? t O C e ot -tY>e SP* V Proceedings Of The 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference Sept. 19-22,1983 Warm Springs, Oregon PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Richard Mai pass Included in these Proceedings of the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference held at the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort at Warm Springs, Oregon, September 19-22, 1983 will be found virtually all of the presentations made during the course of the Conference. In keeping with the desire of the Board of Directors of the NWTGA, split sessions were again utilized to present subjects of specific interest both to golf course superintendents and to grounds managers for schools, parks or other installations. Favorable response was the general reception of such a program with the request that it be continued and even expanded. Over the years our association has developed a wealth of information regarding grounds and turf management practices. We are happy to share it with all who are interested. Additionally, we assist with on-going research projects in this field and make results available as quickly as possible. Too, we have available many speakers from other areas willing to share their expertise with us. We encourage turf managers to share their problems with us and are happy to help in finding solutions for those problems. We would encourage anyone interested in the maintenance of athletic fields, grounds, parks, and golf courses to make plans to attend the 38th Annual NWTGA Conference next fall in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We speak from many years attendance at these conferences that it is a great learning experience and hope that you can attend. NORTHWEST TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1983 Officers Norm Whitworth Past President Richard Mal pass President Ray McElhoe Vice President Gary D. Sayre Treasurer Roy L. Goss Executive Secretary BOARD OF DIRECTORS Milt Bauman Seattle Golf Club 210 NW 145th Street Seattle, WA 98177 William Campbell Sahalee Country Club 21200 NE 28th Place Redmond, WA 98052 Jim Connolly Turfgo Northwest P. 0. Box 18873 Spokane, WA 99208 Roy L. Goss Western Washington Research and Extension Center Puyallup, WA 98371 Ben Malikowski 0. M. Scott & Sons P. 0. Box 18128 Spokane, WA 99208 Richard Mai pass Riverside Golf&Country Club 8105 NE 33rd Drive Portland, OR 97221 Ray McElhoe Everett Golf & Country Club Box 1105 Everett, WA 98101 Gary Sayre Oakbrook Golf&Country Club 2411 Worthington Steilacoom, WA 98388 Mike Nauroth Veterans Golf Club 1235 Belle Walla Walla, WA 99362 Norm Whitworth Norm Whitworth Ltd. P. 0. Box 520 Wilsonville, OR 97070 TABLE OF CONTENTS Effective Use of Effluent Water for Turfgrasses Dr. M. Ali Harivandi Integrated Pest Management f o r T u r f g r a s s S.G. Fushtey Varietal Variation in Spring and Fall Color of Kentucky Bluegrasses R.D. Ensign and T.J. Bakken Turfgrass Management in South Africa Warren Bidwell Low Temperature Survival of Turftype Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars William J. Johnston The Present and Future of Turfgrass Varieties Dr. William A. Meyer Preparing Your Course for a Major Tournament Mike Bauman Preparing for a Major Tournament Harvey Junor Shattercore Aerification Larry Gilhuly The Effects of Intensive Fairway Aerification on Turfgrass Density and Quality .. John Monson and Roy Goss Maintaining Putting Greens with Minimum Practices S.E. Brauen and R.L. Goss Enhancement of Putting Green Bentgrass Population with Rubigan Mike Bauman Enhancement of Putting Green Bentgrass Populations with Rubigan Dick Schmidt The Cambridge Sportsturf Drainage System of Sportsfield Renovation Glen G. Krause Low Budget Sportsfield Reconditioning Gene Howe Establishing Grass on Sportsfields Roy L. Goss Maintenance of Low-Traffic Turfgrass Areas Tom Cook Contract Fertilization and Weed Control Joseph L. Miller Jr. Managing Sportsfields with Funds We Can Afford Dr. Roy L. Goss 7 14 25 31 36 46 51 58 60 64 69 72 75 79 86 93 97 106 113 Vegetative Identification of C o m m o n Turfgrasses Tom Cook Fertigation of Large Turfgrass Areas Bruce Jackman Maintenance Mowing Reduction and Turfgrass Response to Growth Regulants Stan Brauen, Darlene Frye, Bruce Osborne and Roy Goss Take-all Patch-like Disease of Bluegrass: Characterization of Fungus and Its Sensitivity to Fungicides Gary A. Chastagner Persistence of Perennial Ryegrass and Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars in the Willamette Valley of Oregon Tom Cook and John Wohler Managing Saline, Alkali or Saline-Alkali Soils for Turfgrasses Dr. M. Ali Harivandi Response of Turftype Perennial Ryegrass to a Shade Environment S.E. Brauen, R.L. Goss, Ray McElhoe and S. Orton The Effects of High Rates of Potassium Fertilization on Poa annua Putting Green Turf S.E. Brauen and R.L. Goss Acknowledgements 116 127 130 142 144 149 156 164 169 EFFECTIVE USE OF EFFLUENT WATER FOR TURFGRASSES 1 Dr. M. Ali Harivandi2 The concept of irrigation with reclaimed water is increasingly attractive in arid and semi-arid regions and in highly populated metropolitan areas, as shortages and/or costs of fresh water increase, and as more and better quality treated water is becoming available for re-use. Most reclaimed water not dumped into the ocean and to fresh water streams or spread on land, is used for ground water recharge, industrial use, control of saltwater intrusion or agricultural use. Agriculturally used reclaimed water is applied to 1) pasture; 2) fodder, fiber, and seed crops; 3) crops that grow well above the ground, such as fruits, nuts, and grapes; 4) crops that are processed so that pathogenic organisms are destroyed prior to human consumption; and, 5) parks, roadsides, landscapes, golf course, cemeteries and athletic fields. Although there is not much competition for use of effluent water at this time, such competition is anticipated in the near future. Parks, golf courses, and other turfed areas will then be in a better position to compete with prior water use sources for reclaimed water, than for fresh water. Although the ultimate users of effluent water will be influenced greatly by federal, state, and local laws and regulations; there are, however, several arguments favoring use of this water on golf courses, parks, cemeteries, etc., over using it in food-related agriculture. Among these arguments are the following: 1) Turfgrasses are generally "heavy feeders", requiring relatively large amounts of nitrogen and other nutrients. 2) Reclaimed water is produced continuously and any use of it, therefore, also —' Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — University of California Cooperative Extension, Hayward, CA. needs to be continuous. A turfgrass "crop" is continuous, i.e., is not interrupted by cultivation, seeding, or harvest, all of which mean stopping irrigation for considerable periods. 3) Most irrigated turf sites are located adjacent to cities where the effluent water is produced, thus transport costs will be minimal. 4) Potential health problems related to the use of reclaimed water are lower when the water is applied to turf than when it is applied to food crops. 5) Soilrelated problems which might develop due to the use of reclaimed water will have less social and economic impact if they develop where turf is cultivated than if they develop where food crops are grown. The concept of effluent water irrigation for turf and landscape is not new. Many turf and landscape managers have been using this water for the past two decades and have demonstrated its suitability if proper application procedures are followed. What follows is a discussion of the various facts involved in effective use of effluent water for turfgrass irrigation. Healthy Considerations The biological composition of effluent water is of great concern because of pathogenic bacterial and viruses. Effluent waters are not generally released for irrigation without prior approval of public health authorities. Since the effluent water released for turf and landscape irrigation is generally secondary effluent, it may contain some harmful chemical and biological substances and irrigation practices should, therefore, avoid direct human contact with the water and pollution of surface or ground waters. In addition, an entirely separate delivery system must be constructed to carry the effluent; there must be no possibility of accidental contamination of the domestic water system. Seasonal and Annual Variation Seasonal variation in reclaimed water quality can be significant. For example, the water discharged to a city sewage system from a processing plant operated during a portion of the year, may vary considerably in a specific mineral content in that specific portion of the year from the water released during the rest of the year. Annual variation in water quality is as important, if not more important, than seasonal variation. As an example, increased levels of boron and/or phosphorus could be detected annually in a city's sewage system due to the population growth resulting in greater amounts of detergent in the city's sewage system. Constancy of Supply Effluent water, after a contract has been signed, will keep coming regardless of time of year, time of day, whether or not it is raining, and whether or not you need it. Water supply is continuous, while turf needs are variable. There must, therefore, be some type of water storage available. Since most contracts for waste water required that a specific amount be accepted each day, regardless of weather conditions, the storage requirement is a common feature of systems using effluent water. Soil Factors Soils vary widely in the physical and chemical properties important in effluent water irrigation of turfgrasses. Cation exchange capacity, infiltration rate, percolation rate, and water holding capacity of the soil are among the more important soil factors which should be considered before applying reclaimed water. Coarse textured soils such as sandy loams are best for the use of reclaimed water, heavier soils are all right as long as changes in soil chemical properties are evaluated regularly. Water holding capacity of soil is also important in suitability for reclaimed water irrigation. Frequent application of reclaimed water on soils with high water holding capacity, such as clay soil, will contribute significantly to the accumulation of salts and heavy metals. Shallow soils overlaying rock, hard pan or clay pan, restrict water percolation and drainage. The resultant perched water tables will promote accumulation of soluble salts and toxic ions considerably. In sum, although soil factors should not preclude the use of effluent water, they must be considered in any management program where reclaimed water is to be used for irrigation. Irrigation System Factors Because of potential clogging of sprinkler nozzles, due to algae, a good filter is suggested where the effluent water enters the sprinkler system to prevent clogging. Also, because both harmful and beneficial substances may be applied with irrigation water, irrigation pattern uniformity is of prime importance. Disadvantages of Effluent Water Use A-Salinity: Salinity problems occur when the total quantity of soluble salts in the grass root zone is high enough to adversely affect the turfgrass. Most effluent waters are high in salts and, especially in heavy soils, the salt might accumulate to levels intolerable to most turfgrasses. If salinity is a problem in using effluent water, the following management practices should be considered. - Irrigate more frequently to maintain a higher soil moisture content. - Plant salt tolerant grasses. - Apply extra water to leach excess salts. - If a hard or clay pan is present, modify soil profile to improve water percolation. - Install artificial drainage tables are a problem. - Blend effluent water with a less salty water. if shallow water B-Permeability (S A R): Reduced permeability problems may occur if the effluent water contains high levels of sodium. Relative permeability is often ex- pressed as S A R (Sodium Adsorption Ratio), the ratio of sodium to calcium and magnesium. A high ratio above 9 - indicates potential permeability problems in the future. Carbonate and biocarbonate content can also affect soil permeability and must be evaluated along with the calcium, magnesium, and sodium content of both soil and effluent water. Typical symptoms of reduced permeability include waterlogging, slow infiltration, crusting or compaction, poor aeration, weed invasion, and disease infestation. Reclamations for correcting or preventing a permeability problem include: - Applying soil amendments such as gypsum, sulfur or sulfuric acid. - Blending reclaimed water 1ittle or no sodium. - Applying irrigation water at a slower rate over a longer period. - Aerifying on a regular basis. with water containing C-Toxic Elements: Effluent waters usually contain a wide variety of elements in small concentrations. Problems can occur when certain elements accumulate in the soil to levels toxic to turfgrass and other plants. Toxicities can occur due to an accumulation of boron, chloride, copper, nickel, zinc, or cadmium. Boron concentration can vary from 0.5 to 1 ppm. Although this range by itself is not toxic to many plants, on heavy soils higher levels may build and present problems; especially for trees and shrubs. Turfgrasses are usually much more tolerant of boron than other plants if they are mowed and clippings are removed regularly. Chloride is not particularly toxic to turf, but most trees and shrubs are quite sensitive to a chloride content of 10 m eq/1 (355 ppm). Copper, nickel, zinc, and cadmium are heavy metals that, in some instances, build to high levels in reclaimed water. High concentrations of zinc and copper are usually beneficial to turf; nickel and cadmium are a concern only if the land will be used for other agricultural purposes (e.g., crop production). Practices that reduce the effective concentration of toxic elements include: - Irrigating more frequently. - Applying additional water for leaching. - Blending ter. - Planting more tolerant species. - Applying low pH. reclaimed water with better quality wa- lime if heavy metal toxicity is due to Advantages of Effluent Irrigation A-Conservation: Reclaimed water provides an additional water source when the supply of fresh water is short. B-Cost: Reclaimed water is often much less expensive (usually 1/3 cost domestic water) and in some instances is free. C-Nutrient Content: Reclaimed water can be high in nutrients. This is usually quite beneficial in turfgrass management programs. Although quantities are low, because nutrients are applied on a frequent and regular basis, they are efficiently used by the plants. In most cases, turf and trees will obtain all the phosphorus and potassium they need and a large part of their nitrogen will also be supplied. Sufficient micronutrients are also supplied by most reclaimed waters. Plant Factors Depending on the quality of the water, irrigation of different plants may not be equally desirable. In general, turfgrasses may be the best plants for effluent irrigation. They take up large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash found in the water. They will also accumulate large amounts of boron without showing toxicity symptoms. However, some turfgrasses are better adapted to this use than others. If salini- ty is expected to become a problem, salt tolerant cool season grasses such as "Fults" alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) or warm season grasses such as seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) or St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) should be selected. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR TURFGRASS 1 S.G. Fushtey2 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the catchword of modern pest control. Be definition, IPM is the combined use of chemical, cultural, genetic and biological methods for effective economical control of pests with minimum interference of non-target organisms. It is a concept which combines the use of many strategies and tactics in efforts to keep pest problems below levels which cause economic damage. Most of these strategies are not new but the concept of applying them together according to plan is a fairly recent development brought about by economics and other problems arising from increased use of chemical pesticides. Increasingly high cost of chemicals and ecological considerations have accelerated the implementation of IPM as an alternative to pest control programs which depended heavily on intensive use of chemicals. Pest Control Strategies The various pest control strategies evolved through the ages. Burning of fields to destroy weeds, insects and other pests is an age-old practice dating to times B.C. as is the use of natural enemies to control pest organisms. The Chinese were responsible for the first application of biological control. In records dated 300 A.D. the Chinese were reported to be establishing colonies of predatory ants in their citrus orchards to control caterpillars and boring beetles. They also recognized the beneficial effects of lady bugs which ate aphids. Substances with pesticidal properties such as pyrethrum, arsenic and sulfur were used from the time of the Greek and Roman Empires but the development of chemical pesticide use really belongs to the twentieth century. However, until the years immediately preceding World War II the use of —' Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ —' Canada Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, BC, Canada. chemical pesticides was limited due to the hazardous nature of the chemicals, their expense and their ineffectiveness in many situations. Pest management still depended to a large extent on environmental manipulation, sanitation, natural biological control and luck. The discovery of DDT in the 19401 s changed all that. This miracle insecticide led to an explosion of interest in development of new insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. Techniques for application were improved and control by chemicals became so effective that other means of pest control were nearly forgotten. Pesticides were applied according to schedule with little regard to whether pests were present, or in what density or what effects the pesticides had on other organisms. The object was insurance against pest damage but the result was a new set of problems. Quite suddenly, certain pests, such as spider mites, whose populations were generally small, became major pests. Two things happened: 1. Excessive use of pesticides natural enemies. destroyed the pest's 2. The pests developed resistance to the pesticides. Freed of their natural enemies and tolerant of pesticides these pests survived and multiplied at incredible speed. To quote Flint and Bosch (1) in their book Introduction to Integrated Pest Management, "These problems, including environmental contamination, were predictable, but somehow these questions were pushed aside, and most pest managers and researchers of the 1940 1 s and 1950's, mesmerized by the seeming simplicity and efficiency of pesticidal control, forgot the laws of ecology and stumbled into chaos." Quoting further, "Thus it is of critical importance to remember that pest management is basically an ecological matter. Man wants to secure as much of a given resource as possible with minimum competition from other organisms in the ecosystem. This demands an ecological outlook." Hence, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is an ecologically based pest control strategy that relies heavily on natural mortality factors and seeks out control tactics that disrupt these factors as little as possible. IPM uses pesticides but only as one of many tactics and then only after such use is justified by careful monitoring of the pest problem. Basics of IPM IPM programs rely on five basic tactics for plant protection, namely, regulatory, genetic, cultural, biological and chemical. By employing all of these, IPM programs are designed to reduce dependency on pesticides and this reduce overall pesticide usage. Regulatory. Examples of regulatory tactics are certifications of seed and plant material, quarantines, seed inspection and elimination of highly susceptible species. Although these are largely the responsibilities of government agencies and industry the turf manager needs to be aware of these actions in order to be able to take full advantage of their objectives, which are directed against the introduction of pest problems. Genetic. Genetic resistance is probably the oldest and most basic method of fighting pest problems. Turfgrass managers should acquaint themselves with, and select, resistant turfgrass species and cultivars and use them in mixtures or blends, or both. Vigorous, well adapted turfgrasses are less troubled by stress and more suited to resist pest problems. Although not always complete, information on resistance can be obtained from researchers, universities and industry. Cultura!. Probably the most important of IPM strategies. Turf that is weakened by soil compaction, improper fertility, and other neglect, will be less able to resist pest injury. Cultural practices may influence susceptibility to pest injury or they may affect the environment that favors development of the pest. Mowing, fertilizing and watering practices have been well documented in their influence on the development of disease, insect and weed problems in turf. A healthy, vigorous turf requires mowing at the appropriate height and frequency; fertilizing to meet its nutritional needs and no more, and watering to meet its evapotranspiration requirements. Managing for thatch control, coring and topdressing contribute to an environment that favors healthy turf and reduced risk of damage by disease and other pests. Biological. Although a very important tactic in control of a number of pests in crop plants there is not much in the way of effective biological control of turfgrass pests although studies on biological control of weeds and insects, which do occur in turfgrass are in progress. Biological control involves the use of natural enemies to eliminate pest problems. Microbial agents (bacteria, viruses and fungi) are most frequently used, eg, myxomatosis virus was introduced into Australia to control rabbits. Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterial pathogen infecting a broad spectrum of insect pests is produced commercially and registered for use on a number of crops including vegetables and tree fruits for control of a variety of caterpillars and worms. According to Flint and Bosch (1), classic biological control has been applied successfully against well over 100 pest insect and weed species worldwide. Chemical. Chemical pesticides have been developed for just about every group of plants, micro-organisms and animals that have ever been considered undesirable. Over a thousand different materials are registered in the United States as pesticide active ingredients. These, in turn, are formulated into many times that many commercial products. Chemical pesticides are among the most useful pest control tools but they need to be used with great care. In an integrated pest management program they are used only when justified by careful sampling and with a consideration of the natural control factors operating in the ecosystem. The object of IPM is to not only control existing pests but to prevent the development of future pest problems. The solution of immediate problems with chemicals alone has proven to be rife with dangers as this often opens doors for greater problems ahead. An Example of Effective IPM Integrated Pest Management in Apples in Nova Scotia. Because of the high value and low tolerance for wormy apples in the marketplace, orchards were among the few agricultural ecosystems to receive regular, heavy pesticide applications even before the pesticide explosion of the 1940's. In Nova Scotia apple orchards in the 19201 s and 1930's more frequent and heavier dosages of insecticidal chemicals were required to control insect pests as time went on. Among these pests were the codling moth, oystershell scale and the European red mite. The Nova Scotia program developed a step at a time beginning with the oystershell scale. Previous to 1930, this pest was no problem, presumably kept in check by naturally occurring biological agents. Studies in the 1940's revealed that the predator and parasite populations were depleted to such a low level that they could not exert effective biological control. It was further discovered that the beneficial insects were not the victims of insecticides but they were being killed off by sulfur-based fungicides applied for disease control. The substitution of copper-based or ferbam fungicides for the sulfur-based ones resulted in restoration of natural control agents and effective biological control. The same kind of approach was taken for the European red mite and codling moth with the result that effective control of these pests was achieved by restoring natural control agents and using a minimum of well-timed, selective insecticides. To develop this program took years of careful study but it paid off in effective pest control with much reduced use of pesticides. IPM in Turf. With programs like the one just described being developed for pest control in crop plants, why not in turf? Maybe the problems with chemicals in turfgrass are not as acute as they are in crop plants so there isn't the same urgency for change. However, the problems are certainly there and the need for reduced dependency on chemicals for pest control is certainly recognized for both economic and ecological reasons. In his keynote address to the plant protection section at the 4th International Turfgrass Research Conference held in Guelph, Ontario in 1981, Dr. Al Turgeon (2) stated that "while pesticide use is an important component of a turfgrass program, pest management also includes selecting pest resistant turfgrasses that are well adapted to natural environmental and cultural conditions, following proper establishment procedures and performing cultural operations that favorably influence turfgrass growth and development." Good turfgrass managers do all these things without calling it integrated pest management, but we need to learn how all these things can be used to the best advantage in the total picture of management for pest control. Earlier I mentioned the basic tactics for plant protection in a general way. At the risk of repetition, I would like to elaborate on these as they relate more directly to turfgrass management. 1. Turfgrass Selection (genetic) Many turfgrass pest problems can be substantially reduced by selection of superior, well-adapted grasses. Environmental adaption is particularly important. We have cool-season grasses which do best within a temperature range of 16 to 24°C and warm-season grasses which do best at 26 to 30°C. Prolonged exposure outside these ranges results in unthrifty growth and proneness to damage by pests such as disease, insects and weeds. Winter cold tolerance is important if a good stand of turf is to survive from year to year. An important objective of turfgrass breeding is superior resistance to common diseases. Table 1 shows disease reaction of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars derived from trials at Agassiz. One of the objectives of the National Turfgrass Trials sponsored by the USDA is to identify resistance to the various diseases across the nation in the cultivars under test. The results are tabulated at the end of each season, analyzed, and made available to the cooperators. If you have a particular disease, or other pest problem in your area, it is important to seek out and use those cultivars which possess the most resistance to that pest, be it disease, insect, weed or whatever. 2. Turfgrass Environment (cultural) Cultural operations have substantial pests and the grass which they damage. effects on Irrigation. Excessive irrigation increases susceptibility to compaction under traffic, also reduces tolerance to stress, hence greater proneness to pest problems. Specific problems known to be more serious under conditions of excessive irrigation are diseases such as Pythium blight, Rhizoctonia brown patch and weeds such as Poa annua. Fertilization. Some nutrients to supplement native soil fertility are necessary to sustain growth of grass at a level which meets the demands of its use. However, excessive fertilization, especially with nitrogen, renders turfgrass more susceptible to many diseases, especially Helminthosporium melting-out, Fusarium blight and Rhizoctonia brown patch. It also reduces tolerance to environmental stress. As with water supply, nutrients should be supplied only as needed with special attention given to the kinds as well as amounts of nutrients required. Mowing. Closely mown turf is more susceptible to diseases such as Rhizoctonia brown patch and Sclerotonia dollar spot than is turfgrass mown at moderate heights, eg., Kentucky bluegrass at 3/4 inch vs 1-1/2 inch. But, you will say, "I can't mow my fairways at 1-1/2 inch or I'll be thrown out on my ear." That's where the know-how comes in. You can't use Merion Kentucky bluegrass if you are going to mow at less than 1 inch height, but you can use something else. Research is needed to develop the kinds of grasses that meet the needs of the industry, and Education to teach turfgrass managers what to use and how to use it properly. The demand for lower-cut fairways brought with it a host of problems. Some years ago I was called to advise on a serious Dollar Spot problem at a golf course near Hamilton, Ontario. The fairways were being wiped out with disease. A few years earlier they had beautiful Kentucky bluegrass fairways. Then they lowered their mowing height to less than 1 inch. With lower mowing height and frequent irrigation the Kentucky bluegrass was soon replaced by annual bluegrass. Annual bluegrass is highly susceptible to Dollar Spot and other diseases to which Kentucky bluegrass is much more resistant. More fungicide was needed to keep the disease in check. Suddenly the fungicide they were using failed to work. The fungus had become resistant to benomyl. Other fungicides needed to be applied more frequently at greater cost, - all because of reducing mowing height without considering its implications. Thus, proper mowing practice is an important cultural operation in the overall picture of management for pest control. Cultivation. This would not seem to enter the picture in established turf but it certainly does in the establishment phase and some aspects later. Proper preparation of the seedbed can minimize problems with weeds, especially grassy weeds. A form of cultivation is later involved in the control of thatch. Thatchy turfs are more susceptible to diseases such as Helminthosporium melting-out and stripe smut, also to damage by environmental stresses which could lead to loss of turf, followed by weed invasion. Timely verticutting, coring and topdressing can keep thatch at optimal levels. 3. Pesticides (chemical) Effective practical control of pest organisms with pesticides does not mean eradication; it means reduction of the pest population or its activity to a level that does not cause damage to the turf grass, and does not reduce turf quality. The presence of a few potentially damaging insects in a turf may not require treatment with an insecticide; it is only when insect populations approach a level which has the potential to cause significant damage that pesticides need to be applied. Hence the need for knowledge of potential pest problems, recognizing potentially damaging pests and knowing how to monitor pest populations and at what level chemical treatment is necessary. Hopefully the use of pesticides on a prescribed schedule where a pesticide is used on a regular basis for the prevention of damage by a particular pest is athing of the past. With IPM the application of a chemical pesticide is determined by the progress of events in the field rather than by prescription. Outlook for Turfgrass IPM There are many reasons why IPM should be the way to go in turfgrass management but the main one is the need to reduce dependency on chemical pesticides. The reason for this need is two-fold: (1) Economics. With increasing energy costs many pesticides are becoming prohibitively expensive; (2) With pressures from environmentalist groups and concerned public about the harmful effects of pesticides in the environment the need to minimize pesticide use is obvious. But are we ready for IPM in turfgrass management? When we look at the components of IPM we can see that the good managers have been using many of the strategies of IPM all along. However, some of the most important components are not being used because the information is not there. We know practically nothing about the natural agents that keep harmful fungi, insects and weeds under control and why these natural controls so often fail. Much fundamental research into the biology of the turfgrass environment is needed to determine interactions among organisms and develop methods of helping the good guys do their job. These interactions need to be determined for each pest organism separately and the knowledge used to develop management systems that would take advantage of natural controls as much as possible. The same holds true for genetic methods of control. We have many turf cultivars that possess various degrees of resistance to disease and other pests but this approach is not being fully exploited. The use of resistant cultivars is undoubtedly the simplest and most economical means of pest control as far as the turf manager is concerned but our pool of resources in this area is small. We need to encourage turfgrass breeders to put greater emphasis on incorporating resistance into the genetic makeup of the cultivars they produce. Most of the newer cultivars which we test in our trials these days are sorely lacking in this respect. Finally, there is the matter of putting all of these strategies together into a system that works. Who is supposed to do the integrating? The turfgrass manager? The research scientist? Or the extension person? Perhaps all three. The manager is the one nearest the problem but he or she is not likely to have access to enough information. The research scientist may have access to information but he is usually a specialist, tends to view problems within a particular discipline and does not have the time to investigate the total picture. That leaves the extension person as the most likely key to the situation. He can talk to both managers and research scientists, tie things together and connect problems with solutions. We have a few such people among us, people like Dr. Roy Goss who are admirably equipped for just this kind of function. REFERENCES 1. Flint, Mary Louise and Robert van den Bosch. 1981. Introduction to integrated pest management. Plenum Press, New York. 2. Turgeon, A. J. 1981. Turfgrass pest management. In Proceedings of the Fourth International Turfgrass Research Conference, July 19-23, 1981. Chapter 40: 351-368. Table 1. Cultivar Disease reaction of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars licenced for sale in Canada - 1982 Stripe I Leaf Spot Powdery Mildew R R S RR RR R S Adelphi America Banff Baron Birka RR RR S R S S RR Bono Bristol Cheri Dormie Enumndi R RR R R RR RR R S RR R S RR R SS SS R S S S R S S RR S SS R RR S RR RR SS S S S R S S S SS R R S R RR S R SS S RR S R R RR S R S S R R R Fylking Geronimo Glade Haga Majestic Merion Nugget Park Plush Prato Primo Ram 1 Regent Sydsport Touchdown Victa Windsor RR R S SS = = = = = - R S - highly resistant resistant susceptible highly susceptible no information available - - RR VARIETAL VARIATION ON SPRING AND FALL COLOR OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSES 1 R.D. Ensign and T.J. Bakken2 Color is one of the most distinctive characteristics among Kentucky bluegrasses. Researchers consider color, for attractiveness of the grass, an important criteria in evaluating new cultivars. Usually those selections that have a medium to dark green hue are choice selections, although some people select grasses having a soft, light green hue. Color, texture, and density are characteristics which contribute to overall quality of turfgrasses. But other characteristics may be equal or even more important in selecting a turfgrass variety for your area. These may include disease resistance, winter hardiness, wear tolerance, persistence, and aggressiveness. The University of Idaho is cooperating with a number of other states in the U.S.A. and in Canada to evaluate selected Kentucky bluegrass varieties. Eightyfive (85) varieties, common to each location, are being systematically evaluated by each state to assess their adaptability to climatic and soil conditions. It is assumed that some varieties will perform better in some areas than others. Color differences of grass blades in a turf ecosystem has been very striking in the Idaho test. Close observation gives one the opinion that each variety has its own distinctive color and they may change from month to month. Some varieties retain acceptable color well into early winter while others lose green color quite early in the fall at Moscow, Idaho. Also, scientists have noted that some varieties green up in early spring while others will not. Physiological reasons —' Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ —' Professor and Agronomist; Research Associate, respectively, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. for these growth response are not completely understood. Climatic conditions in the late fall and in the spring affect chlorophyll development or degradation in the leaf tissue. Loss of color early in the fall is referred to as senescence, chlorophyll degradation, and early dormancy. If the process continues, the leaves usually die. Loss of color may be due to a combination of low daylight intensity and/or quality as well as low daily temperatures. To determine varietal response, color readings were taken during late fall of 1981 and 1982 and continued through mid-March of the following years. This report summarized the varieties which best hold their green color late in the calendar year and also those varieties which green up in early spring. The varieties were planted in September 1980 in three replications and fertilized annually with 4 lb of actual N per 1000 ft 2 and irrigated by an underground sprinkler system. The silty loam soil had adequate moisture during the growing season and into the winter and spring periods. Daily temperatures were recorded. Early Winter Color Retention Color readings were taken in December 1981 and January 1983. The average minimum temperature in December 1981 was 27.2°F. The 1982 December average mean temperatures were 23.5°F (see Fig. 1). Early winter color retention for the two years are reported in Table 1. The high 10 varieties on color readings for both years were: Bristol, Admiral, Barblue, Nassau. Varieties Lovegreen, CEB VB 3965 and Ram I, were also in the top 50% of all varieties for the second year. Color readings for the early winter of 1982-83 were generally higher than for 1981-82. This could not be explained by temperature since November-December temperature for the two years were quite similar (see Fig. 1). Varieties which were among the top 10 in spring of 1982 and in 1983 are reported in Table 2. These were: Nassau, Shasta, and Admiral. The varieties Bristol, 129, K3-178, Bonnieblue and 225 appeared in the top 50% of all cultivars for good color in 1983. Superior Green Color in Early Winter and the Following Spring Varieties Bristol, Nassau, Admiral, and 225 had excellent early winter color as well as early spring green up the following spring in 1981-82. In 1982-83, Shasta, Admiral, Bristol, Barblue, and Nassau retained color well into early winter and also showed good spring green up. During the winters, all cultivars lost color after mid-January and into February. Cone!usions These data indicate that some Kentucky bluegrass varieties retain acceptable green color well into early winter at Moscow, Idaho. Color is usually lost from the leaves in mid-January and February. Thus, temperature as well as low light conditions, play an important part in chlorophyll degradation. Some Kentucky bluegrass varieties such as Shasta and Nassau green up early in the spring as daylight and temperatures increases, whereas other varieties such as Nugget, with Antarctic germ plasm, green up 2-3 weeks later. Turf managers may consider the importance of green color in November and December as well as early spring green up in their landscape plans. If grass color is important, then varieties of Kentucky bluegrass may be available for you locally. Table 1. Kentucky bluegrasses with highest green color readings in early winter. December 1981 Varieties Mean - Bristol 8.3 Lovegreeri 2 December 1982 . Varieties Mean 8.2' 8.3 Barblue 8.3 Birka 7.7 Admiral 8.3 Glade 7.7 WWAG 478 8.0 225 7.7 Harmony 7.7 Admi ral 7.3 225 7.3 CEB VB 3965 7.3 Shasta 7.3 Ram I 7.3 Challenger (N535) Barblue 7.0 Nassau 7.3 Nassau (243) 7.0 Mono, MER PP 47, Bonnieblue, Majestic 7.0 * Average of 3 readings on Dec. 9, 1981. 2 Color readings: 9 = dark green; 1 = light. CO Bri stol Table 2. Kentucky bluegrasses with highest green color readings in early spring. March 1982 Varieties Mean Nassau (243) March 1983 Varieties Mean 6.5 2 Shasta 7.7 2 Bristol 6.2 Mona 7.0 225 6.0 Wabash 7.0 K3-178 6.0 Geronimo 6.3 Bonnieblue 6.0 S-21 6.3 Columbia 6.0 Nassau (243) 6.3 239 5.9 Kl-152 6.0 Admiral 5.9 Admiral 6.0 Shasta 5.8 MER PP43 5.7 PSU 173 5.8 Argyle, Vantage 5.7 1 - Average of 12 readings. CD LU U. p 0) JD O a 2E CO M -p Q) CO > co jc o P n co > O z o o • O) •H LL. CX) 1 vo KV 1 • LU > et 1 CN • z hH Z o KV 1 CD CN er hH • i—i i—i i—i CD Dì 03 E CD > < CD > O -Q •>i— E Z3 00 # C\J CD _Q o3 1— E E •P 03 ^ ra E -P e O E •«- -P CD O 03 03 1—1 M 4J> r— r— _E 03 E Q. U C h- i— o •p- O 03 CJD CQ >- Q < Z i—i 03 03 -p -P E i—i >>.p CD 0 3 JD C O CD JC CD E C E r— E rO ao CD -r- O O > • LU Q U 1 • E 03 -P ra •P -p •P CD "D 03 c^ co 1—1 CD N E -E CD •C D E 03 3 E r— h- O r - P fd CS —1 GQ GO 2EI • LiC D E > c 1—1 O •r— E I — H • CD -P >> 1—1 JEo 03 03 ra JD 1—1 c Q) L E •P ^ C ra o •rD CD o > - O rLU OC O ra • E CD »-H E -P i—« CD i— E • N 0 3 • i- ra jQ ra E Dì E S ^ ^ C D C D a OrI— LO co Q Cd OO >- LÜ CO E CD E 03 4-> > •P 03 E •O c •i— r— E -P 03 E ra -P CD 03 -P O • 1— _E -E CO i— •P CO E CD CL 1—1 CJ u •i— ra •«- -rc CJ Q S03L L Q Table 3. Survival Below Average I. Ave. 85% II. Ave. 46% Caravelle Perfect Barry GT I Score Sturdy Ninak Yorktown Diplomat Sprinter Score Barry Caravelle Nimak Perfect III. Ave. Ninak Score Sprinter Barry Citation Caravelle Perfect Table 4. Effect of Temperature on Germination ( 13 days ) Temperature, C Cultivar 21 18 15 — — Dasher Yorktown II Elka Derby Fiesta Perfect 90 100 75 85 90 95 100 95 95 98 95 93 0/ ¡0 100 75 90 80 85 95 12 7 80 75 45 60 40 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — - Table 5. Low Temperature Seedling Growth Temperature Regimes: I II III Day 15 C (59 F) 15 C (59 F) 15 C (59 F) 12 hour photoperiod Night 10 C (50 F) 5 C (41 F) O C (32 F) Table 6. Low Temperature Seedling Growth (14 days) Temperature regime Cultivar Dasher Yorktown II Elka Derby Fiesta Perfect 15/10 33 26 32 25 35 32 15/5 mm 15/0 6 8 8 5 11 9 8 6 6 6 9 10 Table 7. Turfgra ss Quality Rating (1 to 9; 9 - excellent) Cultivar 1982 1983 Dasher Yorktown II El ka Derby Fiesta 6.4 6.0 5.0 7.0 6.0 7.8 7.0 6.7 7.0 6.8 Mean of 17 c.v. 6.5 6.9 THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF TURFGRASS VARIETIES1 Dr. William A. Meyer2 There has been a tremendous increase in cool season turfgrass breeding in the United States in the past twelve years. The major increase has been in the number of private companies as a result of the passage of the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act in 1971. This Act allows the breeder and owner of a newly developed variety to obtain exclusive U.S. production and marketing rights. Other individuals cannot produce or market a protected variety without the permission of the owner. Many improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue are now on the market as a result of the many breeding programs. NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM In 1982, Jack Murray, a turfgrass specialist of the USDA, Beltsville, MD, initiated the development of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). This program will develop and coordinate uniform evaluation of turfgrass varieties and blends for the U.S. This program will be a self-supporting, non-profit program sponsored by the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Maryland Turfgrass Council. It is not a federal program. A policy committee made up of members from the different regions of the U.S. will administer the trials. Each year the NTEP will send out different turfgrass species to be planted in uniform trials throughout the U.S. The owner pays a fee to cover the distribution costs of the seed, and the accumulation and analysis of the data. The yearly summaries from each test will be available upon request. —' Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — Turf-Seed, Inc., Hubbard, OR. The NTEP has already released the first 2 years of data from the 1980 Kentucky bluegrass trials that included eighty-four varieties. In 1982 a perennial ryegrass trial with forty-seven varieties was distributed for trials. The 1982 NTEP trials included thirty tall fescue varieties, and forty-seven fine fescue varieties. The NTEP program will provide excellent information to the turfgrass industry as to which varieties are widely adapted to the diverse environments of the U.S. KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSES Many new improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass have been developed and released in the U.S. during the past 10 to 12 years. There appears to be a reduced interest in bluegrass breeding and variety release at the present time in favor of other species such as ryegrass and fescue. Leaf spot, caused primarily by Helminthosporium vagans in the Northwest, can severely damage common type varieties (characterized by narrow leaves and erect growth habit) such as Park, Kenblue, Bayside, Geary and Delta. The varieties A-34, Adelphi, America, Bonnieblue, Challenger, Columbia, Fylking, Majestic, Midnight and Sydsport are examples of new lower growing turf-types with improved resistance to leaf spot. The turf-type varieties Baron, Glade, Merit, Ram I and Victa would be considered as having intermediate resistance. Leaf spot is especially serious in poorly drained areas, and in shady areas. Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striformis, is the other serious disease of Kentucky bluegrass in the Northwest. The improved varieties Shasta, America and Mona have shown good resistance, followed closely by Bristol, Columbia, Geronimo, Majestic, Challenger, Sydsport and Trenton. This disease is most severe in the spring and fall, and can be reduced by irrigation and increased fertility. The number of new bluegrasses to be released in the near future will be much less than the number released in the past twenty years. There is a need for bluegrass varieties with greater drought tolerance, insect resistance and improved performance at low fertility. PERENNIAL RYEGRASSES Since Manhattan perennial ryegrass was released in 1967 as the first improved turf-type perennial ryegrass, there have been many other improved turf-types. These varieties such as Birdie, Blazer, Citation, Dasher, Derby, Diplomat, Fiesta, Omega, Pennfine, Pennant and Yorktown II have displayed the excellent establishment rate and persistence of Manhattan. At the present time, there is a new generation of turf-type varieties coming onto the market that are showing improvements in density, mowing quality and overall disease resistance. Manhattan II, Palmer, Prelude, Citation II, Birdie II and Omega can be included in this category. 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 rust which is a serious seed production disease. The variety Birdie II has displayed better resistance to red thread than the other varieties in our trials to date. All of the new improved turf-type varieties have shown excellent wear tolerance in our tirais located in Hubbard, Oregon. The variety Manhattan II had to top wear tolerance rating, 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 varieties. TALL FESCUES In the last four years the release of Rebel, Falcon and Olympic has resulted in tremendous interest in new turf-type tall fescues. These new lower-growing, denser and finer textured grasses are showing real improvements in disease resistance and turf performance compared to the old common type varieties KY 31, Alta and Fawn. Some other new tall fescue varieties becoming available are Adventure, Apache, Finelawn I, Houndog, Jaguar and Mustang. 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 the other cool season turfgrass species under drought conditions. Some of the new varieties such as Adventure, Jaguar, Apache and Olympic have shown improved shade tolerance. Under moderate shade conditions, the leaf texture of these new tall fescues becomes finer and yet they maintain good density. There will be many new tall fescue varieties reImprovements are still leased in the near future. needed in leaf spot resistance, dark leaf color and density. All of the new turf-type varieties showed superior traffic tolerance compared to the old tall fescue varieties. They did rate somewhat lower than the best perennial ryegrass varieties, however. FINE FESCUES There has been a limited amount of breeding work in the U.S. on the three main species of fine fescue: chewings, creeping and hard fescue. Many of the presently available varieties of fine fescues have resulted from breeding programs in Europe. The chewings fescue varieties Koket, Barfalla, Atlanta, Highlight and Waldorf, the creeping fescue varieties Ensylva, Moncorde and Ruby, and the hard fescues Biljart, Waldina and Scaldis are all European varieties. The chewings fescues Banner, Jamestown and Shadow are varieties developed in the U.S. These varieties have shown somewhat better turf performance and leaf spot resistance than the European varieties. 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 temperatures. The chewings fescues perform well in shade situations, especially under tree root competition. The creeping fescue varieties generally perform better under a higher cutting height. The U.S. variety Fortress has performed similar to the European varieties. Boreal or Common Canadian Creeper is sold in large quantities in the U.S. for mixtures. These two grasses have very poor leaf spot resistance and persistence, but are competitive because of their low prices. Flyer is a new variety of creeping fescue with improved turf quality compared to most other varieties. The varieties Waldina, Scaldis and Biljart along with the U.S. varieties Reliant, Spartan and Aurora are all hard fescue varieties with very good turf performance. Compared to the other fine fescues, these hard fescues have good leaf spot and red thread resistance and also very good drought, heat and low fertility performance. Hard fescues have a slow vertical growth rate, and are slower to establish than other fine fescues. The major improvement needed is to increase their seed producing ability to make them more price competitive. The variety Aurora is a result of a breeding project to improve seed yield, and yet maintain the improved turf performance of the other hard fescues. SUMMARY There are many new improved proprietary turfgrass varieties on the market that are performing much better than the more cheaply priced common varieties. It is encouraging to see a shift in present buying patterns toward the better named varieties. The increased level in turfgrass breeding activities in the U.S. should continue to result in better turfgrasses at competitive prices in the future. PREPARING YOUR COURSE FOR A MAJOR TOURNAMENT 1 Mike Bauman2 The golf course is one of the most important ingredients in any golf tournament. A well-conditioned golf course is an obvious plus. Good course conditioning is the result of careful planning and hard work. The following are some general guidelines concerning the preparation of your course for an LPGA Tournament. Golf Course Conditioning In the player's view, the condition of the course is the most important element in a tournament. A wellprepared course gives the players the best opportunity to display their skill. It tends to reward good play and helps to produce a good winner. The preparation of the following areas of the golf course and grounds are of great importance to the success of any tournament: 1. Teeing Grounds - Level and close-cropped, particularly in the areas for the location of tee markers for tournament play. These locations should be protected from normal play for several weeks prior to the tournament. This will avoid sparse grass cover. Follow a regular program of aerating, verticutting and topdressing to eliminate thatch. Spongy turf presents a real problem for the player. — Presented to the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. Superintendent, Meridian Valley Country Club, Kent, WA. 2. Fairways - The importance of close-cropped fairway turf cannot be overemphasized. Fluffiness in fairway turf is undesirable. The tendency should be toward firm, tight turf with overwatering to be avoided. Mowing heights for tournament play should be established weeks in advance. Last minute reductions in mowing heights could cause "yellowing" and uneven cuts. Fairways should be crosscut if necessary. During the week of the tournament, fairways should be mowed daily and usually in late afternoon when the grass is dry. Be prepared to drag heavy dew from the fairways prior to play each morning by suspending a long rope or hose between two golf carts and dragging the hose or rope along the fairway. 3. Putting Greens - Firm, fast greens provide the best test for both approach shots and putts. The great tendency is to overwater. This is bad for longterm health of the turf as it produces shallow roots in the grass. Soft greens do not reward the skillful shot over the inferior. Establish a program of protecting areas of the greens to be used for cup settings for the tournament. Use front of greens for member play approximately three weeks prior to the tournament. Check on all greens for old cups which are sunken or raised and repair, when changing holes, use the pie-slicing technique and knead edges with a forktype instrument. Replace any dead plugs from a nursery or from extremities of the green which are out of play. 4. Roughs - If the tournament is to provide a true test, it is very important that roughs be established in accordance with proper cutting heights. Roughs should be fertilized if necessary, to achieve this condition. Overseeding should be considered. 5. Practice Areas - Practice areas should be maintained similarly to comparable areas on the course. Practice tees should be mowed height as fairways. In those practice area has been heavily should be collected immediately afternoon tee time. daily at the same instances when the used, loose divots following the last Because of heavy use, which creates sparse grass coverage, it may be necessary to institute a program of topdressing, seeding and proper watering. For several weeks in advance of the tournament, arrange to locate practice play away from the areas to be used during tournament week. 6. Cutting Heights and Widths - The following are average heights and widths of cut which are required. Density can sometimes be more important than height. These heights provide not only the best conditions for tournament play, but for regular membership play as well. In addition, experience has shown that these heights are also best for turfgrass maintenance. Height Tees Not over 1/2" Fairway areas Fairway Collar off fairway Primary rough Not over 5/8" 1" 1-1/2 to 2" Width 30 to 40 yds 4 to 6 ft — Putting Green areas Putting green 1/8 to 3/16" Collar off green Same as tees 30 to 36 in Light rough off collar-Same collar off fairway 2-6 ft 7. Bunkers - Any fresh sand needed in bunkers should be put in a full three months in advance of the tournament so that it may become well settled. If there is not adequate rain to pack it, water it artificially. Suitable sand includes what is known as plasterer's sand, mason's sand or brick sand, sand which will pass through a one-eighth inch sieve opening and which has had salt and very fine sand particles removed by washing will resist packing. Sand particles which are round in shape tend to shift under a player's feet, whereas sand with angular particles is more stable. Bunkers should not contain stones. Sand in the face of bunkers must be shallow enough and firm enough to prevent a ball from becoming lost in it. Rakes should not leave furrows and should be provided at each bunker. It is preferable that bunkers be maintained by hand raking during the tournament. If machine raking is necessary, then go over each bunker by hand raking any irregularities. Before using a mechanized sand rake, make sure the machine is performing satisfactorily. Players should not be able to putt out of greenside bunkers. To prevent this, have a "lip" about three to four inches high on the bunker margins facing greens. There should be no lip on sides of bunkers, otherwise balls may become unplayable under such 1ips. 8. 9. Flagsticks and Flags - Standardization of flagsticks and flags among tournaments is important to the player who must play a different course every week. Material Fiberglass Height Eight feet Diameter Not more than 3/4 inch from a point 3 inches above the ground to the bottom of the hole. Color Bright yellow, preferably solid Cup Liners - Provide cup liners that are in good condition so that the flagstick will stand straight in the hole. In the event the tournament is televised, supply a small can of latex base white paint, and a one inch paint brush, so that the inside of the cup can be painted at the televised holes. 10. Filling Divots - Certain areas of the course, particularly short par 4 holes, required the filling of divots. A mixture of fifty (50) percent sand and fifty (50) percent topsoil properly applied and tamped down makes for a well-conditioned course. Care should be taken so that the filled divot is level with the surrounding ground. Otherwise, a bad lie may be created. 11. Trees - Consider filling tree basins (or wells) after trees are well established. Also, remove support wires and tree wrappings. Prune low-hanging branches to facilitate gallery movement and where they might be unfair in the playing of a shot. Low-hanging branches should be cleared from areas near the teeing ground. 12. Vehicles - Control vehicles on course and limit to necessary work. Suggest times and routes to avoid congestion and noise while play is in progress. Recommend routes for vehicles used by concessionaires, television, etc. Careful attention is necessary when the course is soft or wet as ruts will result from traffic. 13. Extra Maintenance Equipment - Two fairway mowing units are a "must". Often we encounter weather problems which give little time for mowing. Also, time of year is a factor as well as the use of two starting tees. 14. Ground Crews - Arrange to have hours of work conform with starting and finishing times for the tournament. During the tournament, the LPGA tournament official will establish priorities regarding mowing, hole changing, trap rakirvg, etc. Be prepared to contact area superintendents for additional men and equipment during an emergency. Setting Up the Golf Course for Tournament Play The LPGA advance tournament official is responsible for seeing that the golf course is set up properly for tournament play. He will arrive at the tournament site approximately one week before the competition is scheduled to start. During this prior week, he will work closely with the golf course superintendent and grounds crew to see that roughs, fairways, greens and tees are all being properly maintained. He will also supervise the marking of all hazards and boundaries, as well as mark all areas of ground under repair. To accomplish these tasks, he should have the following materials waiting for him: 1. Boundary Stakes - 4 feet tall, 1 inch by 2 inch stakes painted white. 2. Water Hazard Stakes - 2 feet tall, 1 inch by 2 inch wooden stakes painted yellow. 3. Lateral Water Hazard Stakes - 2 feet tall, 1 inch by 2 inch stakes painted red. 4. Marking Paint spray guns. (white, red and yellow) and three During the tournament, he will place all of the pins and position the tees. These tasks are usually done in the late afternoons. The advance tournament official will require the assistance of a member of the grounds crew. Equipment Requirements for Tournament Preparation 1. Two (2) mowers for cutting tees. 2. Two (2) fairway mowing units. 3. Five (5) single mowing greens mowers. 4. One (1) mower for cutting secondary rough. 5. Two (2) mowers for cutting primary rough. 6. One (1) mechanized sand trap rake. units or two (2) triplex 7. Two (2) sets of cup changing equipment. 8. New paint, extra stakes, flags, flag poles, markers and adequate paint and spray guns. tee It is important that the above equipment be in good condition. All mowing equipment should be sharp, adjusted properly and set at specified heights of cut. It is especially important with triplex greens mowers that they be set slightly lower tha'n specified heights of cut and checked daily for adjustment. Cup changing equipment should be sharpened before the tournament to insure clean-cut, even holes. If new cup liners and flag poles are used, check that the flag pole pulls free from the cup without sticking, causing the liner to be pulled from the hole. In summary, using these guidelines and specifications and starting your conditioning program as early as possible, one should not encounter any problems in being ready for the tournament. PREPARING FOR A MAJOR TOURNAMENT 1 Harvey Junor 2 Preparing a golf course for a major tournament requires scheduling all of the regular maintenance procedures to peak, to a desired condition, on a specified date. Due to changing weather conditions, it seems impossible to anticipate the rate of growth and desired lush color for a date months ahead. The tees require the least change from our regular maintenance program. A dry level tee, mowed to a height of 3/8 inches or less meets the requirements of most tournaments. We are on a regular schedule of aerification, topdressing and overseeding the tees. Six to eight weeks prior to the tournament we do the final aerification and seeding. The topdressing is continued every second week up to three weeks before starting date. Low rate, monthly applications of a slow release fertilizer is applied, with final application two weeks prior to tournament. The end results are a slow growing tee with good color. An intensive program of raising and topdressing all low areas in the fairways was started eight months prior to tournaments. Topdresser and drags were used, finally all small holes were hand sanded and leveled with rakes. Fairways are fertilized at full rate six months, decreased to 1/4 rate two months prior to the tournament. The low rate was used so the peak was reached just before tournament time. The fairway mowing was increased to daily mowing and cross cutting twice a week. This daily mowing at 5/8 inch resulted in dense, tight turf for good lies. — Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ Superintendent, Portland Golf Club, Portland, OR. The rough was normally fertilized in the spring for a dense growth. To anticipate the height of the rough at tournament time was a real challenge. Mowers were set at 2 inches and the last six weeks rotary mowers were used, topped off at 4 inches. All rough mowing stopped one week prior to tournament. The greens are the most criticized and controversial area on the golf course during a tournament or regular play. Required changes of mowing schedules and height of cut are necessary at tournament time. For tournament play today, fast greens with a stimpmeter reading of ten or more is required. To obtain this type of putting green surface, we first ground down the bed knives of the putting green mowers where they became weak and flexible. Greens were double cut daily with walking greensmowers until a reading of 9'6" was reached a week prior to the tournament and over 10' for the week of tournament play. Greens were fertilized with 1/4 lb of actual nitrogen per 1000 ft 2 per month. Light verticutting, in two directions, was done twice a week and light topdressing of sand was scheduled every three weeks. Topdressing was terminated two weeks prior to tournament. The preparation of the sand traps involved the addition of sand in areas where it had become shallow or washed down. The biggest project was the reshaping of the edges where sand buildup and erosion had broken down the turf. In these areas all turf and sand was removed down to the original soil line and then replaced with new sod and soil, to form a definite line to define hazard. The final weeks were spent marking hazards, building or refurbishing bridges for spectators, preparing signs, roping, placing extra restrooms, setting up bleachers and preparing parking lots. The changes on the putting green surfaces and raising the height of cut around the greens, the narrowing of fairways and increasing the length of rough from 4 to 6 inches were the areas that tightened up the course for tournament play. SHATTERCORE AERIFICATION 1 Larry Gilhuly 2 An American on a business trip to England was given the privileges of a London club. When he entered the lounge one afternoon, only one other man was there. He decided to strike up a conversation. "Would you care for a cigar?" he asked the Englishman. "No, thank you," the Englishman replied. "I tried one once and I didn't like it." "I'm a stranger here," the American said. "Would you like to join me in the bar for a drink?" "No, thank you," the Englishman said. "I tried drinking once and I didn't like it." "Well, how about a game of billiards?" the American said. "No," the Englishman said. "I tried that once, too, and I didn't like it." As the American started to turn away, the Englishman relented. "My son will be here in a few minutes," he said, "and I'm sure he'd enjoy a billiards game with you." "The American turned back. "Your son?" he said. "An only child, I presume." Just as the Englishman's mind was closed to attempts to open it, so shattercore aerification is to many turf professionals. The final conclusions on shattercore will be drawn a few years down the road by Dr. Goss and others, so I can't give you solid statistical data that it is beneficial. What I will attempt to show are the results Seattle Golf Club has seen after 9 months of use and results other clubs are getting from this method of aerification. — Presented to the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — Assistant Superintendent, Seattle, Golf Club, Seattle, WA. Before we go any further, shattercore aerification should be defined. Shattercore aerification is solid tine aerification using a walking Ryan greens aerifier. The concept first came to our attention at last year's national conference. Mr. Leonard Schnepf, Superintendent, Chevy Chase Golf Club, Wheeling, Illinois, presented the idea. If I may quote Mr. Schnepf: "My first experiment was on a beat to death tee with about 30% bare ground. While coring, the ground felt like a small earthquake was occurring around my Ryan WG-24. The soil was totally fractured, and the bare areas became perfect for overseeding. The process not only left the ground slick with round holes, but fluffy as wel1." I and others would totally agree with this statement. We have tried shattercore on straight sand, pitrun sand, thatch over pitrun, thatch over soil, hardpan clay and those fun burned out areas around tees and greens. In all cases where sufficient soil moisture was present, the shattercore did exactly what Mr. Schnepf refers to. It totally loosened the top 3 inches of soil. More importantly, visual fracture lines could be seen extending below the bottom point of the tine. Again quoting Mr. Schnepf: "The practice works on the principle of ballistics, shattering the entire area around the hole, and believe me, there is no compaction due to the type of tine. The surrounding ground explodes and becomes soft and fluffy, while taking water normally and the turf responds far better. The practice even works for wear and tear areas from the headache of golf cart traffic. We can make any size tine you desire." The standard 5/8 inch cold roll, steel rod needed to make the tines is available at your local hardware store. All you need to do is cut the rods to the same length as a standard tine and put a rounded tip on one end with a grinder. It takes about 20 minutes to make one tine. With a lathe, you can make any size tine you desire. Now let's take a closer look at what happens. With a standard hollow tine, you remove a nice clean core, leaving the surrounding ground very firm. Poa annua seed heads are also being propagated throughout the surface area, and the cores must be broken up or taken off the green. With a solid tine, the speed the soil is being penetrated produces shock waves like a miniature earthquake, breaking up the area around the tine penetration and between the other tines, slightly raising the surface area. The surface area becomes soft like a plush carpet. (ZYGOMORPHIC QUAKING ACTION). This uneven turf is the only reason we have not done the greens at Seattle Golf Club. Surface evenness is not as critical in other areas of the golf course. Once the area has been shattercored, sanded, and seeded, it takes two or three triplex mowings to return the surface to its former condition. At Seattle, we have many areas with excessive thatch over pitrun. When hollow tines are used, the plugs quite often stay in the ground. This results in a frustrating inability to get a sand column into the pitrun. A great example of this was our 15th- fairway. We shattercored 3/4 acre on July 11, sanded and seeded with 2 men and took a total of 6 man hours to complete. On August 11 we had 1+ inches of rain and the area we aerified was firm and dry. This area always gets mushy with standing water after a hard rain. Another plus with shattercore is the obvious speed with which you can aerify. On September 7 we mowed out our winter greens (average size of 1000 ft 2 ). On September 8 we shattercored, sanded, seeded, and drug the sand on all 18 greens with 3 men in 8 hours. Without shattercore, we would never have done it due to labor restrictions. The only negative aspect of shattercore is the idea of compaction. Many turf professionals fear that compaction will occur at the bottom of the tine. What we have seen is the exact opposite. We have seen the soil become loose around and under the tine. Also, the tine works its way to a point through continued usage. Although I have no facts, if the total surface of the end of a shattercore tine were compared to the surface area of the end of a hollow tine, these areas would be close to equal. Until results are in from Farm 5, a combination of shattercore and hollow tine may be the most prudent way to go. Three men were engaged in one of conversations that involve all of us another. They were considering the each would do if the doctor told him months to live. those profitless at one time or problem of what he had only six Said one man, "If my doctor said I had only six months to live, the first thing I would do would be to liquidate my business, withdraw my savings, and have the biggest fling on the French Riviera you ever saw. I'd have girls, girls, and more girl s." Said another, "If my doctor said I had only six months to live, the first thing I would do would be to visit a travel agency and plot out an itinerary. There are a thousand places on earth I haven't seen, and I would like to see them before I die: the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, all of them." Said the third, "If my doctor said I had only six months to live, the first thing I would do would be to consult another doctor." Before you make an opinion on shattercore aerification, ask someone who has done it before and then at least try it yourself. At that point, the decision is yours. THE EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE FAIRWAY AERIFICATION ON TURFGRASS DENSITY AND QUALITY 1 John Monson and Roy Goss2 Beginning in May, 1982 and aerification project was undertaken to determine the effects of multiple aerifications on turfgrass quality and relief of soil compaction on the first fairway at Broadmoor Golf and Country Club. The first fairway was chosen because of its lack of response to normal spring and fall aerification, weak, thin grasses, and summer burnout caused from poor water infiltration rates, apparently induced by compaction. The dominant grass is Poa annua mixed with bentgrass and has inadequate density to hold the ball up properly on the fairway. The traffic pattern is poor with all equipment and play constantly funneled into the same area with no feasible alternate route. The fairway was divided into 15 plots, each plot crossing the entire fairway area. Figure 1 shows the plot and treatment layout. Before initiating any aerification treatments soil compaction was measured with a Proctor Model CN-419 penetrometer in the surface 2 inches. The plots were sampled in three locations, the righthand edge, center and lefthand edge of the fairway, and three readings were taken at each station. — Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — Superintendent, Broadmoor Golf and Country Club, Seattle, WA, and Extension Agronomist, Western Washington Research and Extension Center (WSU), Puyallup WA. A double ring infiltrometer system was used to measure water infiltration rates at three locations in each plot, namely, righthand edge, center and lefthand edge of the fairway. The infiltrometer was made up of two steel rings, 6-inch and 4-inch diameter. The 4inch ring was driven approximately one inch into the thatch and soil surface then the 6-inch ring was placed over that and driven to the same depth in the soil. The rings were made as nearly level as possible to receive the water. Both rings were filled with water but only the 4-inch or center ring was measured for rate of falling head of water to determine the rate of infiltration. The rings were left in place for 2 hours, the outer ring constantly being kept full of water and the inside ring refilled as it emptied. At the end of the 2-hour period the total number of inches of water which had been applied to the center ring were calculated to determine the infiltration rate per hour. After the penetrometer and infiltration readings were taken aerification was started. An 8-foot Jacobsen fairway aerifier with 3/4 inch open tines was used. Since each plot was approximately 24 feet wide, the fairway aerifier could easily be maneuvered within each plot. The treatments consisted of a single pass spring and fall up to a double pass 4 times annually. Along with the aerification overseeding with turftype ryegrass and Highland bentgrass was practiced immediately following aerification. Table 1 shows the effects of aerification after one year. We feel that it is too soon to make many conclusions, hopefully after the second year some pattern will develop. The last step in our analysis was determining bulk density within each plot and each sampling area. Bulk density samples were taken at 0-2 and 2-4 inches from each plot (right side, center and left side) during August of 1983. The following first year. are some observations after the 1. Water infiltration rates are reduced in the center of the fairway in all cases as compared to the sides. 2. There were no differences in the bulk density readings with the exception that the left side has more gravelly or sandy type soil which results in greater bulk density. The interesting thing is that that was no difference in bulk density in the center as compared to the right side. 3. There is some reason why the infiltration rate is slower down the center of the fairway compared to the sides although it is not accounted for in bulk density. Thatch and organic matter may have become more compacted without significantly effecting the bulk density of the soil which would, in turn, effect the infiltration rate. As mentioned earlier, another year of gathering data will be necessary to start drawing definite conclusions. CONCLUSIONS TO DATE It appears that multiple aerification will increase infiltration rates. Four aerifications per year was better than one and once spring and fall was better than the check in most cases. The bulk density readings were lower in the 2-4 than in the 0-2 inch layer which verifies that the significant amount of problem occurs in the immediate surface. Possibly by changing irrigation practices using multiple cycles along with wetting agents may help induce better water penetration. More data, of course, are necessary and will be available at the end of 1984. 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Goss2 Pre-emergence herbicides to prevent germination and establishment of annual bluegrass have received much attention from product development interest and researchers. We have continued our annual bluegrass control program on turf maintained with minimum levels of nitrogen. The only treatment combination which continues to provide control of annual bluegrass is endothal plus bensulide. Endothal without bensulide does lower the level of annual bluegrass percentage in all turfgrass types, but bensulide applied by itself without endothal does not appear to be effective at all in keeping the annual bluegrass composition low. Likewise, our reapplication treatments of Nortron in June, July and August do not lower the level of annual bluegrass in the turf, but they are reduced somewhat when they are preceded with a treatment of endothal. This reduction in annual bluegrass composition does not appear to be different from the reduction provided by a single application of endothal. Repeat applications of Norton in August, September and October have not reduced the Poa annua composition of turf and has often caused a high and inconsistent level of phytotoxicity to the desirable turf species when applied in October. Turfgrass fertilized at the lowest nitrogen levels undergoes more discoloration with both the application of Nortron in the fall and endothal in late spring, and the recovery and development of density is prolonged (Table 2). At this point we have not been able to detect consistent differences in the level of annual bluegrass in turf treated with different levels of nitrogen that received similar pre- and post-emergence control treatments. —' Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ —' Associate Agronomist and Extension Agronomist, Western Washington Research and Extension Center (WSU), Puyallup, WA. Table 1. Effect of pre- and post-emergence chemicals on control of Poa annua in low N maintenance putting green. Poa annua* 1983 1982 W (counts) No treatment 10.0 6.3 Bensulide (15 lb) 10.0 6.b Bensulide Repeat (12 + 3 lb) 9.0 6.6 Endothal 8.0 4.2 Endothal + Bensulide 2.33 1.7 Endothal + Nortron Repeat (JOA) 7.0 5.2 Nortron Repeat (OJA) 10.7 7.9 Nortron Repeat (ASO) 13.7 6.7 * Average percent cover and number of Poa annua hits from 30 point quadrant observation per plot. Table 2. Turf quality as affected by pre- and postemergence chemical application under low nitrogen use. Ireatment Spring Qua!ity Summer Fall No treatment 5.1 6.3 5.3 Bensulide 4.7 6.3 5.1 Bensulide repeat 5.0 6.5 5.4 Endothal 5.4 5.9 5.7 Endothal + Bensulide 5.0 6.4 5.3 Endothal + Nortron 5.4 6.4 5.8 Nortron - Summer 4.5 5.9 5.1 Nortron - Fall 2.2 5.7 2.0 * 9 = best ENHANCEMENT OF PUTTING GREEN BENTGRASS POPULATION WITH RUBIGAN 1 Mike Bauman2 What is Ribigan? Rubigan is a new turf fungicide with broad spectrum control allowing the flexibility to manage a disease prevention program and at slightly higher rates, provide curative action. Rubigan has a mode of action involving three or more sites of inhibition, meaning that susceptible fungi commonly found in turf have not been able to develop resistance to it. It is a long lasting rapid leaf penetration. concentrated product, with Precautions Applications of Rubigan to turfgrass areas containing Poa annua (annual bluegrass) may result in the gradual reduction of this species from the turfgrass area. Cumulative dosage of 5 lb of Rubigan 50W per acre or 2 oz per 1000 ft 2 are usually necessary for this response to occur. Turfgrass areas containing Poa annua which cannot tolerate its reduction should not be treated with Rubigan. With this thought in mind I would like to tell you a little story. In the years 1965 and 1966 Meridian Valley was constructed. The greens at Meridian Valley were stolonized with Old Orchard bentgrass. During the next 7 years Meridian Valley greens stayed pretty much the — Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — Superintendent, Merdian Valley Country Club, Kent, WA. same pure Old Orchard. Then slowly but surely we succumbed to Old Poa annua (annual bluegrass) and at the present time we are probably 90% Poa annua on all our greens. When the Elanco people asked me to experiment with their new product, Rubigan, not only as a fungicide but also as a Poa annua irradicant, I jumped at the chance. Everyone knows how much better pure bent greens play and putt, etc. To get Meridian Valley greens back to pure bentgrass would be fantastic. So, in the fall of 1982 and the spring of 1983 I experimented with their product, Rubigan. Tuesday, October 12, 1982, I sprayed Rubigan on a 1000 ft 2 plot on the putting green and a 1000 ft1 plot on No. 10 championship tee. The nursery green was also sprayed at 2 oz per 1000 ft 2 . After almost one month, November 10, heavy frost was experienced for seven days. The, on November 17, we experienced 14 inches of rain. All Rubigan plots turned brown. Discoloration continued for three weeks before returning to the natural green color. No further product was sprayed on these same areas. After the grass turned to its natural color, the bentgrass seemed to be more prevalent and vigorous, especially on the putting green plot. On Tuesday, February 1, 1983, I sprayed Rubigan on a 500 ft 2 putting green plot at 4 oz per 1000 ft 2 . Rubigan was also applied to a 500 ft 2 plot on No. 11 green at 4 oz per 1000 ft 2 . No abnormal discoloration or effects to the grass were noticed. On Wednesday, February 16, Friday, March 4, and Monday, March 21, we repeated the applications of Rubigan to the same plots. On Monday, April 4, we received rain. The Rubigan plots turned brown. Poa annua was drying and the bentgrass looked good. After two weeks time, Poa seemed completely dead. The bentgrass was holding its own. During the third week the bentgrass on the putting green seemed to be revitalized and extremely vigorous. The plot on No. 11 green was completely dead. The reason for this was use of a hand sprayer. The material was mixed and held in suspension while spraying the putting green, but by the time we got to No. 11 the material had filtered to the bottom of the tank and the solution was much stronger causing total burn out on the plot. During the next two months, July and August, it was necessary to overseed the plot on No. 11. The plot on the putting green seemed to have enough bentgrass population so as not to have to overseed. The plot on No. 11 was overseeded weekly through the month of July. The seed would not germinate. Finally, we got germination on August 15. The seed used was Highland bentgrass. The bentgrass population in the plot on putting green when first sprayed was probably around 15%. At present time the bentgrass population is 50%. SURPRISE! SURPRISE! The enhancement of bentgrass populations in putting greens with Rubigan shows promise. Rubigan is an excellent fungicide. During spraying of all plots absolutely no disease was noted or experienced. What I have experienced, especially with the putting green plot, encourages me to believe that with very careful management, Poa annua could possibly be eradicated in bentgrass putting greens. ENHANCEMENT OF PUTTING GREEN BENTRASS POPULATIONS WITH RUBIGAN 1 Dick Schmidt2 In the fall of 1982 tests were initiated to evaluate fungicidal properties of Rubigan (fenarimol) for control of Fusariurn nivale and to determine any potential post-emergent herbicidal activity on Poa annua. At the end of October Rubigan was applied at rates of 1.75 and 3.5 oz per 1000 ft 2 in separate plots of bentgrass/annual bluegrass putting green turf. Approximately 0.30 inch of rain fell the evening following product application. Two weeks following application Port Ludlow Golf Course experienced two heavy frosts. Approximately 30 days following application severe discoloration of Poa annua was observed, with little or no adverse effect on Penncross creeping bentgrass. Throughout this time period there was considerable disease pressure (Fusarium nivale) at Port Ludlow, yet no visual evidence of disease was present in the treated areas, either on the discolored Poa annua or the bentgrass. Even with continued disease pressure, no further fungicide treatment was needed until mid-January. At that time all putting surfaces were treated with PCNB except for the test plot treated with 3.5 oz/m of Rubigan. This plot was totally free of disease and remained so throughout the entire disease season. Evidently the rainfall immediately following October application did not appreciably negate the long-term fungicidal activity of this product, as seems to be the case with several other products used for control of Fusarium nivale. — Presented at the 37th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm Springs, OR, September 19-22, 1983. 2/ — Superintendent, Port Ludlow Golf Club, Port Ludlow, WA. In early spring of 1983 disease pressure from Fusarium nivale was virtually nonexistent. Tests were initiated to more closely evaluate Rubigan's postemergent herbicidal activity on Poa annua. Rates and application intervals are outlined in the accompanying table. There was no frost during or following early spring application and the severe Poa annua discoloration which followed the heavy fall frosts did not occur. At 1/2 oz/m every 2-3 weeks absolutely no discoloration of Poa annua was evident. At 1 oz and higher rates a very slight discoloration of Poa was observed (just a slight yellowing and/or light leaf-tip burn). This very slight discoloration was no more pronounced at the highest single application rate (3 oz/m) than at the 1 oz rate. In general, Poa populations on most of Port Ludlow's putting greens were somewhat off color at this point in time. As such, it was quite difficult to determine if the discoloration of the Poa in the test plots was due to the effects of Rubigan alone or if other factors were involved. It appeared more of the varying strains of Poa annua in the test plots displayed this very slight discoloration. But, in general, no definite visual differences could be noted when comparing entire test plots to large adjacent areas of untreated putting green surfaces. Only at the highest cumulative rates of Rubigan were any morphological differences in bentgrass noted. In the plot where 3.5 oz/m was applied in the fall, then 2 oz plus 0.5 oz in the spring, a widening of the leaves and deepening of color in bentgrass was observed --but only in certain areas of the test plot. This effect was most prevalent in areas where Poa annua was predominant. In areas where there were but a few tillers of bent among the Poa, this morphological change was most striking. These few tillers also seemed to be spreading and invading the adjacent Poa annua. In areas of the test plot where bentgrass was predominant, the morphological change was not as distinct nor did the bent seem to be spreading or invading adjacent Poa. Compared to untreated areas and areas with lower rates of Rubigan there were perhaps some morphological differences in the bent, but virtually no invasion in the small patches of Poa. In general, the morphological change and spreading of bentgrass became greater in those areas of the test plot where Poa annua predominated the mixture. greatly The warm, mild winter and then cool, moist spring of 1983 provided optimal conditions for the growth and proliteration of Poa annua. Poa was, however, severely discolored after heavy fall frost following Rubigan treatment. No such response was observed in the spring when there were no frosts. Perhaps environmental stress during and/or following treatment is a key factor in discouraging Poa annua with the use of Rubigan. If soil and air temperatures were higher and soils drier, even to the point of stressing Poa annua, perhaps Rubigan treatments would be more effective in suppressing Poa annua. Reports from central California indicate not a gradual elimination of Poa, but rather an almost immediate one has occurred following applications of Rubigan, even at light rates. Unfortunately we do not "enjoy11 central California climatic conditions here in the Pacific Northwest. There have been some promising signs in enchancing bentgrass populations with the use of Rubigan, but overall results have been somewhat disappointing. But we do feel that Rubigan may certainly be another tool we can utilize in our ongoing battle against Poa annua. u ro id oo (D I fe r- ü CN \ I fe 03 tí n3 , N M(1J0 p 0 1 fd 0 fe Q) tí CNtíM ü CN \ fe fe r1 o fe O 00 LO fe 03 fd o tí r (D 0o 0 > 1 0 œ \ rô ^ o m O LD O £ N O • g • N 0 ro O m N O è • N 0 UO• O \ • • N NO O • CU fe o Q) tí fe o \ -P tí03 03 Otí en CU fd tío<ütí• U CN o fetí(DfeQ)X Î <ü fd fe CN Ofe03 > tí I \ (d Q) o o fe ro g \ N O m • fe u3 fe fe fe fe EH //0' M/a/. - r t / TC? CW£!A//A/0* ÍEjlLi iüMlí < It CS TZJ/Z5M- (