WESTERN  OFFICE 

P. O. Box  241 

Davis,  California 

Telephone:  Davis  2492 

CHARLES  G.  WILSON 

Western  Director 

Vol»  3  No.  2 

74/extern  *7u%£Cettefi 
March-April  1955 

, 

SOIL  FUNDAMENTALS  OF  TURPGRASS  GROWTH 

Soil 

for 
it   should  be 

It  
the  home  for 

the   condition  of 
treated   with 
the  foundation  of  a  new  building   he  is  

i s nTt  
liquid  and  a  gas, 
moisture  and  25%  a i r.   As 
turn  are  primarily   responsible 
our  golfers   play  on, 
tractor  gives 

j u st   so  much  d i r t.  
i§  a  mixture  of  a  solid,   a 
ideally   containing  by  volume  50%  solids,  25% 
in 
turfgrass   roots,  which 
tops 
that 
the 
the  respect  a  con-
constructing. 
is 
It  
teeming  and 
f u ll 
t h i n g . . . it  
not  an  i n e r t,  
l i f e l e s s,  
of  a c t i v i t y.   Numerically 
in  a 
is  more  animal  and  plant  
the  world's  entire  human  population. 
spoonful  of  healthy  soil 
A  single  spoonful  may  contain  upwards  of  a  quarter   of  a 
bacteria. 
living  soil  means  better  u t i l-
ization  of  f e r t i l i z er   and  moisture,   and 
economically  maintained  surface  for  golfer   enjoyment. 

is  a  constantly  changing  dynamic  medium. 
l i fe  
t r i l l i on 
thus,   a  healthier,  more 

s t a t ic 
there 
than 

A  healthy  soil 

turf  culture  a 

In  terms   of 

is  alive, 

in 

it  

the 
is  necessary 

To  properly  appreciate 
should  be, 

to  prevent  bankruptcy 
turf 
dition,  microbiology  and  chemistry   as 
and  water   and  air   movement. 
the  May-June 
Soil  Physics 

issue   of  your  Western   Turfletter. 

importance  of  our  "Soil   Bank",  and 
the  form  of  dead  grass  where  dense  vigorous 
to   understand  a  s o i l 's   physical  con-
f e r t i l i ty 
in  
this  and 

inherent 
The  subject  will  be  covered 

it   a f f e c ts  

the 

All  soils  have 

their   beginning  with 

of  f i n e ly   divided,  weathered  rock  materials.  
living  organismis  starts 
of  soil   classes 
ing  up,  changing,   or  destroying  
these 
in 

forces  are  not   uniform  over 

the  accumulation  or  exposure 
true  soil-forming  process,  and  the   variety 
that   are  build-
Since 
surface,  soils   d i f f er 

the  original  parent  material. 

texture,  structure,  depth  and  color. 
Although  minerals  make  up  over  90%  of  the   dry  weight   of 

found  is   dependent  upon  natural  

The  introduction  ©f 

the  e a r t h 's 

forces 

they  occupy  only   50%  to  60%, 
by  volume 
water  and  a i r.  
It  
texture 
and  their  
size, 
and  o las  si fixation, 

is 
the  arrangement  of 
respectively. 

that 

- 

soils, 
these  minerals,  structure 

the  r e st   being  organic  matter, 
-

is   responsible  f or  a  s o i l 's   productivity 

j 

is 

A  deep  uniform   medium  sandy 
ideal  for 

loam  texture  containing  about  20% 
organic  matter  with  a  wide  range  of  particle   size  from  coarse  sand 
to 
turf   growth* 
fine  microscopic  clay 
ihe  organic  matter 
to  provide  good  structure   which 
and  clay   are  strong   cementing  agents 
is  responsible 
i t y.   High  sand  content,   with  a  gradation  of  particle   size, 
for 
large   drainage  and  aeration   porosity,  and  has  a  further   advantage 
providing  a  desirable  braking  action  on  approach  shots   even  when  the  
is  dry. 

for  the   small  water-holding  porosity  and  inherent  

is 

f e r t i l-
responsible 
in 
soil 

Such  a  soil   seldom  is   available 

locally  but  can  and  should   be 

a r t i f i c i a l ly   constructed  for 
topdressing   and  i n i t i al   planting  of  putting 
greens.  Where  i ts  
structure 
is   maintained  by  good  management   and  sub-
drainage 
it   w i ll  hold  s u f f i c i e nt   moisture  for  plant   growth, 
is   good, 
permit  rapid  removal  of  excess  water   a f t er  
leaching  of  s a l ts   where  water   quality 
Soil  Microbiology  

i r r i g a t i on   or  rain,   and  permit 

is  poor. 

1 

# 

the  

l i fe  

there 

to  use 

"Without 

the   sun, 

the  a b i l i ty  
in 

To  quote  Dr.  Richer,   Pennsylvania  State  University: 
is  no  l i f e;   without 
l i fe   of  the   soil".  Microbes  have 
i . e .,   organic  matter, 

soil 
there 
is   no  soil   and  the   mighty  microbe 
is  
the 
stored 
energy  of 
their  own  growth  processes. 
In  breaking   down  organic  matter 
the  mighty  microbes  release  nitrogen, 
phosphorous,  potash   and  other   elements  necessary  for  plant   growth. 
form  by  mi-
Even  ammonium  sulfate  must  be  broken  down  into   a  n i t r a te  
the 
crobes  before 
breakdown  process 
large   quantities  of  carbon  dioxide   are 
liberated 
to  form  mild  carbonic  acid 
to 
liberate  nutrients  of 
that  otherwise  would  be  un-
available  for 
turf   growth. 
is  responsible  for  human 
the 
l i f e.   Without 
i t,  
in  35  years,  plants   would  die  and  human 
phere  would   be  exhausted  
l i fe   would  soon  join   them  to  end  our  worries   of  brown  areas  where 
green  turf  

the  soil  minerals 
three-hundredths  of  one  per  cent  

turf  grasses.  During  
This  acts 

in 
Carbon  dioxide  

the  presence  of  water.  

  becomes  available 

should  be. 

the  atmos-

to  our 

in 

it

toxic  substances 

Not  a ll   microbes  are  beneficial  

turf 
turf  growth,  as  witness  
to 
in 
(lack  of  a i r)   conditions 
diseases  caused  by  fungi,   and  anaerobic  
loss   of  nitrogen 
water-logged  soils  where  anaerobic   microbes  cause 
iron, 
as  a  gas  and  other  
Ihe 
s u l f i t e,   n i t r i te   and  methane  gas 
damage  caused  by  these   harmful  microbes  can  be  offset   by  making  con-
ditions 
is  for 
the 
texture 
reason 
to  prevent  water-logged 
and  structure   with  ample 
conditions. 
the  
to  go  out  during 
last  summer  when  demands 
oxygen  were  at  
Soil  Chemistry 

like  reduced  manganese,  
living   plants. 
It  
importance  of  good  physical   soil 
large  porosity 
indicate  what  might  have  caused 
that  hot,  muggy  spell 

favorable  for  t he   beneficial  aerobic  microbes. 
that   we  stress 

their  highest  by  the  

turf  as  well   as 

It  should  also 

to   k i ll   our 

turf 
for 

There  are  few  people   associated  with 
to  realize 

not  aware  of 
growth.  However,  many  may  f a il  
elements  are  essential,   and 

importance  of  nitrogen  

in  stimulating  vigorous 

turf  management  who  are 
that  over  a  dozen  other 
required 

that   sulfur,  as  an  example,  

the  

is  

this 

the   mighty  microbes. 

in 

the  f e r t i l i z er   materials  used. 

the   netessary 
in  as  great   a  quantity  as  phosphorous.  Many  of 
the  soil  or  are  applied   as  an  extra 
elements  are  already   present 
Thus,  past   emphasis 
dividend  with 
-
three  of  essential   elements 
has  been  rightly   placed  on  the  big 
nitrogen,  phosphorous  and  potash.   Where 
to 
is   neutral 
slightly  acid  with  adequate  reserves  of  •alcium   and  magnesium, 
the 
to 
proper  feeding   balance  of  the   big 
is   s u f f i c i e nt  
important, 
promote  healthy  growth. 
especially  on  putting   greens,  where  in  
the  words  of  Dr.  Noer,  Agrono-
mist,  Milwaukee  Sewerage  Commission,  "The  Golf  Course  Superintendent 
is   a  true  farmer  since  he  is   continually  harvesting  and  removing  a 
crop". 

The  proper  balance  

three  usually 

is   extremely 

the  soil 

in 

the  

loss 

inherently  

reports 
is   a  net 

their  virgin  state  are 

F*r  years  our  Western   Re-

Considerably  more  emphasis  needs 

to   be  plarced   on  this   matter  of 
in  agri«ulture 
rich 
this   picture 

a  balanced  diet  for  putting   green  t u r f.  
search  Stations   have  not   recommended  the  use  of  potash  
because  most   western  soils 
in 
this  element.  However,  even  for  agricultural   crops 
is   changing.  Dr.  Chapman,  Soils  Department,  University  of  California, 
in 
Riverside, 
the  February  1955  Better   Crops  With  Plant  Food, 
loss  of  236  pounds  of  potash   per  acre  annually  
that 
in 
t^ere 
is   even  greater   because 
California  soils.  Under  putting   greens 
we  harvest  a  crop  three   or  more  times  a  week  for  52  weeks  each  year 
in 
Several  Western  Clubs  have  found  that   nitro-
the  west. 
some  sections  of 
  enough,  and  that   some  potash  should  be 
gen  and  phosphorous  are  not
the 
added  each  year 
if  
turf 
is  
fungicides 
control. 
give  proper  disease  
to  

to  be  wear-resistant   and 

Many  clubs  have  gone 

the  other  extreme 

in  balancing 

lead  arsenate. 

the  grass  can  possibly   use. 

by  continuous   use  of  complete   commercial  f e r t i l i z e rs  
more  phosphorous 
for  poor  crabgrass  and  annual
expensive  and  responsible  
control  with 
disorders 
complete  f e r t i l i z e rs   were  formulated  
f r u it   or  flower   where  high   phosphorous 
we  are 

that  apply 
  bluegrass 
It   further  can  intensify   nutritional 
It   should  be  remembered  that  most 
In 

in  vegetative  not  seed  production. 
interested  
In  a  now  classical   1944  experiment  carried  on  by 

to  encourage 
levels   are 

iron  chlorosis. 

the   production  of 
important.  
turf 

the   Milwaukee 

the  diet 
f ar 
This   is   wasteful, 

laboratory  analysis  of  collected  and  weighed  clippings 
  of  putting   green  produced  approximately 

Sewerage  Commission  in  cooperation  with  Brynwood  Country  Club 
Milwaukee, 
showed  each  1,000  square  f e et
100  pounds  of  dry  grass  for 
contained 
4.83  pounds  of  nitrogen,   1«60  pounds  of  phosphoric   acid  and  3.24  pounds 
of  potash.  
is   a  far  cry  from   the  commonly  available 
5-10-5,  6-10-4  f e r t i l i z e rs   sold 
is   small  wonder 
that  proper  soil   analysis  shows  many  of  our  putting   green  soils   are 
becoming 

in 
low-grade  phosphate  mines. 

the   6  month  season. 

This  5-2-4  r a t io  

The  clippings  

the  west. 

Ihus, 

than  

like 

the 

in 

it  

To  know  what  our  "Soil   Chemistry  Bank"  contains 

to  make  periodic  soil 
magnesium,  and  the  
taken  and  the   results  are  properly  
we  will  discuss  proper  sampling   methods  and  analysis   of 

for  phosphorous,  potash,   calcium  and 
is   worthless  unless  samples  are  properly 

In  a  future  
the 

interpreted. 

tests 

t e st 

it  

issue 
r e s u l t s. 

is   necessary 

M r,   C h a r l as   K.   H a l l o w e ll 
U S GA   G r e en  S e c t i on 
P l a nt   I n d u s t ry   S t a t i on 
B e l t s v i l l e,  

d. 

Ê: