . L o w a r e a s are w e t , w a t e r w i l l n o t go In* roots b e c o m e s h a l l o w , h o t w e a t h e r a r r i v e s , d i s e a s e s f l o u r i s h , and the g r a s s s t a n d Is p a r t i a l l y o r c o m p l e t e l y l o s t . Some of the e f f e c t s of s o i l c o m p a c t i o n are s u m m a r i z e d In the d i a g r a m to fol1ow. SOIL REDUCED: COMPACTION M E C H A N I CAL REDUCED: INFILTRATION 1MPEDENCE AERATION (02) PERCOLATION ROOT GROWTH RESPIRATION WATER-NUTRIENT DRAINAGE UPTAKE INCREASED: INCREASED: CARBON RUN-OFF SHALLOW DIOXIDE ROOTS UNHEALTHY TURF DISEASE + WEEDS RENOVATION S o i l s v a r y g r e a t l y in c o m p a c t i b i I t t y d e p e n d i n g on v a r i o u s s o i l p r o p e r t i e s . S o i l m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t h a s a g r e a t i n f l u e n c e on comp a c t i b i l i t y . W a t e r a c t s as a l u b r i c a n t and a l l o w s the p a r t i c l e s to slide t o g e t h e r m o r e e a s i l y Sn m o i s t s o i l than in d r y s o i l s . Results of s t u d i e s on the e f f e c t s of m o i s t u r e on soil c o m p a c t i b i 1 i t y i n d i c a t e s that c o m p a c t i o n of m o s t s o i l s Is g r e a t e r at f i e l d c a p a c i t y and d e c r e a s e s as m o i s t u r e level d e c r e a s e s a T h e r e f o r e , f r e q u e n t i r r i g a t i o n , o r irrig a t i o n u n d e r a set s c h e d u l e w h i c h k e e p s the s o i l r e l a t i v e l y w e t , w o u l d i ncrease compaction. Soil texture also influences compactibi1ity. Fine-textured soils such as c l a y s are f a r m o r e p r o n e to c o m p a c t i o n than c o a r s e - t e x t u r e d s o i l s . A m u l t i c o m p o n e n t s a n d c o m p o s e d o f s e v e r a l size f r a c t i o n s f a v o r s compaction. Maximum compaction occurs when sizes allow tetrahedral p a c k i n g w i t h f i l m s of c l a y s u r r o u n d i n g all p a r t i c l e s . S o i l m o d i f i c a t i o n w i t h c o a r s e - t e x t u r e d s a n d s o r s i m i l a r c o a r s e m a t e r i a l s such as c a l c i n e d c l a y can reduce the p o t1e1 n t i a l of s o i l c o m p a c t i o n . T h i s is the r e a s o n i n g b e h i n d the " S a n d G r e e n . If w e s u b s t i t u t e f o r a soil a c a r e f u l ly s i z e d s a n d , c o m p a c t i o n is r e d u c e d to a m i n i m u m and the large p a r t i c l e s p r o v i d e f o r the large p o r e s n e c e s s a r y f o r a e r a t i o n . If i r r i g a t i o n is a v a i l a b l e , the low w a t e r - h o l d i n g c a p a c i t y o f s a n d s can be o v e r c o m e . T o d a y , this is the b e s t a n s w e r w e h a v e to c o m p a c t i o n f o r s p e c i a l i z e d a r e a s i n c l u d i n g g r e e n s . On l a r g e r t u r f e d a r e a s it is not a s u i t a b l e a n s w e r f o r e c o n o m i c a l reasons. S o i l c o m p a c t i o n on g o l f c o u r s e s r e s u l t s f r o m t r a f f i c of p l a y e r s and the o p e r a t i o n o f m a i n t e n a n c e m a c h i n e r y . C o m p a c t i o n d e v e l o p e s g r a d u a l l y u n t i l it r e a c h e s a d e t r i m e n t a l l e v e l , T h e rate of d e v e l o p m e n t is d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to the a m o u n t and i n t e n s i t y of t r a f f i c . If s t e p s are taken to p r e v e n t o r e l i m i n a t e c o m p a c t i o n as It b u i l d s u p , then p e r h a p s the n e e d f o r e x t e n s i v e r e n o v a t i o n l a t e r c o u l d be p r e v e n t e d . W h a t are some o f the m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s w h i c h w i l l p r e v e n t o r minimize compaction? S o i l m o d i f i c a t i o n and w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t h a v e a l r e a d y Aerification, been m e n t i o n e d as f a c t o r s w h i c h i n f l u e n c e c o m p a c t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y coring* Is a v e r y e f f e c t i v e p r a c t i c e to c o n t r o l o r r e l i e v e c o m p a c t i o n w h e n p e r f o r m e d at a d e q u a t e i n t e r v a l s and I n t e n s i t y . Most s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s are a l r e a d y c a r r y i n g o u t a e r i f i c a t i o n on a c o n t i n u i n g b a s i s but in m a n y c a s e s the i n t e n s i t y and f r e q u e n c y are i n a d e q u a t e to p r e v e n t a s e r i o u s s i t u a t i o n from d e v e l o p i n g . T h e f r e q u e n c y at w h i c h d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f the g o l f c o u r s e s h o u l d be a e r i f i e d can p r o b a b l y b e s t be g o v e r n e d by the r e l a t i v e a m o u n t of t r a f f i c on e a c h a r e a . On h i g h l y t r a f f l c e d a r e a s m o n t h l y a e r i f i c a t i o n m a y be n e c e s s a r y . A c o u p l e o f times a y e a r m a y be a d e q u a t e f o r a r e a s o f little o r no t r a f f i c . A r e a s a r o u n d the c l u b h o u s e * o r a p p r o a c h e s to g r e e n s and tees s h o u l d be the m o s t f r e q u e n t l y a e r i f i e d p a r t s of the g o l f c o u r s e . Tees and g r e e n s w o u l d p r o b a b l y be the next* f o l l o w e d by f a i r w a y s . Aerification can be p e r f o r m e d at m o s t any time of the y e a r . H o w e v e r , I w o u l d a v o i d a e r i f y i n g w h e n the soil Is v e r y w e t o r v e r y d r y , T r a f f i c c o n t r o l Is an I m p o r t a n t f a c t o r in m i n i m i z i n g s o i l c o m p a c t i o n . T r a f f i c s h o u l d be h e l d to a m i n i m u m on w e t s o i l s , and If p o s s i b l e , m e a s u r e s s h o u l d be taken to p r e v e n t t r a f f i c f r o m b e i n g c o n c e n t r a t e d in one a r e a . T r a f f i c can be d i r e c t e d o u t of w e t a r e a s o r d i v e r t e d a r o u n d e x c e s s i v e l y u s e d a r e a s t h r o u g h the p r o p e r p l a c e m e n t of t r e e s , shrubs* t r a p s , w a l k s , and t e m p o r a r i l y w l t h f e n c e s , chains* posts* a n d s i m i l a r o b j e c t s . Cup s e t t i n g l o c a t i o n s on g r e e n s c a n be p l a n n e d so that the e x i t and e n t r a n c e p a t t e r n s to the g r e e n s are v a r i e d . O p e r a t i n g e q u i p m e n t In the same w h e e l t r a c k s i n t e n s i f i e s c o m p a c t i o n . G o l f carts* If not kept on p a t h s , can c a u s e s e v e r e c o m p a c t i o n . D u r i n g the s p r i n g t h a w w h e n the top inch o r so of soil h a s t h a w e d , c o m p a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l is g r e a t l y I n c r e a s e d , D u r i n g this p e r i o d t r a f f i c s h o u l d be c o n t r o l l e d to a v e r y m i n i m u m o r the c o u r s e c l o s e d . Thatch T h a t c h , as w e k n o w It* is a t i g h t l y i n t e r m i n g l e d l a y e r of living and d e a d s t e m s , leaves* roots* and s t o l o n s of g r a s s w h i c h d e v e l o p b e t w e e n the l a y e r of g r e e n v e g e t a t i o n and the s o i l s u r f a c e . B a s i c a l l y * thatch is a c r o p residue p r o b l e m and w i l l b u i l d up any time the rate of p r o d u c t i o n of p l a n t m a t e r i a l e x c e e d s the rate of d e c o m p o s i t i o n . Some of the t h i n g s u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e x c e s s i v e t h a t c h b u i l d u p are d r y spots* s p o t t e d a p p e a r a n c e s - - s h a d e s o f light and d a r k green* f o o t p r i n t i n g * p o o r response to f e r t i l i z e r s * and a s e r i e s of d i s e a s e a n d Insect p r o b l e m s . A l i m i t e d a m o u n t o f t h a t c h is u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d d e s i r a b l e b e c a u s e it p r o v i d e s some r e s i l i e n c e to the t u r f ; protects c r o w n t i s s u e s f r o m f r o s t damage; dissipates soil compaction f o r c e s , increases w e a r tolerance, r e l e a s e s some n u t r i e n t s , c o n s e r v e s m o i s t u r e , and b u f f e r s the soil a g a i n s t e x t r e m e s in a i r t e m p e r a t u r e » It a l s o r e d u c e s w e e d i n f e s t a t i o n b e c a u s e the t h a t c h l a y e r is n o t f a v o r a b l e f o r s e e d g e r m i n a t i o n , A thin l a y e r of t h a t c h on a g o l f c o u r s e p u t t i n g g r e e n p r o d u c e s a b e t t e r p u t t i n g s u r f a c e and h e l p s to h o l d s h o t s . W e d o n ' t h a v e to be c o n c e r n e d w i t h n o t h a v i n g e n o u g h thatch. It is a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to g r o w a turf c o m p l e t e l y free of t h a t c h . When thatch accumulation becomes e x c e s s i v e , i.e., over approximately 1 / 4 - i n c h on g r e e n s and 1 / 2 - i n c h on h i g h e r m o w e d t u r f , it b e c o m e s u n d e s i r a b l e . E x c e s s i v e t h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n i n t e r c e p t s and r e t a r d s the d o w n w a r d m o v e m e n t o f f e r t i 1 i z e r s and p e s t i c i d e s . T h e i n t e r c e p t i o n of n u t r i e n t e l e m e n t s o f t e n r e s u l t s in e r r a t i c r e s p o n s e to f e r t i l i z a t i o n , T h a t c h p r o v i d e s an e x c e l l e n t h a b i t a t f o r turf d i s e a s e s and i n s e c t s and r e d u c e s the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of f u n g i c i d e s and i n s e c t i c i d e s ; thus p e s t c o n t r o l b e c o m e s m o r e d i f f i c u l t . H e a v i l y t h a t c h e d t u r f t u r n s b r o w n q u i c k e r f o l l o w i n g c o l d w e a t h e r , and r e m a i n s b r o w n l o n g e r than t h i n n e r turf due to the i n s u l a t i n g e f f e c t of thatch. T h a t c h r e s t r i c t s the m o v e m e n t o f w a t e r a n d a i r to the s o i l . W h e n it b e c o m e s d r y , it's h y d r o p h o b i c a n d s h e d s w a t e r c a u s i n g d r y s p o t s and u n e v e n turf g r o w t h . S a t u r a t e d t h a t c h is s l o w to d r y , thus e n h a n c i n g d i s e a s e p r o b l e m s . T u r f g r a s s roots g r o w on the s o i l s u r f a c e o r in the t h a t c h l a y e r itself b e c a u s e this is w h e r e the n u t r i e n t s and m o i s t u r e are l o c a t e d . Thatch interfers with overseeding. If o v e r s e e d i n g is d e s i r e d , t h a t c h m u s t be r e m o v e d to a l l o w c o n t a c t of the s e e d w i t h s o i l f o r g o o d g e r m i n a t i o n . T h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n e v e n t u a l l y r e s u l t s in f l u f f y , s p o n g y , u n e v e n t u r f that is d i f f i c u l t to m o w w i t h o u t s c a l p i n g * T h e o v e r a l l e f f e c t of t h a t c h b u i l d u p is a turf low in v i g o r , e a s i l y s u b j e c t to d r o u g h t , and o f t e n i n f e s t e d b y d i s e a s e and o t h e r p e s t s . The w e a k e n e d t u r f g r a s s p l a n t Is e a s i l y i n j u r e d b y any s t r e s s c o n d i t i o n w h i c h m a y d e v e l o p as a r e s u l t of a d v e r s e e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s . So if w e are g o i n g to p r o d u c e h i g h q u a l i t y t u r f w i t h a m i n i m u m o f e f f o r t and exp e n s e , w e m u s t be a l e r t to p o t e n t i a l t h a t c h r e l a t e d p r o b l e m s a n d c o n s i d e r the e f f e c t s that a n y m a n g e m e n t p r a c t i c e m a y h a v e on t h a t c h b u i l d u p . T h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n is a f f e c t e d b y m a n y f a c t o r s all o p e r a t i n g simultaneously. S o m e of these f a c t o r s are u n d e r the turf m a n a g e r ' s c o n t r o l , o t h e r s such as t e m p e r a t u r e are n o t , A n y c o n d i t i o n that u p s e t s the o r g a n i c m a t t e r p r o d u c t i o n - d e c o m p o s i t i o n b a l a n c e f a v o r s t h a t c h d e v e l o p m e n t . T h u s , a n y t h i n g t h a t I n c r e a s e s v e g e t a t i v e p r o d u c t i o n and s u b d e q u e n t d e a t h o f p l a n t p a r t s , o r a n y t h i n g t h a t s l o w s d o w n the rate of d e c o m p o s i t i o n favors thatch a c c u m u l a t i o n . Let us take a look at s o m e of the f a c t o r s u s u a l 1 y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h excessive thatch accumulation. E x c e s s i v e rates o f f e r t i l i z a t i o n p r o d u c e more dry weight which m u s t decay or produce thatch. A fertilization p r o g r a m that r e l e a s e s n u t r i e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y n i t r o g e n , at a rate that r e s u l t s in g o o d but n o t e x c e s s ive ~ g r o w t h a i d s in p r e v e n t i n g t h a t c h b u i l d u p . H i g h and i n f r e q u e n t m o w i n g , e s p e c i a l l y of s t o l o n i f e r o u s g r a s s e s , s u c h as b e r m u d a and z o y s i a , f a v o r t h a t c h b u i l d u p . If the c r e e p i n g bentg r a s s e s are not m o w e d s h o r t e n o u g h they f o r m t h a t c h r a p i d l y , S o m e o f the n e w e r v i g o r o u s turf v a r i e t i e s of h i g h d e n s i t y are b e l i e v e d to c o n t r i b u t e to the t h a t c h p r o b l e m . Therefore, M i c r o o r g a n i s m s that d e c a y o r g a n i c m a t t e r m u s t h a v e o x y g e n . thatch a c c u m u l a t i o n w o u l d be e n h a n c e d by p o o r s o i l a e r a t i o n r e s u l t i n g frOjTi e x c e s s i v e a p p l i c a t i o n s of w a t e r , p o o r d r a i n a g e o r f r o m s o i l c o m p a c t i o n . A l s o , the m i c r o o r g a n i s m s r e q u i r e n e a r n e u t r a l c o n d i t i o n s . S o a c i d s o i l s , o r t h a t c h l a y e r s that are a c i d , m a y e n h a n c e t h a t c h i n g . T h e use of c e r t a i n pesticides that destroy microorganisms have been reported associated with t h a t c h b u i l d u p . C h l o r d a n e , d i e l d r i n , and t r i c a l c i u m a r s e n a t e are three such m a t e r i a l s . If t h a t c h a c c u m u l a t e s r a p i d l y the turf m a n a g e r s h o u l d r e v i e w t h e s e f a c t o r s to see w h i c h m a y be c a u s i n g the t h a t c h to a c c u m u l a t e . H e s h o u l d c h a n g e those¡ p r a c t i c e s o v e r w h i c h he has c o n t r o l to s l o w the rate of a c c u m u l a t i o n and i n c o r p o r a t e p r e v e n t i v e t h a t c h p r a c t i c e s into the turfg r a s s m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m , A l t h o u g h t h a t c h m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s such as c u l t i v a t i o n and t o p d r e s s i n g are a n e c e s s a r y p a r t o f e v e r y t u r f g r a s s m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m , I f e e l that u n d e r m a n y c o n d i t i o n s the m o d i f i c a t i o n of n u t r i t i o n , m o w i n g , and i r r i g a t i o n p r o g r a m s , w i l l reduce the f r e q u e n c y at w h i c h these p r a c t i c e s are n e c e s s a r y . O n c e t h a t c h h a s a c c u m u l a t e d to a d e t r i m e n t a l l e v e l , it t a k e s p r e t t y d r a s t i c s t e p s to remove it. Curative p r a c t i c e s are e x p e n s i v e , t i m e - c o n s u m i n g , arid e x t e n s i v e injury to the e x i s t i n g turf w i l l l i k e l y r e s u l t . F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s , the t u r f m a n a g e r s h o u l d t h i n k in t e r m s of t h a t c h p r e v e n t i o n o r c o n t r o l a n d n o t t h a t c h eradication. T h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e and d e s i r a b l e c o n t r o l p r a c t i c e s h a v e b e e n those t h a t e n c o u r a g e m i c r o b i a l d e c o m p o s i t i o n , T h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e m e a n s to a c c o m p l i s h this is to get s o i l in c o n t a c t w i t h the t h a t c h l a y e r . On c l o s e l y m o w e d t u r f s , such as g r e e n s , t o p d r e s s i n g w i t h a s o i l m i x t u r e , o r t o p d r e s s i n g c o m b i n e d w i t h c o r i n g , is g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d the m o s t e f f e c t i v e in e n c o u r a g i n g t h a t c h d e c o m p o s i t i o n , M o s t s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s h a v e b e e n d o i n g t h i s f o r y e a r s . H o w e v e r ^ t o p d r e s s i n g is e x p e n s i v e a n d g o o d m a t e r i a l s are h a r d to locate so it is u s u a l l y p r a c t i c e d o n l y on s m a l l a r e a s like g r e e n s . On l a r g e r a r e a s t h a t c h can be c o n t r o l l e d to v a r y i n g d e g r e e s by a e r i f i c a t i o n ( c o r i n g ) , s p i k i n g , s l i c i n g , a n d v e r t i c a l m o w i n g , o r c o m b i n a t i o n s of t h e s e , C o r i n g h a s b e e n m o r e e f f e c t i v e w h e r e the c o r e s are n o t r e m o v e d a n d the s o i l f r o m them w o r k e d b a c k into the t h a t c h . I w o u l d like to b r i e f l y r e p o r t r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from a t h a t c h s t u d y s t a r t e d by D r . J u s k a a t Be í t s v i lie in ,1963. A l t h o u g h this s t u d y w a s o r i e n t e d t o w a r d the h o m e o w n e r o r h o m e lawn c o n d i t i o n s / I e x p e c t the r e s u l t s w o u l d be a p p l i c a b l e u n d e r some c o n d i t i o n s f o u n d on the g o l f c o u r s e as w e l l . T h e o b j e c t i v e of this s t u d y w a s to d e t e r m i n e the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of s e v e r a l m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s a l o n e , a n d In v a r i o u s c o m b i n a t i o n s , on p r e v e n t i n g t h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n in K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s . T h e three s e t s of t r e a t m e n t s a r r a n g e d In a spl1t.-split p l o t design were: A: B: C: Whole-plot treatments 1) c l i p p i n g s r e m o v e d 2) c l i p p i n g s n o t r e m o v e d Sub-plot treatments 1) lime a p p l i e d to m a i n t a i n pH 7 «4 2) lime a p p l i e d In s p r i n g a n d f a l l - 1 0 - 1 5 l b / 1 0 0 0 f t of a g r i c u l t u r a l l i m e s t o n e (pH 6 . 8 ) 3 ) c h e c k - n o lime a p p l i e d (pH Sub-sub-plot treatments 1) a e r i f i e d ( c o r i n g ) - r e m o v i n g 3 / 8 inch c o r e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 i n c h e s d e e p on a 2 - I n c h c e n t e r s « C o r e s w e r e b r o k e n up w i t h a v e r t i c u t m a c h i n e a n d l e f t on the ploto 2 ) v e r t Icut - u s i n g a v e r t i c a l m o w e r w i t h b l a d e s s p a c e d I Inch a p a r t to m e c h a n ¡ c a l iy r e m o v e t h a t c h . T h á t c h b r o u g h t tx> s u r f a c e w a s r a k e d f r o m the p l o t s e 3) h a n d r a k l n g - u s i n g h a n d t h a t c h r a k e s w h i c h are u s e d f r e q u e n t l y on h o m e 1 awns« k ) w e t t i n g a g e n t Í A q u a - G r o ) - a p p l i e d at 8 o z . o f A . I . írv 10 g a l water/1000 ft. . 2 5 ) a d d i t i o n s of o r g a n i c m a t t e r ( m l l o r g a n l t e ) - at 5 l b / 1 0 0 0 ft . 6) check - no treatment S u b - s u b - p l o t t r e a t m e n t s , e x c e p t the w e t t i n g a g e n t , w e r e a p p l i e d twice a year: In the s p r i n g , the last o f M a r c h o r f i r s t of A p r i l , and in the fallo the f i r s t o f O c t o b e r . A p p l i c a t i o n s of the w e t t i n g a g e n t w e r e m a d e f o u r t i m e s a y e a r - - t h e f i r s t o f A p r i l , J u n e , A u g u s t , and O c t o b e r * U n i f o r m f e r t i l i z a t i o n , I r r i g a t i o n , and h e i g h t o f m o w i n g w e r e a p p l i e d as to a l l plots« A m m o n i u m n i t r a t e w a s a p p l i e d at 1 lb o f N / 1 0 0 0 ft n e e d e d to m a i n t a i n a m o d e r a t e g r o w t h r a t e . T h i s r e s u l t e d in the a p p l i c a t i o n o f k to 5 p o u n d s a n n u a l l y « P h o s p h o r u s and p o t a s s i u m w a s a d d e d a c c o r d i n g to soil test recommendations. P l o t s w e r e m o w e d o n c e a w e e k at 2 - 1 / 4 I n c h e s . T h e a r e a w a s I r r i g a t e d two to f o u r times e a c h y e a r u n t i l 1973» The summer a n d f a l l o f .1973 w e r e d r i e r than n o r m a l a n d w a t e r w a s a p p l ied five t i m e s . T h a t c h m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e m a d e in D e c e m b e r o r J a n u a r y e a c h year« T h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n I n c r e a s e d f r o m y e a r to y e a r f o r the f i r s t 5 y e a r s o f the s t u d y , b u t a c c u m u l a t i o n w a s n o t e x c e s s i v e on a n y p l o t s a n d t h e r e w a s no--significant -difference a m o n g t h e t r e a t m e n t s o r b e t w e e n a n y t r e a t s m e n t a n d the c h e c k . T h a t c h Is u s u a l l y n o t a p r o b l e m In K e n t u c k y b i u e g r a s s t u r f u n t i l 3 to 4 y e a r s a f t e r s e e d i n g * T h e l a s t k .years 9 c e r t a i n t r e a t m e n t s h a v e r e s u l t e d In s o m e w h a t s t a b l e t h a t c h l e v e l s a n d d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n treatments have been significante P e r m i t t i n g , c l I p p i n g s to r e m a i n on t u r f c o n t r i b u t e d .to t h a t U r b u i l d u p on a l l p l o t s the l a s t - 3 y e a r s e x c e p t t h o s e t h a t w e r e . a e r i f i e d o r v e r t i c u t . T h e r e s e e m s to be a c r i t i c a l t h a t c h level a t w h i c h c l i p p i n g s d o n o t d e c a y v e r y r a p i d l y and' b e c o m e a c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r to t h a t c h b u l l d u p 9 The c r i t i c a l l e v e l In this s t u d y w a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 / 2 Inch* A t this level curative m e a s u r e s become n e c e s s a r y . Below this l e v e l , clippings e i t h e r c o m e in c o n t a c t w i t h the s o i l , o r t h e y are c l o s e to the s o i l , in'an e n v i r o n m e n t c o n d u c i v e to m i c r o b i a l d e c a y a n d c o n t r i b u t e v e r y l i t t l e to the t h a t c h l a y e r 0 T u r f q u a l i t y w a s I n c r e a s e d b y l e a v i n g c l i p p i n g s on t h e p l o t s , especially during high temperature and moisture stress periods« T h i s is. ' p r o b a b l y d u e to the p l a n t m a t e r i a l a c t i n g s o m e w h a t as a b u f f e r a g a i n s t soil temperature buildup and moisture c o n s e r v a t i o n . A d d e d nutrients from decay m à ^ have also been a contributing factor. M a i n t a i n i n g a pH .7 a n d b i a n n u a l lime a p p l i c a t i o n s ( a v . s o i l p H 6 o O ) s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d t h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n w h e n c o m p a r e d with- the c h e c k w i t h an a v e r a g e pH o f 5 o k 0 The smallest amount of thatch buildup w a s on p l o t s r e c e i v i n g lime t w i c e a y e a r . T h i s I n d i c a t e s the i m p o r t a n c e o f m a i n t a i n i n g f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the m i c r o o r g a n i s m s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e ~ composition T u r f q u a l i ty was. i n c r e a s e d a n d l e a f s p o t a n d s n o w m o l d w e r e reduced by maintaining a favorable p H . In 1970 a e r i f i c a t i o n ' s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d t h a t c h w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e c h e c k , a n d In 1971 a n d 1972 a e r i f i c a t i o n , v e r t i c u t t i n g , a n d h a n d r a k i n g r e d u c e d t h a t c h . T h e use o f a w e t t i n g a g e n t w a s n o t e f f e c t i v e in r e d u c i n g tfeat^h d u r i n g a n y s a m p l i n g y e a r , a n d the a d d i t i o n o r o r g a n i c m a t t e r as Biiìorganlte i n c r e a s e d t h a t c h f o r m a t i o n In 1970 a n d 1972N o w , if w e a v e r a g e the last 3 y e a r s , a e r i f i c a t i o n r e s u l t e d in the l e a s t amount, o f t h a t c h followed by verjicuttlng and handraklng* The prevention of thatch accumul a t i o n on p l o t s a e r i f i e d is p r o b a b l y the r e s u l t o f i n c r e a s i n g f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r m i c r o o r g a n i s m s . T h e t h e o r y b e h i n d the u s e of a w e t t i n g a g e n t o's t h a t it r e d u c e s the s u r f a c e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n thatfch a n d w a t e r , thus a l l o w i n g the t h a t c h to b e c o m e w e t q u i c k e r a n d :tfte.rftA$e/• d e c o m p o s i t i o n . B u t r the t h a t c h n o t o n l y w e t s quicker,;> it a l s o d r i e s quicker. It os b e l i e v e d this f r e q u e n t w e t t i n g a n d d r y i n g I n t e r r u p t s t h e d e c a y i n g p r o c e s s . T h e I n c r e a s e in t h a t c h f o r m a t i o n osi p l o t s r e c e i v i n g mi.lorganite m i g h t be e x p l a i n e d b y the g r e a t e r t o t a l -growth o f the t u r f , a l t h o u g h the a d d e d o r g a n i c m a t t e r I t s e l f m a y h a v e b e e n r e s p o n s i b l e to s o m e extent. T h e b e s t c o m b i n a t i o n o f t r e a t m e n t s in this s t u d y w a s liming twice a y e a r and a e r i f i c a t i o n , a l t h o u g h an e x c e s s i v e level of t h a t c h b u i l d u p w a s p r e v e n t e d by v e r t i c a l m o w i n g o r h a n d r a k i n g to remove the t h a t c h . T h e r e are so m a n y v a r i a b l e f a c t o r s that I n f l u e n c e t h a t c h a c c u m u l a t i o n that it is i m p o s s i b l e to d e s i g n a p r o g r a m of t h a t c h p r e v e n t i o n f o r all t u r f g r a s s a r e a s , Practices w h i c h are e f f e c t i v e on one a r e a m a y n o t be e f f e c t i v e on an a d j a c e n t areao Each turf m a n a g e r m u s t a d j u s t h i s p r o g r a m to u t i l i z e the p r a c t i c e s w h i c h b e s t fit his p a r t i c u l a r set of c i r c u m s t a n c e s . RENOVATION CHEMICALS J o h n C* H a r p e r II Professor, Agronomy Extension The Pennsylvania State University W e b s t e r d e f i n e s r e n o v a t e as " t o m a k e n e w . to renew^ m a k e o v e r o r repair., to r e s t o r e to l i f e P v i g o r o r a c t i v i t y " , T h e c h o i c e of t u r f g r a s s r e n o v a t i o n c h e m i c a l s w i l l be p r i m a r i l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n the d e g r e e of r e n o v a t i o n to be u n d e r t a k e n and the s p e c i e s of g r a s s and w e e d s i n v o l v e d . R e n o v a t i o n can v a r y from a m i n i m u m of s e l e c t e d w e e d c o n t r o l of a few s p e c i e s in an e s t a b l i s h e d turf of d e s i r a b l e s p e c i e s to a m a x i m u m of c o m p l e t e v e g e t a t i o n c o n t r o l f o l l o w e d by e s t a b l i s h m e n t of d e s i r a b l e g r a s s e s t h r o u g h r e s e e d i n g . In the c a t e g o r y o f m i n i m u m r e n o v a t i o n t h r o u g h the e l i m i n a t i o n of a l i m i t e d n u m b e r of b r o a d l e a f w e e d s 2,.4-D;, M C P P and d i c a m b a are u s e f u l tools e i t h e r a l o n e o r in c o m b i n a t i o n s . H o w e v e r » if o v e r s e e d m g is to f o l l o w w e e d c o n t r o l the u s e of MCPP or a 2,4-D - MCPP combination will require c o n s i d e r a b l e less w a i t i n g time p r i o r to r e s e e d i n g than w i l l d i c a m b a o r dicamba combination applications» T h e c h o i c e of m a t e r i a l a g a i n w i l l be p r i m a r i l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n the w e e d s p e c i e s i n v o l v e d a l t h o u g h the d e s i r a b l e g r a s s s p e c i e s p r e s e n t m u s t a l s o be taken into c o n s i d e r a t i o n * If 2 , 4 - D a l o n e w i l l c o n t r o l all w e e d p r o b l e m s in a g i v e n s i t u a t i o n it c e r t a i n l y w o u l d be the m a t e r i a l to use» If c l o v e r , k n o t w e e d , c h i c k w e e d , o r s i m i l a r w e e d s are the p r o b l e m it w i l l be n e c e s s a r y to use M C P P » d i c a m b a o r 2 , 4 - D - M C P P , o r 2 3 4 - D - dicamba combination for adequate control» N o n e of these m a t e r i a l s w i l l g i v e c o n t r o l of a n y g r a s s w e e d s . T o m o s t of us the t e r m r e n o v a t i o n p r o b a b l y is m o r e c o m m o n l y c o n s i d e r e d as the e l i m i n a t i o n of all v e g e t a t i o n in the t r e a t e d a r e a f o l l o w e d by reestablishment» A t the p r e s e n t time t h e r e are a n u m b e r of m a t e r i a l s t h a t are b e i n g u s e d f o r this p u r p o s e a l t h o u g h s o m e o f t h e m are s t i l l EPA l a b e l l e d f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l use only» P a r a q u a t is f o r m u l a t e d as a w a t e r soluble;, d i c h l o r ube sal t of b i p y r i d i n i u m containing 2 pounds active ingredient per gallon. It is a n o n - v o l a t i l e m a t e r i a l w i t h s o m e f o r m u l a t i o n s c o r r o s i v e to a l u m i n u m and g a l v a n i z e d s t e e l b u t n o n - c o r r o s i v e to m i l d s t e e l a n d s t a i n l e s s ^ s t e e 1 » P a r a q u a t h a s an L D 5 0 o f 150 m i l l i g r a m s p e r k i l o g r a m f o r rats a n d m u s t be h a n d l e d w i t h e x t r e m e p r e c a u t i o n » (LD50 is the n u m b e r of m i l l i g r a m s req u i r e d p e r k i l o g r a m o f b o d y w e i g h t b y o r a l i n g e s t i o n to kill 5 0 % of a g i v e n rat p o p u l a t i o n ) » It c a n be h a r m f u l if i n h a l e d o r a b s o r b e d t h r o u g h the s k i n . O r a l i n g e s t i o n m a y be fatal» A f a c e s h i e l d , r u b b e r g l o v e s and w a t e r p r o o f c l o t h i n g s h o u l d be w o r n w h e n u s i n g P a r a q u a t » P a r a q u a t is a c o n t a c t h e r b i c i d e t h a t is q u i c k l y a b s o r b e d b y the a b o v e g r o u n d p a r t s of the p l a n t s » U p t a k e b y the p l a n t h a s b e e n d e t e c t e d w i t h i n 30 s e c o n d s o f a p p l i c a t i o n o T h i s r a p i d u p t a k e m i n i m i z e s the e f f e c t of r a i n f a l l f o l l o w i n g a p p l i c a t i o n . U n d e r s u n n y , w a r m c o n d i t i o n s d i s c o l o r a t i o n of the p l a n t tissue c a n be o b s e r v e d w i t h i n 2 h o u r s w i t h s e v e r e w i l t i n g o c c u r r i n g In 24 to 4 8 h o u r s . P a r a q u a t Is p r e s e n t l y r e g i s t e r e d f o r use on n o n - c r o p a r e a s . W h e n u s e d on the g o l f c o u r s e it s h o u l d be k e p t In m i n d t h a t this m a t e r i a l Is t o x i c to m a n y types of w i l d l i f e , e s p e c i a l l y b i r d s , a n d , t h e r e f o r e , s h o u l d not be u s e d w h e n w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s f a v o r d r i f t into w o o d e d o r n o n - u s e a r e a s . P a r a q u a t Is a b s o r b e d I m m e d i a t e l y on c o n t a c t w i t h the s o i l a n d , t h e r e f o r e , Is I n a c t i v a t e d p e r m i t t i n g i m m e d i a t e r e s e e d l n g o f the t r e a t e d a r e a . It is a c a t i o n l c m a t e r i a l and s h o u l d not be m i x e d w i t h a n i o n i c w e t t i n g a g e n t s , l i q u i d f e r t i l l z e r s 'or s I m i 1 a r m a t e r I a l s as t i e - u p o r p r e c i p i t a t i o n m a y o c c u r . P a r a q u a t w i l l give g o o d c o n t r o l of c h i c k w e e d , k n o t w e e d , 1 a m b s q u a r t e r s , p i g w e e d , p u r s l a n e , red c l o v e r , s h e p e r d s p u r s e u , t h i s t l e , w i l d m u s t a r d , b l u e g r a s s e s , c r a b g r a s s , and some b e n t g r a s s e s . It d o e s n o t g i v e e f f e c t i v e kill of d a n d e l i o n , p l a n t a i n s , o r w h i t e c l o v e r . W h e n t h e s e w e e d s are p r e s e n t an a p p l i c a t i o n o f a t r a n s l o c a t e d m a t e r i a l s u c h as 2 , 4 ~ D , M C P P o r d l c a m b a ( d e p e n d i n g on the s p e c i f i c b r o a d l e a f p r o b l e m ) s h o u l d be m a d e s e v e r a l d a y s p r i o r to the P a r a q u a t a p p l i c a t i o n . G r a s s e s such as J o h n s o n g r a s s and B e r m u d a g r a s s w i l l be t o p - k i l l e d and s u p p r e s s e d b u t w i l l r e c o v e r . P a r a q u a t is m o s t e f f e c t i v e on I m m a t u r e w e e d s . C o n t r o l e f f e c t i v e n e s s d e c r e a s e s w i t h w e e d maturIty. A rate o f 2 p o u n d s a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre is r e c o m m e n d e d w h e n c o m p l e t e kill (of those w e e d s P a r a q u a t w i l l c o n t r o l ) Is d e s i r e d . In s o m e c a s e s it m a y be d e s i r a b l e to s u p p r e s s b u t n o t kill t u r f g r a s s e s in o r d e r to I n t r o d u c e n e w v a r i e t i e s o r s p e c i e s of g r a s s Into the a r e a . S p r i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s o f 0 . 2 4 to 0.5 p o u n d a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r a c r e , f o r e x a m p l e , w i l l p r o v i d e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 30 d a y s s u p p r e s s i o n of 7 5 % o f the K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s p o p u l a t i o n , 1 p o u n d a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r acre w i l l s u p p r e s s 9 5 % o f the K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s f o r the same p e r i o d . F a l l a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r s u p p r e s s i o n s h o u l d be r e d u c e d to 1/4 p o u n d a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r a c r e . A p p a r e n t l y f a l l a p p l i c a t i o n s w i l l w e a k e n the K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s m a k i n g it m o r e s u s c e p t i b l e to w i n t e r k i l l . R o u n d u p , c o m m o n l y k n o w n as g l y p h o s a t e , Is a w a t e r s o l u b l e f o r m u l a t i o n of the I s o p r o p y l a m i n e s a l t of N - p h o s p h o n o m e t h y l g l y c i n e . G l y p h o s a t e f o r turf r e n o v a t i o n w o r k Is a v a i l a b l e o n l y u n d e r e x p e r i m e n t a l l a b e l . F o r m u l a t i o n s u s e d f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l p u r p o s e s c o n t a i n 3 p o u n d s a c i d e q u i v a l e n t p e r gal I o n . It is r e c o m m e n d e d f o r p o s t e m e r g e n c e c o n t r o l of m a n y a n n u a l a n d p e r e n n i a l g r a s s e s and broadleaf weeds. G l y p h o s a t e Is c l a s s i f i e d as s l i g h t l y t o x i c by o r a l i n g e s t i o n w i t h an L D 5 0 of 4 3 2 0 m i l l i g r a m s p e r k i l o g r a m . In c o m p a r i s o n P a r a q u a t h a s an L D 5 0 of 150 m i l l i g r a m s p e r k i l o g r a m . A l t h o u g h g l y p h o s a t e p r o d u c e s no a p p a r e n t skin i r r i t a t i o n to h u m a n s It is a s e v e r e eye I r r i t a n t to s o m e a n i m a l s and c o n s e q u e n t l y g o g g l e s s h o u l d be w o r n for e y e p r o t e c t i o n w h e n u s i n g this m a t e r i a l . G l y p h o s a t e is t r a n s l o c a t e d f r o m v e g e t a t i v e p a r t s to the roots o r r h i z o m e s of m o s t p e r e n n i a l w e e d s . D r . R a y F r e e b o r g , P u r d u e U n i v e r s i t y , r e p o r t s that g l y p h o s a t e w a s f o u n d in the roots a n d r h i z o m e s of q u a c k g r a s s w i t h i n 4 8 h o u r s following applicationo T h e a p p e a r a n c e of v i s u a l e f f e c t s o f h e r b i c i d e a c t i v i t y m a y range f r o m two to f o u r d a y s f o r a n n u a l w e e d s a n d up to ten d a y s o r l o n g e r f o r p e r e n n i a l w e e d s . H e r b i c i d a l a c t i v i t y is f i r s t o b s e r v e d as a g r a d u a l w i l t i n g and o v e r a l l y e l l o w i n g of the p l a n t f o l l o w e d b y c o m p l e t e b r o w i n g and d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f the p l a n t t i s s u e . R a i n f a l l o c c u r r i n g w i t h i n s i x h o u r s of a p p l i c a t i o n m a y r e d u c e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of the m a t e r i a l . R a i n f a l l w i t h i n two h o u r s a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n w i l l probably necessitate re-treatmento T r e a t m e n t s a p p l i e d in the s h a d e o r d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f o v e r c a s t w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s w i l l reduce the r a p i d i t y o f v i s u a l e f f e c t s b u t do n o t s e e m to a f f e c t the u l t i m a t e c o n t r o l . A s w i t h m o s t h e r b i c i d e s m a x i m u m c o n t r o l Is o b t a i n e d u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s f a v o r a b l e to g o o d g r o w t h of the treated vegetation. A n n u a l w e e d s are q u i t e s u s c e p t i b l e to g l y p h o s a t e d u r i n g e a r l y s t a g e s of g r o w t h b u t p e r e n n i a l b r o a d l e a f w e e d s a n d g r a s s e s are m o s t s u s c e p t i b l e d u r i n g and j u s t fol1 o w l n g f l o w e r i n g s t a g e . S u s c e p t i b i l i t y o f p e r e n n i a l s at f u l l m a t u r i t y is s t i l l q u i t e g o o d . T h e a b s e n c e o f a n y p r e e m e r g e n c e e f f e c t and no s o i l r e s i d u a l is o n e of the m o s t e n c o u r a g i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f g l y p h o s a t e . R e s e e d i n g o r v e g e t a t i v e p l a n t i n g of t r e a t e d a r e a s Is p o s s i b l e w i t h i n a f e w d a y s a f t e r t r e a t m e n t . W o r k at P u r d u e U n i v e r s i t y i n d i c a t e s that g e r m i n a t i o n and s u r v i v a l of K e n t u c k y bluegrasses and Manhattan ryegrasses seedings were satisfactory three days a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f 2 , 3, and h p o u n d p e r acre rates of g l y p h o s a t e . M o n s a n t o r e c o m m e n d s a 2 p o u n d a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre rate f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k on t u r f g r a s s r e n o v a t i o n p r o v i d e d the a r e a d o e s n o t Include h e a v y r h i z o m a t o u s w e e d g r a s s e s s u c h as q u a c k g r a s s . D u i c h at Penn S t a t e o b t a i n e d c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o f a b r o a d l e a f w e e d I n f e s t e d K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s turf w i t h a 2 p o u n d a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r acre a p p l i c a t i o n r a t e . H e a l s o reports t h a t rates of 3 p o u n d s a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r acre gave g o o d b u t not c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l of q u a c k g r a s s . I n c r e a s i n g the rate to 6 p o u n d s o f a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r acre d i d n o t g i v e i n c r e a s e a s e d q u a c k g r a s s c o n t r o l . B l a c k at Illinois d i d n o t g é t c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l of c r e e p i n g b e n t g r a s s w h e n t w o a p p l i c a t i o n s w e r e a p p l i e d at a 1 p o u n d a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t rate p e r acre p e r a p p l i c a t i o n . In o t h e r w o r k he f o u n d g r e a t e r r e d u c t i o n in b e n t g r a s s p o p u l a t i o n w h e n a r e a s w e r e s p r a y e d and s e e d e d w i t h a R o g e r s A e r o - B l a d e u s i n g K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s as c o m p a r e d w i t h s e e d i n g w i t h a R o g e r s A e r o ~ B 1 a d e a n d then s p r a y i n g w i t h the g l y p h o s a t e . A p p a r e n t l y the A e r o - B l a d e c u t m a n y o f the s t o l o n s and r h i z o m e s a n d r e d u c e d the a m o u n t o f t r a n s l o c a t i o n o f the h e r b i c i d e , thus r e d u c i n g the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of c o n t r o l . R e s u l t s of the M o n s a n t o t r i a l s w o u l d I n d i c a t e t h a t at rates of B p o u n d of a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t to 2 . 5 p o u n d s of a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre c o n t r o l o f the f o l l o w i n g c o m m o n t u r f g r a s s and w e e d s w i l l be o b t a i n e d : Creeping bentgrass, Colonial bentgrass, pigweed, ragweed, chamomi1e5 mustards, bromegrass, 1 annbsquarter, b u l l t h i s t l e , o r c h a r d g r a s s , w i l d c a r r o t , large c r a b g r a s s , b a r n y a r d g r a s s , leafy s p u r g e , f e s c u e s , b e d s t r a w , g r o u n d i v y , m o r n i n g g l o r y , ryegrasses, carpetweed, Panicums, dallisgrass, buckhorn plantain, bluegrasses, k n o t w e e d , s m a r t w e e d , p u r s l a n e , c r e e p i n g b u t t e r c u p , red s o r r e l , c u r l y d o c k , f o x t a i l s , n i g h t s h a d e , j o h n s o n g r a s s , c h i c k w e e d , c l o v e r , and some s p e c i e s of V e r o n i c a . A t h i g h e r rates of 3 to 5 p o u n d s of a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t s p e r acre p a r t i a l to c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l c a n be o b t a i n e d of q u a c k g r a s s , w i l d o n i o n , Canada thistle, bindweed, bennudagrass, nutsedge, clnquefoil, poison ivy, and b r o a d l e a f d o c k , G l y p h o s a t e p r e s e n t l y is r e g i s t e r e d o n l y f o r use in s o y b e a n p r o d u c t i o n . H o p e f u l l y EPA r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r o t h e r u s e s i n c l u d i n g n o n - c r o p use w i l l be g r a n t e d w i t h i n the n e x t few m o n t h s . M e t h y l b r o m i d e is an e x c e l l e n t r e n o v a t i o n c h e m i c a l w h e r e r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a r e a s are I n v o l v e d . It is a c o l o r l e s s , o d o r l e s s gas w h i c h is l i q u e f i e d under pressure. It is a v a i l a b l e in one p o u n d c a n s and in l a r g e r size c y l i n d e r s . M e t h y l b r o m i d e is e x t r e m e l y p o i s o n o u s . H u m a n e x p o s u r e to 2 0 0 0 p p m f o r one h o u r w i l l c a u s e s e r i o u s injury o r d e a t h . T w o p e r c e n t c h l o r o p i c r i n is n o r m a l l y a d d e d to m e t h y l b r o m i d e as a w a r n i n g a g e n t . U p o n release f r o m its p r e s s u r i z e d c o n t a i n e r m e t h y l b r o m i d e v o l a t i l i z e s immediately. It i s , t h e r e f o r e , n e c e s s a r y to r e l e a s e the m a t e r i a l u n d e r a gas p r o o f tarp o r p o l y e t h y l e n e c o v e r . P r i o r to a p p l i c a t i o n the s o i l s h o u l d be t i l l e d to o b t a i n m a x i m u m a e r a t i o n f o r p e n e t r a t i o n of the gas into the s o i l . S o i l t e m p e r a t u r e s m u s t be a b o v e 6 0 F . f o r e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l . T h e gas p r o o f c o v e r s h o u l d be left in p l a c e f o r k8 h o u r s b e f o r e r e m o v a l . A n a d d i t i o n a l 4 8 h o u r a e r a t i o n p e r i o d is r e c o m m e n d e d p r i o r to r e s e e d i n g . M e t h y l b r o m i d e w i l l c o n t r o l all v e g e t a t i o n in the t r e a t e d a r e a as w e l l as m o s t w e e d s e e d s . It w i l l a l s o g r e a t l y r e d u c e the m i c r o - o r g a n i s m p o p u l a t i o n of the s o i l I n c l u d i n g n e m a t o d e s and d i s e a s e o r g a n i s m s . A rate o f 10 p o u n d s p e r t h o u s a n d s q u a r e f e e t is r e c o m m e n d e d . Its g r e a t e s t d r a w b a c k is the I n c o n v e n i e n c e a n d c o s t of p l a c i n g and r e m o v i n g the gas p r o o f c o v e r and the c o s t of the m a t e r i a l I t s e l f . C o m m e r c i a l c o n c e r n s p r e s e n t l y o f f e r i n g m e t h y l b r o m i d e s e r v i c e f o r large a r e a s c u r r e n t l y are c h a r g i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 6 0 0 to $ 7 0 0 d o l l a r s p e r a c r e . T h e r e is one o t h e r m a t e r i a l t h a t s h o u l d be m e n t i o n e d a l t h o u g h like g l y p h o s a t e It Is s t i l l in the t e s t i n g s t a g e and h a s n o t r e c e i v e d an EPA label o t h e r than f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l u s e . T h i s m a t e r i a l , b e n t a z o n , w a s d e v e l o p e d by the BASF l a b o r a t o r i e s in R h e i n , G e r m a n y and w i l l be m a r k e t e d u n d e r the trade n a m e o f B a s a g r a n . E x p e r i m e n t a l l y B a s a g r a n Is b e i n g f o r m u l a t e d as a k p o u n d a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r g a l l o n w a t e r s o l u b l e s a l t , a 5 % g r a n u l e and a 2 6 % w e t t a b l e p o w d e r . T o x i c i t y s t u d i e s , e s p e c i a l l y in r e g a r d to w i l d l i f e are p r e s e n t l y b e i n g m a d e . T h e L D 5 0 f o r rats is 1100 m i l l i g r a m s p e r k i l o g r a m . B a s a g r a n is of p r i m a r y I n t e r e s t to turf g r o w e r s as a c o n t r o l f o r n u t s e d g e . Jagsschitz at R h o d e Island U n i v e r s i t y r e p o r t s g o o d n u t s e d g e c o n t r o l as d o e s H a w f at the U n i v e r s i t y of D e l a w a r e . H a w f , in p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d i e s , o b t a i n e d g o o d c o n t r o l of n u t s e d g e w i t h n o d a m a g e to K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s at a rate of 1.5 p o u n d s a c t i v e I n g r e d i e n t p e r acre a p p l i e d in e a r l y S e p t e m b e r . Injury w a s o b s e r v e d to K e n t u c k y 31 tall f e s c u e at this r a t e . N o i n j u r y to K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s w a s o b s e r v e d at a 3 p o u n d a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre r a t e . D a n i e l s and F r e e b o r g at P u r d u e r e p o r t g o o d c o n t r o l of n u t s e d g e w i t h a c o m b i n a t i o n of b e n t a z o n at 0.5 p o u n d a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t p e r acre a n d 2 , ^ - D at 0 . 5 p o u n d active Ingredient per acre. RENOVATION EQUIPMENT A . Jo Powe 1 1 , J r . A s s i s t a n t P r o f e s s o r , D e p a r t m e n t of A g r o n o m y V i r g i n i a P o l y t e c h n i c I n s t i t u t e and S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n i q u e s u s e d to Improve e x i s t i n g turf v a r y a c c o r d i n g to d e s i r e d results« O n e m a y be r e n o v a t i n g to I n t r o d u c e i m p r o v e d s p e c i e s o r v a r i e t i e s into an u n a c c e p t a b l e turf o r r e n o v a t i n g to I n t r o d u c e g o o d g r a s s e s o r e v e n t e m p o r a r y g r a s s e s into a p r e d o m i n a t e w e e d p a t c h . M o s t o f t e n o n e is u s i n g s e e d b u t m a y be a t t e m p t i n g to i n t r o d u c e v e g e t a t i v e m a t e r i a l s . This discussion will center upon seeding m e t h o d s . It is a w e l l k n o w n f a c t t h a t b r o a d c a s t i n g s e e d on the s u r f a c e w i t h o u t n e c e s s a r y s o i l p r e p a r a t i o n is u n s u c c e s s f u l . E v e n if it is a c c o m p l i s h e d d u r i n g the w i n t e r , there is n o t e n o u g h m i x i n g ( f r e e z i n g and t h a w i n g ) to s a t i s f a c t o r i l y i n c o r p o r a t e the s e e d . S o i l that is c o m p l e t e l y s e t t l e d o r c o m p a c t e d and h a s a n y type o f m a t u r e v e g e t a t i o n w i l l n o t e x p a n d and c o n t r a c t to the p o i n t t h a t a f r i a b l e s u r f a c e can be o b t a i n e d . T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y true if the s o i l s u r f a c e Is c o v e r e d w i t h t h a t c h o r d e a d v e g e t a t i o n . . Soil-Seed Contact T h e key is s o i l - s e e d c o n t a c t . W h a t e v e r the p r o b l e m a n d the e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n o f the t u r f , the s e e d m u s t c o m e Into c o m p l e t e c o n t a c t w i t h the soil. If l a y i n g on top o f t h a t c h , d e a d v e g e t a t i o n o r c o m p a c t e d o r c r u s t e d s o i l , it is n o t l i k e l y to o b t a i n e n o u g h w a t e r to g e r m i n a t e ; and If It d i d , the s m a l l root t h a t f i r s t p r o t r u d e s w o u l d n o t h a v e an a v a i l a b l e o r c o n t i n u o u s water supply. C o m p e t I t i on Even w i t h g o o d s o i l - s e e d c o n t a c t , the e x i s t i n g c o m p e t i t i o n m u s t o f t e n be r e d u c e d . If a f a i r l y g o o d t u r f e x i s t s , one can l o w e r the m o w i n g h e i g h t u n t i l the s e e d e d turf h a s g e r m i n a t e d a n d c a n i t s e l f c o m p e t e f o r light and m o i s t u r e . A s m a l l a m o u n t o f e x i s t i n g w e e d s (or t u r f ) c a n be b e n e f i c i a l . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n s e e d i n g Into c r a b g r a s s d u r i n g the f a l l , the s l o w g r o w i n g o r e v e n d y i n g c r a b g r a s s c a n a c t as a m u l c h to p r o t e c t the s e e d o r y o u n g s e e d lings from the d a l l y m o i s t u r e and t e m p e r a t u r e e x t r e m e s . G r o w t h r e g u l a t o r s h a v e a l s o b e e n u s e d to some e x t e n t in r e d u c i n g the g r o w t h of e x i s t i n g v e g e t a t i o n . H o w e v e r , one m u s t be s u r e that the s p e c i f i c g r o w t h r e g u l a t o r d o e s n o t a l s o c o n t r o l the g r o w t h o f the n e w s e e d l i n g s o r p e r m a n e n t l y injure the e x i sti ng v e g e t a t i o n . Equipment and T e c h n i q u e s T h e a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n h a s set the s t a g e f o r c h o o s i n g the p r o p e r e q u i p m e n t and t e c h n i q u e f o r the j o b . T h a t c h a n d c o m p e t i t i o n m u s t be r e d u c e d and s o i l - s e e d c o n t a c t m u s t be o b t a i n e d . T h e r e f o r e , s e e d i n g e q u i p m e n t d e s i g n e d p r e p a r e d s e e d b e d s are u s u a l l y u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . T h e o v e r s e e d i n g t e c h n i q u e involves seedbed preparations» Complete Renovation for Machines A t least two s p e c i a l i z e d r e n o v a t i o n m a c h i n e s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d » These p r o v i d e a s l i c i n g o p e r a t i o n In c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h a s e e d h o p p e r w h i c h d r o p s s e e d t h r o u g h tubes d i r e c t l y Into s l i t s c u t by free r o t a t i o n c o u l t e r s . In s i m p l e r t e r m s , this Is n o - t i l l p l a n t i n g . T h e s l i c i n g o p e r a t i o n c u t s t h r o u g h t h a t c h and p e n e t r a t e s the s o i l surface* S e e d is m e t e r e d f r o m the s e e d h o p p e r t h r o u g h s e e d t u b e s a n d o n t o the c o u l t e r s w h i c h d e l i v e r the s e e d Into the s l i t s . T h i s is then f o l l o w e d by e i t h e r a d r a g m a t o r a f r e e - r o t a t l o n r o l l e r to f u r t h e r i n c o r p o r a t e the s e e d and level the s u r f a c e . A t a time w h e n s e e d c o s t s are r a p i d l y I n c r e a s i n g , this e q u i p m e n t can be v e r y e c o n o m i c a l . T h i s Is s u r e l y the m o s t s e e d - e f f i c i e n t w a y of o v e r s e e d i n g . A c o n s c i e n t i o u s o p e r a t o r can s o o n learn to p r o p e r l y a d j u s t the e q u i p m e n t e v e n w h e n t r a v e r s i n g h i l l y t e r r a i n . W h e n the s o i l s u r f a c e is v e r y u n e v e n , there is a t e n d e n c y to d e p o s i t the s e e d on top of the s o i l s u r f a c e in low s p o t s and I n c o r p o r a t e the s e e d too d e e p l y on h i g h s p o t s . T h i s e q u i p m e n t h a s m a n y o t h e r u s e s . T h a t c h can be r e m o v e d in g o o d t u r f , some l e v e l i n g o r s u r f a c e s m o o t h i n g can be a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d t h e y can be v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d to s e e d p r e p a r e d s e e d b e d s . T h e y can be u s e d to Improve f a i r w a y s , tees and lawn type a r e a s . T h e l a r g e r m o r e e f f i c i e n t m o d e l s are not designed for green renovation. O t h e r s o - c a l l e d r e n o v a t i o n e q u i p m e n t is b a s e d on a s p i k i n g p r i n c i p l e w h e r e i n the s e e d f r o m a h o p p e r Is d r o p p e d e v e n l y o v e r the s o i l s u r f a c e . Some of this seed d r o p s Into s h a l l o w d e p r e s s i o n s left by f r o n t r u n n i n g s p i k e s . It is n o t as e f f i c i e n t as the a b o v e type and a l a c k o f s o i l m o i s t u r e o r too m u c h t h a t c h o r c o m p a c t i o n m a y r e n d e r this m e t h o d i n e f f e c t i v e . T h e same Is true w h e n u s i n g e q u i p m e n t d e s i g n e d f o r p a s t u r e r e n o v a t i o n . M a n y a d v a n c e s are b e i n g m a d e a n d the m a i n d r a w b a c k Is e i t h e r the s p a c i n g of seed o r the e x t e n t to w h i c h the s u r f a c e Is d l s t r l b ^ d . | n situations where t h a t c h is n o t a p r o b l e m ^ do n o t d i s c o u n t the u s e o f p a s t u r e r e n o v a t i o n e q u i p ment. C o m b i n a t i o n Use of A v a i l a b l e Equipment W h e n c o m p l e t e r e n o v a t i o n e q u i p m e n t Is not a v a i l a b l e , o v e r s e e d i n g can be a c c o m p l i s h e d f o r s m a l l a r e a s and e v e n g r e e n s by u s i n g one o r m o r e p i e c e s of equipment designed for special u s e . Vertical mowers (dethatchlng equipment) c a n be u s e d to remove t h a t c h and a c t u a l l y p e n e t r a t e the s o l i s u r f a c e . T h e r e m a i n i n g s h a l l o w s l i t s o f f e r an I m p r o v e d m i c r o e n v i r o n m e n t f o r at least some s e e d that is b r o a d c a s t on the s u r f a c e . T h e s a m e is true w h e n u s i n g c o r i n g m a c h i n e s . E v e n the s m a l l a m o u n t o f s o i l that Is r e m o v e d a n d r e d e p o s l t e d on the s u r f a c e o f f e r s a d e g r e e of s o i l - s e e d c o n t a c t , HoWever-^ to be effective^, the area m a y n e e d to be t r a v e r s e d s e v e r a l times in o r d e r to d i s t u r b the soft s u f f i c i e n t l y . W i t h b o t h the v e r t i c a l m o w i n g a n d c o r i n g m e t h o d s , it is b e s t to f o l l o w the s e e d i n g w i t h a rake o r d r a g m a t . T h i s h e l p s to s e t t l e the s e e d to the soil s u r f a c e and m o v e some of the loose s o i l f o r b e t t e r s o i l - s e e d c o n t a c t . By u s i n g a c o m b i n a t i o n of the v e r t i c a l mowlnfcj and c o r i n g m a c h i n e s , o v e r f e e d i n g can be q u i t e s u c c e s s f u l . A n o t h e r recently introduced machine d e s i g n e d to b r e a k up c o m p a c t i o n artd remove thatch w i t h a si i c i n g - v i b r a t i o n a c t i o n 9 t h e r e b y p r o v i d i n g s l i t s f o r seed i n c o r p o r a t i o n S u c h s p e c i a l a n d h e a v y b u i l t e q u i p m e n t m a y be n e c e s s a r y tp g e t s u c c e s s f u l o v e r s e e d f g g in s e r i o u s l y t p m p a c t e d areas* Sumroary N e w a d v a n c e s in r e n o v a t i o n e q u i p m e n t and t e c h n i q u e s are c o n t i n u o u s l y b e i n g m a d e . Due to the temp© r ^ y n a t u r e of some of the s p e c i e s b e i n g o v e r s e e d e d and i n c r e a s e d t r a f f i c p r e s s u r e on m a n i c u r e d turf a r e a s 9 the n e e d f o r such e q u i p m e n t is i n c r e a s i n g . F o r ^ c o n t i n u o u s q u a l i t y t u r f on a r e a s s u c h as t e e s , s e m i a n n u a l o r a n n u a l o v e r s e e d i n g m a y be the o n l y answer* W i t h this in m i n d , r e n o v a t i o n e q u i p m e n t c a n e a s i l y be justified as a l a b o r - e f f i c i e n t . and n e c e s s a r y a d d i t i v e to a s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ' s e q u i p m e n t i n v e n t o r y .