Northwest
Vol. 30, No. 2

TURFGRASS TOPICS
PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON

June 1987

ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT
SELECTED BY NORTHWEST
TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
By Bo Hepler
It's time to start thinking about our 1987 conference at Salishan Lodge (Gleneden Beach, Oregon) which is coming up September 21-24. If you haven't made reservations yet, I suggest
you do so very soon. Salishan is a beautiful place. Be sure to
bring your spouse as there will be many things for them to see
and do while you are attending the meetings; and even more
to do as couples when you are together. So, be sure to come
together and enjoy the sunset over the sea each night together.
Mark Snyder is doing a great job in taking care of the many
details that makes for a good conference, and Jim Chapman has
lined up several excellent speakers for our program. Aside from
all the fun you will be having, you can look forward to learning something beneficial as well.
The Management Selection Committee has selected the
Organization Management Company of Olympia, Washington
to take over and reorganize our Association. O.M.C. is headed
up by Blair Patrick (president) and he is our contact there. As
you will see when you get a chance to meet him personally,
Blair is a very impressive, dedicated new addition to our association. You will enjoy many new improvements in our association due to his administrative talents. I believe the decision to
hire a company such as O.M.C. is a very good one. I extend
a hearty welcome to Blair Patrick. (Please read his introductory article in this issue).
Once again, I urge you to make your wants known to the WSU
Administration on behalf of the turfgrass specialist position in
Washington State being vacated by Dr. Roy Goss in January.
It appears there has been some action taken by some of you,
and to those of you who have taken such action I am grateful;
but we still need more letters and calls to really make a difference. It really does work. Let's don't renege during the last
half of the year. There is still time, and as the saying goes,
"Let's do it for the Turfer' "—or is it the "Gipper"??
Best wishes to you and yours. Keep it green, beautiful and
healthy. Have a good July 4th. See you all in September.

Mr. Bo Hepler, President of the Northwest Turfgrass Association, recently announced that ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT, an Olympia, Washington, based association
management firm, has been selected to provide management
services and headquarters facilities for the association. The
forty-year-old association with members from British Columbia, Canada, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington will relocate its headquarters from Puyallup, Washington to 1322
Harrison Avenue N.W., Olympia, Washington. The new mailing address and phone will be: P. O. Box 1367, Olympia,
Washington 98507, (206) 754-0825.
Hepler also announced that Blair Patrick, CAE, owner of
ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT, will service as the
manager of the association and executive director. Patrick has
been in the field of association management for more than 18
years. As chief executive officer, he has managed organizations
with from 150 to 30,000 members. He has served as president
of the 30,000-member Washington Education Association, as
executive vice president of the 13,000-member Washington
Association of Realtors and as executive director of the
1,500-member Washington Council, American Institute of
Architects. He also served as president of his state professional
organization, The Washington Society of Association
Executives.
Mr. Patrick was certified by the American Society of Association Executives in 1977, after meeting strict standards of performance, demonstrating skill and expertise in the association
management field, and passing an extensive examination as a
CAE (Certified Association Executive). Nationally, only 1,200
people hold such certification.
As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Patrick has been actively
involved in the governmental relations field for over 12 years.
In 1983, Patrick opened his own Olympia based company
designed to provide associations with a headquarters and professional management services. His firm currently manages the
Washington Association of Building Officials; the International
Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, Washington Chapter and provides government relations services for the
Washington Automotive Wholesale Association.

FARWEST
TURF EQUIPMENT

NORTHWEST TURFGRASS
CONFERENCE LODGING FACILITIES

DISTRIBUTOR FOR:
o
o
o
o

If you will hurry, you can still get reservations at Salishan
Lodge, the conference site for the 1987 Northwest Turfgrass
Conference. A few rooms are still available.
There are a multitude of motels in the Lincoln City, Gleneden
and Depoe Bay area, and if you do not wish to stay at Salishan
Lodge, you may contact any of the following facilities for your
accommodations.
Nordic Motel (503) 994-8145/1-800-452-3558
2133 NW Inlet Avenue
Lincoln City, OR
Cavalier Condominium
P. O. Box 59
Gleneden Beach, OR
South Shore Motel
1070 SW 1st
Lincoln City, OR

(503) 764-2352

(503) 994-7559

Jacobsen Turf Equipment
Cushman Turf Equipment
Cushman Industrial Vehicles
Ryan Turf Care Equipment
Jacobsen Commercial Products
National Mowers
Spraying Devices Inc. Sprayers
Terracare Aerators

o
o
o
o
o
o

Smithco Turf Equipment
o Kohier Engines A Parts
Pirlier Sweepers and Blowers
o Onan Engines 4 Parts
Broyhill Spriyers
E-Z-GO Golf Cars
Vicon Spreaders
o Western Golf Cars
Green Machine
o Tro(an Batteries
Standard Golf Course Accessories
U.S. Batteries
Par-Aide Golf Course Accessories o weary rieet onnoers
o Lewis Line Golf Course Accessories >Turfco Top Dressers
Keystone Steel Drag Mats
o Fox Valley Paints
Lapping Compounds
o Kubota Engines 4 Parts

DavidJacobsen RichSchwabauer WarrenHardy

CUSHMAN

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861 SW 51st
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Tacoma (206) 272-5171
Seattle (206) 622-3228 Ext. 140

Shilo Inn (503) 994-3655
1501 NW 40th
Lincoln City, OR
Alpine Chalets (503) 765-2572
Box 23
Otter Rock, OR

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OF OREGON, INC
O.M. "Robbie" Robinson

Beachcombers Haven (503) 764-2252
7045 Glen Avenue Box 275
Gleneden Beach, OR

Sales Representative
(503) 635-2284

Budget Motel (503) 765-2287
P. O. Box 66
Depoe Bay, OR
Channel House Country Inn
P. O. Box 56
Depoe Bay, OR
Four Winds Motel
P. O. Box 423
Depoe Bay, OR

JACOBSEN

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YAN
TURF-CART

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Sea Gypsy Motel 1-800-452-6929
(OR)/1-800-341-2142 (Outside OR)
145 NW Inlet
Lincoln City, OR

Arch Rock Motel
Box 251
Depoe Bay, OR

2305 N.W. 30th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97210
(503) 224-6100

644 S.W. 13th St. • Corvallis, Oregon 97333 • (503) 757-2663

3SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

(503) 765-2140

(503) 765-2789

Surfrider Oceanfront Resort
P. O. Box 219
Depoe Bay, OR

(503) 765-2793

Inn at Otter Crest
P. O. Box 50
Otter Rock, OR

Holiday Surf Lodge (503) 765-2133
Box 9
Depoe Bay, OR 97341
Little Whale Cover Property Management
P. O. Box 49
Depoe Bay, OR

Ocean West Motel
P. O. Box 414
Depoe Bay, OR

(503) 765-2120

Whale Cove Inn
SRS Box 1-X
Depoe Bay, OR

(503) 764-2311

(503) 765-2111

(503) 765-2255

GIFTS, LOAN OF EQUIPMENT AND
RENOVATION OF RESEARCH
FACILITIES FOR IMPROVED
RESEARCH AT PUYALLUP
Stan Brauen
As most of you know, the research program at Puyallup has
been significantly understaffed for the past five years and totally
without technical and maintenance staff support from state funding for the past two plus years. It has been mostly due to the
increased maintenance support provided from the Northwest
Turfgrass Association which has allowed the completion of online research projects since Stan Orton's retirement in 1985 and
the move of Dr. Jeff Nus to Kansas State University at about
the same time.
Many research projects nationally are directed at providing
better information about low maintenance, stress tolerance and
efficient water-use of turfgrass. We are moving toward directing a good portion of the research effort at Puyallup toward
similar goals as has been the case since 1981. However, good
studies require good technical resources and these are slowly
being acquired from non-state funding. The Northwest Turfgrass Association over the past two years has provided funds
for the purchase of some of the facilities needed such as continuous environmental recording equipment, a research plot
sprayer and partly contributed toward the funding of an Irams
6000, which makes use of the principle of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) for instantaneous measurement of volumetric
moisture content in soils.
This year, the Northwest Golf Course Superintendents Association has provided a grant for the purchase of an electronic irrigation controller and remote control valves to replace the
outdated 30-year-old hydraulic control system and to purchase
a Spotlite sprayer, a computer printer and color monitor. We
have been busy this spring, with the help of the station plumber and electrician, installing these facilities which will give
much improved water control on research plots after replacement of many irrigation heads. From grants received for turf
research projects from multiple sources, a Guelph permeameter,
a "Tensimeter" and numerous tensiometers have been purchased or constructed. Thus the new equipment for water-use
research will provide very sensitive measurement of soil
moisture in trials and relate this to our environment. A battery
of 80 weighing lysimeters are being constructed from PVC pipe
and installed at Farm 5 for assessing turfgrass water use.
Projects addressing water use as it is affected by species,
antitranspirants, surfactants, water application rate, variety,
canopy structure, cutting height and other related management
factors are part of a new project approved this past year by the
University. As support can be generated and construction funds
attained, it is our intent to add a rhizotron at Farm 5 for conducting studies of grass root development associated with water
and chemical use and turf culture, including annual bluegrass
culture. Much of the equipment for maintaining turf areas has
been rather decrepit for the past few years. This spring we have
been strongly supported with the loan of several new mowers
which will provide much needed relief from equipment breakdown and also for flexibility of mowing management of research
areas. Northwest Mowers, Inc., Jacobsen, and Ryan Equipment

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TWX: 510-744-8296 GOLFARCH
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have continued the support they have provided for several years
in loaning a Greensking IV mower and a Greensaire II aerifier. Western Equipment Distributors, Inc. and The Toro Company have replaced the 4 Toro 70" mower with a "Reelmaster
216" and added a "Greensmaster 3000" plus helped in the purchase of irrigation equipment. Turf Equipment Northwest, Inc.
and Ransomes Inc. have delivered a loaner Motor 218 reel
mower and a T1861 Professional Rotary plus have donated a
21 Inch Rotary and two Auto-Certe walking mowers, one in
support of Dr. Gary Chastagner's needs in his turfgrass disease work at Farm 1. Sand for topdressing is continuing to be
provided by Santo Golf Course Specialties and IBDU by FranCher and Estech. We acknowledge and greatly appreciate the
expanded support being provided to research and extension programs and to the associations that have continued to support
turf programs. Thank you kindly.

®r \
Ask for Emerald because it's Natural Grassi!

NORTHWEST TURFGRASS
ASSOCIATION, 1948-1987

Lawn...in

By Roy L. Goss
The Northwest Turfgrass Association was founded in 1948
and has a continuous record of 40 turfgrass conferences without a miss. As a matter of fact, one year there were two conferences held, making the conference at Salishan Lodge in
September of 1987, the 41st Conference.
The directors of the Association determine the goals and
objectives and see that they are carried out and the Executive
Secretary has generally done the work or sees that it is carried
out. The Executive Secretary's position has been an unpaid position from the beginning and his duties include: keeping of the
minutes, arranging for conferences and speakers, publishing of
the conference proceedings, editing and publishing of newsletters, responding to member inquiries, arranging conference
sites, membership recruitment and a host of other activities.
Rolland Wade was the First Executive Secretary, followed by
Alvin G. Law, retired Agronomist, Washington State University, from 1950 to 1954, followed by J. K. Patterson, who
served until 1961. Al Law completed Dr. Patterson's term following his death until 1962. Roy Goss was elected Executive
Secretary in 1962 and has served continuously to the present.
The treasurer of the Northwest Turfgrass Association was
responsible for maintaining membership records, billing for dues
and maintaining financial records until about 1975 when Diane
Ritthaler was hired on a part time basis to carry out these functions under the direction of the treasurer. Henry Land, Sr.
served nine years as treasurer and Dick Haskell, 15 years. Other
treasurers include James R. Chapman, John Monson, Ray
McElhoe, Gary Sayre, Bill Campbell, Milt Bauman and Gene
Howe.
The Northwest Turfgrass Association has always been a very
active organization and has sponsored exceedingly high quality educational conferences. With the exception of one year
(1975), the turfgrass association specialized in an educational
conference only, without trade show. Since 1984, a trade show
has been incorporated along with the educational conference.
This has added another dimension to the educational conference.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
After considerable debate, the directors have decided to place
the operation of the Association under an association management Firm. The new Firm is known as Organization Management and is headed up by Mr. Blair Patrick, who will become
the executive director. This change was felt necessary not only
because of Roy Goss forthcoming retirement in January 1988,
but also because the work load has continually built up to the
point where Roy Goss and Diane Ritthaler could not effectively
manage the affairs of the Association along with their other
responsibilities in spite of the tremendous help given by the
officers and directors.
We feel that this change will bring about the following
advantages:
1. A significantly increased membership.
2. Computerized membership records and billings.
3. Increased contact with the membership.

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206/272-5171

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4. More precise Financial and other records.
5. Free the directors and officers to delve into matters of
greater concern and do a better job of directing the management firm and the Association.
All of this will definitely increase the costs of operating the
Association, but it is felt that it is a most viable avenue and will
pay dividends in the future. We hope that you will join the
officers and directors in welcoming Blair Patrick and his
management firm, and feel free to contact that office at any time
that you have questions with respect to Northwest Turfgrass
Association business. Blair Patrick's address is: Organization
Management, 1322 Harrison Avenue, NW, P. O. Box 896,
Olympia, WA 98507. His office can be reached by phone at
(206) 943-8155. This is still your Association and we hope that
you will continue to assist in generating new membership and
helping the Association to grow.

ies are tagged with an enzyme. When an appropriate substrate
is added to the reaction mixture, a positive reaction is visualized by a color change as substrate is converted to a colored
product. There are a number of different types of assay formats that are applicable to plant disease diagnosis. One that has
been developed recently is the dipstick assay. In this assay, the
reactive end of the dipstick is incubated in the sample extract
with the enzyme-tagged antibody solution, washed, then transferred to substrate. A positive reaction is indicated by the deposition of insoluble colored product onto the dipstick.
Semi-quantitative results can be obtained by comparing the color
of the dipsticks to known standards. Quantitative results are
obtained by using an inexpensive, field-adaptable reflectometer that measures the intensity of the color on the dipstick. Dipstick assays can be carried out rapidly, often in a few hours.
Plant disease detection kits should be viewed as tools for
managing agronomic practices. They can provide a turf manager
with information that will help him or her to make the right
choice of disease control remedy. Some of the decisions are:
selection of pesticides and timing of pesticide applications, selection of plant varieties, and use of cultural control practices. For
the turf manager, the availability of such kits will make it possible to diagnose plant diseases quickly and accurately, often
before symptoms are present. Where symptoms are indistinct
or confusing, kits can be used to confirm a preliminary diagnosis based on the appearance of the plant and/or signs of the
(Continued on Page 6, Column 1)

APPLICATIONS OF
PLANT DISEASE DETECTION KITS
FOR TODAY'S TURF MANAGER
By Dr. Sally A. Miller
One of the many challenges faced by managers and growers
of turfgrass, ornamental plants and other high value crops is
the timely and accurate diagnosis of plant diseases. Many diseases are caused by highly aggressive pathogens that can cause
severe damage within a short time after symptoms are spotted.
Other diseases develop more slowly but in the end may be just
as devastating. Often, diagnosis is hindered by the absence of
4
'classic'' symptoms. Pathogens may also infect and colonize
plants but fail to induce symptoms until environmental conditions favor disease development. Until recently, few analytical
tools have been available to assist the turf manager in detecting
and diagnosing plant diseases. However, advances in biotechnology during the past decade have made it possible to develop
rapid, specific, user-friendly tests for the detection of pathogens in plants, soil, and water. Such tests utilize antibodies in
formats designed to take advantage of the unique properties of
these "reagents": their ability to recognize and bind to specific
substances such as components of plant pathogens. One of the
most popular types of assay is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which the pathogen-detecting antibod-

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Liberty Lake, WA 99019
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2834 NE 39th
Portland, OR 97212
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MICHAEL P. KENDALL
8530 Woodtrail Place
Burnaby, B.C. V5A 4A9
(604) 421-2583

J
5

(Continued from Page 6, Column 2)

RANDOM THOUGHTS
THAT SURFACED
WHILE CHANGING CUPS

pathogen. Used in conjunction with crop and weather data and
forecasting systems, the kits will make it easier to predict the
occurrence of disease outbreaks in a variety of crops.
Once diagnostic tests are widely available, they will play an
integral role in crop management. The primary components of
the assays, the antibodies, can be produced for most plant pathogens, and in the coming years more and more tests will become
available as part of the crop manager's arsenal against plant
disease.

By William B. Stevens, CGCS
After changing cups on the same greens for over 15 years,
the mind starts to wander...
I HATE CHANGING CUPS!
Why is the number of rocks encountered while changing cups
in direct proportion to how close the golfers are?
What law of nature states the number of no-shows and tardy
employees is related to the importance of the tournament and
the earlier tee-off time?
Why is it when you borrow or lend equipment it inevitably
breaks down?
What law is it that makes the severity of machinery breakdown in direct proportion to the importance of the job and the
time limit allowed?
How does equipment and pump house know when it is a
weekend?
How does disease know when it is the first day of a threeday weekend?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Sally Miller was raised in Ohio and
received her B.S. degree in 1976 from Ohio State University
with an undergraduate major in biology. Her interests in graduate studies included mechanisms of disease resistance in alfalfa
and she graduated with a Ph.D. degree in Plant Pathology from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982. Currently, she
is Unit Head of Plant Pathology Research for Agri-Diagnostics
Associates, Cinnaminson, NJ. Her responsibilities included the
development of diagnostic kits for detection of turf pathogens.
Reprinted from "The Grass Roots", an official publication
of the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association,
July-August, 1986.

WHY ARE THESE GREENS SO HARD?
How come there are so many ball marks on the greens when
every golfer swears that he repairs his and two other ball marks?
Ever notice that it is usually the same golfer who complains
about poor playing conditions and who complains that the course
is closed due to wet conditions or renovations?
Would reverse psychology work on the same golfer, for
example a cart sign 4 'Please Drive Carts Through Wet
Areas?"
I wonder how many golfers would hit a ball at an unaware
worker, if that worker were his son or daughter?
Ever notice when mowing fairways, golfers will never hit
a ball when you drive towards them, they wait until your back
is turned and driving away?
Why do golfers feel the need to walk or drive in front of maintenance equipment?

Turf Farm
Q

683-6725
Route 3, Box 186
Sequim, Washington 98382

INSTANT SOD LAWNS

THERE MUST BE AN
EASIER WAY TO CHANGE CUPS!
Due to budgetary restrictions, the brakes on maintenance
equipment are usually the last thing repaired, much to the surprise of the above golfer.
Why is it usually easier to get clubs to spend $500 to repair
an old piece of equipment, when a new one costs only $1,000?
(This is hypothetical as there are no machines for $1,000).
Most members join a golf club for golf, otherwise they would
join a social club; so why is it when money gets scarce, the
golf course budget is the first to get cut? We have streamlined
our operation enough so that April 1, we are only 6 months
behind our regular yearly maintenance!
Why is it you can search for something you need and after
you finally buy one, many others become available?

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(Continued on Page 7, Column 1)
6

(Continued from Page 6, Column 2)
WHY C A N T SOMEONE INVENT A HYDRAULIC CUP
CUTTER TO FIT ON THE BACK OF A CUSHMAN?
Ever notice early in the morning while going to work, a traffic
light will turn red on you for no reason and will remain red
until another car approaches the green light from another
direction?
Ever realize the Catch-22 we are in? We try to pay some of
our help what they are worth so we can help them and as soon
as we do, they realize they aren't starving and have lives besides
work, so they don't want to work overtime?
Why don't we take summer vacations? I took a week this year,
and probably lost less turf than if I had been on the job. Are
we irresponsible if we take time off? Should our jobs be in
jeopardy if we take time off? Would members tolerate being
told when they could take their vacations? This is too touchy
a subject to be discussed here.
The most original excuse by an employee for taking time off
was used twice by the same person within a five-year period.
He probably doesn't think I've caught on so I expect to hear
it again soon. He needed time off because his wife was three
months pregnant and had six months to live. (Please note the
woman is healthy and too old to have children.)
Why is it that the practice green, which has the most holes,
is usually the hardest and rockiest (is that the word?) green when
changing cups?

It's hard to tell the difference between goosegrass and late-germinating
crabgrass.
But if you treat your turf with Chipco' RONSTAR' G
herbicide, it makes no difference.
RONSTAR gives excellent control of both, season-long...
and it's convenient to use, because there's no leaching problem, no root pruning, and no problems with ornamental
plantings.
So, for the best control of grassy
weeds, use RONSTAR. RhônePoulenc Inc., Agrochemical
Division, Monmouth Junction,
NJ 06852. (WR™

OH MY ACHING BACK!
Why is vandalism in direct proportion to the desire of showing off a good course?
Ever notice salespeople seem to come in groups? No one for
weeks, then everyone at the same time. It is almost like they
have a secret meeting to decide who they are going to see.
(Please don't take offense guys.) This is a fill in the blank. Did
you ever notice a salesman is like a policeman, never around
when you need one? Why does the boss always show up when
something goes wrong that you don't want him to see?
Ever notice how things come back to haunt you? I instituted
the policy that each Director write an article for the Collaborator,, now I'm paying for it! Who is, Bo??—Ed.

When we develop a
perennial ryegrass,
we mean business

THE HECK WITH IT,
I'LL LET MY ASSISTANT CHANGE CUPS FROM NOW ON!
(Reprinted from the Collaborator, the official publication of the
Golf Course Superintendent's Association of New England.
Norm Whitworth Ltd.

Norm Whitworth

Consultants

CHIEF

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WATER CONSERVATION AND
BLACK LAYER REDUCTION

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Roy L. Goss

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3 M .

COMMERCIAL TURF EQUIPMENT
JACOBSON — CUSHMAN —

A lack of available water for turfgrass management is a real
problem in many areas of the North America today. Every summer certain sections of the country are restricted in water use
and frequently water available for lawns and turfgrass areas is
cut off completely. Much of the turfgrass research in North
America today is aimed at the reduction in water use rate of
turfgrasses, perhaps as much as 50% reduction.
There are a number of ways that water use can be reduced
—a few can be enumerated as follows:
1. Irrigate deeply (to the maximum rooting depth) and infrequently. This will reduce the evaporation. The term evapotranspiration encompasses both the water that evaporates from the
free surface and that which is transpired by the grass leaves or
lost through the stomata. Light, frequent irrigation significantly
increases the evaporation part of the equation.
2. The type of grass affects water use rate. Cool season grasses
have a higher water use rate than warm season grasses, but we
can do nothing about that here. It only helps us to understand
differences geographically. Among the cool season grasses, the
fine leaved fescues such as red, chewings and hard have slightly
lower water use rates than bentgrasses, bluegrasses and
ryegrasses.
3. Rooting depth of cultivars. Turftype tall fescue has a significantly better drought avoidance characteristic than most other
cool season grasses because it has a much deeper rooting characteristic.
4. The height of cut. In general, the lower turfgrasses are
cut, the shallower the root system becomes. A deep root system is the best means of water conservation and drought
avoidance.
5. Growth stimulation. Excessive use of nitrogen will significantly increase water use rate. Actively growing tissue will
transpire more water due mainly to the increase in production
of dry matter.
6. Growth regulators may play an important role in the future
in reducing water use. A reduction in dry matter yield through
growth cessation could significantly reduce water use as well.
Keep in mind there is an optimum height for most turfgrasses
with respect to root and shoot ratio. We should also keep in
mind that the greater the leaf length, the greater the transpiration rate; hence, turfgrasses should be maintained at some uniform mowing height.
7. The use of surfactants. Frequently turfgrass managers will
irrigate an entire sports field, putting green or other turfgrass
facility because there are a few localized dry spots showing up.
The majority of the area may have adequate soil moisture to
run an additional two to four days, but the entire system is turned
on to catch these few areas. This is not wise use of water and
is wasteful. The discrete use of wetting agents on areas known
to be hydrophobic can significantly reduce water use.

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(Continued on Page 9, Column 1)

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f

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(Continued from Page 8, Column 1)

Cumberland Valley Turf
EXCESS WATER AND BLACK LAYER
We need to remind ourselves that with the onset of summer,
soil temperatures are increasing. The root respiration rate
increases with an increase in temperature. Likewise, the oxidation of organic material increases with increase in soil temperature. As long as there is ample oxygen in the soil, there
will be no black layers formed regardless of the nutritional status of the soil. There have been recent articles published that
hint and even broadly claim that increase in the use of phosphorus will cause turfgrass roots to growth through black layer
and cure the problem. 4 This ain't necessarily so!" Without a
doubt, phosphorus is a very important fertility element; but as
long as your soil test values for phosphorus are medium to high,
additional applications of phosphorus are going to do absolutely
nothing for black layer - you still have to get rid of the problem
causing the anaerobic condition. This problem is usually always
sealed surfaces or layered soils, clay layers, hardpans, etc. Do
not confuse a sand layer over a soil layer as being layered. In
the true sense of the word, it is. But at least a sand layer over
a clay layer will give you a little bit of rooting medium that
will freely exchange gases provided it is not maintained in a
saturated state. Any person who maintains a putting green or
a sports field or a lawn in a saturated condition during the summer and it is not caused by rainfall, deserves no sympathy if
black layers form.
Just keep in mind that black layer is hiding around the corner
and waiting for the person who falls down in his maintenance
program.

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Bring a friend to Salishan
The 41st Northwest Turfgrass Conference
September 21-24, 1987

NORTHWEST TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 397
Puyallup, WA 98371

v

Mr. Tom Cook
Dept. of Horticulture
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331

OFFICERS OF THE
NORTHWEST TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
Bo Hepler
President
Jim Chapman
Vice President
Gene Howe
Treasurer
Dr. Roy Goss
Exec. Secretary
NORTHWEST TURFGRASS TOPICS is sponsored by
the Northwest Turfgrass Association and financed
through funds of this organization. Any communications
concerning distribution of this paper or association business should be directed to P.O. Box 397, Puyallup, WA
98371, or Roy L. Goss, Western Washington Research
and Extension Center, Puyallup, WA 98371.
Communications concerning content of this paper
should be directed to Dr. Roy Goss, Editor, Western
Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup,
WA 98371.
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