MIDWEST REGIONAL TURF CONFERENCE March 12-14,1984 Purdue University PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1984 MIDWEST REGIONAL TURF CONFERENCE List of Members The Computer Revolution & Its Implications For Our Fu t u r e . . D r . H . E. Dunsmore Computers and Weather Prediction W . L. Stirm Overcoming World Hunger SentryWorld - An Instant Tradition William R . Roberts Grasses For Athletic Fields Newer Grasses Intensive Sand Topdressing Winter Damage - Unwanted Experience Annual Bluegrass M a n a g e m e n t ....Dr. Karl Danneberger Bentgrass Fairways New Nitrogen Sources Clay Nelson Zoysia Fairways In The M i d w e s t Lee Redman The Bulk Pesticide Concept Gary M . Clayton & Steve Derrick The Tall Fescues . .. .Dr. Will iarn A . Meyer What Is New In Turfgrass Pathology ..Henry Thomas Wilkinson Diseases of Zoysiagrass ..Henry Thomas Wilkinson Providing Materials For Athletic Field Improvements.. Frank D . Smith Long Term Arsenic Use Turf-Cal Product Development Calcium Arsenate A p p l i c a t i o n , 1982 Bill Ward Assuming Distribution and Sales of Turf-Cal.. Keeping Key Personnel Randal C . Bellinger Chimney Services As An Additional Income Source For Lawn Care Businesses Herbicides For The Future R . P. Freeborg Bentgrass Fairways In '83 Steve Frazier Increasing Emphasis On Grooming Turf Stanley J . Zontek Tall Fescue Replaces Bluegrass Jeff Lefton Topdressing - My Program Jim Conroy Upgrading Athletic Facilities Insects Today and Tomorrow Roscoe Randell Nitrification Inhibitors Dean K . Mosdell Page A 1 4 5 7 11 14 16 18 21 23 25 28 31 34 36 37 43 44 46 47 49 51 54 56 59 62 65 66 67 68 69 The 32 talks included in these Proceedings are condensations from speakers before sections of the 1984 M . R . T . F . C o n f e r e n c e . We appreciated the willingness of the speakers to participate and prepare materials for your r e a d i n g . A copy o.f these Proceedings has been mailed to all those attending the 1984 C o n f e r e n c e , one person of each members organization within the M i d w e s t Regional Turf Foundation not in attendance at the C o n f e r e n c e , and to a list of those in educational a c t i v i t i e s . Proceedings of each annual Conference have been prepared since 1984. A imited number of 1975, 7 6 , 7 7 , 7 9 , 8 0 , 8 1 , 8 2 , and 83 Proceedings are available at $2.00 e a c h , as well as additional copies of these P r o c e e d i n g s . Order from: W . H . D a n i e l , Executive Secretary M i d w e s t Regional Turf Foundation Department of Agronomy Purdue University West L a f a y e t t e , IN 47907 Indiana: William E. Al Iman, Anderson Anderson Country Club Randy A . B a l l i n g e r , Upland Beeson Park Golf C o u r s e , W i n c h e s t e r Bellinger's P r o f . G r . M a i n t . , L a f a y e t t e BPOE Lodge # 6 4 9 , Richmond Briar Ridge Country C l u b , Dyer Broadmoor Country C l u b , Indianapolis Canterbury Green Country C l u b , Fort W a y n e ChemLawn C o r p o r a t i o n . Carmel Christmas Lake Golf C l u b , Santa Claus Connersville Country Club Country Club of Indianapolis Country Club of Terre Haute Crooked Stick Golf C l u b , Carmel Donald A . C r o s s , H o b a r t Delaware Country C l u b , Muncie Randy A . D e n n y , Warsaw Desco Chemical C o . , Nappanee Elanco P r o d u c t s , Indianapolis Elcona Country C l u b , Elkhart Elks Blue River Country C l u b , Shelbyville E n g l e d o w , I n c . , Indianapolis Evansville Country Club E-Z Lawn C o r p o r a t i o n , Richmond Donald A . F a s s n a c h t , Lafayette F o r e s t Hills Country C l u b , Richmond Forest Park Golf C o u r s e , Valparaiso Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners Fort Wayne Country Club Dale C . F o s t e r , F o r t Wayne Frankfort Country Club French Lick Springs Golf & Tennis R e s o r t Friendswood Golf C o u r s e , Camby Gary Country Club Green Acres Golf C l u b , Kokomo Green Carpet Lawn S e r v i c e , Huntingburg Green G r o w , I n c . , Fort Wayne G r e e n h u r s t Country C l u b , Auburn Greensburg Country Club Hickory Hills Golf C l u b , Brownstown Highland Golf & Country C l u b , Indianapolis Hillcrest Country C l u b , Indianapolis Hillveiw Country C l u b , Franklin Honeywell Public Golf C o u r s e , Wabash Hoosier Turfgrass A s s o c i a t i o n , Huntington Huber Ranch Sod N u r s e r y , Schneider -A- Indiana Farm Bureau C o - o p , M t . Vernon Indiana G . C . S . A . , Indianapolis Indiana Turf E q u i p m e n t , Indianapolis Indiana U n i v . Golf C o u r s e , Bloomington Thomas I r v i n g , Marion Jansen L a n d s c a p i n g , Elkhart Dennis M . K e e f e , Muncie Kenney M a c h i n e r y , Indianapolis Kill buck Recreation A s s o c . , Anderson Knox Fertilizer & Chemical C o . , Knox Kokomo Country Club Lafayette Country Club Lawn L i f e , Zionsville Lebanon Chemical C o . , Fort Wayne M a p l e c r e s t Country C l u b , Goshen M a r t i n s v i l l e Country Club Mead-Johnson C o . , Evansville Meridian Hills Country • ., Indianapolis M e s h i n g o m e s i a Country C l u b , Marion Morris Park Country C l u b , South Bend Mutual Security Life I n s . , Fort Wayne New Albany Country Club Old Orchard Golf C o u r s e , Elkhart Orchard Ridge Country C l u b , F t . Wayne Otter Creek Golf C o u r s e , Columbus Pilgrim S e e d s , I n c . , Plymouth Red Hen Turf F a r m , New Carlisle Sand Creek C l u b , Chesterton Seymour Elks Country Club Shamrock Turf N u r s e r i e s , Hanna South Bend Country Club Speedway 500 Golf C l u b , Indianapolis Summit Power E q u i p . D i s t . , Fort Wayne Sycamore Springs G . C . , Indianapolis Tippecanoe Country C l u b , M o n t i c e l l o Tippecanoe Lake Country C l u b , Leesburg Turf S p e c i a l t i e s , Fort Wayne Valparaiso Country Club Vincennes Elks Country Club Michael W a l t o n , Huntington Western Hills Country C l u b , M t . Vernon Woodland Country C l u b , Carmel Woodmar Country C l u b , Hammond Youche Country C l u b , Crown Point Illinois: Ohio: Aurora Country Club Beverly Country C l u b , Chicago Bryn Mawr Country C l u b , Lincolnwood Builders Plumbing S u p p l y , Addison Butler National Golf C o u r s e , Oak Brook Champaign C o . Forest P r e s . D i s t , M a h o m e t Chicago Heights Country Club City of D a n v i l l e , Harrison Park G . C . Crystal Lake Country Club Danville Country Club Edgebrook Country C l u b , Sandwich Edgewood Valley Country C l u b , LaGrange Elyria Country Club Excelawn C o r p . of A m e r i c a , Lombard Exmoor Country C l u b , Highland Park Flossmoor Country Club Geneva Golf Club Glen Oak Country C l u b , Glen Ellyn H & E Sod N u r s e r y , Markham George H a d d a d , Peotone Hinsdale Golf C l u b , Clarendon Hills Illinois Lawn E q u i p m e n t , Orland Park International Minerals & C h e m i c a l s , Mundelein Inverness Golf C l u b , Palatine C . W . J e n n i n g s , Western Springs LaGrange Country Club Lincolnshrie Country C l u b , Crete L i q u i - G r e e n , Peoria Medinah Country Club Jim M e l l o , Romeoville Midlothian Country Club Mueller Farms Sod N u r s e r y , Ontarioville Niles Township High S c h o o l , Skokie Northmoor Country C l u b , Highland Park Prestwick Country C l u b , Frankfort Rockford Country Club Roseman Mower C o r p . , Glenview Seaboard Seed C o . , Bristol S h o r e a c r e s , Lake Bluff Silver Lake Golf C l u b , Orland Park Eugene S t r a s m a , Paris Sunset Ridge Country C l u b , Northbrook Thornton's Sod N u r s e r y , Elgin Timber Trails Country C l u b , LaGrange USS A g r i - C h e m i c a l s , Chicago Heights Wadsworth Golf C o n s t r u c i t o n , Plainfield Warren's Turf N u r s e r y , Libertyville Westmoreland Country C l u b , Wilmette Bruce R . W i l l i a m s , Highland Park Woodword Governor C o . , Rockford The A n d e r s o n s , Maumee BPOE Lodge # 9 3 , Hamilton Beauty Lawn Sod & Zoysia N u r s e r y , Lebanon W . L. B r a v e r m a n , Chicago Mike B r e e d e n , Celina Tom B r e h o b , Cincinnati Brown's Run Country C l u b , Middletown Camargo Country C l u b , Cincinnati Century T o r o D i s t r i b u t o r s , Toledo Cincinnati Country Club City of D a y t o n , Bureau of Golf Columbus Country Club Country C l u b , I n c . , Pepper Pike Crest Hills Country C l u b , Cincinnati Find!ay Country Club Gate of Heaven C e m e t e r y , Cincinnati Stephen K . G i p s o n , Chesterland Greater Cincinnati G . C . S . A . Arthur H i l l s , Toledo Hyde Park Golf & Country C l u b , Cincinnati Inverness C l u b , Toledo Kenwood Country C l u b , Cincinnati R o b e r t K l e i n , Tiffin Lakeshore E q u i p . & S u p p . , Rocky River Leisure L a w n , Inc., W . Carrollton Lyons Den G o l f , Canal Fulton Mayfield Country C l u b , South Euclid Miami Valley G . C . S . A . , Middletown Moraine Country C l u b , Dayton NCR Employees Benefit A s s o c . , Dayton Jack Nicklaus Golf C e n t e r , Mason Northern Ohio G . C . S . A , Westfield Center Oakwood C l u b , Cleveland Heights Glen A . P o t t e n g e r , Troy Rawiga Country C l u b , Seville 0 . M . Scott & S o n s , Marysville Springfield Country Club Tamaron Country C l u b , Toledo Valleywood Golf C l u b , Swanton Floyd W i g e t , New Lebanon The Woods Golf C l u b , Van W e r t -B- MIDWEST REGIONAL TURF FOUNDATION M E M B E R S H I P , 1983-84 Kentucky: Out of M i d w e s t Regio n: Audubon Country C l u b , Louisville Big Springs Country C l u b , Louisville Bunton Seed C o . , Louisville Harmony Landing Country C l u b , Goshen Irrigation Supply C o . , Louisville Owensboro Country Club Standard Country C l u b , Louisville Aquatrols C o r p . of A m e r i c a , Pennsauken,NJ James S . B o y c e , O t t a w a , Ontario W . A . Cleary C h e m . C o . , S o m e r s e t , NJ Jacklin Seed C o . , Post F a l l s , ID Loft S e e d , Bound B r o o k , NJ Mock Seed C o . , Pittsburgh David S t r a n g , B u r l i n g t o n , IA The Toro C o . , M i n n e a p o l i s , MN Michiga n: Bay City Country Club Country Club of D e t r o i t Down River Lawn S e r v i c e , Trenton Gene J o h a n n i g s m e i e r , South Lyon McKay Golf & C . C . P r o p . , Lansing Maple Lane Golf C l u b , Sterling Heights Oakland Hills Country C l u b , Birmingham TUCO D i v . , The Upjohn C o . , Kalamazoo W i l k i e Turf Equipment C o . , Pontiac Missour i: Bellerive Country C l u b , Creve Coeur Bogey Hills Golf & C . C . , S t . Charles City of S t . Ann F o r e s t Hills Country C l u b , Chesterfield F o r e s t Park M u n . Golf C o u r s e , S t . Louis M a l l i n c k r o d t Chemical C o . , S t . Louis Mississippi Valley G . C . S . A . Monsanto C o . , S t . Louis Strunk's Turf F a r m s , S t . Louis Wisconsin: Brynewood Country C l u b , Milwaukee Milwaukee Country Club Milwaukee M e t . Sewerage D i s t r i c t North Hills Country C l u b , Menomonee Falls Ozaukee Country C l u b , Mequon Stevens Point Country Club Tuckaway Country C l u b , Franklin Wisconsin G . C . S . A . Bruce W o r z e l l a , W e s t Bend The Computer Revolution and its Implications for our Future Dr. H. E. DuKismore Department of Computer Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 Abstract The first electronic computer was built in 1946. Computers have evolved since that time - at first getting bigger and more powerful, and lately becoming smaller (and still more powerful) due to the use of ''chips'' (circuits in silicon). Computers are being used both in our businesses and in our homes. Computer costs continue to decrease and speeds and capacities continue to increase. Teleprocessing (computers communicating over telephone lines) opens a realm of possibilities for home and business computer uses. ''Computing" is not a new concept. In fact, the word "compute" is derived from the Latin "computare" which means "to calculate". The first (non-human) computer was probably the Chinese abacus, which is thousands of years old. Pascal, the French mathematician, designed a mechanical calculator in 1642. But, technology was insufficient to build it until 300 years later. In this country, Herman Hollerith of the U.S. Census Bureau realized that data from the 1890 census could not be tabulated by time to begin the 1900 census unless some tabulating device was used. He devised a system of punching holes in cards that allowed sorting by choosing those cards with holes in the same locations. His efforts led to punched-card devices that became daring products of the company we know now as IBM. But, the computer revolution actually began in 1946 when J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly of the University of Pennsylvania designed and built the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). It is regarded as the first electronic computer. With 18,000 vacuum tubes it was very large and very slow. By today's standards it had a very small memory, generated a lot of heat, and failed often. By 1950, both IBM and Univac (the company begun by Eckert and Mauchly) were selling computers. In the 1950's computers got larger and larger until vacuum tubes gave way to transistors. In the 1960's, transistors gave way to Integrated Circuits (IC's). The 1970Vwas the era of the minicomputers - smaller, yet just as powerful as their forerunners. The 1980's will probably be remembered as the age of the microcomputer - the desktop computers and personal computers, many of which are more powerful than the biggest computers of the 1950's. IC's have given way to Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), dubbed the "micro-chip''. VLSI chips are circuits in silicon. Each chip is a square with sides of about a quarter of an inch. The computer was originally designed as a calculating machine (with information storage as a by-product). Now, the predominant use of computers are as "information retrieval" devices for storing vast amounts of information and getting back subsets of that information quickly. The business applications of computers are growing daily including handling records, personnel information, operating data, plans, and goals. We are rapidly approaching the point that most of the workforce interact with a computer on a daily basis. Computers are also being used in our homes. The front door was opened by the calculator and the video game. Computers of the future will be more "user-friendly" almost to the point of understanding natural language. Almost 5 million home computers nave been sold in this country since the beginning of the 1980's. Some think that the turn of the century will find 80 million home computers in use. The computer (especially the small or micro-computer) was TIME magazine's "thing of the year" for 1982. Computer costs continue to decrease and speeds and capacities continue to increase. It could be said that if automobiles had evolved like computers, you could now buy a Cadillac for $2.50 and get mileage of 3 million miles per gallon. Now there are beginning to be computer networks for business (linking parts of one business or similar firms) and home (linking people with similar interests, avocations, hobbies). A small computer system consists of a monitor (screen), keyboard, floppy disk and disk drive, and printer. Something called a "modem" can be used to transfer information along telephone lines to and from a small computer. It is becoming commonplace that the home computer is used for personal purposes: recipes, budgets, phone numbers, remembering important dates, tax record-keeping, computing taxes, investment analysis, etc. With advancements in teleprocessing (telecommunicating), it is now possible to use the home computer for electronic mail, newspapers, periodicals, and data bases (stock prices, weather, airline schedules, professional directories). An Atlanta newspaper is now available via small computer. In the future the home computer may be used for even more exotic home-related activities - such as controlling heating and cooling equipment, working with a telephone answering machine when you are away to select one of several messages depending on the caller, activating the video cassette recorder, controlling and monitoring burglar alarms, and administering home robots for vacuuming, mopping, grass cutting, and even snow shovelling. The home computer may help teach children mathematics, geometry, history, foreign languages, and even about computers. Today's children are growing up using computers. They will be ready for the "electronic cottage" - a term popularized by Alvin Toffler in The Third Wave. This is the concept that many of us will be able to work at home via home computers and telecommunication equipment. We may need to include video cameras and cable hookups for teleconferencing because people do need to interact with others. The computer revolution is going on right now. The personal computer is making computing and telecommunications available to the masses. The "electronic cottage" is a real possibility with home computer and telecommunications equipment used for personal and business matters. There will be a graying of the distinction between being at home and being at work. There is little doubt that computers are important in today's world and will become even more so in tomorrow's world. Computers And Weather Prediction W . L. Stirm M i d w e s t A g . Weather Service C e n t e r , National W e a t h e r Service Purdue U n i v e r s i t y , W e s t L a f a y e t t e , Indiana Weather prediction is a complex o p e r a t i o n . Reams of data are collected world w i d e . A major communication effort is required to c o l l e c t , p r e p a r e , and release information that is widely u s e f u l . Weather services require a high use of technology and involve satellites, r a d a r , c o m p u t e r s , and electronic c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . The basic Weather Service computer system makes use of two large computers located at the National Meteorological C e n t e r , W a s h i n g t o n , D C . These computers c o l l e c t , process and analyze world wide information and provide guidance products to all field stations. The second part of the system is a communication-process computer at each field office that interconnects all weather stations with the National Meteorological C e n t e r . The third part of the system is a data collection microcomputer n e t w o r k . These collect and transmit data automatically for aviation, h y d r o l o g i c a l , agricultural and marine p u r p o s e s . The Weather Service computer system is designed to interact with military and civil defense systems for relay and backup p u r p o s e s . The first step of the weather prediction process is obtaining weather observations. Realtime weather is collected simultaneously at 500+ surface stations in the U . S . and made available to each w e a t h e r o f f i c e . S i m i l a r l y , upper air information is collected twice daily at upper air stations using balloon ascents carrying s e n s i n g , r e c o r d i n g , and transmission e q u i p m e n t . L i k e w i s e , radar collections are made at 140+ stations in the U . S . and provide composite pictures of U . S . weather every h o u r s . Further observed weather in form of cloud cover is obtained every 15 minutes by GOES satellite visible and IR camera c o v e r a g e . The second step in w e a t h e r prediction process is the analysis and intepretation of the observational d a t a . The large National Meteorological Center computers plot and analyze the data into over 100 surface charts and around 50 upper air charts covering atmosphere from a few thousand feet to 35 to 40,000 feet. The data is also applied to atmospheric models covering the entire hemisphere. Grid point computations are made for every 1 degree of latitude and longitude over land and every 2.5 degrees over w a t e r . The information is then projected into the future in intervals of 12 hrs. out to 72 h r s . , and then daily from 3 days out to 10 d a y s . The computer also processes data for each station using model statistics relationships out to 48 h o u r s . The third step in the prediction process is field station interpretations and preparation-release of f o r e c a s t s , weather w a t c h e s , and w a r n i n g s . All the analysis and guidance materials received from the National Meteorological Center are interpreted and adjustments are made at each state forecast c e n t e r . S t a t e , z o n e , and local forecasts are then prepared and issued four times d a i l y . Forecasts cover a 36-hour period in segments each of 12 h o u r s . Area coverage is state-wide for state f o r e c a s t s , in 10 to 15 zones (each zone is 5 to 6 counties) for most detail zone forecasts and for major local city f o r e c a s t s . Additional releases are made covering weather w a t c h e s , w a r n i n g s , storm s t a t e m e n t s , radar s u m m a r i e s , and other statements on progress of w e a t h e r systems. The final phase of weather prediction is the communications to the u s e r . The AFOS computer in each forecast office has arrangements to drive state teletype circuits to distribute w e a t h e r to u s e r s . Arrangements are also set up for direct broadcasts as well as computer relay systems for both within and outside of the state. Several kinds of special w e a t h e r service centers are also involved in providing weather information. There are centers for severe storm p r e d i c t i o n s , river f o r e c a s t s , marine s e r v i c e s , fire w e a t h e r , and a g r i c u l t u r e . One of t h e s e , the M i d w e s t A g . Weather Service C e n t e r , is located at Purdue U n v i e r s i t y . This office provides a system of collecting agriculture weather information from a network of 150 secondary observation s t a t i o n s . The data is processed and supplied in the form of applications relating to agriculture such as soil m o i s t u r e , crop stages, crop m a t u r i t y , moisture u s e , plant s t r e s s , pest m a n a g e m e n t , and other applied f o r m s . The office also issues twice daily per state ag advisories for a six-state a r e a . The advisories are interpretations of p a s t , present and future weather effects on c r o p s , farming o p e r a t i o n s , and l i v e s t o c k - p o u l t r y . Overcoming World Hunger Lowell S . Hardin D e p t . of Agricultural Economics Purdue U n i v e r s i t y , W e s t L a f a y e t t e , Indiana Introduction My purpose: to share with you some concerns about one of the m o s t fundamental and persistent problems of our age - h u n g e r . Fundamental because an assured food supply is essential to the stability of every sovereign nation . Situation Painfully slow progress is being made in reducing the numbers of hungry people in the w o r l d . As many as a billion p e o p l e , almost one-fourth of the world's p o p u l a t i o n , are believed to suffer some degree of u n d e r n o u r i s h m e n t . - About 2/3's of these are in ten countries (mainly in A s i a ) . Chronic undernutrition has replaced famine as the major form of hunger. More than half of the hungry are in rural a r e a s . A b o u t 2/3* s have almost no access to land. Women and children are disproportionately represented among the undernourished. Why so much persistent hunger? - Rapid population growth is, of c o u r s e , a f a c t o r . By the y e a r 2 0 0 0 , the world will have to feed at least 1.5 billion more p e o p l e . M o s t of this growth will be in the Third W o r l d . By t h e n , an estimated 80% of the world's population will live in developing c o u n t r i e s . - J o b s . Opportunities to earn an i n c o m e , be p r o d u c t i v e , have increased less rapidly than population has g r o w n . Rapid additions to the labor force simply have not been able to find w o r k . - T h e r e f o r e , people are hungry because they are p o o r . to grow or to buy enough food. They lack the means - Hunger is not primarily a supply p r o b l e m . R a t h e r , it is primarily a problem of effective d e m a n d . The need is t h e r e . The ability to buy is n o t . In the 33 lowest income c o u n t r i e s , per capita income averages around $260 (vs. over $ 1 1 , 0 0 0 , or 44 times as much in the U . S . ) . - Poverty's political power is demonstrated w h e n e v e r poor countries seek to increase food p r i c e s , e . g . , E g y p t , T u n i s i a , M o r o c c o . What Are Some of the Lessons That We have Learned? I'll focus on rural p e o p l e , h e n c e , on a g r i c u l t u r e . H a p p i l y , several of the hungry nations are learning how to increase their food p r o d u c t i o n . a. Mostly these countries are in the tropics and s u b - t r o p i c s , so temperate zone agricultural technology does not t r a n s f e r . b. One needs to know w h a t works before one can teach or extend it. extension cannot accomplish much in the absence of r e s e a r c h . c. H i s t o r i c a l l y , the agricultural research that was done in the tropics focused on export c r o p s . So research on tropical food production is a must. So - E . g . , work of U . S. u n i v e r s i t i e s , AID supported projects - E . g . , international agricultural research centers - E . g . , successes achieved - r i c e , w h e a t , sorghum d. To sustain p r o g r e s s , well-trained people are e s s e n t i a l . stitutions in which they can w o r k , solve problems So are in- - Training - a b s o r p t i v e , interactive capacity - Institution building e. Need to get policies r i g h t , provide incentives, develop m a r k e t s . f. Greater success is being achieved on the supply side (increasing production) than in alleviating p o v e r t y . But in many r e s p e c t s , agricultural improvement is a k e y . Imp!ications It is difficult to foresee a secure world society if one-fifth or more of its people are u n d e r n o u r i s h e d . These people are neither lazy nor lacking in ambition. They are poor and many are u n h e a l t h y . They do not w a n t to be dependent on handouts; they prefer to be self-reliant. As we have s e e n , they need h e l p , the kind of assistance that helps them help t h e m s e l v e s . a. In providing the right kinds of help we are in fact helping ourselves. - Reductions in levels of expenditure for defense and armaments are related to reduction in p o v e r t y . - Ours is now an interdependent w o r l d . Our own p o p u l a t i o n , like that of advanced societies g e n e r a l l y , is approaching a no-growth p l a t e a u . - Our own ability to grow is therefore linked to the growth and prosperity of the developing c o u n t r i e s . That's where 80% of the world's people will b e . For e x a m p l e , even in their depressed s t a t e , they are our most rapidly growing m a r k e t for agricultural e x p o r t s . b. Self-interest not w i t h s t a n d i n g , development assistance has a thin political constituency in the U . S . M o s t politicians do not feel that they can get re-elected by voting for more foreign a i d . So we need to think more about where we as voters stand on this issue. c. In my j u d g m e n t , the right kind of development assistance is both selfserving and w i s e . Above a l l , it is h u m a n i t a r i a n . The cause is not a hopeless o n e . Progress is being m a d e . If we are intelligent in how we h e l p , the pace of progress can be a c c e l e r a t e d . And that which we help others achieve is a p p r e c i a t e d . Sentryworld - An Instant Tradition William R . R o b e r t s , Golf Course/Grounds Manager S e n t r y w o r l d , Stevens P o i n t , Wisconsin SentryWorld Sports Center was constructed on a 270 acre "rock farm" in north central W i s c o n s i n . The area was basically low swampland with soil types ranging from four feet of muck overlaying bedrock to marsh sand. Native trees include white b i r c h , white p i n e , a s h , maple and o a k . Initial construction began in 1977 but was tabled until March of 1981 when R o b e r t T r e n t J o n e s , J r . was recommissioned to finalize p l a n s , and I was given the opportunity to participate as project manager and golf course s u p e r v i s o r . The Sports Center houses six indoor tennis c o u r t s , five racquetball c o u r t s , one squash c o u r t , locker r o o m s , golf-tennis pro shop and two r e s t a u r a n t s . The facility can be converted and is equipped to handle up to 2,500 people for banquet service. The annual company picnic takes place in and around the Sports Center site when we accommodate upwards of 10,000 e m p l o y e e s , family members and g u e s t s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , we have six outdoor tennis c o u r t s , a swimming b e a c h , a softball diamond for employee and public u s e , and approximately 60 acres of employee p a r k . A fishing dock situated on our 20-acre lake is available to employees and families. The lake, in addition to serving as our main source of irrigation and being functional in draining approximately 70% of the p r o p e r t y , has been stocked with rainbow trout, p a n f i s h , bluegills and large and smallmouth b a s s . Areas suitable for bass spawning were incorporated into the lake design in order to perpetuate that population. The SentryWorld golf course is open to the public on a daily fee basis and Stevens Point Sentry employees can play at a rate reduced from the daily fee. We have incorporated four miles of cart paths and service roads into and around the property to facilitate movement and help minimize wear on our turf. The irrigation system utilizes 4,000 sprinkler h e a d s , controlled by 850 valves in 37 z o n e s , to water everything "inside the f e n c e " . The golf course yardage can vary from 5,100 yards to 7,000 yards and can be played from four sets of tees. Water serves an important function in the playability of the SentryWorld golf c o u r s e , presenting a challenge to golfers on 11 holes. White s a n d , obtained from a source 70 miles a w a y , also adds not only to the playability and c h a l l e n g e , but also to the aesthetics of our facility, One of the real challenges in construction at SentryWorld was dealing with the rock on the site, and not just the b e d r o c k . The whole site was overlayed with field rock. In f a c t , there were times when it was felt we were growing rocks or spawning rocks or somehow reproducing them because they just kept c o m i n g . You can't bury t h e m , you can't burn t h e m , and they didn't walk when we asked them t o , so we tried a couple of things. F i r s t , rock can be utilized for lake bank s t a b i l i z a t i o n . We also used rock to hold an elevated tee bank along a stream. The material can also be crushed and used as "road fill" under cart p a t h s , service roads and parking lots. A n d , of c o u r s e , at S e n t r y W o r l d , we plant flowers in the r o c k s . John J o a n i s , Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Sentry I n s u r a n c e , who conceived and rode herd on this entire p r o j e c t , has said that, "We knew we needed a theme for the entire golf course - something that would be k n o w n , that would be d i f f e r e n t , b e a u t i f u l , m e m o r a b l e , an instant tradition if you w i l l , and I guess my love for flowers got in the way." F u r t h e r , h o w e v e r , people make this "instant tradition" w o r k . Jerry Rzentkowski is a 1975 graduate of the College of DuPage horticulture program. Jerry had six years experience in the retail greenhouse business before joining u s . Jerry heads up the flower portion of the operation at SentryWorld and he and the Golf Course/Grounds Manager work closely on p l a n n i n g , s c h e d u l i n g , design and implementation of the program. Jane J o h n s o n , who joined us after completing four years of study for a degree in ornamental horticulture at the Unviersity of W i s c o n s i n , M a d i s o n , Mike K i n t o p , another of our full-time greenhouse staff,and up to eight seasonal employees also c o n t r i b u t e . We got into the greenhouse business when the flower theme was determined and it became obvious that "out of house" purchasing would severely restrict ouf ability to utilize plant material on the scale e n v i s i o n e d . We feel the use of our own facility allows us a flexibility that would be unattainable if we bought plants o u t s i d e . Cost is the prime c o n c e r n , but a d d i t i o n a l l y , we can control the varieties a v a i l a b l e , the size at planting t i m e , and the quality of the material to be used. ! In 1 9 8 1 , we purchased three greenhouses along with a back-up generator system. Included in the purchase was ten acres of land which we used to expand the existing 9,000 square feet of greenhosue space into the present 24,000 square feet. Last year we dedicated four acres of this parcel for use as a tree nursery and now have 800 t r e e s , including white b i r c h , river b i r c h , blue s p r u c e , white spruce and m a p l e , for use on the golf c o u r s e . We have also begun a program to germinate seed and propagate groundcovers from cuttings for future use on our property. We currently have 600 such plants grown up to 6-inch pot size. Of c o u r s e , as with everything any of us g r o w s , it all starts with the s o i l , and in mid-January the greenhouse staff begins filling the first of 300,000 pots and flats for p l a n t i n g . In early February seed is placed in germination trays for about 50% of the plants we will use. The remaining 50% are placed in pots or flats as "live plants" around the middle of F e b r u a r y . Our greenhouses are full by the third week of M a r c h , and the next seven to eight weeks are spent "growing in". Throughout the "growing in" p e r i o d , plants are pinched back or cut back as the species dictate and time allows in order to promote lateral or "bunching" type shoot growth to maximize the number of blossoms per p l a n t . Irrigation needs are monitored and hand watering or sprinkler irrigation is done as n e e d e d . We allow blossoms to begin "showing" around the third week of May in order to have the majority of plants blooming at planting t i m e , usually the week following Memorial D a y . This season our plant material inventory will include: g e r a n i u m , a g e r a t u m , salvia, b e g o n i a , impatiens, day lily, d i a n t h u s , c o s e a , marigold and vinca v i n e . Several species of pfetunias will also be u s e d . Our planning calls for each species or variety to be used in areas for which they are a d a p t e d , particularly in terms of light intensity. For e x a m p l e , we don't plant impatiens on our 16th hole because of full sun. We have reduced the number of different species used in mass plantings from 19 the first year to four this year in order to simplify m a n a g e m e n t in terms of f e r t i l i t y , irrigation and pest c o n t r o l . We have tried to reduce the variables of soil type and watering by using a homogenous bedding mexture and automatic irrigation. In early May we go into the beds at SentryWorld and add our soil m i x , which is composed of 70% marsh sand, 20% peat and 10% vermicullite to compensate for any material that may have settled or was lost to e r o s i o n . The week after Memorial D a y , things tend to get a little busy relative to flowers. In addition to 11 employees who are ordinarily assigned to flower m a i n t e n a n c e , we dip into other areas of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , such as the golf course and the parks s t a f f s , and bring the planting operation strength up to about 25 e m p l o y e e s . These employees are split into two shifts in order to minimize the impact on play which is taking place and keeping productivity u p . Since designs are final ized the previous N o v e m b e r , our challenge at planting time is to accomplish the operation in the shortest period p o s s i b l e . Planting areas are marked off with a paint g u n , and proper spacings are given as part of on-going work d i r e c t i o n . A number of flats are laid out waiting for planting. Those people transporting plants must stay ahead of the people planting or we lose production time and increase the interference with p l a y . The transporting of flowers continues almost c o n s t a n t l y . We use Cushman trailer set-ups, in addition to a tractor-trailer set-up to bring these materials into the field from our maintenance building which serves as the central drop-off point. We have found our two-way radio system invaluable for communicating any field c h a n g e s , which plant materials to bring n e x t , et c e t e r a , thereby eliminating confusion w h i c h , in t u r n , helps minimize lost time. At the end of five d a y s , 90,000 annuals have been planted on #16 and we have a most unusual golf hole. Golf balls hit into the flowers are n o n - r e t r i e v a b l e . According to John J o a n i s , who established a fairly simple Wisconsin local r u l e , "You don't go in after it. You just don't!" I would offer that the best description of this hole is the one I heard from Bob R e i t h , our general manager and director of g o l f . When asked about the 16th he r e p l i e d , "It's the only hazard in golf I've ever enjoyed facing." The impact of the use of flowers on the 16th hole is dramatic but not limited. According to Robert Trent J o n e s , J r . , it was his intent to "create an array of color for the g o l f e r , not only off the t e e , but also from other vantage points on the property." We don't limit ourselves to the 16th hole at SentryWorld or to annual f l o w e r s . Tulips are a welcome sight after a long Wisconsin w i n t e r , and we have incorporated about 50,000 bulbs into our planting scheme. We also feel the flower theme should be presented as early as possible to our g u e s t s , thus a mass planting along our entrance road. F u r t h e r , golfers and visitors are directed to the golf course from the Sports Center by beds of r e d , w h i t e , pink and y e l l o w . We have placed additional smaller beds "out of play",but definitely not out of sight throughout the entire 7,000 yards of golf - a bit of " l i p s t i c k " , according to John J o a n i s . We use about 210,000 plants-worth of lipstick at S e n t r y W o r l d . We seem to have a contradiction by employing such extensive uses of laborintensive, time-consuming materials and planting p r o c e s s e s , particularly when viewed in terms of the golf industry's dilemma with soaring maintenance c o s t s . With the emphasis on holding the line, how can the obvious costs be justified? John Joanis has been quoted as saying that,"You have to understand that SentryWorld is an advertising piece for the companies and if we are anything more than just another insurance c o m p a n y , we have to be represented by something other than just another golf c o u r s e . We needed something dramatic and recognizable in a h u r r y , and I feel the flowers do just that." Michael D r y , Sentry Vice-President for Public A f f a i r s , elaborated on the advertising and other values of SentryWorld in g e n e r a l , and the flower program specifically. "Basically, advertising seeks to c r e a t e , increase and maintain a w a r e n e s s . We have spent one million dollars on a one^hour television special in the past and created awareness on a hit and miss type b a s i s . SentryWorld is something special and the flowers make it even more e x c e p t i o n a l , so, in that c o n t e x t , the awareness is maintained because the golf course and the flowers are t h e r e , y e a r in and year o u t . Although we spend approximately $200,000.00 annually on the flower p r o g r a m , when balanced against a yearly advertising budget of 6.2 million d o l l a r s , a g a i n , according to Mike D r y , "Those are some of the m o s t efficient dollars we can spend to reach people important to our b u s i n e s s , to help create an identity for Sentry." M r . Dry also brings out a couple of other points to be considered when attempting to view this expense on b a l a n c e . S e n t r y W o r l d , and the flower t o u c h , can be utilized by the companies to maintain good customer relations in addition to "messaging" potential customers - the type of customers Sentry w a n t s . Company m e e t i n g s , training sessions and functions become more productive for sales agents and employees from outside of Stevens Point if Sentry can offer them a first-class facility to play during their s t a y . "You need to break up three days of training rooms and motels." F i n a l l y , in terms of employee b e n e f i t s , the golf course itself is consistent with Sentry's dedication to employee w e l l n e s s . It is something extra that also can be added when trying to recruit and retain top talent for company operations in Stevens P o i n t . Indicative of this last statement is Sentry's reputation as a low turnover employer in the insurance industry. Once a g a i n , "Those dollars are some of the most e f f i c i e n t dollars we can spend." Grasses For Athletic Fields D r . William A . Meyer T u r f - S e e d , Inc., H u b b a r d , Oregon Prior to the 1970's the improved Kentucky bluegrasses were the main species used for athletic fields in the northern part of the U . S . During the 1970's the new improved turf-type perennial ryegrasses became available and were used successfully in mixtures with bluegrass for athletic f i e l d s . In the last three to four years a new generation of tall fescues has been released that show great promise for athletic field turf. Kentucky Bluegrasses There are many improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass presently a v a i l a b l e . M o s t of the n e w , low g r o w i n g , dense varieties will perform well on athletic f i e l d s . There are some diseases which can be damaging to bluegrasses at t i m e s , and the resistance levels in the presently available varieties do vary g r e a t l y . Leaf spot, caused by Helminthosporiu m s p p . , can severely damage common type varieties (characterized by narrow leaves and erect growth habit) such as P a r k , Kenblue and Delta when they are cut short and fertilized heavily. A - 3 4 , Adelphi, America, Bonnieblue, Bristol, Challenger, Columbia, Eclipse, Majestic, M i d n i g h t , P a r a d e , Sydsport and Touchdown are examples of turf-type varieties with improved leaf spot r e s i s t a n c e . The turf-type varieties B a r o n , C h e r i , G l a d e , M e r i t , Ram I,Victa and Wabash would be considered as having intermediate resistance. All of the abovementioned turf-type varieties have improved resistance to strip smut (Ustilago striiformi s) compared to M e r i o n , which is very susceptible. In areas with southern exposure and intense heat buildup Fusarium blight can be a devastating disease with very slow r e c o v e r y . The varieties A d e l p h i , C o l u m b i a , Parade and Sydsport have shown better resistance to this d i s e a s e . Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) can reduce turf quality during h o t , dry periods which slows down the growth of bluegrass. The varieties A d e l p h i , Eel i p s e , A m e r i c a , C o l u m b i a , Parade and Bristol have improved r e s i s t a n c e , while B a r o n , Touchdown and Merion are quite susceptible. The varieties M i d n i g h t , A d e l p h i , B r i s t o l , Glade and Ram I are dark bluegreen c o l o r e d . B o n n i e b l u e , P a r a d e , Columbia and Majestic retain better winter color and green up early in the spring compared to varieties such as B a r o n , Nugget and V i c t a . When compared with other turfgrass species a strong case can still be made to include a good proportion of Kentucky bluegrass in turfgrass mixtures to improve cold h a r d i n e s s , sod forming ability and recuperative potential to repair injuries to turf by their spreading r h i z o m e s . A - 3 4 , Touchdown and Sydsport are varieties of bluegrass which are very vigorous turf formers and are good candidates to be used in athletic field mixtures with r y e g r a s s . Perennial Ryegrasses None of the other turfgrass species can germinate and tiller as rapidly as the new r y e g r a s s e s . Since Manhattan perennial ryegrass was released in 1967 as the first real improved turf-type perennial r y e g r a s s , there have been many other improved turf-types released. These varieties such as B i r d i e , B l a z e r , C i t a t i o n , D a s h e r , D e r b y , D i p l o m a t , F i e s t a , O m e g a , P e n n f i n e , P e n n a n t , Regal and Yorktown II have displayed the excellent establishment rate and persistence of M a n h a t t a n . At the present t i m e , there is a new generation of turf-type varieties coming into the market that are showing improvements in d e n s i t y , mowing quality and overall disease r e s i s t a n c e . Manhattan II, P a l m e r , P r e l u d e , Citation II, Birdie II, Repel 1 and Omega II can be included in this c a t e g o r y . These varieties have also shown improved leaf spot and crown rust resistance compared to the earlier varieties. The above varieties with a II designation also have had excellent resistance to stem r u s t , which is a serious seed production d i s e a s e . Another interesting development in the past year has been the discovery of the presence of a fungal endophyte in certain new perennial ryegrass varieties. An endophyte is a fungus that lives within another p l a n t . The presence of the endophyte fungus in plant tissue has not been found to cause any adverse effects and has been shown at Rutgers University and in New Zealand to provide resistance to the following insects: c u t w o r m s , sod w e b w o r m s , a r m y w o r m s , bluegrass b i l l b u g s , Argentine stem weevil and chinch b u g s . This fungus is transmitted by seed from one generation to the n e x t . The varieties P e n n a n t , Citation II and Birdie II are some new varieties that contain quite high levels of e n d o p h y t e , which should provide resistance to the insects listed. This fungus does not live in the roots of ryegrass plants and does not provide resistance to root feeding insects. All of the new improved turf-type varieties have shown excellent wear tolerance in our trials located in Hubbard when compared to other species. The variety Manhattan II had the top wear tolerance r a t i n g , followed closely by the other good varieties. There is still a need to continue to improve the Fusarium nivale and red thread resistance levels in perennial ryegrass v a r i e t i e s . Tall Fescues In the last four years the release of R e b e l , Falcon and Olympic has resulted in tremendous interest in new turf-type tall f e s c u e s . These new lowerg r o w i n g , dense and finer textured grasses are showing real improvements in disease resistance and turf performance compared to the o l d , common type varieties Kentucky 31, Alta and F a w n . Some other new tall fescue varieties becoming available are A d v e n t u r e , A p a c h e , B r o o k s t o n , Finelawn I , H o u n d o g , Jaguar and M u s t a n g . The outstanding characteristic of the new tall fescues is their deep root system that results in their ability to stay green two to three weeks longer than other cool season turfgrass species under drought c o n d i t i o n s . Some of the new varieties such as A d v e n t u r e , J a g u a r , Apache and Olympic have shown improved shade tolerance. Under moderate shade c o n d i t i o n s , the leaf texture of these new tall fescues becomes finer and y e t they maintain good d e n s i t y . The tall fescues have also shown better tolerance to many common insect problems than most other turfgrass species. In our wear trials and in trials conducted in B i n g l e y , England last y e a r , new lower g r o w i n g , denser tall fescues showed superior wear tolerance when compared to A l t a , Fawn and Kentucky 31. They were not as wear tolerant as the best perennial ryegrasses in our t r i a l s , but they were better than most of the Kentucky bluegrasses and all of the fine fescues. Athletic Field Mixtures The combination of 60-70% turf-type Kentucky bluegrass and 30-40% turf-type perennial ryegrass is an excellent athletic field m i x t u r e . The presence of bluegrass should improve sod strength and injury repair and the ryegrass will contribute excellent wear t o l e r a n c e , compaction tolerance and leaf recuperative potential. If a field will not be budgeted to provide the irrigation and fertility needed to maintain a healthy bluegrass and ryegrass m i x t u r e , the new lower growing tall fescues are a good a l t e r n a t i v e . The only species that mixes well with tall fescue is 5% Kentucky bluegrass by w e i g h t . The varieties of bluegrass chosen for this purpose should be varieties with intermediate vigor such as A d e l p h i , C o l u m b i a , P a r a d e , Wabash or M a j e s t i c . Newer Grasses D r . William A . Meyer T u r f - S e e d , Inc., H u b b a r d , Oregon In the last 12 years there has been a tremendous increase in the release and availability of improved turfgrass varieties to turfgrass managers in the United S t a t e s . This has resulted from the passage of the Plant Variety Protection Act in 1971. This Act allows both private and public plant breeders to obtain the exclusive production and marketing rights on a new unique v a r i e t y . Other individuals cannot produce or market a protected variety w i t h o u t the permission of the o w n e r . This Act allows the individuals or institutions that have invested money in the development of new varieties to be compensated for their efforts and investments. Many new and improved varieties of Kentucky b l u e g r a s s , perennial r y e g r a s s , tall fescue and fine fescue are now on the m a r k e t as a result of increased turfgrass breeding in the U . S . and E u r o p e . Kentucky Bluegrass The 1980 National Bluegrass Test included 84 v a r i e t i e s . of these are on the market in the U . S . Approximately 30 Leaf spot is a serious disease of certain Kentucky bluegrass varieties under short mowing heights and high fertility and irrigation levels. Varieties such as P a r k , K e n b l u e , Delta and Geary are examples of varieties which can be seriously damaged by leaf spot under these c o n d i t i o n s . The varieties A d e l p h i , P a r a d e , Columbia and Sydsport have shown resistance to Fusarium blight and stem rust. improved Fine Fescues There has been a limited amount of breeding work in the U . S . on the three main species of fine fescue: C h e w i n g s , creeping and hard f e s c u e . Many of the presently available varieties of fine fescues have resulted from breeding progrmas in Europe. The chewings fescue varieties K o k e t , B a r f a l l a , A t l a n t a , Highlight, W a l d o r f , the creeping fescue varieties E n s y l v a , M o n c o r d e , and R u b y , and the hard fescues B i l j a r t , Waldina and Scaldis are all European varieties. The chewings fescues B a n n e r , Jamestown and Shadow are varieties developed in the U . S . These varieties have shown somewhat better turf p e r f o r m a n c e , heat t o l e r a n c e , and leaf spot resistance than the European v a r i e t i e s . Shadow has shown better powdery mildew resistance than most other chewings fescues. All of the chewings fescues need further improvements in red thread resistance and performance under high t e m p e r a t u r e s . The chewings fescues perform well in shade situations, especially competition with tree roots. The creeping fescue varieties generally perform better under a higher cutting height. The U . S . variety Fortress has performed somewhat better than most European v a r i e t i e s . The creeping fescues are w i d e l y used in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass and are compatible in m i x t u r e s . Boreal and common Canadian creeping f e s c u e , which have poor turf performance are w i d e l y used because of their low p r i c e . Flyer is a new creeping red fescue variety which has shown improved turf performance when compared with other creeping f e s c u e s . Compared to all other fine fescues the hard fescues have shown the best overall turf performance at both high and low fertility levels. They have improved leaf spot, dollar s p o t , and red thread r e s i s t a n c e , improved heat tolerance and drought tolerance. Hard fescues have a slow rate of vertical g r o w t h , but are somewhat slower to establish than other fine f e s c u e s . The varieties W a l d i n a , Scaldis and Biljart along with the U . S . v a r i e t i e s , R e l i a n t , S p a r t a n , and Aurora are all improved varieties of hard f e s c u e . The major improvement needed is to increase their seed producing ability to make them more price competitive. The variety Aurora is the result of a breeding project to improve seed yield and y e t maintain the improved turf performance of the other good hard fescues. Conclusion There are many new varieties of all of the cool season turfgrass species for the turfgrass managers in the U . S . to choose f r o m . The turfgrass manager should do an appraisal of the owner's e x p e c t a t i o n , the environmental conditions and intended management levels for a turfgrass area before he selects the varieties to be used in a turfgrass blend or m i x t u r e . As seen from the previous d i s c u s s i o n , there is a wide range of varieties and species to choose from that differ widely in their performance and m a n a g e m e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s . Intensive Sand Topdressing Walter F e r g u s o n , Superintendent Forest Hills Country C l u b , C h e s t e r f i e l d , Missouri The conditions that determine the frequency and the rate of sand application to turf grasses are: - the the the the the the topdressing budget species of turfgrass being topdressed height that the turfgrass is being maintained rate of growth of the turfgrass type and size of sand amount of traffic You could topdress 80 or 240 pounds per 1,000 square feet once a week or every three w e e k s , depending on the need of the turfgrass as determined by these conditions. The b u d g e t . The budget m u s t contain enough money to cover the additional expense of the s a n d , the extra m a n p o w e r , and repair and maintenance caused by the abrasiveness of the sand. The species and varieties of t u r f g r a s s . The more aggressive and thatchprone the grass is the more intensively it can be t o p d r e s s e d . Topdressing can take a problem grass and use its lesser characteristics to a d v a n t a g e . The height at which the turfgrass is being m a i n t a i n e d . B a s i c a l l y , the taller the grass the heavier the rate of sand that can be used w i t h o u t causing a thinning of the turf, or smothering of the g r a s s , or abrasive wear of the grass under traffic. If your program is designed and implemented properly you will find that you will be managing different greens each fall than the greens you started with in the s p r i n g , and each spring you find the greens different from those you had the preceding f a l l . If topdressing requires such a high level of m a n a g e m e n t , why would anyone even dream of implementing such a program? This is w h a t is has accomplished for me: Starting with a growing media of 25% pea gravel and 75% clay it has allowed me to maintain Penncross putting greens at 7/64's to 9 / 6 4 1 s mowing height in S t . Louis the year r o u n d . It has reduced by 75% the number of days that the golf course is closed due to w e t g r e e n s . It has aided in the development of a very tough turf that is extremely dense and provides a very smooth putting surface. Putting can be manipulated to roll as fast or as slow as the membership at Forest Hills C . C . desires at any time during the growing season. It has eliminated the need for s p r i n g , early s u m m e r , or fall coring of the g r e e n s . I have not cored the greens in the last four y e a r s . (We average 200 round per d a y ) . It has eliminated the need for preemergence crabgrass c o n t r o l . used a crabgrass control for the last six y e a r s . I have not The rate of growth controls the frequency that the minimum rate of sand can be applied. The rate of growth is controlled by several f a c t o r s . Some of these factors are under our c o n t r o l , and others are n o t . These factors are: - The fertilization program. This we can control by determining w h a t nutrients are applied and in w h a t r a t i o , how much is a p p l i e d , how often it is applied. - The season of the y e a r . The growth rate of grasses varies in response to fertilization during the different seasons of the y e a r . Even if temperatures and fertilization rates are approximately the s a m e , the growth rate and habits will vary. - T e m p e r a t u r e . The degree of warmth and the degree of warmth variation has an influence on the growth rate of all g r a s s e s . When the temperatures reaches ninety plus d e g r e e s , or even one hundred d e g r e e s , topdressing must go o n , but the rate will need to be adjusted according to the stress on the g r a s s . - Type of sand. This we can control by using fine v s . medium vs. c o a r s e . - T r a f f i c . The number of golfers per day per week will be the final that will determine the frequency and the rate of sand. that just NO! that variable From this list of variables anyone can see that this is a management tool can be designed and implemented q u i c k l y . The program will run by itself; fling sand around over the green every so often and everything will be great! Not quite! Sand topdressing is just another management tool but it is one requires constant and intensive m a n a g e m e n t . It has eliminated the need for vertical m o w i n g . grass blade will bring sand to the surface. Even light tickling of the It has developed a firm layer of growing media that will p r o v i d e surface drainage w i t h o u t any internal drainage other than the layer of sand. This firm layer of compacted sand will remove enough of the excess water that very little footprinting or tracking occurs around the putting c u p s . In short, it has saved Forest Hills C . C . and myself the long drawn-out process of rebuilding 29 putting g r e e n s , totaling over 220,000 square f e e t . How long has it delayed the rebuilding of these putting greens? Barring any unforeseen p r o b l e m s , it could possibly continue for another 20 years or longer before the program would require major m o d i f i c a t i o n . Is this program for you? Only if you have the intestinal fortitude to try and the willpower to make it work under your special set of c o n d i t i o n s . Winter Damage - Unwanted Experience John P . L e e p e r , Superintendent Orchard Ridge Country C l u b , Fort W a y n e , Indiana During the winter of 1 9 8 1 - 8 2 , Orchard Ridge Country Club in Fort W a y n e , Indiara suffered extensive turf damage caused by one of the w o r s t winters on record. W h a t I would like to do. is to share with you my ! , agony of defeat and thrill of victory". During the winter of 1 9 8 1 - 8 2 , the Fort Wayne area had over 82 inches of snow, 121 days that were below the freezing m a r k , blizzard winds that had a wind chill factor of minus 70 d e g r e e s , a n d , to top it o f f , the w o r s t flood in 69 years! During the first week in March when all of the 82 inches of snow and ice began to m e l t , flooding began in the Fort Wayne a r e a . Lakeside Golf Course lost most of its course from sand that was washed in from a nearby river. All of their bowling alleys and pro shop inventory were lost to high w a t e r . During the flood the people of Fort Wayne handed together to help save a good portion of the city by sandbagging flood-prone a r e a s . Their efforts were rewarded one year later when the City of Fort Wayne was selected to receive the "All American City" a w a r d . Before the f l o o d , and under all that s n o w , ice had accumulated and maybe caused this type of winter k i l l . Damage was quite extensive everywhere we looked. Greens and fairways received the most d a m a g e , especially those greens that had a low wet area or some poor d r a i n a g e . On the fairways which consist of approximately 60 percent bent and 40 percent Poa a n n u a , the winter damage occurred in the low w e t areas and killed m o s t of the~~Poa annu a. Areas that were not affected were Penncross tees and collars and bluegrass r o u g h s . At this point in time I felt that clear and understandable communication with the greens committee and the members was vital - whether it was v e r b a l , w r i t t e n , or 'show and tell' - in order to keep bad rumors from spreading around the c l u b . I did not beat around the bush about w h a t had happened to their golf c o u r s e . I showed the greens committee photographs of the winter damage and a U . S . WEather Service local data report on winter conditions from December through February of 1982. I used the club newsletter to inform our members about what caused this winter d a m a g e , w h a t type of renovation program we were u s i n g , progress reports, and playing c o n d i t i o n s . I shared my problems with other golf course superintendents, hoping that we could learn from this 'unwanted experience'. We had many lengthy discussions of our p r o b l e m s . Communication with D r . Daniel proved to be a tremendous asset to all of us suffering from winter damage. He rushed U p and spent the whole day going over our problems and gave us some recommendations on r e n o v a t i o n , estimates of how long recovery would t a k e , and suggestions for communcations to our m e m b e r s . Aerial photos of local golf courses with similar damage proved to be the best communication to our m e m b e r s . When the greens committee and our members saw these photos of other courses it let them know we w e r e n ' t the only ones who suffered winter damage. Remember the old saying,"A picture tells a thousand stories." Communication can also be done by 'show and tell'. For e x a m p l e , winter damaged plugs were brought in in early March and put in a warm window sill. They were shown to the greens committee from time to time so they could watch the recovery p r o c e s s , if any, in our c a s e . So beef up your communications when a problem like this occurs - v e r b a l l y , in writing or by show and tell. It sure did help me! Since this type of winter kill was my first experience of this sort in my 25 years in the golf business, I decided to educate myself on winter kill, there are all types: - d e s i c c a t i o n , which is caused from a dry winter usually associated with high winds and with very little snow cover - pink and gray snow mold caused by a fungus and occurring when snow and ice begins to thaw and temperatures are between 32 and 40 degrees - d i r e c t , low temperature kill which is the one that did most of the damage at our club. I would like to pass on to you w h a t I have learned about low temperature kill. What to look for after the spring thaw: - appears water soaked - turning whitish brown - progressing to a dark brown - bad odor - smells like manure - damage more evident in low areas of greens Some possible causes: - rapid decrease in soil temperature - oxygen suffocation under ice sheets - freezing and thawing of water in the cells of the p l a n t . D r . James Beard's study at Michigan State University shows that winter kill from oxygen suffocation under ice sheets occurs rarely. I have to a g r e e . At our c l u b , I felt most of the winter damage was from blizzrd-like w i n d s , or a rapid decrease in soil temperature, and from freezing and thawing of water within the eel 1s of the plants. We informed our members through the club's newsletter about the cause of the winter damage and the details of the renovation p r o g r a m . This program on the greens was to start as early as possible and to treat the greens very gently because some of the plant crowns might be healthy and could produce shoot and root g r o w t h . One way to tell if the crown of the plant is healthy is to peel the dead tissue away from the c r o w n , and slice the crown with a razor type knife and examine it under a small magnifying lens. If the crown appears white and firm l o o k i n g , chances are it will produce shoot and root g r o w t h . A l s o , we kept the golfers away from newly seeded areas as long as possible to ensure the best results. We either played temporary greens or put the cup on the green in an area as far away as possible from the newly seeded a r e a s . On temporary greens we used the large plug repair tool to make the hole so the member had a better chance of making the p u t t . We spiked the greens by hand and seeded the damaged areas in two different d i r e c t i o n s . We did this five or six times to ensure good coverage. The first time we spiked and seeded the greens we applied a starter type of fertilizer. We lightly syringed the greens once or twice during dry days as n e e d e d . From the time we first started our renovation p r o g r a m , it took approximately six weeks of good growing w e a t h e r , which we h a d , to bring our golf course back to playing c o n d i t i o n . And by Memorial Day the greens were healthy enough to aerify in preparation for the summer m o n t h s . What you can do to prevent direct low temperature kill: - improve surface and subsurface drainage fall f e r t i l i z a t i o n , high in potash avoid late fall m o w i n g , higher cut reduce thatch late topdressing, buffer zone avoid heavy late irrigation artificial p r o t e c t i o n , s t r a w , conwed c o v e r , e t c . soil warming by electricity What can you do during the winter when you receive an unusually large amount of snow and ice on your greens? Winter maintenance: - ice and snow removal after thirty d a y s , particularly on greens with poor drainage - trench or remove snow in low wet areas - dark m a t e r i a l s , topdressing or Milorganite - pray! Many methods of removing snow and ice have been t r i e d . Using a tractor and plow will cause more damage to your course because of the contour of the g r e e n s . The method I like is to use a snow blower and shovels. It may take a little longer, but it causes little d a m a g e . Or you can use a sledge hammer to break the ice sheet. We tried this w i t h o u t really thinking and caused a lot of hammer damager to the greens which eventually had to be topdressed. Annual Bluegrass M a n a g e m e n t D r . Karl Danneberger Department of Agronomy Ohio State U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , Ohio Annual bluegrass is a cool season grass best adapted to the northern United States and C a n a d a . It is native to Europe and has been found on five other c o n t i n e n t s . The ability of annual bluegrass to adapt to low mowing heights makes it an excellent turgrass species for golf course g r e e n s , tees and fairw a y s . For e x a m p l e , at 1/4 inch or l e s s , annual bluegrass provides an adequate putting surface. At 1/2 inch, annual bluegrass provides an excellent fairway turf. Maintenance of an annual bluegrass turf is a complex and difficult undertaking. Golf course managers have to fully understand the role that environmental and biological stresses play in annual bluegrass m a n a g e m e n t . The key to managing annual bluegrass is the identification of the stress periods and then implementing proper management practices that will minimize the stess e f f e c t s . Environmental stresses such as t e m p e r a t u r e , are impossible to control and difficult to p r e d i c t . H o w e v e r , preventative m a n a g e m e n t practices such as coring and/or vertical mowing will help create a turf environment more conducive for summer survival. Vertical mowing should be initiated shortly after annual bluegrass begins active growth in the spring. This will help establish more juvenile plants that will be better able to survive the summer heat stress p e r i o d . Vertical mowing should be done on a bi-weekly basis until the arrival of hot w e a t h e r . Coring is an important practice that is best accomplished in the spring and fall. Coring provides an excellent environment for root d e v e l o p m e n t , as often shown by the deeper rooting in the coring h o l e s . Reducing the amount of thatch present in an annual bluegrass turf critical management practice. By reducing t h a t c h , one can effectively a medium that is conducive to disease and insect d e v e l o p m e n t . Thatch can be accomplished by coring followed by vertical m o w i n g , both in the and f a l 1 . is a eliminate management spring A cultural practice that can influence the health of annual bluegrass is fertilization. Proper fertilization can minimize the effect of certain diseases and promote desirable g r o w t h . Annual bluegrass responds well to 1 lb. nitrogen in September, 1 lb. nitrogen d o r m a n t l y , and 1/2 lb. J u n e , July and A u g u s t . The total nitrogen applied should be within 3-4 lbs. actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq.ft. Phosphorus and potassium should be maintained at adequate levels. Proper irrigation practices help minimize the effect of water stress. During the summer m o n t h s , usually following seedhead f o r m a t i o n , root production declines resulting in an active root system that may be only an inch or 2 inches in depth. Maintenance of this type of situation will require l i g h t , frequent irrigation. Light irrigation as applied here is defined as bringing the top 1 or 2 inches of the soil or whatever the rooting depth may b e , to field c a p a c i t y . Water applied too heavily will penetrate beyond the r o o t z o n e , thus being unavailable to the p l a n t . When periods of high evapotranspiration are o c c u r r i n g , syringing will be needed in addition to regular irrigation. Pest management by golf course managers is an integral part of annual bluegrass m a n a g e m e n t . The key to proper pest management is knowing which diseases and insects are serious p r o b l e m s . Each grass species has associated with it certain p e s t s . For e x a m p l e , the pest problems of Kentucky bluegrass are different than those of annual b l u e g r a s s . A list of the major diseases or annual bluegrasses are given in Table 1. Insects such as the Black Turfgrass Ataenius and cutworms are problems on annual b l u e g r a s s . Once the pest problems are identified, proper fungicide and insecticide programs can be initiated. Annual bluegrass can be maintained as a desirable turfgrass s p e c i e s , especially as a fairway t u r f , in most parts of the northern United S t a t e s . Howe v e r , annual bluegrass requires culturally intensive m a n a g e m e n t . Sophisticated irrigation c o n t r o l , and adequate funding for purchase of pesticides is a necessity. Table 1. Common diseases of 4 turgrass species. Kentucky bluegrass Creeping bentgrass Annual bluegrass Melting out Fusarium blight Stripe smut Yellow patch Nigrospora patch Fusarium patch Dollar spot Brown patch Pythium blight Leaf spot Typhula blight Fusarium patch Dollar spot Brown patch Pythium blight Leaf spot Anthracnose Fusarium patch Typhula blight Perennial ryegrass Brown blight Brown patch Pythium blight Anthracnose Red thread Rust Typhula blight Selected References 1. D a n n e b e r g e r , T . K . 1983. Epidemiology and control of anthracnose incited by Collectotrichum graminicola (Ces.) W i l s , on annual b l u e g r a s s . P h . D . D i s s e r a t i o n . Michigan State U n i v e r s i t y , 106 p p . 2. D a n n e b e r g e r , T . K . , M . V a r g a s , J r . P . E. R i e k e , and J . R . S t r e e t . 1983. Anthracnose development on annual bluegrass in response to nitrogen carriers and fungicide applications. Agronomy Journal 75:35-38. 3. V a r g a s , J . M . and T . K . D a n n e b e r g e r . 1 9 8 2 . The effect of anthracnose on annual b l u e g r a s s . Golf Course M a n a g e m e n t 50 (2):51-54. Bentgrass Fairways James M . L a t h a m , M a n a g e r , Marketing and Agronomy Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District M i l w a u k e e , Wisconsin Bentgrass fairways are receiving a great deal of attention these days because the concept of clipping removal and some new chemicals seem to have a positive effect in Poa annua suppression. They definitely improve the appearance of fairways as well as provide cleaner play for early morning g o l f e r s . In our haste to get on the b a n d w a g o n , t h o u g h , we should not forget the basic characteristics of bentgrasses and the things which contribute to the success and failures of their u s e . The first golf turf was bentgrass with a little fine fescue included, on the Scottish linksland from which golf e v o l v e d . These s a n d y , salt sprayed seaside lands supported these grasses adequately to form some sort of sod. The only fertility was provided by b i r d s , wild life and grazing sheep. Meadowgrasses were not used until golf moved inland and the courses were laid out across p a s t u r e l a n d s . In f a c t , seed selection was not needed until courses were cut through wooded areas or heathland where grasses were not the predominant vegetation. These courses were perhaps the first to be subject to intermittent p l a y . They could be used only in the f a l l , winter and during d r o u g h t s , because the grass grew too lushly at other t i m e s . The use of turf grasses in North American has followed the European pattern of bents along the shore areas and the meadowgrasses used inland. The bluegrasses have a long and illustrious history in our M i d w e s t and still predominate as THE general-purpose turfgrass. In g o l f , h o w e v e r , their demise began after WW II in spite of the thousands of acres planted during the next three decades of booming golf course d e v e l o p m e n t . This decline was triggered by fairway irrigation because golfers did not like to see the natural dormancy of bluegrass during the hot,dry summer season. By keeping the fairways a lush green color during that stress p e r i o d , the grass was sufficiently weakened to allow other species to intrude. As a secondary e f f e c t , the continuously w e t soil was compacted by heavy "efficient" mowing machines which further weakened the root system. Perhaps the last straw was the reduction in cutting height to please the golfers who had played on bent or bermuda fairways or had seen and heard comments on their quality by The Tour g o l f e r s . Expert g o l f e r s , the leaders in the g a m e , prefer the dense t u r f , the close lies and the consistent playability afforded by irrigated bent or bermudagrass fairways. Consider that since the mid 1950's, only one U . S . Golf Association Open Tournament has been played on bluegrass and that was at an a r i d , highaltitude location. A great many of today's bentgrass fairways "just developed" from older mixed seedlings as irrigation became more p r e v a l e n t . Older seed mixtures usually contained colonial bents which probably included some creeping t y p e s . All the creeper needed to become dominant was overmaintenance - just like Poa annu a. Bluegrasses are no match for either when the turfed area is mowed too c l o s e l y , o v e r w a t e r e d , overfertilized and inadequately d r a i n e d . In W i s c o n s i n , bentgrass is a major weed in intensively managed bluegrass lawns. Bentgrasses have a much greater tolerance of stress than most people realize. Much of the Poa annua problem has been created by superintendents paralleling fairway maintenance to green m a n a g e m e n t . In our area of W i s c o n s i n , bentgrass makes its greatest expansion into bluegrass during hot w e a t h e r . It survives freeze-outs when Poa annua d i e s . It tolerates low fertility and acidic soils very w e l l . We should also remember that the shot-holding quality of greens does not apply to f a i r w a y s . The fear of heavy thatch formation scared many of us when Penncross bent came into use on f a i r w a y s . Experiences at Tuckaway Country Club in Milwaukee have shown it to be an excellent fairway grass as long as it is managed p r o p e r l y . The Milwaukee Open Tournament has been played there several years and f e w , if a n y , complaints have been heard about 'flying'iron shots or fluffy turf. The best approaches to good bentgrass fairways are: 1. Keep it lean and mean to withstand the environmental stresses. This includes good m a n a g e m e n t of a relatively low nitrogen fertilization program. 2. Keep the nitrogen applications on the f a i r w a y s , not in the roughs. The bent encroachment can be severe with today's primary rough treatment and irrigation c o v e r a g e . 3. Do everything you can to promote a high population of e a r t h w o r m s . They are nature's own d e t h a t c h e r s , so be selective in your choice of pesticides. 4. Study the lightweight mowing o p e r a t i o n s . Perhaps the recent success demonstrated by the newer techniques is because these machines disrupt root systems less than heavier u n i t s . After a l l , Poa annua is a problem because it survives under some stresses better than other g r a s s e s . Clipping removal may not be as important as we t h i n k , especially where perennial Poa types p r e d o m i n a t e . 5. Make sure that natural rainfall or irrigation water has some place to g o . Many superintendents are finding that good drainage is the key to successful irrigation p r o g r a m s , especially on older golf c o u r s e s . 6. P l e a s e , please do not let the current trend toward high quality bent fairways get as far out of hand as the Speed Stick fiasco did to putting green m o w i n g . Some things should go just so f a r . 7. Investigate all means of relief from soil c o m p a c t i o n . As a l w a y s , this is the key to good 'working* turf. Keep the roots growing in the soil, not in the thatch z o n e . 8. Do not try to acidify our naturally alkaline Midwestern soils with sulfur. You will only increase thatch by reducing the population of decomposition m i c r o o r g a n i s m s . New ideas and new methods are constantly improving our chances for better golf playing c o n d i t i o n s . Just remember that bentgrass is much tougher than most people think. It is not exactly a low maintenance g r a s s , but it does not need the babying most people inflict upon it. Give bentgrass its measure of the things that make plants g r o w , then shut off the water when the barrel gets ful1. New Nitrogen Sources Clay Nelson B e n s a l e m , Pennsylvania The envelope of air that surrounds the earth is composed of 80% n i t r o g e n , which translates to roughly 35,000 tons of nitrogen gas per surface a c r e , and 50 times more than that can be found in the s o i l , rocks and organic m a t t e r . All living things contain nitrogen in the form of protein and e n z y m e s . Because of its importance, knowing how to utilize it efficiently becomes a prime c o n c e r n . To the turfgrass m a n a g e r , nitrogen is important because it is more often found to be deficient in soils than are any of the other essential n u t r i e n t s . A nitrogen deficiency in the soil can be corrected through the use of f e r t i l i z e r , but the fertilizer nitrogen must be able to be converted easily to the fixed forms - NH^ and NO^ - for the turf plant to readily absorb it. NH/ (ammonium) - is the cation form which resists m o v e m e n t in the soil due to an attraction to the negative exchange sites on clay and organic m a t t e r , but because it is the most available f o r m , saturation of the exchange sites occur and the rest is lost from the soil through volatilization (25% or more of the applied N ) . (nitrate) ^ - is the anion form which is not attracted to the exchange sites and moves easily with the percolating w a t e r , and once below the root zone it is lost to the turf plant. This is the form in which most nitrogen is absorbed by the p l a n t . As can be seen t h e n , nitrogen deficiencies in the soil can be corrected by fertilizers which best provide nitrogen in an efficient f o r m . External factors which exert a strong influence on the fertilizer efficiency include: - Soil type and texture, p H , m o i s t u r e , t e m p e r a t u r e , organic matter content - Thatch a c c u m u l a t i o n , microbial a c t i v i t y , and turfgrass species and variety With all of the variables that affect nitrogen e f f i c i e n c y , it is understandable that researchers are continuously striving to develop new nitrogen sources. Before undertaking a discussion of new nitrogen s o u r c e s , presently existing nitrogen sources need to be reviewed. B a s i c a l l y , fertilizers can be categorized into four groups (or types) as seen below: Fertilizer Type Examples Water Solubility N Availability Synthetic Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium Sulfate Soluble Very rapid Sewage Sludge Dried Blood & Bone Meal Manure Slightly insoluble Very slow to insoluble Natural inorganics organics Synthetic Organics Contained organics to inorganics Urea Soluble to Urea-Formaldehyde Reactions insoluble IBDU Sulfur Coated Urea Polymer Coated Urea Compressed Clay Coated Synthetic Inorganics Conditionally soluble due to environmental conditions Very rapid to very slow Slow to moderately rapid Each of these four fertilizer types has features which makes it desirable for use on turfgrass. Ideally, the turf fertilizer should be E C O N O M I C A L , E F F I C I E N T , EASY TO HANDLE and NON-PHYTOTOXIC (non-burning). Phytotoxicity is the one thing that separates the various fertilizer types most d r a s t i c a l l y . A fertilizer's tendency to burn has been established by the relative m e a s u r e m e n t of the Salt Index Value (Table I). The degree to which a fertilizer increases the salt concentration of the soil solution - the higher the salt index, the more rapidly the fertilizer releases soluble salts and the higher the "burn potential" and the less water will be available to the turf. The urea reaction p r o d u c t s , because of their low(er) salt indexes, offer the turf manager a degree or margin of safety in the application of n i t r o g e n , not found with many of the other fertilizer t y p e s . The urea reaction products can provide various degrees of water solubility which will alter or control the nitrogen release rate, in addition to many other benefits (Table II). For those turf managers who prefer to use the granular p r o d u c t s , n i t r o f o r m , Scott's products and IBDU have worked w e l l . But for the turf manager who prefers to spray a f e r t i l i z e r , several problems with the liquid urea reaction products have surfaced - stability and burn p o t e n t i a l . (It should be noted that Nitroform Powder Blue can be suspended and sprayed e a s i l y , but it should also be noted that abrasiveness to spray equipment and a very slow nitrogen release are considerations in its use.) The burn potential is extremely low with the urea reaction product where long polymer chains have been formed - Nitroform and FLUF - but the burn potential begins to increase as the polymer chain length decreases - Nitro 26 Plus - until the burn potential j[s a consideration - Formolene and G P 4 3 4 1 . Where the granular urea reacted products have a shelf stability longer than a y e a r , the liquid products have a potentially very short s t a b i l i t y . Variables such as' the incomplete termination of the reaction during m a n u f a c t u r e , alteration of the pH during s t o r a g e , or the elevation of temperature during storage can allow for the continuation of the reaction or the increase in polymer chain l e n g t h , to the point of product solidification. Product Analysis L b s . Fertilizer /Lb. Nutrient N Salt Index Ammonium Nitrate Sodium Ni trage Urea Potassium Nitrate Ammonium Sulfate Calcium Nitrate Diammonium Phosphate Nitroform IBDU Methylene Urea Natural Organic 33-0-0 16-0-0 46-0-0 13-0-44 21-0-0 17-0-0 21-53-0 38-0-0 31-0-0 41-0-0 6-2-0 3.0 6.3 2.2 7.7 4.8 5.9 4.8 2.6 3.2 2.4 16.7 105 100 75 74 69 53 34 10 5 4 3 Partial Salt Index* 3.2 6.3 1.6 5.7 3.3 3.1 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 ^Calculated per unit of nitrogen Table 2 . Product Synthetic Organics Release Mechanism Fractions Approximate Residuality Nitroform MO & W I,II,III 6 Mos.-l Y r . Scott's MU MO & W I,II,III 10-12 w k s . FLUF MO & W I,II,III 12-14 w k s . Formolene/ GP 4341 M0 1,(11) 6-10 wks. Nitro 26 P M0 I,II(III) 6-10 w k s . SI = salt index, Initial R e s p . = Initial Tank Mix Comp = Tank mix compatibility Response Advantages Disadvantages No burn Low SI Low loss Low burn Low SI Low loss Initial R e s p . No burn Low SI Initial R e s p . Low loss Sprayable R e l . Inexp. Sprayable Initial R e s p . Sprayable Initial R e s p . Low Burn Low SI Expensive Initial R e s p . Expensive Expensive Burn Potential Stability Tank Mix C o m p . Expensive Stabil ity Recently several research oriented individuals came together to form a new c o m p a n y , whose charter is the development of new nitrogen sources. One of the more promising product developments is a water disperable urea reacted p o w d e r , w h i c h , when added to the spray tank,exhibits the positive aspects associated with the commercially available liquid and dry urea reacted p r o d u c t s . - Contains Fractions I, II & III which provides a good initial release and a variable residual release dependent upon the degree and type of r e a c t i o n . - Low salt index - Very low to no burn potential - Long shelf stability - Tank mix compatible A sidestream development to the water dispersable urea reacted powder is the ability to utilize various pesticides as an integral part of the f e r t i l i z e r . This will aid in the elimination of tank mixing incompatibilities and m e a s u r e m e n t mist a k e s , as well as exhibit the same positive aspects as previously mentioned for the fertilizer. One of the other areas we have directed our efforts to is in the development of products utilizing nitrification i n h i b i t o r s , which is felt to be the direction of the f u t u r e . Products such as N - S e r v e , D w e l l , D C D , and Thiourea have b e e n , or are being developed in the agricultural crop a r e a , and Lebanon Chemical C o . has successfully incorporated DCD into their turf fertilizer t e c h n o l o g y . The nitrification inhibitors used in combination with the various nitrogen fertilizer types may offer an even greater efficiency in the plant's utilization of n i t r o g e n . The last area of development for us is in the area of m i c r o e n c a p s u l a t i o n , where complete fertilizer blends (N-P-K & m i c r o n u t r i e n t s ) are found in one discreet p a r t i c l e . These particles are dispersed in the tank w a t e r and s p r a y e d . The difference is that solubles, insolubles or mixtures can be chosen as the nitrogen s o u r c e , providing for a spoon feeding type of nitrogen r e l e a s e . The research for new nitrogen sources has only scratched the surface. Every day hundreds of new chemicals are developed for hundreds of uses other than turf f e r t i l i z a t i o n , and it is now up to those of us associated with the turf industry and the universities to locate and redirect those chemicals to the benefit of turf. Zoysia Fairways In The M i d w e s t Lee R e d m a n , Superintendent Bellerive Country C l u b , S t . L o u i s , Missouri I. History A . Bermudagrasses were popular in the 1 9 6 0 1 s with the success of the U-3 h y b r i d . Most every course in the area had a bermudagrass named for that c o u r s e , but the only remaining today is from Westwood C . C . , and is on about three area c o u r s e s . B . Bluegrasses can provide t u r f , but not tight cut fairways during the summer stress p e r i o d s . C . Ryegrasses have been h e l p f u l , but cannot match the durability and low height of cut that zoysia p r o v i d e s . D . USDA research of the late 1 9 4 0 1 s provided the hybrid Meyer-Z-52 zoysia. Since then very little research work has been done except M i d w e s t zoysia by Daniel at P u r d u e , and zoysia work by Portz at S I U . USGA and USDA collection trip of zoysia types in Japan and Korea in 1982 offer a lot of p o t e n t i a l . E. Evansville Country Club has used zoysia fairways for some twenty y e a r s . F . Most private clubs in K a n s a s , Missouri and southern Illinois are either total zoysia fairways or committed to that end r e s u l t . G. Slow growth and costs have held back the move to zoysia. Methods of Installation A. Plugging zoysia 1. Manual tools 2 . Mechanical methods using larger equipment - contract planting being done in S t . Louis area for past two seasons: 100,000 plugs/day at approximately 7 cents per plug installed; has been very popular with many c l u b s . 3. Most success has been with very early season planting (March through May). B. Planting by stolons 1. 2. C. Single row planters Hydro-mulcher most popular on new course construction Sodding approach 1. Total coverage is c o s t l y . Mostly limited to tees and small areas because current sod costs run $4.00 per sq. y r d . d e l i v e r e d . 2 . Strip-sodding at various widths 4" to 18" has been u s e d , with 12" spacings between rows which will require two complete growing seasons for total c o v e r a g e . Problems incurred are: purchasing narrow sod strips and the cost of installation. 3. Important for success a. Use quality sod, free from insect and disease problems b. Buy only well maintained sod that has been cut to a desirable height c . Keep sod m o i s t after planting d . Reduce other grass or weed competition Zoysia Management A. Cutting height and frequency 1. 2. 3. 4. 3/4" to 1" for first and second years after planting 1/2" to 3/4" afterwards. 5/8" at Bellerive has been good Grain can develop from carts and mowing patterns Mowing three times per week during peak growth periods B. Watering 1. Higher requirements than bermudagrass - more like the needs of bluegrass when cut at 1/2". Zoysiagrass can turn brown from lack of moisture and be revived to color with one week of irrigation. C. Chemical weeding 1. P r e e m e r g e n c e . M o s t provide good protection during establishment p e r i o d , but will not be needed after 100% coverage is a c h i e v e d . 2 . Postemergence. Very tolerant to many types. D. Fertilizer requirements 1. First and second years of planting - 5 lbs. AN/1,000 sq.ft./yr. 2 . Third and fourth years after planting - 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. AN/1,000 sq.ft./yr. 3 . After fourth year - 1/2 lb. to 1 lb. AN/1,000 sq.ft./yr. a . iron supplement in fertilizer is very helpful to color b . slow release nitrogen form is needed c . potash feeding equal to nitrogen or more - research is needed to provide more information E. T h a t c h , and controlling it 1. Fertilizer not to be overdone as shown above 2 . Vertical mowing and sweeping - limited results and too much time and labor required 3. Aerification during prime growing season has been most successful along with dragging cores back into turf as t o p d r e s s i n g . July has been the best for S t . Louis a. too early will result in crabgrass infestation b . too late and Poa annua will appear as if seeded c . aerification at this period will solve localized dry spots associated with watering problems d . encourage earthworms as they are very beneficial in the biological decomposition of thatch F. Insects 1. 2. 3. not 4. G. Chinch bug - only found as a home lawn problem with poor management Bill bug - has not been a problem Whitegrub - where a problem the use of Oftanol has given control and damaged earthworm populations Nematodes - have not been proven to be a problem Diseases 1. Yellow patch or cool season brown patch? This is a new problem that sometimes causes damage 2. Springtime leafspot related disease appearing as yellow areas that are slow to green up and sparse 3. Frost occuring in late spring can cause weak turf H. Playing Surface More months of green grass as compared to bermudas (7 months vs. 6 months) and winter playing surface superior to bermuda because the leaf structure does not break d o w n . I. Winter kill problems cause by: 1. excessive wear such as par 3 t e e s , golf carts traffic and athletic play on dormant turf 2. poor drainage areas show up after severe cold winters IV. Decision is y o u r s . As a golf playing surface in the S t . Louis a r e a , there is no b e t t e r . The advantages outweigh the d i s a d v a n t a g e s . If you decide to undertake a zoysia program you m u s t manage for that grass alone. Many courses have made the change and are glad they d i d . This is my solution for better fairway turf. The members are happy with zoysiagrass at Bellerive Country C l u b . The Bulk Pesticide Concept Gary M . C l a y t o n , Operations M a n a g e r , Bulkkem C o r p . Presented by: Steve D e r r i c k , Professional Turf Specialties N o r m a l , Illinois Lawn care has inherently grown to be a highly visible industry. It has manifested this image through intense m a r k e t i n g , which includes equipment passing through residential a r e a s , constantly in the public e y e . Even though the portion of pesticides applied by lawn care companies is a small fraction of the sum total of all pesticides u s e d , the lawn care industry remains the most apparent and has the greatest impact on public o p i n i o n . The lawn care industry has an obligation to educate itself to the specific pesticides applied on turf so that any potential negative attitudes may be answered. In the same r e s p e c t , there becomes a second obligation to develop innovative means to operate within the safety parameters of h a n d l i n g , s t o r i n g , and disposing of pesticides and its b y - p r o d u c t s . With the tremendous growth lawn care companies have enjoyed during the past several y e a r s , these parameters have become a great concern to the industry at large. One method that has been employed to satisfy these operational concerns is the bulk system. The scope of this article is to introduce and present information relative to the current trend for bulk handling of pesticides in the lawn care industry. A bulk system consists of a pesticide station comprised of one storage unit per product and a dispensing m e t h o d . The system is e c o n o m i c a l , eases daily o p e r a t i o n , and offers many other b e n e f i t s . When compared to smaller c o n t a i n e r s , the greatest benefits derived from the bulk system are c o s t , t i m e , and safety. The highlighted cost and time savings includes the elimination of triple r i n s i n g , the expense of properly disposing of d r u m s , the facilitation of inventory c o n t r o l , and the reduction of warehouse space. The safety factor is of direct c o n c e r n . With the bulk s y s t e m , there are not containers to (1) lift and h a n d l e , (2) upset and s p i l l , and (3) pour f r o m , thus reducing e x p o s u r e . The United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a policy applicable to the Bulk Concept since, "It has come to our (EPA) attention that an increasing practice among manufacturer and distributors of pesticides involve the transport and transfer of pesticides in large q u a n t i t i e s , i.e. 'bulk'. For the purpose of the policy the EPA has termed 'bulk' as any volume of pesticide greater than 55 gallons liquid or 100 pounds dry material held in an individual c o n t a i n e r " . This p o l i c y , issued in 1977, cites the EPA reasons for preference to handle pesticides in bulk rather than in small individual c o n t a i n e r s . The reasons are basically the same as the aforementioned r e a s o n s , but the policy goes on to s t a t e , "In the interest of energy and resource conservation and of improved safety measures in pesticide h a n d l i n g , it is incumbent upon the agency to encourage and endorse these purposes insofar as they are consistent with the broad purposes of FIFRA (The Federal I n s e c t i c i d e , Fungicide and Rodenticides Act.)" An enforcement policy is defined in regards to bulk shipment and transfer p r a c t i c e s . It is the philosophy of B u l k k e m , and should be that of the end u s e r , to institute these practices in accordance with r e g u l a t i o n s . Among the pertinent is included FIFRA Section 3 (A) U . S . C . 136A (A) . It states that no person may d i s t r i b u t e , s e l l , offer for s a l e , or hold for s a l e , to any p e r s o n , any pesticide which is not registered with the A d m i n i s t r a t o r . The purpose of the registration is to provide a vehicle for r e v i e w , t r a c i n g , i d e n t i f y i n g , and assuring that a labeled product is a c c o u n t a b l e . The lawn care c o m p a n y , as an end u s e r , requires no special registration (i.e. establishment of product registration) for the storage and use of bulk p e s t i c i d e s . Y e t , regulations that are applicable to the general usage of pesticides should be e n a c t e d . If a bulk p u r c h a s e r , h o w e v e r , transfers the product he purchased in bulk into smaller containers for r e s a l e , the registrant could not be held accountable for the p r o d u c t , nor would the transferred product be considered registered. The lawn care company could be subject to e n f o r c e m e n t under Sections 12 (A) (1) (A) and 12 (A) (1) (E) for selling and distributing unregistered and mislabeled pesticides. A lawn care company should exercise caution if the m o v e m e n t of pesticide is required for either relocation or to supplement the needs of another b r a n c h . The Department of Transportation requires placard identification markings depending on the product and quantity which is t r a n s p o r t e d . Planning A Pesticide Storage Area T he strategy around planning a pesticide storage area should emphasize both safety and day to day o p e r a t i o n s . Recommendations and regulations generally focus on the proper storage of p e s t i c i d e s , regardless of whether the pesticide is in a small container or a bulk t a n k . Whether a single bulk tank or a complex pesticide station is e m p l o y e d , many considerations should enter into the planning of a bulk facility. Some such considerations to take into account are accessib i l i t y , g r o w t h , proper selection of bulk system m a t e r i a l s , and p r e c a u t i o n s . Bulk tank placement and set-up require a conceived plan since its design is for easement of daily o p e r a t i o n s . Plumbing should be selected to serve the particular need required. A metering system should match the quality of work it will have to perf o r m . Many lawn care companies utilize a meter system with a totalizer to allow a quick reading of materials u s e d . The storage area should have the essential e q u i p m e n t that is near any chemical storage. This equipment includes protective handling g e a r , eye w a s h , a sink or shower, first aid k i t , and assortive m a t e r i a l . An emergency procedure with phone numbers should be p o s t e d . The National Fire Protection Agency publication 43D publishes a code for storage of pesticides in portable containers which is an excellent reference for g u i d e l i n e s . These guidelines include building location, separation of p e s t i c i d e s , posted s i g n s , storage a r r a n g e m e n t , and other storage area requirements. Spills from leaks are u n l i k e l y , y e t should a spill o c c u r , dikes prevent a loss and a potential pesticide issue. Walls should be high enough to contain the volume stored in the tanks. Spray tanks from which the material is applied to lawns may also serve as another source of containmment if n e e d e d . Even though dikes are generally not required by l a w , a local ordinance could force diking around storage areas whether it is a large liquid fertilizer tank or small containers of p e s t i c i d e s . Pesticides of particular note are Xylene based compounds which are classified as combustible liquids (i.e. B e n s u l i d e ) . The National Fi re Protection Agency publication NFPA30 -- Flammable and Combustible Liquids C o d e , provides these as a Class II liquid. This code defines the standards of storing these liquids w i t h , for e x a m p l e , storage arrangement for protected palletized or solid pile storage of liquids in containers and portable t a n k s , preventative fire requirements and so f o r t h . Lawn care companies storing these liquids should refer to this c o d e . This code does address the control of spillage of Class II liquids on preventing accidental discharge from endangering important f a c i l i t i e s , adjoining p r o p e r t y , or reaching waterways by remote impounding or by d i k i n g . Most of the regulations regarding storage of pesticides are well designed and well serve their intended purpose of promoting safety to humans and the e n v i r o n m e n t . The regulations subject to i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , or those being generated on a local level w i l l , to a certain d e g r e e , reflect the industry's f u t u r e . The Bulk Concept offers you an alternative to the way you s t o r e , h a n d l e , and dispose of pesticides and their b y - p r o d u c t s . References: 1. A . E. C o n r o y , II, Director Pesticides & Toxic Substances Enforcement D i v i s i o n . 1977. United States Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum Subject Enforcement Policy Applicable to Bulk Shipments of P e s t i c i d e s . W a s h i n g t o n , D.C 2. NFPA 4 3 D . 1980. Pesticides in Portable C o n t a i n e r s . A g e n c y , Inc. Q u i n c y , M A . 3. ANSI/NFPA 3 0 . 1981. Flammable and Combustible Liquids C o d e . Protection A g e n c y , Inc. Q u i n c y , M A . 4. Code of Federal Regulations-Transportation Part 100-199. Government Printing O f f i c e . W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . The Tall National Fire Protection 1981. National Fire U. S. Fescues D r . William A . Meyer T u r f - S e e d , Inc., H u b b a r d , Oregon The new generation of tall fescues released in the past few years is useful for home lawns, athletic f i e l d s , parks and golf course r o u g h s . The presently avail able varieties can not be maintained for long peridos of time at the short cutting heights required on golf course fairways or t e e s . Kentucky 31 and Alta tall fescue were developed as pasture g r a s s e s , but have been used for t u r f , especially in the transition zone since the 1940's. Their usage has been primarily for turf at 2-3" cutting heights. R e b e l , Falcon and Olympic were the first of a new generation of tall fescues that have a lower growth h a b i t , fine leaves, greater density and the ability to persist at cutting heights of 1" or m o r e . Some other varieties released more recently are J a g u a r , Mustang , A d v e n t u r e , H o u n d o g , B r o o k s t o n , Finelawn I and A p a c h e . Growth H a b i t . The presently available tall fescues are bunch type grasses with no extensive rhizome system like Kentucky b l u e g r a s s . As a r e s u l t , severe disruption of turf by athletic play must be repaired by overseeding worn a r e a s . With Kentucky bluegrass new tillers can develop in scarred areas from underground rhizomes. The application of seed is needed to maintain dense turf in high wear areas and prevent the invasion of turf by undesirable weedy species. Seed should be spread every two or three weeks when the field is being used intensively. Establishment C h a r a c t e r i s t i e s . Tall fescues have a good germination and establishment rate (tillering ability) compared to Kentucky b l u e g r a s s , but are slower than perennial ryegrasses. Beard at Texas A&M University has found that tall fescues have a ten degree F . higher base temperature requirement for germination than perennial r y e g r a s s e s . Our experience in establishing the new tall fescues in seed production fields during the late summer and fall has confirmed the need for a higher soil temperature for good e s t a b l i s h m e n t . The new tall fescues also tiller from the new seedlings more slowly than perennial ryegrass. Because of this, tall fescues should be seeded at rates thirty percent higher than those normally used on perennial r y e g r a s s e s . Wear T o l e r a n c e . In our wear trials and in trials conducted in B i n g l e y , England last y e a r , the new lower g r o w i n g , denser tall fescues showed far superior wear tolerance when compared to A l t a , Fawn and Kentucky 3 1 . They were not as wear tolerant as the best perennial ryegrasses in our t r i a l s , but they were better than most of the Kentucky bluegrasses and all of the fine f e s c u e s . Disease R e s i s t a n c e . The new tall fescues have generally had better leaf spot resistance than Kentucky 3 1 , Alta or F a w n . The varieties F a l c o n , J a g u a r , O l y m p i c , A p a c h e , Adventure and Mustang also have shown improved crown rust r e s i s t a n c e . Rebel and the above varieties have shown moderately good brown patch r e s i s t a n c e . The use of 5% Kentucky bluegrass with these tall fescues can also help to reduce brown p a t c h . Cold Injury T o l e r a n c e . Both tall fescues and perennial ryegrasses have been found to suffer from cold injury especially in poorly drained soils where ice sheeting is prevelent. Our trials on the high desert of Eastern Oregon have shown that the new tall fescues have better cold tolerance than any of the perennial ryegrasses. Short Mowing T o l e r a n c e . Tall fescues do not perform well in competition with Poa annua at cutting heights below 1". A cutting height of 1-1/2-2-1/2" is desireable for good lower maintenance tall fescue t u r f . Fertility and Irrigatio n. Tall fescues have a real advantage over perennial ryegrasses by requiring less fertility and irrigation. Our observation would indicate that the improved perennial ryegrasses require approximately 30-40% more nitrogen fertility than tall fescues to maintain good density and g r o w t h . Under drought conditions the deeper rooted tall fescues have been found to continue to grow two weeks longer than perennial ryegrasses and four weeks longer than Kentucky bluegrass. Summar y. These new tall fescues have created much interest in the turfgrass industry. Many breeding programs are presently in progress to continue the improvements of this species. Varieties with even fine leaf t e x t u r e , dwarfer growth habits and extensive rhizomes should someday be a v a i l a b l e . Editor's Note: Johnstone Rebel Clemfine Wi11iamette Mer Fa 83-1 ISI. CJ Houndog Brookston Falcon Maverick Mustang Adventure In fall of 1983 at Purdue we planted replicated plots as part of the National Tall Fescue T e s t . T F 813 Olympic Jaguar 5GL Apache 5 L 4 Fine!awn I Kenhy Syn-Ga-1 KS-78-4 Arid Ky-31 NK 81425 NK 82508 Tempo Barcel Festorina Unknown Rebel 33%,Galway 33%,Falcon 33% Rebel 60%,Manhattan II 40% Rebel 6 0 % , Manhattan II 3 0 % , Wabash 10% Falcon 9 0 % , Wabash 10% Wabash 100% Galway 100% What Is New In Turfgrass Pathology? Henry Thomas W i l k i n s o n , A s s t . Professor of Plant Pathology University of Illinois, U r b a n a , Illinois There have been a number of new and exciting development in turggrass pathology that directly affect the turf industry in the north central United States. A potentially significant finding concerning the etiology of Fusariu m blight syndrome has been reported by D r . R . W . Smiley of Cornell U n i v e r s i t y . D r . Smiley has reported the identification of two fungi (Leptosphaeria korrae and Phialophera praminicol a) that he suggests produce the same symptoms as Fusarium blight syndrome. Recall that D r . Smiley differentiates Fusarium b l i g h t , a disease of crown and root tissue caused by Fusarium fungi,from Fusarium blight s y n d r o m e , a disease primarily of Poa p r a t e n s i s , the causal agent of which is not definitively k n o w n . The two fungi that have been identified are pathogens of P_. pratensis and will produce disease symptoms in turf that resemble the symptoms of Fusariu m blight syndrome. The work by Smiley is preliminary in that considerable research is still required to understand if the identified organisms act alone or in consort with other microorganisms such as Fusarium fungi that also inhabit the turfgrass e c o s y s t e m . The difficulty in identifying the causal f u n g i , the complexity of environmental factors surrounding the development of this d i s e a s e , and the insensitivity of the pathogens to cultural treatments should temper any optimism that a control of Fusarium blight syndrome will be available in the near f u t u r e . D r . Smiley has indicated that in preliminary research chemical activity against the identified pathogens has been o b s e r v e d . The identification of fungi that appear to play a role in the development of Fusarium blight syndrome does afford researchers a distinct advantage in developing a control for this disease that researchers during the previous thirty years did not h a v e . Yellow ring disease has been observed in the m i d w e s t area during the past few y e a r s . I briefly reported on it at this conference in 1 9 8 3 . This disease of P_. pratensis is caused by the fungus Trechispora a l n i c o l a . This is the second species of Trechispor a that has been reported to attack t u r f g r a s s . The other species of Trechispor a that attacks only Agrostis palustris is X- c o n f i n i s . Trechispora alnicola (yellow ring) has been observed in I n d i a n a , I l l i n o i s , Iowa, W i s c o n s i n , Pennsylvania and in New J e r s e y . It is primarily observed on bluegrass that has considerable thatch (greater than 2 c m ) , and sufficient w a t e r and nutrients to remain green and lush during the entire growing season. No yellow ring has been observed on turfgrass y o u n g e r than two y e a r s . Trechispora alnicola is primaily a s a p r o p h y t e , capable of breaking down thatch and therefore has both a useful ecological niche and a deletreious esthetic e f f e c t . Research is being conducted to determine why a saprophytic fungus w i l l , under certain c o n d i t i o n s , parasitize I P . pratensis r o o t s . In a d d i t i o n , preliminary research at the University of Illinois has demonstrated a reduction in both pathogen activity and the development of the yellow ring symptoms in turf when treated with the chemical p e n t o c h l o r o n i t r o b e n z e n e . A disease of zoysiagrass that I will temporarily call Zoysia patch has been observed in the Mississippi Valley area bordered by Illinois and M i s s o u r i . This important disease is being researched in my program at the University of Illinois. The name Zoysia patch is a temporary name chosen for convenience in communicating about the d i s e a s e , however, should the disease turn out to be a disease already reported on zoysiagrass, the early name will be permanently adopted. Zoysia patch is characterized by large, 4-5 meter diameter patches of dead grass that usually appear in the spring as the zoysiagrass starts breaking dormancy and later in the fall as cooler temperatures start to slow down the growth of z o y s i a g r a s s . The cause of the disease is unknown and resembles no other disease on zoysiagrass or other southern grass species. Zoysia patch has been observed on sod farms and on golf course fairways. Current research efforts are attempting to identify the cause of the disease and develop an effective control p r o g r a m . F i n a l l y , two potentially major problems for turf this spring will be winter dessication and damage due to snow mold causing f u n g i . The high winds and cool dry air caused considerable turfgrass to be desiccated this w i n t e r . It is likely that considerable turfgrass will recover from the foliar d e s i c c a t i o n . The only good aspect of desiccated turfgrass is that it did not contract snow m o l d . Considerable snow covered or moistened turfgrass showed severe symptoms of snow mold damage during the warm period of F e b r u a r y . This damage can be expected to increase if more snow covers the turfgrass or we experience a c o o l , w e t spring. Treatment for snow mold is best done in the f a l l , but should the opportunity to apply preventative chemicals present itself during the w i n t e r , additional protection can be gained. Diseases of Zoysiagrass Henry Thomas W i l k i n s o n , A s s t . Professor of Plant Pathology University of Illinois, U r b a n a , Illinois Zoysiagrass is an introduced turfgrass that is distinctly different from species of P o a , F e s t u c a , Loliu m, and A g r o s t i s , all of which are more closely related to one another than to Z o y s i a . Indigenous to A s i a , zoysiagrass was introduced into the United States about the turn of the c e n t u r y . The 85 years zoysiagrass has been cultivated in the United States represents a very short time period for adaptation. The cultivation of a plant species in a new foreign environment predisposes it to a myriad of problems and its cultivation can threaten natural vegetation. Compounding the difficulty of zoysiagrass in the U . S . A . is the effort by man to extend its cultivation in areas of the U.S.A that have relatively harsh environments for z o y s i a g r a s s . Zoysia species from Asia are well adapted to warm climates and a wide range of soils. During the 1 9 5 0 1 s considerable breeding research in the U . S . A . resulted in the selection of several cultivars of Zoysia species of heritage that are suited for cultivation in the southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. These cultivars were not selected for use in the northeast or north central states,yet during the past decade they have been transplanted into these temperate a r e a s . The upshot of this rapid dissemination and short cultivation period of Zoysia species in the United States is a deficiency in our knowledge of the pathogens that attack zoysiagrass and how to manage t h e m . For the remainder of this t e x t , I will emphasize reported pathogens and potential pathogens of zoysiagrass in the north central states. Time will not permit a lengthy discussion of the effects cultivation and climate have on predisposing zoysiagrass to pathogen a t t a c k , but be advised that these factors will undoubtedly play a major role in predisposing zoysiagrass to d i s e a s e . Zoysiagrass species appear to have an unusually high level of natural resistance to pathogen attack based on the small number of virulant pathogens reported to attack zoysiagrass in A s i a , A u s t r a l i a , and the United S t a t e s . An explanation in part could be that zoysiagrass is very tolerant to d r o u g h t , low f e r t i l i t y , s h a d e , c o l d , and salinity - the very same stresses that predispose Poa and Agrostis species to attack by numerous p a t h o g e n s . In a d d i t i o n , the Zoysia plants produce an extensive system of r o o t s , r h i z o m e s , and s t o l o n s , all of which act as survival structures and appear resistant to attack by m i c r o o r g a n i s m s . In the north central s t a t e s , the growing season for Zoysia is markedly shortened compared to that in the southeastern s t a t e s , thereby reducing the production of tissue upon which the plant depends for survival. This could increase the number of organisms capable of attacking z o y s i a g r a s s . There are four major groups of pathogens that have been reported to attack zoysiagrass: f u n g i , n e m a t o d e s , v i r u s e s , and m y c o p l a s m a . There are twenty diseases caused by more than 25 f u n g i , (Table 1), seven pathogenic nematodes (Table 2 ) , one pathogenic mycoplasma and two viral pathogens (Table 3). Of the 37 pathogens reported to attack z o y s i a g r a s s , only 12 have been observed in the United States and only four of those have been observed in the M i d w e s t . There are no reports of mycoplasma or viruses attacking zoysiagrass in the United S t a t e s . The scarcity of reports describing diseases of zoysiagrass in the United S t a t e s , particularly in the M i d w e s t , probably results from a short history of c u l t i v a t i o n , the small area of cultivated z o y s i a g r a s s , and the scarcity of research in zoysiagrass p a t h o l o g y . It is ill-advised to believe zoysiagrass will have only a few disease problems in the M i d w e s t . In the United States today there are five severe diseases of zoysiagrass and t w o , rust and Zoysia patch,are known to occur in the M i d w e s t . (Table 4 ) . There is very little information or research concerning rust diseases in the M i d w e s t although they have been reported. Based on information describing rust diseases of turfgrasses in the M i d w e s t , Zoysia that was growing slowly under stressful conditions would be m o s t susceptible to the rust disease. The severity and frequency of Zoysia rust disease in the M i d w e s t is u n k n o w n . It is also uncertain whether the rust fungi would successfully overwinter in the M i d w e s t or originate from the southern states and be disseminated by w i n d . More research is needed to determine the severity and distribution of Zoysia rust in the M i d w e s t . Zoysia patch is a "new 11 disease which was first observed ten years ago in the Mississippi Valley area bordered by Illinois and M i s s o u r i . The name Zoysia patch is only a temporary name and may be changed after continuing research identifies the causal agent. Zoysia patch is a p e r e n n i a l , killing disease that develops in the spring and occasionally in the f a l l . Patches of blighted grass can be as large a 5 meters in diameter and grow radially each season at a rate of 1/2 m e t e r . P r e s e n t l y , research is attempting to identify both the causal agent and a control procedure for Zoysia p a t c h . The remaining three severe diseases in the United S t a t e s , dollar spot, nematode d a m a g e , and fairy rings have caused severe problems in the southeast United S t a t e s , but no such reports exist for the north central states. In Table 5 I have listed four diseases that potentially could become severely damaging to zoysiagrass in the M i d w e s t . Spring dead spot occurs in cool spring weather and the o r g a n i s m s , if present in the M i d w e s t , could be favored by the cool springs and falls common to the M i d w e s t . Rhizoctonia solani causes a severe disease in A s i a , large brown p a t c h , and has been reported in the southeastern United S t a t e s . This same pathogen is present in the M i d w e s t and causes brown patch on A . palustris (bentgrasses). T h a t the pathogen is indigenous to the Midwest and pathogenic to zoysiagrass would suggest that it could be a potentially severe problem if climatic conditions are appropriate for disease d e v e l o p m e n t . The fungi causing "Helminthosporium" leaf blight and Fusarium blight are pathogenic to zoysiagrass cultivars and they are common inhabitants in the M i d w e s t . They too represent potential disease problems for zoysiagrass in the M i d w e s t . In summary, our knowledge concerning the disease of zoysiagrass is very limited as is our knowledge of where Zoysia will grow successfully in the United States. As the interest in and practice of Zoysia cultivation i n c r e a s e s , pathological research will slowly f o l l o w . FUNGAL PATHOGENS OF ZOYSIA GEOGRAPHIC PATHOGEN DISEASE AREA 1. Copper spot Gleocercosper a 2. Dollar spot Lanzia Asia sp. S . E . USA sp. Mollerodiscus S . E . USA sp. 3. Phyllosticta leaf blight Phyllostict a 4. Red thread Laetisaria 5. Pink patch Limonomyces 6. Rust Puccinia zoysia Asia sp. fuciformis roseipellis S . E . USA S . E . USA A s i a , S . E . USA C . USA 7. Snow mold Typhula Pink snow mold Gerlachi a Asia sp. Micronectoriella 9. Rhizoctonia large patch 10. 11. ? Southern blight Spring dead spot 13. Leaf blights navils Rhizoctonia solani A s i a , S . E . USA Rhizoctonia cerealis S . E . USA Sclerotini a sp. Asia Corticiu m ? 12. A s i a , S . W . USA sp. Asia sp. Asia Biopolari s Exserohilu m Drechsler a blight sp. Asia sp. 14. Curvularia Pseudocochliobolus 15. Pythium blight Pythium s p . 16. Fairy rings Lycoperdon Lepista Asia sp. Asia geniculatus S . E . USA Asia perlatum sordida 17. Ergot Claviceps 18. Fusarium rot Fusariu m ? 19. Fusarium blight 20. Slime mold yanagawaensis sp. syndrome A s i a , S . E . USA C . USA Asia Asia C . USA Mucilago sponiosa Asia Physarum cinereum Asia N E M A T O D E PATHOGENS OF ZOYSIA i PATHOGEN DISEASE GEOGRAPHIC AREA 1. Stem nematode D i t y l e n c h u s dipsaci Asia 2. Root lesion nematode Pratylenchus zeae Asia 3. Root knot nematode Meloidogyne Asia incognita 4. ? Helicotylenchus dihystera Asia 5. ? Helicotylenchus platyurus Asia 6. ? Hemicriconemoides Asia sp. Asia P a r a t r i c h o d o r u s mirzoi TABLE 3 VIRUS AND MYCOPLASM PATHOGENS OF ZOYSIA DISEASE PATHOGEN GEOGRAPHIC AREA 1. Zoysia dwarf virus ZDV Asia 2. Zoysia mosaic virus ZMV Asia 3. Yellow Mycoplasma Asia SEVERE DISEASES OF ZOYSIA IN THE UNITED STATES DISEASE PATHOGEN U N I T E D STATES CENTRAL 1. Rust Puccinia zoysiae 2. Dollar spot Lanzia s p . Mollerodiscu s OTHER Yes Yes ? Yes sp 3. Nematodes Nematodes No Yes 4. Fairy rings Complex of fungi No Yes 5. Zoysia Patch Unknown Yes ? TABLE 5 POTENTIALLY SEVERE PATHOGENS OF Z O Y S I A FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES DISEASE UNITED STATES PATHOGEN CENTRAL 1. Spring dead spot Complex 2. Rhizoctonia large spot Rhizoctoni a 3. Leaf blights Drechslera Bipolaris solani sp. sp. Exserohilum 4. Fusarium blight Fusarium sp. sp. Yes ? OTHER Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Providing Materials For Athletic Field Improvements Frank D . Smith Frank D . Smith & A s s o c i a t e s , P a l a t i n e , Illinois Those of us who were here for the Turf Conference about fifteen y e a r s ago were told by D r . Daniel that many of the products in use at that time would become obsolete or unavailable within the following ten y e a r s . He stressed the importance of keeping informed of new products and ideas so that we would not fall behind or become somewhat obsolete ourselves within that time. Since then, we have seen many radical changes and improvements in turf equipm e n t , c h e m i c a l s , fertilizers and turfgrass v a r i e t i e s . With regard to grasses for athletic f i e l d s , very few people today continue to use annual r y e g r a s s , common perennial ryegrass or Merion b l u e g r a s s . We depended heavily on then fifteen years a g o , but they can't compete against grasses available for athletic fields t o d a y , and y e t we can be sure that many of our present favorites will lose out competing with new varieties in the future. Good turfgrass management requires that we know and practice the basics but we should also recognize that our maintenance programs are not carved in g r a n i t e . They can and should be changed whenever we can be certain of ways to improve them. The first question that most customers have for a supplier is u s u a l l y , "What's new today?" Suppliers know the importance of having good answers to that q u e s t i o n . That is why you see so many of them at Purdue today and at other conferences throughout the y e a r . H o w e v e r , in discussing ideas and products with a customer who has not had many years of e x p e r i e n c e , a salesman may forget that w h a t was new years ago would still be new to someone hearing of it for the first time. Many baseball diamonds throughout the country have been greatly improved by an idea and a material that was used in building an experimental golf green here at Purdue in 1959. We were here for the fall Field Day and D r . Daniel told u s , as we stood around the g r e e n , that it had been built with a soil mixture that contained a material new at that t i m e , " T u r f a c e " , a calcined montmorillonite c l a y . To demonstrate the ability of the soil mixture to absorb w a t e r , Ray Freeborg used a hose attached to a nearby fire hydrant to flood the green unitl it was covered by a sheet of w a t e r . When finally D r . Daniel asked M r . Freeborg to stop w a t e r i n g , we were all surprised to see the remaining surface water disappear into the green within a few seconds. When we were asked to walk onto the green we found that the flooding had not affected the firmness of the soil mixture and that the green was in excellent playing c o n d i t i o n . D r . Daniel told us that he had saturated a sample of Turface and then had subjected it to a series of twenty or more freeze-thaw c y c l e s . At the end of that test there was no evidence of changes in the size or shape of the remaining particles a n d , t h e r e f o r e , we could expect this material to remain effective for a very long period of t i m e . After twenty-five years the Turface is still performing as well as it did in 1 9 5 9 . Gene B o s s a r d , Field Superintendent at Whitesox P a r k , decided to try Turface on the skinned area of his infield early in 1960. With his recommendation a n d , since retirement, his son Roger's e n c o u r a g e m e n t , many have found that it is not difficult to build or renovate a diamond with Turface a n d , t h e r e a f t e r , have far fewer rain-outs of scheduled g a m e s . Calcined clay absorbants are used in many agricultural products as a carrier for a variety of pesticides. However,they do not require the same ability to resist the weathering effects of our winters a n d , if they are offered as a substitute, remember the freeze-thaw test. A sample of a few ounces in a plastic b a g , with enough water to w e t it t h o r o u g h l y , can be placed in the freezer compartment of a r e f r i g e r a t o r , removed when it has frozen a n d , after t h a w i n g , freezing again and repeating this through at least twenty c y c l e s . Following this test, if you find that the particles can easily be crushed between your f i n g e r s , you will know that the material is not suitable for your r e q u i r e m e n t s . One of the newer developments that has not received much publicity is a 12-volt motor driven rotary spray nozzle that can increase the area covered by a boom sprayer from an average of 2-1/2 acres to 18 acres per 100 gallons of broadleaf weed tank m i x t u r e s . This results from "controlled droplet application" and there is no misting to cause problems with d r i f t . The discharge rate is only 5-1/2 to 6 gallons per a c r e , compared to the usual 40 gallons per a c r e , or seven times more acres sprayed per tank filling. M o r e o v e r , the application rate for the herbicide can be reduced 10% because less material is lost due to the elimination of d r i f t . Long Term Arsenic Use James R . B r a n d t , CGCS Danville Country C l u b , D a n v i l l e , Illinois My first experience in working with the arsenicals was for the control of crabgrass in unwatered bluegrass f a i r w a y s . When I came to the Danville Country Club in 1 9 5 3 , I inherited greens and fairways that were free of Poa annu a. Each year that we had adequate moisture crabgrass was the major problem on the fairways. After reviewing all available data and having been exposed to the early work of D r . Bill D a n i e l , it was decided to initiate some trial plots on our fairways using tri-calcium arsenate as the material to control c r a b g r a s s . These plots were treated in March 1958 with 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. 1958 proved to be a banner year for the production of c r a b g r a s s . The test plots were absolutely free of c r a b g r a s s . When the crabgrass had reached its m o s t obnoxious s t a t e , small signs were placed on each plot giving the source and cost of m a t e r i a l . The membership then demanded that we initiate the p r o g r a m . Our fairways then received the following treatments: March 1959 450 lbs. of tri-calcium arsenate per acre March 1961 85 lbs. of tri-calcium arsenate per acre March 1964 100 lbs. of Chi-Cal granular 48% material per acre Per recommendations of D r . D a n i e l , we w e n t into a fairway ferti1izaiton program using approximately 3 lbs. of nitrogen and 2 lbs. of potash per 1,000 square feet per y e a r . This program gave us fairways that were free of Poa annua and crabgrass for 15 y e a r s . In 1984 we started to experience the loss of bluegrass in our fairways due to Fusarium roseu m. Each succeeding y e a r the loss became g r e a t e r , the replace1 ment grass was Poa annu a. In the 1 9 7 0 s the m a n u f a c t u r e of arsenicals was banned by 0 S H A . We tried all existing materials to try to halt the invasion of Poa annua but met with little or no success. In 1979 and 1980 we w e n t into an extensive renovation program using Roundup to kill out all fairway v e g e t a t i o n . We reseeded to a mixture of superior b l u e g r a s s e s , but to this date Poa annua is still our major problem in our attempts to produce superior f a i r w a y s . In 1980 D r . Bill Daniel approached me to inquire if we had an interest in trying a new formulation of tri-calcium arsenate that m i g h t be made available through the work of M r . John Alden of the Woolfolk Chemical W o r k s . This was of great interest to me as we had been continuing the use of arsenate of lead on our putting greens to enable us to maintain greens that were absolutely Poa annua f r e e . As a result of Purdue's trial plots on our 9th f a i r w a y , it was decided to cooperate by treating one-half of three fairways in the fall of 1981. The material was applied at the rate of 3.36 quarts of the Turf-Cal per 1,000 sq. ft. These same plots received 1.3 quarts per 100 s q . f t . in November of 1 9 8 2 , and 1 quart in May of 1983. As a result of the arsenic t r e a t m e n t s , we now have over 95 percent cover of bluegrass in treated areas while non-treated areas remain at 40 to 50 percent improved b l u g r a s s . We expanded the tests to include one-half of our 5th and 10th fairways. These fairways received 3.9 quarts per 1,000 s q . f t . in November of 1982 and 1 quart again in May of 1983. We have noticed a dramatic increase in the amount of bluegrass in the treated p l o t s . The remaining one-half of the fairways received Balan in August of 1981 and Betasan in 1982 for control of germinating Poa annu a. They also received a treatment of Betasan in April of 1983. Our plans call for the continued use of Turf-Cal on all f a i r w a y s . As an added b o n u s , grubs and crabgrass cease to be a problem on turf that has adequate arsenic r e s i d u a l s . Overseeding into existing turf may be accomplished at any time. With the reduction of Poa a n n u a , we can foresee a great reduction in the cost of fairway fungicide t r e a t m e n t s . We believe this type program to be cost e f f e c t i v e . Our Poa annua c o n t r o l , on the putting g r e e n s , using arsenate of lead has been as follows: 1962 3.5 pounds arsenate of lead during season - cutworm control 1962 10 Ibs/m in November - Poa annua control 1963 2.0 lbs/m during season - cutworm control 1963 10 lbs/m October - Poa annua control Since 1963, we have used from 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 s q . f t . during the summer for cutworm c o n t r o l . These rates have been entirely effective in controlling Poa annua in our putting g r e e n s . We do have sufficient arsenate of lead to continue the practice of using from one to three pounds per 1,000 s q . f t . on our putting greens for the next several y e a r s . While there are newer materials on the m a r k e t that are quite satisfactory in the control of c r a b g r a s s , it has been my experience that there is no material on today's market that can compare favorably with the arsenic compounds for the control of Poa a n n u a . I would encourage you to experiment comparing Turf-Cal to other materials available for Poa annua control - then select your winner! Turf-Cal Product D e v e l o p m e n t D r . Jim F i c k l e , Research A g r o n o m i s t M a l l i n c k r o d t , I n c . , S t . L o u i s , Missouri Tri-calcium arsenate (TCA) was widely used for control of Poa a n n u a , other annual g r a s s e s , and as an insecticide prior to 1977. Revised 0SHA regulations in the middle 70's were not attainable by the then current m a n u f a c t u r e r s , and TCA became u n a v a i l a b l e . Turf-Cal is now back in the market because of our ability to meet 0SHA standards via the new flowable fomulation and the efforts of turf r e s e a r c h e r s . Turf-Cal's introduction represents a unique situation in that strong demand for the product preceded its d e v e l o p m e n t . The use of TCA is predicated on a programmed approach for gradual replacement of Poa annua by desirable overseeded t u r f g r a s s . Although TCA has some postemergent foliar a c t i v i t y , its soil and preemergent activity is more important and is maximized by timely a p p l i c a t i o n . TCA is selective for the warm and cool season turfgrasses p r e s e n t e d , although not equally so between all species. TCA's selectivity is partly positional due to predominantly shallow rooting of annual weeds but is also largely a function of differential u p t a k e . The modes of action within the plant include uncoupling oxidative p h o s p h o r y l a t i o n , effects on enzyme activation and alternation of membrane integrity. Data presented from previous investigations have shown TCA to be the most effective chemical control available for Poa a n n u a . Safety to desirable turfgrasses has also been demonstrated when the conditions required for TCA use have been m e t . The next speaker will address in detail a ten-point program to ensure effective use of T u r f - C a l . Calcium Arsenate A p p l i c a t i o n , 1982 Bill W a r d , Superintendent Morris Park Country C l u b , South B e n d , Indiana During the summer of 1982 our course was selected by D r . Bill Daniel to participate in evaluation of the newly formulated flowable calcium a r s e n a t e . This product was produced by the Woolfolk Chemical W o r k s , Inc. of F t . V a l l e y , G e o r g i a . To my knowledge this was the first time since 1977 that calcium arsenate was available for use in the control of Poa annua and other weed p l a n t s . In 1960 I was involved with tri calcium arsenate for the same purpose on the course where I was formerly e m p l o y e d . I recall vivid memories of the r e s u l t s , some of which were not a n t i c i p a t e d . At that time I was working with heavy clay soil. The leaching factor of that material was slight and the effects lingered many years after the initial a p p l i c a t i o n . We had o b t a i n e d , h o w e v e r , the results we were looking f o r , which was the elimination of crabgrass in bluegrass fairways. It also controlled Poa a n n u a , which was an added f e a t u r e . I can also remember the low, poorly drained areas which were totally killed out when water was allowed to stand there. Time passed and the fairways eventually filled in with a decent stand of Kentucky b l u e g r a s s . With these memories in m i n d , and knowing that Morris Park C . C . w h e r e I am now employed has well drained sandy s o i l , I was eager to try the new material and see if the results would be a c c e p t a b l e . In the fall of 1981 the fairways at Morris Park C . C . had been recontoured and treated with R o u n d u p . New Penncross bentgrass had been planted on these f a i r w a y s , and by the summer of 1982 a good stand of Penncross and Poa annua had reestablished itself on our f a i r w a y s . This provided an excellent opportunity to détermine if the calcium arsenate would be effective in eliminating the Poa annua from the new bentgrass f a i r w a y s . I would estimate that by midsummer we had an approximate cover of 50% Penncross and 50% Poa annu a. The turf cover was light enough that thatch was not a c o n c e r n . The fairways were filling in to a good playable turf cover of the two g r a s s e s . The Penncross was evenly dispersed over the entire a r e a , leaving it the opportunity to fill in any void areas we were to c r e a t e . Up to this time our plan was to stress the Poa annua through controlled watering and low fertility r a t e s . We received 200 gallons of Turf-Cal flowable on September 2 8 . We were able to start the application of the material on T u e s d a y , October 12. It was decided that our test application would first be applied to one-half of our #3 f a i r w a y . It is an open a r e a , fairly f l a t , and we had recently installed open trench pea rock drainage in this f a i r w a y . We felt that the problem of drainage would not be a concern here. In a d d i t i o n , it had a good sunny e x p o s u r e . For our first app l i c a t i o n , D r . Daniel was on hand to offer his assistance and support. The s p r a y e r , mounted on a Cushman t r u c k s t e r , was a John Bean Turfkeeper with a 110 gallon tank and Model 1010 p u m p . We mounted a 20 1 boom with flow jet nozzles which were capable of discharging 1.9 gallons per minute at a pressure of 25 p s i . At 4 MPH the sprayer delivered about 45 G P A . The concentrated calcium arsenate material was delivered as 2 gallons in a 2.5 gallon c o n t a i n e r . The lid was r e m o v e d , a quart of water a d d e d , then the container was closed and hand shaken to better loosen the m a t e r i a l . It was then poured into the running sprayer. The containers had to be triple rinsed to be sure we were using all of the m a t e r i a l . We used 28 gallons to 82 gallons of water in the 110 gallon tank. This was a 1 to 3 d i l u t i o n . This made quite a thick slurry which our operator described as being about like m a y o n n a i s e . It w a s n ' t really that h e a v y , but it was by far the thickest material I had ever been involved w i t h . The fairway varied in width from 90' to 1 1 0 * . We had decided to spray a 60' section for 1 , 0 5 0 ' , most of the length of the f a i r w a y . This would give a good comparison from side to side. The area treated was to 63,000 s q . f t . and when we had finished we had used 64 gallons of the calcium arsenate m a t e r i a l . This had come out about as close to our calibration as we could expect to be. Our concentration was such that we had to cover an area twice to apply the required one gallon of material per 1,000 sq.ft. The entire operation on #3 fairway took about two hours to complete and this included the time required to mix and fill the sprayer. When c o m p l e t e d , the fairway was watered to wash the calcium arsenate into the soil. It took several days for the residual material that had dried to be washed off the leaf. The following day we treated the entire #15 and #16 f a i r w a y s . the extent of the test applications for 1 9 8 2 . This was The results started to show somewhat over a week later when we could notice a slight discoloration of the Poa a n n u a . It set in slowly and advanced to a more distinct yellowing of the Poa annua in the t u r f . No adverse effects were noted in the b e n t g r a s s . Winter w e a t h e r set in late that y e a r . We even had several rounds of golf played on Christmas D a y . The w i n t e r was a moderate one w i t h o u t excess snowfall. The turf came through the w i n t e r with no apparent difference in the treated fairways from the untreated fairways except for the discoloraiton of the Poa annu a. In the spring of 1983 a distinct line of the application cutoff could be o b s e r v e d . The treated area of the fairway showed distinct signs of Poa annua stress as soon as growth s t a r t e d . We are on a triplex mowing program on our fairways so we were able to notice a definite difference in the amount of clippings that were removed from the treated f a i r w a y s . There was a marked difference in the aggressiveness of growth a l s o . The discoloration continued into the summer m o n t h s . It was not enough to be o b j e c t i o n a b l e , however it was apparent to the trained e y e . The P e n n c r o ^ d i d not suffer any lack of growth or loss of color from this c h e m i c a l . I do feel that an earlier applicationcfete in the fall would have resulted in an increased decline of the Poa annua that first s e a s o n , and we would have had the same results in the spring. The #3 fairway had several areas w h e r e , by the fall of 1 9 8 3 , our drainage trenches were not able to remove all of the rainfall quickly enough and water stood for over six hours in those two a r e a s . There was not any severe damage to those areas the several times this h a p p e n e d , but the high water line was apparent on the grass and it showed signs of starting to d i s c o l o r . These areas will be watched closely in the spring to detect any damage from standing w a t e r . I am anxious to watch the continuing development of these w e t a r e a s . During this past winter of 1983-84 we have had over two months of continuous snow c o v e r . The ground just started to show through this past two weeks and is again covered with snow. Before this last snow cover we were able to check the areas which were treated with calcium arsenate and did not find any snow mold damage to those areas any different from the untreated a r e a s . By the spring of 1984 this material will have been down for one year and six m o n t h s . This should be ample time to note any effects or d i f f e r e n c e s . At this p o i n t , I have not noticed any specific reduction in the Poa annua which I can attribute directly to the calcium a r s e n a t e . Both the treated and untreated fairways made gains in the bentgrass population w h i c h , o v e r a l l , I have had to attribute to the dry hot summer and the suppression of irrigation on all f a i r w a y s . I believe there were some additional gains made in the bentgrass population due to the triplex mowing p r o g r a m . I purposely avoided a follow-up application this fall to await an appraisal of the first t r e a t m e n t . With several spots starting to show signs of the limited drainage I do not w a n t to establish a position of being a full strength with the calcium arsenate w h i l e having areas w h e r e water stands. We plan to retrench these areas of poor drainage next spring if n e c e s s a r y . In s u m m a r y , may I say we have had some r e s u l t s , with the yellowing of the Poa annua and the light growth response in the spring. We know the material works and to just about w h a t degree if affects the g r a s s . The rates are correct so now we must decide if the results are worth the c o s t , effort and risk involved. Assuming Distribution and Sales Of Turf-Cal Cecil F . K e r r , Mai 1inckrodt, Inc. K a l a m a z o o , Michigan Approximately three and one half years ago D r . W o o l s o n , from U S D A , B e l t s v i l l e , M a r y l a n d , called me asking how much tri-calcium arsenate I could sell if a flowable was available. I w a s n ' t sure at that point if we could sell a gallon of m a t e r i a l . Ten years ago at least a thousand programs were terminated when OSHA banned Chip-Cal because of the dust from its manufacturing p r o c e s s . The product was well known and the need e v i d e n t . D r . W o o l s o n , John Alden of Woolfolk C h e m i c a l , and I surveyed the present need for this p r o d u c t . Our surveys showed interest in using tri-calcium arsenate flowable in M a s s a c h u s e t t s , P e n n s y l v a n i a , M a r y l a n d , Indiana and O h i o . Our research department and I visited Purdue University plots and fairway demonstrations at several golf c o u r s e s , including Lafayette Elks and Danville Country Club in Illinois. As a result of our survey we prepared a five y e a r sales p r o j e c t i o n . Costs were much higher than superintendents had paid for the program in the p a s t . Yet a mower is four times higher than it was twelve years a g o . We were pleased with the results of the programs conducted by several intendents. The quality of the flowable was improved! super- The cost of the program is high; however the benefits are worth the p r i c e . Turf-Cal controls c r a b g r a s s , g o o s e g r a s s , c h i c k w e e d , Poa a n n u a , and soil insects. After control is once achieved in a two to three year period the maintenance dosage is less than the cost of insect control with existing insecticides. This program is not for e v e r y o n e . It is only adapted to competent superintendents who are willing to follow a total ten point p r o g r a m . Some golf courses that cannot be properly drained should never use the p r o g r a m . We decided to market tri-calcium arsenate flowable (Turf-Cal) in the beginning to superintendents who have had previous experience with a r s e n i c a l s . We also decided to limit our distribution to distributors with arsenical sales experience at the beginning of the p r o g r a m . We conducted initial educational programs organized by Mel Lucas in Long I s l a n d , New York and Kermit Delk in S p r i n g f i e l d , O h i o . Distributors meetings were held with Terrie C o . in New J e r s e y , and also in Georgia and the C a r o l i n a s . We also held superintendent meetings with Cornell Chemical in Baltimore and with Turf Specialties in I n d i a n a p o l i s , Fort Wayne and South B e n d . We discussed the importance of following our prescribed ten point program for removal and prevention of Poa annua in cool season g r a s s e s . 1. Drain low, w e t a r e a s . Use excavated soil to fill low spots. Slit trenches 3 - 6 M d e e p , filled with sand may also be used to rid area of excess moisture. Aerify and topdress w e t areas with sand. Good grass requires good surface and subsurface d r a i n a g e . 2. Correct soil acidity . Turf-Cal is m o s t effective in soil with a pH range of 6 . 0 - 7 . 7 . If lime application is n e c e s s a r y , allow four weeks before applying T u r f - C a l . 3. Eliminate Phosphorus in fertilizer p r o g r a m s . Use no phosphorus or as little as p o s s i b l e . The higher the phosphorus supply the more Turf-Cal is required to achieve Poa annua c o n t r o l . 4 . Remove thatch and reduce c o m p a c t i o n . Aerify intensely before Turf-Cal application to reduce heavy t h a t c h . Verticut to make room for new g r o w t h . Bring the soil to the surface to favor new seedlings. Avoid overseeding in heavy thatch. Aerify yearly as necessary to keep thatch from a c c u m u l a t i n g . 5. Overseed as n e e d e d . Repeat introduction of seed of the desired cultivars until uniform stand is p r o d u c e d . Slit-seed 5-20 pounds per acre when conditions are suitable. Repair worn areas and resod critical a r e a s . Use caution in treating newly seeded areas. Use lower recommended rates of Turf-Cal on new seedlings and keep rootzone m o i s t . 6 . Apply Turf-Cal in late summer or early f a l l . Use Turf-Cal before S e p t . 15th when possible because days become shorter and light intensity d i m i n s h e s . This encourages cool season grasses and new seedlings to fill in during f a l l , winter and s p r i n g . Apply u n i f o r m l y . Avoid skips and o v e r l a p s . 7. Maintain effective soil arsenic level s. Continue program by applying supplemental Turf-Cal at maintenance rates annually in the f a l l . 8. correction 1/8 to 1/4 Do not use Emergency phosphorus s u p p l e m e n t . If unusual conditions indicate emergency is n e e d e d , weakened Poa annua can be improved by the application of pound per 1,000 sq.ft. of soluble phosphorus as a liquid f e r t i l i z e r . more than n e e d e d . Avoid this procedure if p o s s i b l e . 9. Eliminate all plant m a t e r i a l . Turf areas composed of high percentage of Poa annua may be killed with R o u n d u p . Cultivate and reseed to desired c u l t i v a r s . The new stand of grass may be protected by use of T u r f - C a l . 10. Special note on g r e e n s . Use lower rates on greens where sand predominates in the rootzone. The base exchange capacity is low on sand g r e e n s . Equipment should be carefully c a l i b r a t e d . Turf managers should understand the limitations, the r e q u i r e m e n t s , and the need for continuity to successfully get rid of Poa annua and establish desirable g r a s s e s . The elimination of weedy grasses and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of fine turf requires a k n o w l e d g a b l e , dedicated superintendent who communicates effectively with his membership. Keeping Key Personnel Randal C . B e l l i n g e r , Bellinger's Professional Grounds Maintenance L a f a y e t t e , Indiana Why is it important to keep key personnel through the winter months when business income comes to a halt? This is a question that many business owners and managers have asked themselves and weigh out the pros and c o n s . Let's ask ourselves that question and answer it from two different v i e w p o i n t s . First we should see it from the eyes of labor type employees - the people who are in the field every day and who have the true hands-on experience in the everyday routine. Are they so important to the success of the business that it pays to keep them on in the winter months? Are there jobs in the shop that they can handle? Are they mechanically inclined? Are they self-motivators or do they need someone by their sides constantly telling them what to do and how to do it? The answer to the q u e s t i o n , are they worth keeping through the winter is: maybe and maybe n o t . There are still some questions that need to be answered before that decision can be m a d e . Let's talk about the managerial type people and look at w h a t may or may not qualify them for wintertime e m p l o y m e n t . What type of salary are you paying them or are you paying them by the hour? W h a t are their limitations? Is your management type personnel capable of doing the labor type work as well as their own? As you can s e e , there are a lot of questions that need to be a n s w e r e d , and those answers must be j u s t i f i e d . Perhaps we should go a few steps further and define w h a t the qualifications are for becoming a key p e r s o n . One m u s t look at his company and operation from several aspects to rationalize the possibility of holding on to people during the w i n t e r . Some questions you may w a n t to ask yourself are: - How valuable is the person for next spring? W h a t type of leadership does the person display? W h a t type of loyalty does he show to the company? Does he enjoy the work or is it just a job? W h a t positive work skills can the person supply in the winter? As you may n o t i c e , the questions so far have been directed mainly towards the people themselves and w h a t they can do for the c o m p a n y . We'll get to the company questions later. Let's talk about these first questions in more detail. How valuable is the person for next spring? If your company is anything like ours,a lot of time and money is spent in training involving company p r o c e d u r e s , the do's and don'ts in presenting yourself to the c l i e n t s , equipment operation and m a i n t e n a n c e , and professional attitude and performance on the job. This training is very valuable and must be considered in figuring operating c o s t s . W h a t type of leadership does this person display? Is he a take-charge type of person or does he need constant instruction and guidance? After a l l , if you have to be with him every hour of the day you may as well do the job yourself and save some m o n e y . The next two questions go h a n d - i n - h a n d . Is their loyalty to the company and industry, and do they enjoy the career they have chosen? Too many people feel a job is just a job and they could just as easily be in another type b u s i n e s s . Hopef u l l y , you identify these people at the time of e m p l o y m e n t . I'm not saying that everyone hired should be as dedicated as y o u , but it does make for nicer working c o n d i t i o n s . It's not possible to have that type person all of the t i m e , and the "job is a job" type person will probably leave you anyway before the winter employment question presents itself. What work skills can the person supply in the winter? We certainly know that one must display some mechanical skills in this industry. The winter is a great time for equipment maintenance and r e j u v e n a t i o n . Management skills can be used in increasing sales and perhaps restructuring production procedures to increase field and office p r o d u c t i v i t y . level. I mentioned that all of these questions have been directed at the personnel We can't forget to investigate the questions directed at the b u s i n e s s . - How many people can the business support? Can the business support these people with no alternate income? Will the company be exhausting its cash flow by spending money on payroll? What alternate incomes are available and feasible for us to establish? We have found that it is certainly necessary to keep key personnel e m p l o y e d . After a l l , we are trying to present a professional service to the c u s t o m e r , and I find this very hard to accomplish with continuous employee turnover. Greater profits during the peak season where productivity is high will offset the payroll burdens encountered during the winter m o n t h s . We need to talk about alternate winter incomes. Our company policy has been to never depend on wintertime work to finance the b u s i n e s s . Wintertime income is too unpredictable. We have two services with which we have the potential to create income in the off-season - snow removal and firewood sales. We cannot depend upon Mother Nature to always provide us with the amount of snowfall we need to pay our bills. H o w e v e r , if you budget your seasonal money to carry you through the w i n t e r , the money generated by snow removal becomes g r a v y . Snow removal keeps your trucks productive in the w i n t e r t i m e , but also generates additional c o s t s . Insurance rates soar because of the high risk f a c t o r . Vehicle maintenance can increase due to the type of work being p e r f o r m e d . Inceasedfuel usage can also eat at your p o c k e t b o o k . All of the facts m u s t be explored and researched before making the decision to take on such a service. Also one very important question is not to be overlooked - Do I really w a n t to get out of bed on a bitter c o l d , windy night? The sale of firewood does generate income for the w i n t e r , and it is a lot like snow removal in that the more severe the winter the greater the d e m a n d . H o w e v e r , firewood sales do not provide profits to the c o m p a n y , and in most cases the operation barely supports itself. By the time you figure the cost of the wooded land, the chain saws and a c c e s s o r i e s , a chain grinding m a c h i n e , a log splitter, a truck to haul the w o o d , and the labor of two p e o p l e , you've got a sizable investment just to get started. We estimate two cords of wood m u s t be cut and split per day to break even on e x p e n s e s . The whole idea of creating wintertime income is not for generating profits but rather for keeping on key e m p l o y e e s . The income generated from wintertime work is sufficient if you just break even on p a y r o l l . In effect you have accomplished w h a t you set out to do - provide job security for those who show promise in building your company's future. Chimney Services As An Additional Income Source for Lawn Care Businesses Todd W i l l i a m s , Chimney Masters K a l a m a z o o , Michigan Chimney services offer an unlimited opportunity for profit and g r o w t h . It's the perfect combination of a growing m a r k e t , your established m a r k e t p o s i t i o n , and a very m o d e s t entry c o s t . It's an opportunity that only y o u , as a lawn care s p e c i a l i s t , can capitalize o n . Wood burning is the fastest growing segment of the home service market in the United States today. Each y e a r , over one and one-half million woodstoves and fireplaces are being installed. A great percentage of them are being installed in the north-central states where wood is available and traditional f u e l s , oil and g a s , are e x p e n s i v e . Each of these new wood burning appliances creates a need for regular maintenance and r e p a i r . Add this to the millions of fireplaces built into established h o m e s , which are now being used regularly for the first t i m e , and you can appreciate the size of the m a r k e t . The need for maintenance and repair is c r i t i c a l . Over fifty thousand chimney related fires are reported each y e a r . Thousands more do only minor damage and go u n r e p o r t e d . These fires kill thousands of p e o p l e . They destroy millions of dollars worth of p r o p e r t y . All of these fires are the direct result of improperly installed and maintained wood burning a p p l i a n c e s . Properly trained and e q u i p p e d , you can correct and maintain these installations - profitably! You start with your present work f o r c e , keeping your summer crew year r o u n d . You utilize your present location and office personnel and a truck or van which you probably already o w n . S w e e p i n g , of c o u r s e , is easily learned. But it's the training and marketing program that lets you sell accessories and helps proper chimney service pay m o r e . For e x a m p l e , m o s t chimney sweeps collect forty to fifty dollars per j o b . That's the national average. But the average Chimney Masters sweep is billed at one hundred d o l l a r s . Offering a free inspection paves the way for the initial c o n t a c t . The customer welcomes your service when there is no o b l i g a t i o n . Knowing w h a t to look for and explaning the need in terms of the customer's own self-interest and safety makes the sale. Equally i m p o r t a n t , you m u s t provide the finest chimney service and accessories a v a i l a b l e . It's good business and safety is involved. To give you an understanding of the operating s i d e , let's go sweeping. Arriving at the scheduled i n s p e c t i o n , the chimney sweep is in full u n i f o r m . The homeowner knows who he is and can see that he is ready to work p r o p e r l y . The sweep conducts the inspection quickly and s a f e l y , examining the chimney from the bottom. He is looking for signs of accumulated c r e o s o t e , which can be sticky and t a r - l i k e , or f l a k y . The sweep shows the homeowner the grey fly ash of a clean burn and the creosote caused by incomplete c o m b u s t i o n . He looks for physical damage in the fireplace or wood-burning a p p l i a n c e . He also looks for proper connection of the smoke pipe and adequate insulation between the stove or fireplace and any combustible m a t e r i a l . The sweep explains w h a t he has found and how much the sweep will c o s t . Before he b e g i n s , the homeowner signs the work order which was generated by the original phone c a l l . Paper work is greatly simplified for a c c u r a t e , easyto-maintain work r e c o r d s . With the work order s i g n e d , the sweep begins as tools and equipment are taken from the well organized t r u c k . Step one is to spread the drop cloth and close the damper to prevent any soot from entering the h o m e . Then it's onto the roof. Sweeps can also be done from the b o t t o m . When to do which is part of the Chimney Masters training p r o g r a m . Sweeping down with the flexible fiberglass p o l e s , the sweep listens for broken or cracked flue tiles. (A trained ear becomes a valuable tool for the chimney sweep.) The fitted wire b r u s h e s , which are supplied in several s i z e s , cut through most creosote m a t e r i a l s . Going inside the h o m e , the damper is r e m o v e d , c a r e f u l l y , to avoid spilling soot or creosote loosened in the s w e e p . Cleaning the smoke chamber is perhaps the hardest part of the j o b . Being a contortionist helps. Cleaning the smoke shelf is followed by a thorough sweep of the firebox w a l l s . After the sweep is done the homeowner is informed of any minor repairs which may be needed. Caulking the cement crown of the c h i m n e y , si 1icone-spray waterproofing to protect b r i c k w o r k , t u c k - p o i n t i n g , are all part of the a d d e d , and p r o f i t a b l e , services you can o f f e r . A r a i n c a p , if the customer d o e s n f t have o n e , is easy and profitable to sell. It keeps out r a i n , birds and a n i m a l s , and is easy to install and w o n ' t rust or blow a w a y . Raincaps raise your profit on the sweep about fifty p e r c e n t , and they are easy to sell on the basis of readily understood customer b e n e f i t s . Finished with the w o r k , the sweep is generally paid at this point and he is ready to go on to the next j o b . Doing between four and six sweeps a day can generate between $350 and $600 in s a l e s , per m a n , per day! You are ideally suited to add this profitable business to your established activities. You have the work f o r c e . You have the m a r k e t p o s i t i o n , and y o u r people can be trained e a s i l y . You already have the vehicles you n e e d . You have an established customer base from which to w o r k . Your lawn customers have fireplaces and stoves with soot and creosote problems that really need attention for safety and operating e f f i c i e n c y . As a lawn care specialist you are in a unique position to build extra profit on the base you have already c r e a t e d . Herbicides For The Future R . P. F r e e b o r g , Agronomist Department of A g r o n o m y , Purdue University Before I get into the discussion about the newer herbicides with potential to serve the turf industry, I w a n t to develop a concept t h a t , I t h i n k , is going to develop in the turf industry as it has in other c r o p s . It is one where you expect your desirable perennial grasses to have some moderate degree of phytotoxicity. This may be a small superficial leaf b u r n , something that would be removed in one or two mowings; for e x a m p l e , to control tall fescue or quackgrass in a perennial bluegrass turf where the bluegrass may have some leaf phytotoxicity but will s u r v i v e , whereas the other grass weed would d i e . There would be an initial concern when you see the turf that something has gone w r o n g , but when you consider the eventual resulting weedy perennial grass c o n t r o l , the phyto may be acceptable. If we can work with this concept then we can use some of the newer selective grass controls in a bluegrass or perennial turf. Another approach to weed control is with selective inhibition. Many of you may have already had some experience with R u b i g a n . It is primarily a good fungicide. We are looking at it because of its potential to selectively inhibit Poa annua growth in a Poa-bentgrass stand. With good bentgrass management and reduced vigor of the Poa annua caused by the Rubigan a p p l i c a t i o n , it is possible to encourage the bent and gradually effect a transition from Poa to predominantly b e n t . This cannot be done in a short time. A lengthy transition period is required. It may take most of the s u m m e r , but it can be e f f e c t i v e . Another approach to selective control of Poa annua is with the growth regulator C u t l e s s , in combination with mefluidide or E m b a r k . On your left is an untreated c o n t r o l . This is primarily a Poa annua p o p u l a t i o n . In our tests the untreated control had abundant seedhead d e v e l o p m e n t . H o w e v e r , when treated with the Cutless (flurprimidol) at 1/4 lb. active ingredient/A plus Embark at 1/8 lb. per a c r e , 95-98% of the seedheads were e l i m i n a t e d . In addition to seedhead control the vigor of the Poa annua is reduced. The bent growth is not inhibited as much as the Poa annua and so with good bentgrass m a n a g e m e n t , a transition from predominantly Poa annua to a bentgrass population can be e f f e c t e d . When the Poa annua is either eliminated or reduced to a small percentage of the total p o p u l a t i o n , then the use of a good preemergent annual grass control can b e g i n . The growth regulator chlorflurenol has been around for some time. It was used in combination with maleic hydrazide as a seedhead inhibitor of Poa annu a. It also had some potential to control broadleaf weeds or to enhance broadleaf weed control when combined with other herbicides. In combination with either 2,4-D or 2,4-TP plus d i c a m b a , the chlorflurenols tend to be somewhat complimentary or syndergistic. There is a continued interest in combinations of chlorfluernols with various broadleaf weed control h e r b i c i d e s . The problem is that chlorflurenol is difficult to formulate in an available f o r m . It is also e x p e n s i v e . Currently, there is a new formulation that is more s o l u b l e , has more s t a b i l i t y , is as active and possibly available at a lower c o s t . The organic arsenates have been widely used for control of c r a b g r a s s . Disodium methyl arsenate, one of the f i r s t , was very effective in selectively taking crabgrass out of bluegrass stands. There is also the Daconate (monosodium methyl arsenate) for postemergent c o n t r o l . One of the limitations is that it requires two applications at five to seven day intervals to be effective. There are now two other products that have given good crabgrass control with one application, and may replace it to some e x t e n t . One is identified as A c c l a i m . It is an American Hoechst p r o d u c t . It is a good selective postemergent crabgrass control especially in the early stages of g r o w t h . Maybe its greatest advantage is that it appears to be an extremely good selective goosegrass c o n t o l , as long as the goosegrass is a young p l a n t . To d a t e , we don't have another product that will do that. They are going to have an experimental use permit on it in '84, intending to have it on the m a r k e t in '85. Another product you may have heard a little about is Dowco 3 5 6 , agriculturally sold as T a n d e m . The name will change when it comes to the turf m a r k e t . We have had one year of testing and it looks quite interesting. It is a good selective annual grass c o n t r o l . We have worked with it on c r a b g r a s s . We don't know y e t what its performance will be on goosegrass or Poa a n n u a , but there is potential for post selective control of weed g r a s s e s . There is also some evidence of postemergent activity as w e l l . It is possible that a commercial lawn care company could use this in their program as a p r e e m e r g e n t , starting e a r l y . If, h o w e v e r , crabgrass has emerged it would then serve as a postemergent and thus keep weeds out all y e a r . We are not y e t sure to w h a t extent the preemergent activity will hold u p , but it certainly looks p r o m i s i n g . Some of you may already have had experience with Garlon (triclopyr). This is another new herbicide currently on the agricultural crop m a r k e t . It is complimentary to the p h e n o x y s , such as 2 , 4 - D . By i t s e l f , it is not a totally effective weed c o n t r o l . There are some broadleaf weeds it c o n t r o l s , some it d o e s n ' t , but together with 2,4-D or other phenoxys it has been a good broad spectrum weed control. There has been some evidence of fairly good Oxalis or yellow wood sorrel control. Some of the weeds not killed readily with the Trimec or Trexsan formulation may be controlled more readily with this f o r m u l a t i o n . Another new group of herbicides of similar chemistry from DuPont have potential as selective broadleaf weed c o n t r o l s , as plant growth regulators and/or as a synergist with other h e r b i c i d e s . These herbicides are very a c t i v e . The rate on one herbicide, 'Glean', is one-half ounce active ingredient per acre. You m i g h t , for e x a m p l e , need to apply one to two pounds of other f o r m u l a t i o n . In combinaiton with the phenoxys or with growth regulators there have been some encouraging results. The plant reacts very rapidly to it. In about two hours after application there is evidence of inhibition of cell d i v i s i o n . This activity is enhanced when Telar (Glean) is used in combination with other herbicides. The Indiana State Highway Department is going to use Telar with Embark and 2,4-D at 2 lbs. ai/acre with 0.25% s u r f a c t a n t , DuPont W K , as a result of work done at Purdue this year by D r . M o r r e . On highway roadsides for regulation of tall fescue, inhibition of tall fescue s e e d h e a d s , as well as control of broadleaf w e e d s , they will use Telar at 1/4 o z . a i , Embark at 1/8 lbs. a i , and 2,4-D at 2 lbs. ai/ acre with 0.25% surfactant, DuPont W K . Embark (mefluidide) used at a quarter of a pound per acre costs $8.75 per a c r e . Estimated cost for materials and application is $20.00/A. The roadsite site to be treated is 1-70 from Indianapolis to Terre H a u t e . Telar also controls wild c a r r o t , a weed that has been difficult to control. There are other new herbicides that are commercially available for use in other crops that have had some potential far use in turf. One of these is G o a l . It is commonly used in soybeans. Its primary advantage is that it has preemergent activity on broadleaf w e e d s . As we look at some of these new h e r b i c i d e s , I f e e l , quite s t r o n g l y , that in the future we are going to begin to see herbicides that will give us preemergent broadleaf weed control just as we have preemergent annual grass c o n t r o l . It's only a matter of time. Another broadleaf weed control that has come in from Europe and is a Dow C o . herbicide that has potential as a replacement for some of the phenoxys is L o n t r e l . It has the potential to control some of those phenoxy acetic and proprionic herbicides such as 2,4-D and 2 , 4 - D P . Possible Lontrel in combination with the phenoxys or other herbicides may give broader spectrum c o n t r o l . Some of the grass c o n t r o l s , F u s i l a d e , for e x a m p l e , are good annual and perennial grass controls. At the rates used in soybeans it would damage b l u e g r a s s , but with a reduced rate there is evidence of good control with only moderate toxicity to the desired perennial grass s p e c i e s . This is a systemic herbicide much as Roundup is. It translocates throughout the plant and so has a potential to control grasses that we have had some difficulty in c o n t r o l l i n g . Another one of the grass herbicides much like Fusilade is P o a s t , and another is H a e l o n . One of the new DuPont products is called A s s u r e . It has some potential for control of annual and perennial g r a s s e s . It is still classed as an experimental h e r b i c i d e . Q u a c k g r a s s , large c r a b g r a s s , b a r n y a r d g r a s s , goosegrass are some of the weeds that are c o n t r o l l e d . . Use of light rates at the right time of year and possibly repeat applications may provide selective control of these weedy g r a s s e s . Another new herbicide from Shell with potential for turf use is C i n c h . It has potential for surpressing many of the broadleaf weeds as well as being a broad spectrum grass c o n t r o l . I w a n t to develop another concept as we talk about herbicide e f f i c a c y . For e x a m p l e , of the total amount of the herbicide applied to foliage only 5 to 20 percent of that herbicide is actually e f f e c t i v e . Therefore one way of increasing herbicide activity is to get it into the plant more rapidly so it gets to the active site more e f f i c i e n t l y . The answer may be found in the use of the newer s u r f a c t a n t s . Surfactants are used for various reasons - better leaf surface c o v e r a g e , better spreading of the d r o p l e t , better sticking a b i l i t y . There is evidence that they do something else for us and that is to alter or weaken the surface wax layer on a leaf. Thus they permit more rapid m o v e m e n t of the pesticide into the cell where it needs to be in order to work e f f e c t i v e l y . Some surfactants are more effective than o t h e r s . DuPont WK and X-77 are examples of those that tend to deteriorate the wax layer more than o t h e r s . With the use of these surfactants a larger area of leaf is covered and the wax layer penetrated more effectively a n d , as a r e s u l t , the herbicide is more actual and lower rates can be u s e d . Bentgrass Fairways In '83 Steve F r a z i e r , Superintendent Meridian Hills Country C l u b , I n d i a n a p o l i s , Indiana The varieties of bents in the first six fairways at Meridian Hills Country Club are somewhat of a mixed bag because of earlier bent overseedings in the fifties. Since we started our conversion p r o g r a m , we have used P e n n c r o s s , Emerald and some Penneagle. This past summer's weather was testy and we were most fortunate in having a successful season, and made good advances in our bentgrass fairway p r o g r a m . Our most limiting factor was in our irrigation system where there were isolated areas that presented problems because of distribution and c o v e r a g e . We are in the process of correcting these d e f i c i e n c i e s . There were a number of procedures we used this past season that differed from other y e a r s , and I would like to tell you about some of those changes in our program and t h i n k i n g . B a s i c a l l y , we changed our approach in early season watering p r a c t i c e s , fungic i d e s , aerification and mowing equipment and t e c h n i q u e s . We did not begin to water fairways until the first part of J u n e . The only time we used the irrigation system was to wash chemical off the grass leaves. The combination of aerification and frugal early irrigation helped to establish an excellent rooting system. You must really be prepared and anticipate the first early periods of heat stress and droughty conditions in late May and J u n e . If yotr bent-Poa turf is stressed too severely during this first p e r i o d , it is difficult to snap back and survive ensuing hot weather that can occur during the rest of the summer. This is of particualr importance when Poa percentages are high. Moisture l e v e l s , weather f o r e c a s t s , close monitoring and intuitive "greenskeeping skills" should be employed most judiciously as well as communication with other s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s . This past year was the first time we used Bayleton for the control of anthracnose in our Poa on f a i r w a y s . Some turf disease people felt it was too hot this past summer for dollar spot and the flaw in some fungicide programs allowed an expression of brown p a t c h . Brown patch presented somewhat of a problem in our p r o g r a m . PMAS and Thiram provided curative and preventative p r o t e c t i o n . As bent-Poa fairways d e v e l o p , higher percentages of bent-thatch will become an increasing p r o b l e m . Our program will be one of intensifying aerification and development of a v e r t i c u t t i n g , thatching or thincutting p r o g r a m . We plan to use one of several different machines to achieve this g o a l . (Ryan Grounds G r o o m e r , Aero Thatch and GM III Verticut.) We intensified our aerification program this past season. Our goal at the onset was to aerify all 36 acres of fairways using Ryan greens aerifiers (5/8" tines) within a calendar year - starting in September of '82 and finishing in the fall of '83. Our back nine soils are t i g h t e r , so in the fall of '82 we chose the most troublesome two fairways for starters. The response from aerifying coupled with different mowing techniques was super. These normally troublesome fairways were more managable and turf quality was dramatically improved. Because of p l a y , w e a t h e r , and learning better t e c h n i q u e s , we did not finish the back nine fairway greensaire aerification until the spring of '83. We started the front nine aerification in September of '83 and finished in late O c t o b e r . We have two Ryangreens aerifiers and in a d d i t i o n , contracted a new service in our a r e a , and leased two machines and operators for the fall p e r i o d . We learned one hard lesson! Never aerify and produce more soil cores than can be p r o c e s s e d , cleaned up and worked that d a y . We had portions of two fairways that were partially cleaned up after aerification when rain caught up with us for six consecutive d a y s . That was a mess! G e n e r a l l y , we could start with four machines on a 2-2-1/4 acre fairway in the morning and finish aerification by 1:30 to 2:00 p . m . We found by aerifying across the fairway instead of l e n g t h w a y s , we could complete sections and start cleanup much sooner. The cleaning up and core processing is the m o s t limiting factor in this p r o g r a m . Our basic procedure was to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. aerify break up plugs using a Fuerst drag m a t verticut with a Toro GM III with every other blade removed chop the remaining plugs with a M o t t hammer knife mower set in the reverse or leaf mulching mode drag again sweep with Toro vacuum or blow off debris mow with a gang pull mower Greensaire aerifying produces a tremendous amount of soil and subsequent handling. This does require extra m a c h i n e r y , t i m e , p a t i e n c e , but it is well worth the e f f o r t . Our mowing program varied drastically over that of the p a s t . We have been using greens mowers to mow collars and approaches and Par 3 fairways for several y e a r s . The results have been f a v o r a b l e , so we elected to get involved in fairway close mowing e q u i p m e n t . There are many reaons for the success of triplex mowing e q u i p m e n t . Some are well u n d e r s t o o d , others are more elusive in e x p l a n a t i o n . Well known aspects are: 1. Lighter equipment reduces w i l t stress and c o m p a c t i o n . 2. Clipping removal not only reduces Poa seedheads from being returned to the t u r f , but decreases any silage effect during hot humid summers and reduces disease incidence. 3. Mowing patterns are aesthetically pleasing to the p l a y e r . Cross mowing helps to stand the grass more erect and affords a better lie. 4. By increasing the clipping f r e q u e n c y , the amount of mowing can be decreased. 5. Lighter equipment can mow when soil conditions would be too w e t for conventional pull type u n i t s . The more elusively explained aspects of triplex mowing are: 1. Bent seems to be more competitive when mowed at heights of 5/16" to 1/2" and grows at the expense of P o a . 2. When bent is mowed higher than 1 / 2 " , the plants become lazy and have a tendency to lay down and m a t . 3. At closer mowing h e i g h t s , fluffiness and puffiness are r e d u c e d . Fluffy bent develops a lazy root system and is subject to scalping. Closer mowed bent develops a deeper root s y s t e m , and does not w i l t as quickly as fluffy patches. The disadvantages are: 1. Equipment cost is high. 2. Labor cost is high. 3. Clipping handling is e x p e n s i v e . 4. Dew and heat of day can cause d e l a y s . In the spring of '83 we purchased a Toro II bladed 7 gang and a HF-5-5 g a n g . Since we have 36 acres of f a i r w a y , our plan was to mow all fairways at least once per week and pick clippings and use the Toro II bladed 7 gang a l t e r n a t i v e l y . We also decided to exclusively mow two troublesome fairways all season with either the HF-5 or GM Ill's and pick up c l i p p i n g s . This worked very w e l l , but when it really started to get hot and stayed h o t , we used three to four Toro GM Ill's and the HF-5 to do all the mowing and removed c l i p p i n g s . We did not use a conventional tractor and pull unit on the fairways from early June into S e p t e m b e r . In S e p t e m b e r , when we lost our school h e l p , we tried a new w r i n k l e . To keep extra w e i g h t off the fairways, we used the 11 bladed Toro's in a 5 gang configuration and pulled the unit with a three-wheeled C u s h m a n . This was our s a l v a t i o n , for we could not possibly have accomplished the mowing of 36 acres with our labor f o r c e . We are looking at alternative equipment to pull or push the 5 gang and the possibility of baskets for catching c l i p p i n g s . Regardless of any choice of hydraulic m o w e r s , back-up 10 bladed Jacobsen or 11 bladed Toro's are a n e c e s s i t y . This past year has been a learning experience and we have been able to gain better insight and confidence because of a d v e r s i t y . Increasing Emhpasis On Grooming Turf Stanley J . Z o n t e k , North-Central D i r e c t o r , USGA Green Section Crystal L a k e , Illinois As a traveling agronomist for the US Golf Association's Green S e c t i o n , I routinely visit and spend half days touring almost 200 different golf courses with their superintendents and usually club o f f i c i a l s . Seeing this many courses each year is a tremendous educational e x p e r i e n c e . In years like 1983, this agronomist had the opportunity of seeing clubs from Long Island, through the M i d w e s t out to and including C a l i f o r n i a . This was a tremendous cross-section of golf c o u r s e s , general growing c o n d i t i o n s , and problems in an a r e a . Beyond these y e a r l y visits to the c l u b s , just being involved with the USGA gives us access to the general thinking and trends going on in the golf c o m m u n i t y . T h u s , as agronomists for the USGA we sometimes are in a position to see and appreciate trends in the industry as they begin and later develop into programs and procedures that golf course superintendents perform on their golf c o u r s e s . It is this trend towards an increasing emphasis on grooming for playabilit y that is my presentation to y o u . In my o p i n i o n , this industry moves in c y c l e s . Some people refer to it as the "pendulum theory". That is, the pendulum swings over to one extreme and ultimately swings to the o t h e r . It may take years to accomplish t h i s , but in looking at the past history of the turfgrass m a n a g e m e n t i n d u s t r y , there are noticeable "swings" in the philosophy of how golf turf should be managed as well as w h a t golfers w a n t from a golf course and w h a t type of turf conditions are rated e x c e l l e n t , good or indifferent. The m o s t noticeable pendulum swing occurred during the mid to late 60's when the "best" golf courses were those that were green and lush. The g r e e n e r , lusher the g r a s s , the better the golfers liked it and the more they patted the superintendents on the back for giving them the c o n d i t i o n s . It was quite commonplace for golf courses to apply 10 to 12 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq.ft. per year on g r e e n s . N o w , 2 to 4 pounds per 1,000 sq.ft. per year is the normal range. In all c a n d o r , I do not know whyor how this perception began that a good golf course must be g r e e n , soft, w e t and lush any more than anyone can understand why there has been such a swing of the pendulum to the more natural golf courses which look more like Scottish links than anything e l s e . Perhaps as a group there just is a feeling of getting back to the "roots" of the g a m e , and these obviously are the conditions which did and still do exist in the British Isles - that of a natural and almost penal type of golf course that rewards good shots and oftentimes severely penalizes a poorly played o n e . In between these two extremes golf course superintendents during the 1970's w e n t through a period of m e c h a n i z a t i o n . In the 60's m o s t of the important grooming work on the golf course was accomplished by fairly inexpensive and abundant hand labor. Greens were all cut by h a n d , sand bunkers were all raked by h a n d , a tremendous amount of hand rotary mowing was d o n e , most of the larger turf areas were cut with 5-gang pull frames or s o m e t i m e s , at m o s t , 7 - g a n g s . H e c k , sometimes they still used sickles and grass shears and clippers for trimming! In the 1 9 7 0 1 s there was a move towards reducing the cost of labor w h i c h , due to inflation, increased d r a m a t i c a l l y . No longer could many golf courses afford large maintenance c r e w s . Inflation and the high price of petroleum products and energy meant that everything from fertilizer to pesticides (most all petroleum based) also dramatically increased in c o s t . The courses were caught between the price/wage a n d , with labor being the greatest single expense on the golf c o u r s e , labor costs were cut w h e n e v e r and w h e r e v e r possible because there simply w a s n ' t any substitute for fertilizers or p e s t i c i d e s . You had to buy materials and the only real area of savings was in l a b o r . Hand mowers were mothballed and triplex putting green mowers were p u r c h a s e d . Gone was hand raking of sand bunkers; this was performed ty mechanical sand rakes. Five-to seven-gang mowers were replaced by hydraulic seven and even nine-gang mowers which could cut tremendous acreages of grass in only a few h o u r s . Efficiency was the emphasis t h e n . If golf course superintendents could show that a particular piece of equipment could save labor it was readily p u r c h a s e d . This was the thinking at that t i m e , and this now is also beginning to c h a n g e . Perhaps we have two pendulums at w o r k , one involving the philosophy of w h a t a gold golf course should be and the other in how to manage and maintain the golf course? Today there is a definite trend towards playability on the golf c o u r s e . We see this in the use of the sand topdressing programs on g r e e n s . Golf course superintendents know or at least suspect t h a t , e v e n t u a l l y , as the sand begins to build up and accumulate we will have a different set of m a n a g e m e n t problems with which to d e a l . H o w e v e r , this type of topdressing program is e x p e d i e n t in providing the f i r m , fast and true putting surfaces demanded by the vast majority of today's g o l f e r s . Besides such things as sand t o p d r e s s i n g , reduced applications of water and fertilizer we are now beginning to see more and more golf courses hand mowing the g r e e n s . This is especially true during the summer when labor is more a v a i l a b l e . During the spring and fall months the triplex machines are used so t h a t , in r e a l i t y , we are seeing more and more of these integrated hand mower/triplex mower programs being instituted on golf c o u r s e s . Why is this? Any time you go for maximum efficiency you sometimes give up quality for this e f f i c i e n c y . The triplex putting green mowers are great labor saving tools which do a good job of cutting the g r a s s . H o w e v e r , where ultimate quality on putting greens is d e s i r e d , the triplex mowers just do not do the job as well as the hand m o w e r s , in my o p i n i o n . The same is true for sand b u n k e r s . The triplex machines do a great job b u t , increasingly, these machines are fitted with hand rakes so that the operator can rake the majority of the bunkers but then finish it off with hand raking as the e d g e s . A g a i n , this is integrating hand raking and mechanical raking of a b u n k e r . By far the biggest change in tte.management of golf courses in the past three or four years has been the ever-increasing usage of light w e i g h t 3- and 5-gang mowers to cut f a i r w a y s . Only a few years ago it w o u l d seem ludicrous for any golf course superintendent in his right mind to cut his fairways on a continuing basis with these small machines and to pick up the c l i p p i n g s . H o w e v e r , the use of this type of equipment on fairways is dramatically increasing as the golfers see the results and as golf course superintendents realize t h a t , in the final a n a l y s i s , if the membership is willing to pay for it, why not? To some extent anyway lower cut fairways were the result of the desire by many for f i r m , fast g r e e n s . You s e e , from the golfing standpoint it is extremely difficult to "hold a firm green" when hitting a fairway shot from long g r a s s . A flier r e s u l t s , which is universally despised by g o l f e r s . Common sense would indicate that there is much more to holding a green with a golf shot than just the length of grass on the f a i r w a y s , but it is an important c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h u s , one program to some extent begot the o t h e r . The other reasons for lightweight machines involves overall improvements in fairway q u a l i t y , an increase of permanent grasses like the bentgrasses at the expense of the Poa annua and the simple fact that these lightweight machines help fairways develop into some of the finest and m o s t maintainable and reliable fairway turf obtainable today through the talents and expertise of the golf course s u p e r i n t e n d e n t . All of t h i s , going to more hand mowing of g r e e n s , hand raking of sand b u n k e r s , lightweight triplex or 5-gang mowing of f a i r w a y s , all have their roots in the desire by golfers for more playable turf and golf c o u r s e s . This is a definite trend that exists throughout the industry. F o r t u n a t e l y , the vast majority of golf courses which we see a r e , for the first time in many y e a r s , not balking at spending money for golf course maintena n c e . For many years it seemed that the vast majority of capital expense on the golf course ultimately was spent in the c l u b h o u s e , swimming p o o l , for a tennis f a c i l i t y , e t c . , and the golf course got the absolute minimum of w h a t it took to do the j o b . Now I see this is changing a l s o . Golfers realize that if they w a n t the greens to be hand mowed then the superintendent must have the equipment and manpower to do it. The same is true on fairways . If golfers w a n t the fairways triplex cut then f i n e , the budget m u s t be increased accordingly to accommodate these new p r o g r a m s . It is truly amazing to me how few golf courses are balking at these new p r o g r a m s . For the first time in years money is being spent back out on the golf course where it should be spent! Perhaps this is the first sign of another trend - that being to get away from the "Country Club" and get back to the "Golf C l u b " . The success of such golf courses such as Crooked Stick Golf Club in C a r m e l , I n d i a n a , is just one close example that more and more golf courses are being developed as golf c o u r s e s . Whether this is a true trend or not or whether it will ultimately continue is hard to s a y , but it will be interesting to keep this thought in the back of our minds as time goes b y . In summary, golf courses are spending more money for golf course m a i n t e n a n c e . They are grooming the golf course better but grooming the golf course so the facility looks and plays better. After a l l , isn't this the whole idea of the game of golf and the turfgrass m a n a g e m e n t industry - to provide golf courses for the playing enjoyment of the people who use the facility? There are no great secrets in accomplishing the extra level of m a n a g e m e n t that seems to be d e s i r e d . It just takes the approprite amount of t i m e , materials and m a n p o w e r . If superintendents have the t o o l s , I am certain they can do the j o b . Tall Fescue Replaces Bluegrass Jeff L e f t o n , Regional Agronomist ChemLawn C o r p o r a t i o n , I n d i a n a p o l i s , Indiana In areas where drought and heat stress continually thin bluegrass one might consider using the new fine leaf fescues on the m a r k e t . Varieties availabl e. Research has brought about several new tall fescue varieties that provide excellent turf. These varieties include H o u n d o g , Rebel and F a l c o n . Tall fescue is normally a b u n c h g r a s s . Yet when properly seeded it can produce a dense uniform lawn. Check with your local supplier for additional varieties on the m a r k e t . Major q u a l i t i e s . The newer tall fescue varieties adapt well to full sun or medium shade and perform well in heavy clay or sandy soils. Other positive characteristics include no serious insect p r o b l e m s , no thatch b u i l d - u p and quicker establishment than Kentucky bluegrass. Seeding rat e. Six to eight pounds per 1,000 sq.ft. is the ideal rate. Seeding at a rate higher than this can lead to problems with drought tolerance and increase susceptibility to the disease Brown P a t c h . The newer fine leaf tall fescues tiller twice as much as the old pasture type tall fescues (K-31). T h e r e f o r e , you don't need the higher seeding rate. Mixtures with other species such as Kentucky bluegrasses are not recommended. Seeding procedure s. - Kill existing vegetation using a material containing glyphosate (Roundup) as directed on the Table. Tall fescue should not be overseeded into an existing bluegrass lawn w i t h o u t killing the bluegrass stand. - Use a power dethatcher set to penetrate 1/4 inch into the s o i l . the lawn in two or three d i r e c t i o n s . - Pull the excess debris off the lawn and discard Criss-cross it. - Seed the lawn at the 6 to 8 pound per 1,000 sq.ft. r a t e . - Drag the seeded area with a piece of chain link fence or door mat for better contact with the soil. - Consider operating dethatcher over the area after seeding and remove only loosened thatch when d r y . - Water the seeded area two to four times d a i l y . It is important to keep the seedbed m o i s t . Reduce the watering frequency as the seed g e r m i n a t e s . - After it has been mowed twice it will require a light fertilization help further vigor. to M a n a g e m e n t . Mowing at about 2 inches is r e c o m m e n d e d . It may require more mowing than b l u e g r a s s . Little if any supplemental irrigation is required during the summer. Topdressing - My Program Jim C o n r o y , Superintendent Hurstbourne Country C l u b , L o u i s v i l l e , Kentucky In 1965, Hurstbourne Country club was designed and available in 1923. The front nine greens were modified was used as a coarse a m e n d m e n t . Several materials such sand and clay were used in completing Hurstbourne's 27 b u i l t , using technology to an adobe - pea gravel as g r a v e l , t u r f a c e , p e a t , holes. Certainly the variability of playing conditions was encouraged when some greens were sodded while others were seeded. All sod used was grown on mineral soil and thickness of the soil layer varied g r e a t l y . A sand topdressing program began in 1978 while I was assistant. The program involved two aerifications with three heavy topdressings of sand. This program was continued in 1979, with one aerification and three heavy topdressings. In 1980 I was employed as superintendent and our current program began that spring. This program involves balancing growth and topdressing amounts with minimal a e r i f i c a t i o n s . A typical year would involve: 1. No spring or fall aerification. green o b s e r v a t i o n . Aerification in mid-June on a green-by- 2 . Light sand topdressing the 1st of M a r c h , A p r i l , May and June 15th or J u l y . Then September 1st, October and November 1st, if growth warrants it. 3. Minimal f e r t i l i z a t i o n , 2-3 pounds of nitrogen with equal or greater p o t a s h , 3-4 pounds. 4 . Water sparingly in M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y , and as needed in J u l y , August and September. 5. Normal prevent pesticide program is u s e d . This topdressing method works well at Hurstbourne C . C . with less variance in greens p l a y a b i l i t y . This program has also reduced our maintenance costs in the process. Upgrading Athletic Facilities David H e i s s , Turf Services Spring L a k e , Michigan Before you b e g i n , decide if the facility will be needed in the f u t u r e . Don't spend a lot of time or money on a practice football field if you need a new soccer facility. Get input from the coaching s t a f f , band director and anyone else who will use the site. Team effort pays off b i g . In my t r a v e l s , I see too many schools at war with themselves, and while you may win the battle you will most likely lose the w a r . The soil is the basis of any sports turf f a c i l i t y . Today most soil fertility problems can be corrected with good m a n a g e m e n t and a fertilizer p r o g r a m . Your local golf course superintendent is one source,in addition to the county extenison agent and independent c o n s u l t a n t s , for soil fertility c o r r e c t i o n . Any sports turf area must drain w e l l , otherwise it will be very difficult to have good root development and a dense t u r f . For new c o n s t r u c t i o n , consider the PAT System. For upgrading an existing s i d e , consider the Cambridge sand injection system. Both systems are patented and both w o r k . Don't fall in the trap of thinking all you need to do is mix in a little sand to a heavy soil and make it drain better. There are numerous fields that are worse off after doing t h i s . You can always mix some proposed samples in a pail with w a t e r , then allow the mixture to dry in the sun. Many of these dry so hard you could never break t h e m , nor grow grass in the m i x t u r e . When rebuilding is d o n e , use grade stakes no more than 40' a p a r t . deviation from grade to be no more than + or - 1/2 inch. You never see parking lot full of low spots. Why accept that on a playing field? A surface drainage will help any sports turf a r e a . Football crown of 12" extending 10' beyond the sidelines is adequate as is a similar grade on f i e l d . This 1% grade is acceptable for player use in most all sports. Specify a paved uniform to 15" a baseball After precise g r a d i n g , to prepare a seedbed we prefer a rototerra rather than a rototiller which disturbs the g r a d e . Set depth at about 4 inches. Following t h i s , install irrigation. Consider the new heads on the m a r k e t that can be installed below grade and have only a 2-5/8" t o p , which reduces potential for player injury. When doing a new seeding use a Brill ion-type s e e d e r , run at least two d i r e c t i o n s . The newer turf-type tall fescue hybrids should be c o n s i d e r e d . They have better color r e t e n t i o n , lower water r e q u i r e m e n t s , and the best wear tolerance of any sports turf. Look at data for your area and select varieties that green up early in the spring for soccer and baseball and varieties that hold color late in the year for football use. Use a slit s e e d e r , set no more than 1/2" into the s o i l , to establish new varieties in a thin or existing t u r f . Spreading seed and working it in during a game by use of player activity has proven only marginally acceptable in our e x p e r i e n c e . Seed can be mixed with topsoil and spread if des i r e d . The key is to have the seed make contact with the s o i l . When placing stone dust on baseball infields, depth should be a minimum of 4" d e e p , c o m p a c t e d . Too many architects specify 2 " , which is hard to place uniformly and harder to maintain in future y e a r s . Use of aqua-grow granular on the stone dust area helps drain the area and hold m o i s t u r e , making the stone dust easier to play on and to w o r k . When new seed comes up w a i t for at least two mowings before applying weed control m a t e i a l s . Early application of herbicides results in seedling injury. F i n a l l y , when mowing b e g i n s , use a sharp mower set at 1-1/2" m i n i m u m . The above steps are in outline form o n l y , but it is hoped they will give you guidelines to work in while improving athletic turf a r e a s . Insects Today and Tomorrow Roscoe R a n d e l l , Extension Entomologist University of Illinois, U r b a n a , Illinois Introductio n. Sometimes a "new" insect pest of turfgrass is reported. Years ago this insect was a p r o b l e m , then it d i s a p p e a r e d , and then returned to be a serious pest of high quality turf. An aphid pest of grain developed a biotype with an appetite for Kentucky b l u e g r a s s . This insect called greenbug is not n e w , but is relatively new as a lawn insect p e s t . G r u b s . The annual white grub or Southern masked chafer will remain a major pest of home lawns and golf c o u r s e s . Late summer damage by the C-shaped larvae is a common occurrence in Illinois, Indiana and other midwestern states. Japanese beetle grubs also will continue to increase in populations on the fringe areas of its present locations. Metallic green and copper colored adults will also cause damage to trees and shrubs. The true white g r u b , larval stage of the May b e e t l e , is sometimes a pest of turfgrass. This group consists of more than one species; up to 40 species are found in the soil feeding on roots of various c r o p s , mostly on grass r o o t s . Less than five species are a problem on well managed turf. These species will remain in localized areas and not be as abundant in a community as the annual white g r u b . Most of the species in this group require three years to complete their life c y c l e , spending over two years as a grub in the soil. Black turfgrass atenius grubs returned in 1973 to be a pest of bentgrass and annual bluegrass sod. Two generations per year by this insect have caused serious damage to golf course f a i r w a y s , greens and tees. Life cycles and effective treatment periods have been determined for this potential p e s t . Sod W e b w o r m s . Two or three species of this group of foliage feeding caterpillars will continue to fluctuate in populations from damaging levels to almost disappearing from an area. Highly maintained turf areas will remain as the favorite host of w e b w o r m s . Chinch Bug . The Southern chinch bug is a pest of zoysiagrass in the midwestern states. Hairy chinch bug is commonly found on bluegrass in Ohio and surrounding states. This insect is increasing in both population in established areas and in new areas of infestation. Bluegrass Bill bu g, Bill bug damage is reported each year from Ohio to Nebraska with scattered infestations in the states in between them. These small areas will enlarge into neighboring c o m m u n i t i e s . Adults appear in the spring to lay eggs in bluegrass lawns. Eggs hatch and larval damage to stems appears in June and root feeding damage follows in J u l y . G r e e n b u g . This a p h i d , a pest of bluegrass in the m i d w e s t since 1970, migrates into the area in mid-summer from the southwestern states to suck plant juices from bluegrass foliage. This feeding activity leaves a toxin in the leaves causing them to turn a rust c o l o r . Greenbug feeding is mostly found inside the dripline of trees on the lawn area. This insect will continue to appear in some growing seasons and not in o t h e r s . Cutworms and A r m y w o r m s . Turf armyworms and some cutworm species migrate into the midwestern states each spring to feed on agriculture c r o p s . Sometimes these caterpillars infest a lawn in great n u m b e r s . This situation will continue in the future. The black cutworm species is a common pest of bentgrass greens and tees on golf c o u r s e s . It migrates into the area in late M a r c h , April and May to feed and produce succeeding g e n e r a t i o n s . M i t e s . Clover mites and two-spotted spider mites can be found at times in grass areas without exhibiting any damage symptoms. A new p e s t , winter grass m i t e , is slowly showing its p r e s e n c e . This mite has a dark body with eight red legs. D a m a g e , if p r e s e n t , will appear in the early spring. Other Insects. Many insects are attracted to the "oasis" effect of an irrigated and fertilized f a i r w a y , green or home lawn. Flea beetles were numerous in green grass areas in drought stress regions in 1983. Leafhoppers migrate to healthy grass to feed on plant sap. Predator and parasitic insects feeding on turfgrass insects will always be hearby to infestations of aphids and c a t e r p i l l a r s . These beneficial insects commonly include aphid lions, ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps. Nitrification Inhibitors Dean K. M o s d e l l , Department of Agronomy Purdue U n i v e r s i t y , West L a f a y e t t e , Indiana Turfgrasses take up nitrogen in the inorganic f o r m , either as NO.-N (nitrate) or N H 4 + N (ammonium). There usually is very little NhL-N in the soil solution since it is rapidly converted to N 0 3 - N by soil microorganisms in a process called 'nitrification'. This process is a two-step conversion with N 0 ? - N (nitrate) as an intermediate. * W H Nitrosomona s + Oxygen M n m Z Nitrobactor + Oxygen All forms of nitrogen fertilizers m u s t be converted to these inorganic forms for u p t a k e . Most of the slow-release turf fertilizers are polymers of urea or are coated u r e a s . Once they are broken down into the urea m o n o m e r , hydrolysis of the urea produces NH^h-. The NO^-N form of nitrogen is subject to losses through leaching with percolating water and gaseous losses mainly through n i t r i f i c a i t o n . The N 0 3 - N form is an anion and as such is not held on the exchange sites in the s o i l . In solution it may flow to the roots of plants with w a t e r , or move downward in the soil profile if rainfall or irrigation exceeds the water-holding capacity of the soil. The greater continuity of soil pores (high percolation rate) of coarse textured soils are conducive to higher NO^-N leaching losses. When the oxygen content in the soil becomes l i m i t i n g , as occurs when water fills the pore spaces in poorly drained s o i l s , microbes who normally use oxygen start to use the combined oxygen in N O ^ - N . T h u s , the N 0 3 - N is converted to gaseous forms of nitrogen and escapes to the a t m o s p h e r e . The amount of N lost through nitrification has never been observed in turf s i t u a t i o n s , but in general agriculture more than 50% of the applied N has been lost as gaseous N . Most of the denitrification occurs during w a r m - w e t springs following N a p p l i c a t i o n s . The amount of N lost as N 0 3 - N leaching varies with soil t e x t u r e , amount of N a p p l i e d , N s o u r c e , and rate of rainfall or i r r i g a t i o n . G e n e r a l l y , coarse t e x t u r e , high N r a t e , soluble N sources and high rate of irrigation or rainfall increase NO^-N leaching losses. Amounts of N0~-N leaching losses reported from turf situations range from 2% to as high as 2 5 % . To prevent losses of applied N , nitrification inhibitors have been used to maintain inorganic N in the NH.+N f o r m . The inhibitors disrupt the ability of the nitrosomonas to convert NH^-N to N 0 2 - N . Dicyandiamide (DCD or D I D I N ) , ridomil (Subdue), Turayole (Dwell) and N-Serve are chemicals classified as nitrification inhibitors. In general a g r i c u l t u r e , crop responses to applications of nitrification inhibitors have occurred when the chemicals are concentrated in a band with the fertilizer at a rate of 0.25-0.5 lb/acre. In turf s i t u a t i o n s , the inhibitors must be broadcast over the surface. There are disadvantages in broadcast a p p l i c a t i o n s . The chemical may be adsorbed to organic matter as it passes through the thatch. Volatilization and photodegredation of the chemicals increase with surface app l i c a t i o n s . The N and inhibitor applied together may move into the soil at different r a t e s . If the N moves faster than the i n h i b i t o r , losses of N could occur before the inhibitor disrupts n i t r i f i c a t i o n . A l s o , broadcast applications interact with a much greater volume of soil than banded a p p l i c a t i o n s . Consequently, application rates must be i n c r e a s e d , which makes the use of nitrification inhibitors less cost e f f e c t i v e . N H 4 + Nitrosomona s + Oxygen m m Z~ Nitrobacto r + Oxygen N n NU 3~ All forms of nitrogen fertilizers must be converted to these inorganic forms for uptake. Most of the slow-release turf fertilizers are polymers of urea or are coated ureas. Once they are broken down into the urea m o n o m e r , hydrolysis of the urea produces N H ^ - N . The NO^-N form of nitrogen is subject to losses through leaching with percolat ing water ana gaseous losses mainly through d e n i t r i f i c a t i o n . The NO^-N form is an anion and as such is not held on the exchange sites in the soil. In solution it may flow to the roots of plants with w a t e r , or move downward in the soil profile if rain fall or irrigation exceeds the water-holding capacity of the soil. The greater continuity of soil pores (high percolation rate) of coarse textured soils are conducive to higher N 0 3 - N leaching losses. When the oxygen content in the soil becomes l i m i t i n g , as occurs when water fills the pore spaces in poorly drained s o i l s , microbes who normally use oxygen start to use the combined oxygen in N O ^ - N . T h u s , the NO^-N is converted to gaseous forms of nitrogen and escapes to the a t m o s p h e r e . The amount of N lost through denitrification has not been measured in turf situations, but in general agriculture more than 50% of the applied N has been lost as gaseous N . Most of the denitrification occurs during w a r m - w e t springs following N applications. The amount of N lost as N0~>-N leaching varies with soil t e x t u r e , amount of N a p p l i e d , N s o u r c e , and rate of rainfall or i r r i g a t i o n . G e n e r a l l y , coarse t e x t u r e , high N rate, soluble N sources and high rate of irrigation or rainfall increase N0o-N leaching losses. Amounts of NO^-N leaching losses reported from turf situations range from 2% to as high as 2 5 % . To prevent losses of applied N , nitrification inhibitors have been used to maintain inorganic N in the NH.-N form. The inhibitors disrupt the ability of the nitrosomonas to convert NH.-N to N 0 ? - N . Dicyandiamide (DCD or D I D I N ) , ridomil (Subdue), Terrazole (Dwell) and N-Serve are chemicals classified as nitrification inhibitors. In general a g r i c u l t u r e , crop responses to applications of nitrification inhibitors have occurred when the chemicals are concentrated in a band with the fertilizer at a rate of .25-.5 lb. a i / a c r e . In turf s i t u a t i o n s , the inhibitors must be broadcast over the surface. There are disadvantages in broadcast applications. The chemical may be adsorbed to organic matter as it passes through the thatch. Volatilizaiton and photodegredation of the chemicals increase with surface applications. The N and inhibitor applied together may move into the soil at different rates. If the N moves faster than the i n h i b i t o r , losses of N could occur before the inhibitor disrupts n i t r i f i c a i t o n . A l s o , broadcast applications interact with a much greater volume of soil than banded a p p l i c a t i o n s . Consequently, application rates must be increased, which makes the use of nitrification inhibitors less cost e f f e c t i v e . The results of our work with nitrification inhibitors have varied from one year to the n e x t . This can be expected as weather conditions play an important role in determining the amount of N lost through leaching or d e n i t r i f i c a t i o n . W a r m - w e t spring and fall seasons are conducive to NCL-N l o s s , c o n s e q u e n t l y , response to applications of a nitrification inhibitor would occur under these c o n d i t i o n s . H o w e v e r , they have not performed as well as slow-release N sources in our t e s t s . An important point to remember is that the application of nitrification inhibitors with urea or other soluble N sources does not change the characteristics of the f e r t i l i z e r . The release of N from the N source is just as rapid so turf response and phytotoxicity are comparable to equal amounts of soluble N source w i t h o u t an inhibitor. Their effect is to maintain inorganic N in the rootzone for plant uptake by reducing losses of N C L - N . As the price of N fertilizers continues to r i s e , the economic importance ot improved utilization of the applied N increases.