UNITED STATES ÇOLF ASSOCIATION SECTION GREEN Southeastern Office Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station T I F T O N, G E O R G IA SOUTHEASTERN TURFLETTER B. P. Southeastern Director ROBINSON Volume 3, Number 3 1956 TOFDRESSBIG MIXTURES Topdressing and Soil Mod if icat ion—An Old Agricultural Fract ice • Agriculturist during the f i r st century A»D. recognized the value of topdressing grasslands with manures and mixtures« Early agricultural writers favored certain materials .just as superintendents today have their preference f or this or that mixture» Most seemed to agree, however, that mixing together d i f f e r e nt kinds of s o il was b e n e f i c i a l» "Clay on sand and sand on clay!l, has been a f a v o r i te saying« In order to maintain good turf grasses and satisfactory putting surfaces, golf courses have found it necessary to modify soils in most areas» Good topdress- ing has been obtained, in some cases, by trying various mixtures over a period of time» Avoid Changes of Mixtures and Layers« Changing from one mixture to another, however, has in many cases been the cause which resulted in unsatisfactory putting greens.» This is especially true where layers of d i f f e r e nt textured materials occur in putting greens. A sand layer in a (loam) restricts the downward movement of water, decreases f i n er textured s o il the movement and amount of air in the s o i l, encourages compaction, and results shallow root systems. Soils or mixtures which are susceptable to compaction, produce the same conditions» Thus, we might say that four of the major causes of unsatisfactory putting greens are:. in !• layers of different materials 2» the use of improper s o il mixtures in building greens or topdressing 3» compaction, and 4» overwatering resulting from the above conditions» To help insure the successful production of good greens in renovating, building or topdressing the problem i^ then, to use a s o il mixture which w i ll resist compaction, drain well, and "hold enough nutrients and water to require only a reasonable f e r t i l i z a t i on and irrigation program» What mixture to use? The United States Golf Association Greer Section has always been very interested in the problem of putting green soils» Since 1920 many recommendations for the modification of soils to be used for putting greens in various sections of the United States have been made. In a national survey conducted during 1947 it was found that most golf courses were using a l/S s o i l, i/o sand, and l/z peat mixture. Such mixtures were not satisfactory in many cases because of the local variations in soil and sand. Research and Experience Point the Yifay. During 1947 and 1949, however, data was reported by workers which began to lay the foundation for later research. Recently, two research workers and one private organization, each working independently, have proposed the use of similar s o il mixtures for putting greens. The mixtures have proven successful under experimental and actual playing conditions. Tips from Research and Successfui Builders of Greens• 1. The use of more sand is the trend. Eighty (80) to eighty-five (85) percent sand is generally suggested. Commercial concrete sand approximating the following analyses may be used. Size of Sand in Millimeters ZiTfJrJltL 5 -2 mm 2 -1 1 .5 -.5 -.25 <.25 19 13 27 54 7 t * Of course, there are more desirable sizes of sand than the commercial mixture. Research indicates that sand sizes in the range 1.0 mm to .25 mm are more desirable while .5 mm-to .20 mm size sand is s t i ll an impr ovement • 2. It is suggested that not more than peat by volume should be used. 3. The clay content should vary between 5 and 10%. Best results w i ll be obtained when using clay if it (lirilium) before preparing the mixture. is treated with a soil conditioner 4. Thus, mixtures for topdressing or building greens should consist of approximately 8C$ sand as discussed under Ko. 1, 5 to Ifyo clay, and 10 to 15% peat. 5. To obtain such a mixture from a loam s o il use 60% sand, 25$ s o i l, and 15 % peat. For f tort her suggestions on the amounts of various soil types to use in making a mixture see page 29, TJSGA Journal, Nov. 1955., and page 29, September 1956 Journal. Southeastern Turfletter US G A G R E EN S E C T I ON to. 0* J. Noer Milwaukee Sewerage Comlsslon * Box 2079 Milwaukee lg *isconsiii Sec. 34.66, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE l%c PAID TIFTON, GEORGIA Permit No. 46