UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION S o u t h e rn Turf l e t t er SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA T E L E P H O N E: L I B E R TY 8-2741 SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT TEXAS A 8. M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE STATION, TEXAS T E L E P H O N E: VICTOR 6-3210 No. 2 Aprii - 1962 DR. MARVIN H. FERGUSON MID-CONTINENT DIRECTOR NATIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR JAMES B. MONCRIEF A G R O N O M I ST HOLMAN M. G R I F F IN A G R O N O M I ST NEW FERTILIZERS ARE COMING Organic fertilizers have "been recognized to he superior in certain respects for the fertilization of turfgrasses. One of the desirable points is the fact that nutrients are released for plant use at a relatively slow rate. formaldehyde fertilizers have been given a great deal of attention because they release nitrogen slowly over a long period of time. The urea- In recent issues of the periodical, California Agriculture, Dr. Ray Lunt of the University of California, has called attention to several additional mechanisms whereby slow release of nutrients may be accomplished. makes use of plastic coating of varying thickness placed over conventional fertilizer granules. through the plastic membrane by diffusion, dissolve some of the fertilizer and the solute then diffuses out. depend upon the diffusion rate of water and nutrients through the membrane, and the diffusion rate, in turn, depends upon the thickness of the plastic membrane coating. The theory is that water will move inside the coating One of these methods Thus the rate of nutrient availability will A second mechanism is based upon metal-ammonium phosphate salts. The solubility of these compounds is controlled by the concentration of the ammonium ions in solution. As ammonium ions are removed from solution through nitrification, use by the plant, or through leaching, the concentration is lowered and more of the salt can go into solution. A third possibility involves the use of certain resins which have great ion exchange capacity. anionic as well as cationic exchange. They may be mixed with soils in relatively small percentages to provide long term nutrient supplying power. Unlike most soil materials, these resins provide for It should be pointed out that all of these phenomena provide the basis for possible use in turf but at this writing,we know of no commercial or broad scale use of any of these techniques. So long as such investigations are pursued, turf growers can be assured that better products will be forthcoming, whether they be based on these or other principles. ¡ ' • » : V- v \x "2" THE SPRING "TRANSITION" In much of the South, the cool season grass that was overseeded will soon "be on its way out; bermudagrass will begin to grow more vigorously; and for some the period "between seasons" will be unpleasant. course, one in which the cool season grass goes out so slowly that its final demise is almost imperceptible. Seldom is this desired result altogether achieved. However, there are a few things the superintendent can do to help keep the transition period from being a "nightmare." They are listed here: The desired condition is, of 1. Water carefully. Withholding water will weaken the cool season grass and give the bermuda an advantage. Don't allow all the cool season grass to become so dry that it dies because its sudden death might leave greens quite thin. 2. Fertilize with small amounts of readily available nitrogen. At this time of year, bermuda will be stimulated to grow more rapidly. Cool season grasses will tend to become a little more lush, a little more susceptible to disease, and a little more susceptible to the effects of drouth which you may create by the withholding of water. 3. Control serious disease attacks with fungicides. Anything that would destroy cool season grass quickly may be harmful because the bermuda will not have time to take over the empty space. 4. Spike to open up the cool season turf. This will encourage the bermuda by thinning its competition. 5. Topdress, but choose your time carefully. Too heavy topdressing at a critical time may almost eliminate the cool season turf. Lighter applications, timed properly can help to fill in voids in the turf, and can contribute to the slow decline of cool season grass. 6. Vertical mowing may be necessary. Under conditions where rainfall prevents the control of moisture, other methods must be used to thin out the cool season grass. The vertical mower is a very useful device for such a purpose. The wise superintendent will recognize immediately that none of the suggestions listed can be used under all conditions. There can be no definite directions which will guide one successfully through this hazardous period. Thus good judgment must be used in applying the methods that may be helpful. amino triazole, KILL POISON IVY NOW - Ammate (ammonium sulfamate), or 2,4,5-T will control poison ivy if they are sprayed on the foliage. Follow the manufacturers' directions. NATIONAL GOLF DAY - 1962 On June 2, Gene Littler, 1961 USGA Open Champion, and Jerry Barber, 1961 PGA Champion and 1961 Player-of-the-Year, will play an l8-hole match at the Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. This course will be the site of the kkth PGA Championship of July 19-22. known as the for golfers who compete on National Golf Bay. in the event. In 1961 - 73^759 golfers played The Littler-Barber match will be Round of the Champion' and the winning score will be the target M 1 National Golf Day is an especially significant date for clubs which subscribe to the Green Section Visiting Service because this event is the source of a substantial amount of money which is used for the support of turfgrass research. Our subscribers are urged to encourage participation by their club members. The $1 entry fee will be well used for the benefit of golf charities and educational programs. CAN WE HELP? Has the U.S.G.A. Green Section been of service to you this year? We hope so because this is our reason for existence. Our goal is to assist member clubs in the upkeep of their golf courses by furnishing them current, scientific and impartial information which will help them to do a better job. Through your support, the Green Section sponsors research and brings the results of this research directly to you in the form of personal visits, regional turfletters, journal articles, participation in turf meetings, and by telephone and correspondence. To benefit from an organization designed to serve your interest in better turfgrass you should subscribe to the Green Section Visiting Service this month by sending your application to the United States Golf Association, "Golf House", kO East 3 8 th Street, New York 16, N. Y. May 17-18 May 28-29-30 May 28-29 June 5 COMING EVENTS Louisiana Turfgrass Field Days 5236 Canal Boulevard, New Orleans, La. First Annual Turfgrass Trade Show Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach and the Plantation Field Laboratory of the Florida Experimental Station Systems Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Alabama Turfgrass Field Days Decatur, Alabama Mississippi Section, American Society of Agronomy Turf Conference State College, Mississippi August 28-29-30 Florida Turfgrass Conference University of Florida Gainesville, Florida ithern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION B U LK R A TE U.S. POSTAGE PAID College Station, Texas Permit No. 80