Soil Testing and Potassium Recommendations - …kafmo.org/pdf/PATurfgrass Fall 2016.pdfSoil Testing...

Fall 2016 • Vol. 5/No. 4

Better Sports Fields in SpringCome From Work in the Fall

Soil Testingand Potassium

Recommendationsfor Golf Courses

4 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Fall 2016

8

16

6 Upcoming EventsGolf Turf Conferenceand Regional Conferences

8 Cover StorySoil Testing andPotassium Recommendationsfor Golf Courses

14 Research SummariesUpdates on Research byPenn State’s Turf Team

16 Between the LinesBetter Fields in Spring and2015 Field of Distinction Winner

Features

Pennsylvania Turfgrass CouncilP.O. Box 99Boalsburg, PA 16827-0550Phone: (814) 237-0767Fax: (814) 414-3303

Publisher:Leading Edge Communications, LLC206 Bridge St. • Franklin, TN 37064Phone: (615) 790-3718Fax: (615) 794-4524info@leadingedge

communications.com

Pennsylvania Turfgrass EditorJohn Kaminski, Ph.D.Penn State • [email protected]

Pennsylvania Turfgrass Associate EditorHeather TreasterPenn State • [email protected]

PresidentAndrew DooleyBerkshire Country Club • Reading, PA(610) 451-3229

Vice PresidentPete RamseyMessiah College • Grantham, PA(717) 577-5401

Secretary-TreasurerChase RoganGCSAA Field Staff, Mid-Atlantic RegionPittsburgh, PA(814) 241-3037

Past PresidentJason HurwitzFox Chapel Golf Club • Pittsburgh, PA(412) 447-4434

Directors

Tom BettleJoseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Facility • Penn State

Bill BrownTurf Republic

Bob CapranicaE.H. Griffith

Dan DouglasReading Fightin Phils

Tom FisherWildwood Golf Club

Dave ForesmanGreen Industry Consultant

Shawn KisterLongwood Gardens

Dr. Peter LandschootPenn State

Rick PagettThe Penn State Golf Courses

Vol. 5 / No. 4 • Fall 2016

7 PTC MembershipInvitation

15 Penn State News

18 Calendar of Events

18 Advertiser Index

Departments

The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotionand representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors anddo not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, PennsylvaniaTurfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or PTC members, does not constitute anendorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Copy-right © 2016 by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council. Pennsylvania Turfgrass, is published quarterly. Subscrip-tions are complimentary to PTC members. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed inthe U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Pennsylvania Turfgrass, allows reprinting of material published here.Permission requests should be directed to the PTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manu-scripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For displayand classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

5Fall 2016 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass


Upcoming Events

Penn State Golf Turf Conference will once again be held atthe Nittany Lion Inn on the University Park campus betweenTuesday, November 15, and Thursday, November 17. A full

schedule of speakers will deliver the latest and greatest information about managinggolf turf. Speakers include USGA agronomists, university professors and industryleaders. Presentations will include a variety of subjects ranging from agronomicsto business management

Our keynote session will feature a roundtable discussion on the state of theindustry as it relates to new laws on wages and overtime, as well as the shortage ofavailable staff. The lively discussion will focus on the impact that these changes willhave on your golf course maintenance crew and share some tips for navigating theseuncharted waters.

In addition to the lineup of education, we will again host a complimentaryHappy Hour on Wednesday following the announcement of the PennsylvaniaTurfgrass Council’s Dr. George Hamilton Distinguished Service Award recipient. ThePenn State Turf Club will also host its annual Turf Club Luncheon and be on sitewith a full inventory of Club merchandise to make completing your holiday shop-ping easy. State pesticide credits and GCSAA education points will also be offered.

We hope to see everyone there! Check www.psuturf.com/conferences for detailsand to register online. 7

The

NOVEMBER 15–172016 Penn State Golf Turf ConferenceNittany Lion Inn • State College, PA JANUARY 4–5, 2017

Eastern PennsylvaniaTurfgrass and OrnamentalsConference and Tradeshow

Radisson Hotel/Valley Forge Convention Center

King of Prussia, PA

The Eastern Pennsylvania TurfgrassConference has secured an excellent listof speakers and timely education topics.The traditional tradeshow format isbeing replaced with something new andexciting, so be sure to attend and seewhat that’s all about, as well as engagein some great learning opportunities.• Excellent topics in the golf turf, sports

turf, and lawn and landscape sessions• PA, NJ, DE and MD pesticide credits,

and also GCSAA CEUs• And much more!

For more information:www.paturf.org

JANUARY 19, 2017Northeastern Pennsylvania

Turfgrass Conferenceand Tradeshow

Woodlands Inn and ResortWilkes Barre, PA

Note: This is a week earlierthan usual, due to a conflictingnational turfgrass conference.

For more information, please emailDr. Andy McNitt at [email protected].

FEBRUARY 28 –MARCH 2, 2017

Western PennsylvaniaTurfgrass, Ornamental and

Landscape ConferenceHilton Garden Inn Cranberry

(formerly the Four Points Sheraton)Cranberry Township, PA

With more than 45 pesticide update credits offered, we have

many speakers this year from other universities and institutions that will have great information to share with you. For more information, contact the PTC office at (814) 237-0767.

Save TheseDates!


PTC Membership Application

joining the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council(PTC), your club or company, or you as anindividual, become part of an organization

dedicated to promoting professionalism in all aspects of theturfgrass industry and support of the Center for TurfgrassScience at Penn State University.

• PTC provides educational opportunities forpractitioners in all turfgrass-related industries.

• PTC provides grants and other support for educationand research programs at Penn State University.

• PTC encourages future industry leadership by grantingscholarships and awards.

• PTC acts as a liaison to the green industry bypromoting open dialogue with government agencies,private institutions and the general public.

PTC Invites You to— BECOME A MEMBER! —

ByIndividual — $50 annual dues

For the green-industry professional who wants to be part ofthe Council and support its activities.

Sustaining — $200 annual duesFor the business or turf professional who takes an active rolein promoting the profession of turfgrass management, pro-fessional development and educational opportunities in theturfgrass industry.

Partner for Growth — $400 annual duesFor the business or club that desires a stronger affiliation withthe Council and the Penn State Turfgrass Science Program.

Join online today, or renew your current membership at — www.paturf.org/membershipThe membership year is July 1 through June 31.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES


Cover Story

oil fertility testing is a valuableagronomic tool comprised offour steps: sampling, analysis,

interpretation and recommendation.Sampling practice is fairly straight-forward. Perhaps modified in regardto depth (e.g., by rooting depth of spe-cies or need for subsoil investigation),sampling accuracy increases with thenumber of soil cores sampled fromthe area of interest.

The next stage is analysis, and“routine” soil fertility analysis affordslittle artistic liberty. Submitted soils aredried and homogenized before beingmixed with an extraction solution. Typ-ically chosen on the basis of regional

parent material or sample soil pH,extraction solutions include Mehlich-1,Bray P-1, Morgan and Mehlich-3. Theirpurpose is to rapidly displace nutrientsfrom soil and stabilize them in solubleforms, facilitating precise measure ofsolution nutrient concentrations bystate-of-the-art analytical equipment.Success through the first half of the soilfertility-testing process relies on consist-ency, and this is something I believe wecan all agree upon. If only the secondhalf were so easy.

InterpretationInterpretation is simple characterizationof soil pH and nutrient availability levels

by keywords such as very low, deficient/low, adequate/optimal/medium, supra-optimal/high and excessive/very high.Soil nutrient levels are typically inter-preted by one, or both, of the predom-inant methodologies; the base cationsaturation ratio (BCSR) or sufficiencylevel of available nutrients (SLAN). TheSLAN method interprets assessed soilnutrient levels relative to sufficiencylevels in parts per million soil, and itis, in my opinion, the superior method(Schlossberg, 2012). It is importantto recognize that sufficiency levels forevery nutrient have been, and alwayswill be, open to interpretation by indi-vidual laboratories and consultants.

SBy Max Schlossberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Turfgrass Nutrition & Soil Fertility, Penn State University

Soil Testingand PotassiumRecommendationsfor Golf Courses


Hence the term: interpretation.It’s implied!

Such inherency was mindfullyillustrated by Turner & Waddington(1978), who sent seven homogenoussoil samples to seven labs and sum-marized the resulting soil test nutrientlevels, interpretations and recommen-dations. Results of five lab analyseson four similar soils are presentedbelow (Figure1).

Perhaps the most admirable feature oftheir report, particularly in current con-text, was the authors’ ostensibly objec-tive summation of factors contributingto the observed discrepancies. Thisafforded a perfect segue to theirundoubtedly original survey objective:justifying the need for future field cal-ibration studies to improve turfgrassfertilizer recommendations. In theircomprehensive understanding of soil-testing components and procedure,Turner & Waddington (1978) refrainedfrom “calling out” associated univer-sities as antiquated or environmentallyirresponsible. They simply recognizedvarying soil test-level interpretations(and recommendations) for what theyare, an array of good-faith opinionsprovided in support of effective turf-grass nutrition and management.

RecommendationWhen soil test levels are observedbelow a given nutrient sufficiencylevel, SLAN-based recommendationsprovide a nutrient delivery rate on apre-plant or annual maintenance basis.This rate typically rectifies the differ-ence between the current and sufficientsoil nutrient level, or it comprises the

soil rectifying rate plus a quantity esti-mated to satisfy seasonal “crop removal”of that nutrient. These approaches arereferred to as “sufficiency” or “buildupand maintain,” respectively. Recom-mendations may be further adjustedwith consideration for the residentturfgrass species/cultivar(s), irrigationwater quality, soil pH, seasonal climateand associated cultural inputs.

Carrow et al. (2001) encouragemanagers to treat soil test recommen-dations as guidelines. The basis of theircandor being inherent variation amongmethods, interpretation and recom-mendations precludes characterizationof soil testing for turf as an exact sci-ence. Did you hear that? It soundedlike 500 consultants screaming blas-phemy! Carrow et al. (2001) go on tooffer guidance on improved methodsby classifying such variations as meritedor problematic. The latter includes bas-ing fertilizer recommendations solelyon replenishment by ratios of nutrientsremoved in clippings, as this approachneglects mineralized N contributionsas well as nutrient fixation and/orleaching mechanisms that influenceloss or reduced availability of appliednutrients. By which I offer this analogy:one fewer jar of mashed peas on theshelf doesn’t mean all its original con-tents now reside in our 7-month-old’sstomach (rather, some covers ourclothes, floor and highchair).

Is potassium special?It is my opinion that plant recovery ofmost soil-tested macronutrients (P, K,Ca, Mg and S), when delivered to aturfgrass system at appropriate rates,

under ideal conditions and using suit-able fertilizer/limestone products, ishighly dependable. Yet K is routinelyimplicated as the soil-tested macronu-trient least-dependably recovered byturfgrass following a fertilizer appli-cation (Carrow et al., 2001). A quotefrom Meentemeyer and Whitlark (2016)— “…a potassium fertilizer applicationdoes not necessarily result in higherpotassium levels in the plant…” —reiterates concern for K fertilizer fate.

In addition to fate and availabilityconcerns, potassium’s significant role inturfgrass susceptibility to abiotic stressand disease impels its emphasis in thisarticle. In season, K sufficiency of inten-sively maintained turfgrass supportswater-use efficiency and tolerance toboth elevated temperature and sodiumlevels (Carrow et al. 2001). Likewise,field research has correlated anthrac-nose suppression in annual blue-grass with both leaf clipping K andunderlying soil test K levels (Schmidet al., 2015).

Potassium sufficiency also influencesa/biotic tolerance between seasons.Following an abnormally harsh winterof 2014–15 in the NE U.S., annual blue-grass putting green plots yielding leafclippings with 2.6% to 3.1% K contentin mid-September, demonstratedsignificantly greater winter survivaland spring recovery relative to adjacentplots that yielded leaf clippings withonly 1.3% K content the previous fall(Schmid et al., 2016). However, signif-icant incidence of gray snow mold onputting greens has been observed indirect relation to a fertilization rangeof 0 to 3.0 lbs. K2O/M–month, when

Texturalclass*

Lab A Lab B Lab C Lab D Lab E All Labs

Available Rec. Available Rec. Available Rec. Available Rec. Available Rec. Available Rec.

mg K /kg lbs K/M mg K /kg lbs K/M mg K /kg lbs K/M mg K /kg lbs K/M mg K /kg lbs K/M Rating Mode lbs K/M

CL 98 (L) 3.3 86 (M) 2.5 48 (M) 2.5 62 (M) 2.7 76 (M) 1.2 M 1.2-2.7

C 82 (L) 3.3 92 (H) 1.7 58 (M) 2.5 65 (M) 2.0 79 (M) 1.2 M 1.2-2.5

CL 258 (VH) 0.0 240 (VH) 0.8 144 (H) 1.7 171 (VH) 0.0 200 (H) 0.7 VH 0-0.8

SiCL 269 (VH) 0.0 266 (VH) 0.8 157 (VH) 0.0 187 (VH) 0.0 164 (H) 0.7 VH 0-0.8

*, CL=clay loam, C=clay, SiCL=silty clay loam; US Dept. of Agriculture.†, Soil test potassium (K) or K availability, in mg K / kg soil (or ppm soil).

FIGURE 1 Potassium availabilities and recommendations for a maintained Kentucky bluegrass lawn by soil (pH range of 6.0 to 6.7), homogenized and split for submission to five soil testing laboratories (adapted from Turner & Waddington, 1978).


applied three or more months prior towinter dormancy (Moody, 2011; Woods,2006). Thus, winter preparation ofputting greens requires superintend-ents to consider the likelihood ofextended ice encasement and weigh

the implications of snow mold versuscrown hydration injury.

Considering all this and K’s rank of2nd among turfgrass mineral nutrientrequirements by mass, I suggest annualK2O deliveries between 60% and 100%

of total annual N fertilizer applied toirrigated cool-season turfgrass main-tained as golf course putting greens andtees (Figure 2). Similarly formatted Ksuggestions for cool-season turfgrasssports fields are supported in greaterdetail elsewhere (Schlossberg, 2015).

Newfangled acronymsand the ‘S’ wordSuccinctly defined as cost-effective,ecologically protective and indefinitelyproductive, “sustainable” doesn’t resideon the wieldy or “light fare” end of themodern buzzword spectrum. Suggestingherculean practicality and unsustain-ability of every alternative, the word“sustainable” also implies originalityand, in my opinion, is best reservedfor use in “optimistic” or “goal-oriented” context.

Which begs the questions — howuniquely original is the theory under-lying modish derivatives of SLAN, andjust how unsustainable are soil testrecommendations provided by labs whohaven’t adopted them? Specifics of aminimum level of sustainable nutrition(MLSN) guideline (Woods et al., 2014)reveal a SLAN-based interpretationmethod, albeit intriguingly observa-tional, followed by a two-step fertilizerrecommendation procedure that fallssquarely within the confines of custom-ary buildup and maintain philosophy.I have difficulty imagining anyone whohas earned credit in a college-level soil

Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens & Tees Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens & TeesIrrigation Type Irrigation Type

Normal/Good Quality *Hard and/or Effluent Normal/Good Quality Hard and/or EffluentSoil Test K†, mg/kg Soil Test K, mg/kg Soil Test K, mg/kg Soil Test K, mg/kg≤ 75 > 75 ≤ 90 > 90 ≤ 75 > 75 ≤ 90 > 90

Suggested K2O fertilization as % ofannual N fertilization rate (w/w)

Suggested K2O fertilization as % ofannual N fertilization rate (w/w)

Months1 thru 2

15% 15% 20% 15% 15% 10% 15% 15%

Months3 thru 5

40% 30% 50% 45% 40% 35% 55% 45%

Months6 thru 7

20% 15% 20% 15% 25% 20% 30% 25%

TOTAL 75% 60% 90% 75% 80% 60% 100% 85%

*, Irrigation H2O pH >7.4, Ca+Mg >40 mg/L, and bicarbonate (HCO3-) >150 mg/L; and/or total dissolved solids (TDS) level >800 mg/L.†, Soil test potassium (K) in the upper 0-4 or 0-6 inches as determined by ammonium acetate or Mehlich-3 extraction.

FIGURE 2 Suggested seven (7) growing-month seasonal distribution of K2O fertilizer as % annual N rate to irrigated golf course puttinggreens & tees in USDA Hardiness Zones 1a–6b; by turfgrass species, irrigation quality and soil test levels of potassium (K).

Cover Story • continued


fertility course would refute the accuracyof this fundamental characterization.

Figure 3 shows all the informationand results of a soil test procedure,conducted and provided by the PennState Univ. Agric. Anal. Serv. Lab. (PSU-

AASL). Using the MLSN interpretationand P, K, Ca and Mg fertilizer recom-mendation guidelines (Meentemeyerand Whitlark, 2016; Woods et al., 2014)for comparison, initiated readers mayhave difficulty concluding that “shop-

worn” SLAN-based recommendationsprovided by institutional labs are anyless cost-effective, environmentallyresponsible, or indefinitely supportiveof turfgrass nutrition and health.

ConclusionThere is nothing new under the sun,and soil testing remains less than anexact science. It is my opinion that ofall the current SLAN-based approaches,none universally supersedes the meritof any other. I conclude by reiteratingthe opinion of respected turfgrassscientists I first read 15 years ago andhave been teaching at Penn State eversince — soil testing is a valuable tooland should be conducted annually. Beconsistent in regard to sampling depthand selection of a SLAN-supportingsoil test lab. Resulting fertilizer

Cover Story • continued

FIGURE 3 Routine soil test ($9) and organic matter ($5) analysis, interpretation and recommendations provided by PSU-AASL toPenn State Golf Courses (with permission of Mr. Rick Pagett and PSU-AASL).


continued • Cover Story

recommendations should be consideredas guidelines, best complemented byknowledge of nutrient roles in turfgrass,chemical properties of your irrigationwater and fertilizers, and ongoing nutri-tional assessment. The latter compo-nent is aptly satisfied by submitting un-contaminated leaf tissue samples fromall, or at least your best- and worst-performing, putting greens in early-summer. Supply nutrients in frequentdoses, keep records of inputs and per-formance, and make modifications asyou see fit.

References

Carrow, R.N., D.V. Waddington, and P.E. Rieke. 2001. Turfgrass soil fertility

and chemical problems: Assessmentand management. John Wiley &Sons, NJ.

Meentemeyer, B., and B. Whitlark. 2016. Turfgrass fertilization: Supplement

only when needed to provide betterturf and playability. USGA Green Sec.Rec. 54(9):1-7. Available at: http://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/ticpdf.py?file=/article/meentemeyer-whitlark-turfgrass-5-6-16.pdf

Moody, D.R. 2011. The effect of potassium fertilization on psychrophilic

pathogen susceptibility and carbonmetabolism of annual bluegrass. PhDthesis. Cornell Univ. pp. 120.

Schlossberg, M.J. 2015. Strategies for nitrogen and potassium fertilization

of sports fields. Sports Turf Manager.28(2):16-19.

Schlossberg, M.J. 2012. Soil fertility interpretation: base saturation or

sufficiency level? SportsTurf. 28(1):24-31. Available at: http://sportsturfonline.com/2012/01/29/soil-fertility-interpretation-base-saturation-or-sufficiency-level/

Schmid, C.J., J.A. Murphy, and B.B. Clarke. 2015. Establishment of soil

and tissue potassium sufficiencyranges for control of anthracnosedisease on annual bluegrass turf.Phytopathology. 105(11S):180.

Schmid, C.J., J.A. Murphy, B.B. Clarke, M. DaCosta, and J.S. Ebdon. 2016.

Observations on the effect of potas-sium on winter injury of annual blue-grass in New Jersey in 2015. Crop

Forage Turfgrass Manage. 2:1-4. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0170

Turner, T.R., and D.V. Waddington. 1978. Survey of soil testing programs

for turfgrasses. Commun. Soil Sci.Plant Anal. 9:71-87.

Woods, M.S. 2006. Nonacid cation bioavailability in sand rootzones. PhD

thesis. Cornell Univ. pp. 134.Woods, M., L. Stowell, and W. Gelernter. 2014. Just what the grass requires:

Using minimum levels for sustainablenutrition: Good turf performancecan be achieved at lower nutrientlevels. Golf Course Manage. 82(1):132-138. 7


Research Summaries

“Valentine East” Now Designated as a Center of Excellence

Next-Generation DNA Sequencing of Turfgrass Growth and Development Traits

Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research

The advancement of next-generation DNA sequencing tech-niques coupled with progress in the field of bioinformatics ismaking our ability to perform large-scale sequencing of turf-grass DNA not only possible but also affordable. The cost ofsequencing DNA has dramatically dropped over the past sev-eral years — from approximately $10,000 for a million bases(the A’s, T’s, C’s and G’s that make up our DNA) back in 2001to less than 5¢ for the same million bases today. Our lab is nowtaking advantage of this low-cost DNA sequencing to begin toaccumulate large data sets of differentially expressed genes fora variety of growth and development processes, including dis-ease resistance. Our biggest hurdle now is the ability to processand analyze the billions and billions of DNA sequences weare generating.

To that end, we are collaborating with scientists both hereand abroad to efficiently handle and accurately analyze ourmassive amounts of data to better understand the underlyinggenetic factors responsible for growth and development ofour turfgrasses. We envision that this new information willenable turfgrass breeders and, eventually, managers to better

develop and maintain turfgrasses that exhibit resistance to awide variety of biotic and abiotic stress-inducing factors. 7Update submitted by David R. Huff, Professor of Turfgrass Breedingand Genetics, Penn State University.

Another year of exciting research is in full swing at Penn State’sCenter for Sports Surface Research. Our research continuesto focus on improving both safety and playability on naturaland synthetic turf athletic fields. Ongoing traction testing withnewly released cleats on Kentucky bluegrass, bermudagrassand synthetic turf continues. Look for the results on our web-site soon (ssrc.psu.edu). We are also measuring traction onsynthetic turf with organic infill. With the increase in atten-tion on organic infills, we are also evaluating other surfacecharacteristics of these systems, including surface hardness,abrasiveness and other playability characteristics.

Additionally, we are building on previous projects thatexamined the best practices for preparing sod for in-seasoninstallations on athletic fields. Studies beginning this year will

utilize this information as we research the latest technologiesin sod establishment, grow-in and installation. The goal ofthis research is to further improve the safety and playabilitycharacteristics of in-season sod installations.

Finally, we continue to evaluate and test “cold-tolerant”bermudagrass cultivars. Currently, we have research plotscontaining ‘Latitude 36’, ‘Northbridge’ and ‘Patriot’, eachgrown on a USGA-sand rootzone. These plots provide us theopportunity to conduct testing on surfaces that are used onathletic fields in other parts of the country. 7

Update submitted by Andy McNitt, Ph.D., Professor of Soil Science,and Tom Serensits, Manager, Penn State’s Center for Sports SurfaceResearch, Penn State University.

The teaching, research and outreach facility affectionatelyknown as “Valentine East” at Penn State’s Berks Campus, inReading, PA, now has an official designation: Center for theAgricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment.

It has taken several years and countless meetings, proposals,and discussions, but a new Center has become a reality at PennState Berks. A sign has been designed and will be installedsometime during the fall 2016 semester. The agricultural sci-ences program began at Penn State Berks in 1989, with thearrival of Dr. David Sanford in a teaching/extension appoint-ment to teach ornamental horticulture courses. In 2000,Dr. Mike Fidanza arrived in a teaching/research appointmentto teach turfgrass, soils and botany courses.

The Center facility includes a small teaching greenhouseand horticulture building, an overwintering house, shadehouse, vegetable demonstration garden, tree and shrub col-lection, walk-in cooler and historic stone dairy barn used forstorage, and recent additions include a chemical storage build-ing, an irrigation building, eight turf research buildings, a fewacres of turfgrass research and teaching areas with irrigationand much more. This new Center represents an expansion ofPenn State’s land-grant mission. Dr. Mike Fidanza will serveas the Director of this new Center. 7

Update submitted by Mike Fidanza, Ph.D., Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Penn State Berks Campus.


Penn State News

How Much Soil Phosphorus Is in Pennsylvania’s Lawns?

Dollar Spot Resistance and Seasonal Variability in Resistance

Indiscriminate use of phosphorus-containing fertilizer onrunoff-prone turfgrass sites is thought to contribute to thecontamination of ground and surface water. Consequently,several states have enacted laws restricting the use of phospho-rus (P) fertilizers, and others are considering similar legisla-tion, including Pennsylvania. Although soil testing is primarilyperformed to assess nutrient status in crop and turfgrasssystems, some researchers have used soil-test summaries toexamine trends in nutrient-management practices and thestatus of soil P in cropland and lawns at the regional scale.Currently little published data exists on trends in soil P con-centrations for turfgrass sites in Pennsylvania, and such infor-mation would be beneficial to validate assumptions made forlawns and other turf areas.

Data from 68,328 home-lawn soil samples submitted to PennState’s Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (AASL)between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, were sum-marized in two 6-year increments to determine trends in soilP concentrations. P was extracted from soil samples usingMehlich-3 extractant, and P concentrations were determinedvia inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy.

Results show that 40% of the 34,456 home-lawn samplessubmitted to AASL between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2009,were less than or equal to 45 ppm Mehlich-3 P, whereas 43%of the 33,872 samples for the period between Jan. 1, 2010, andDec. 31, 2015, were less than or equal to 45 ppm Mehlich-3P. Home lawn samples having less than 45 ppm Mehlich-3 Preceive a P fertilizer recommendation from AASL.

Of the remaining samples submitted between Jan. 1, 2004,

and Dec. 31, 2009, 53% were between 46 and 200 ppm, and7% were above 200 ppm Mehlich-3 P. For the Jan. 1, 2010,and Dec. 31, 2015, period, 51% of the samples were between46 and 200 ppm and 6% were above 200 ppm Mehlich-3 P.Proposed legislation in Pennsylvania states that P may not beapplied to turf when a soil test indicates the Mehlich-3 P con-centration is greater than or equal to 200 ppm, in order toreduce the risk of P runoff losses.

The results of the present summary show that the vast major-ity of soil-test P concentrations from home-lawn soil samplessubmitted to AASL are either adequate or slightly below ade-quate for turfgrass growth, and that a smaller percentage oflawns have P concentrations high enough to present a risk ofP runoff. Education efforts should be directed toward indi-viduals engaging in practices leading to excessive P in homelawns. Legislators and stakeholders should also consider thata significant percentage of Pennsylvania lawns may benefitfrom P applications.

Despite the fact that most fertilizer companies have elimi-nated or reduced P in their lawn-maintenance formulationssince 2010, Pennsylvania soil-test data is not revealing a signif-icant trend towards lower P in home lawns. Summaries of soil-test data from Pennsylvania will be monitored to determineif education efforts and reduced P in home-lawn fertilizersinfluence trends in soil P concentrations. 7

Update submitted by Pete Landschoot, Ph.D., Professor of TurfgrassScience; John Spargo, Ph.D., Director, Agricultural Analytical ServicesLab; Ann Wolf; and Jeremy Schwenk, Penn State University

Dollar spot continues to be one the most important turfgrassdiseases in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.A new research project was initiated in 2016 to investigatethe scope of resistance to commonly used fungicides on golfcourses in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Diseasesamples are currently being collected from numerous golfcourses, and in vitro resistance screening will be conducted.

In addition to resistance issues, many golf course super-intendents have reported varying levels of control dependingon the season, with severe outbreaks often reported in theautumn months. Isolates collected at various times of the year

will be compared for genetic differences as well as patho-gen virulence.

Information from these studies will help golf course super-intendents fine-tune their management strategies to bettersuppress dollar spot. For more information on this study orto have dollar spot populations at your course evaluated forresistance, contact John Kaminski ([email protected]). 7

Update submitted by John Kaminski, Ph.D., Associate Professorof Turfgrass Science, and Cameron Stephens, M.S. candidate,Penn State University.

Penn State TURF UPDATESBob Feindt (Cert. 1960) is now retired and living in Ovid, New York.

Jon Schriner (B.S. ’07) is now the golf course superintendent at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Indiana.

Colleen Swartz Masters (Barzona) (Cert. 1984) is now retired and living in Clemmons, North Carolina. 7

Contact: Dan Douglas,President

Phone: 610-375-8469 x [email protected]

Contact: Linda Kulp,Executive SecretaryPhone: 717-921-8803

[email protected]

Keystone Athletic FieldManagers Organization1451 Peter’s Mountain RoadDauphin, PA 17018-9504www.KAFMO.orgEmail: [email protected]


Between the Lines

Between the Linesthletic grounds personnel acrossthe nation know how importantpost-season field maintenance

is to survive and get a jump on the nextseason. As you look ahead to springsports, it’s always a question of when theathletes will be able to get on the fields.

When the natural fields begin to thawout is when you see if your post-seasonfall work survived the winter season. Thebottom line is learning that the post-season, fall field preparation is probablythe most valuable thing we can do. Itis crucial to put the fields to bed at theend of the season in a condition that isbetter than when the season started.

We accomplish this in many differentways. For one, we limit the outside usersand the number of events that a fieldcan withstand; we have changed ourseason ending dates for outside users towork our schedule (the season endingdate on the middle school fields is threeto four weeks before the high schools).This allows us to work the fields, rebuildthe mounds and plate areas, correct anymajor lip areas (although by teachingthe outside users, this is minimal), addmaterial where needed, topdress thefields, aerate and heavily seed as wellas apply a late-fall fertilizer.

We identify any/all repairs for fenc-ing, scoreboard issues, benches, bleach-ers and pathways that we can makeduring the slower winter months withor without snowfall. By staggering thedates when we shut fields down, weallow outside users to schedule accord-ingly, allowing them the most time ourfields will support. Having all baseball

and softball fields to bed by Thanks-giving is always our goal, and then weconcentrate on the multipurpose fieldswith a deadline of December 7.

We have learned over the years thatthe more we work with our users —from the Pee Wee leagues to the SeniorAdult leagues and all those in between,whether outside permitted users or ourown athletic teams — showing them inhow to care, manage and make dailyrepairs allows our end-of-season bed-ding of the fields much more manage-able, and the cost is minimal comparedto total renovations. With budgets beingcut, we have already placed ourselves ina position to hopefully survive the cutsand restrictions that are still to come.

Do yourself a favor — talk to users,listen to their concerns, and make awilling effort to work with them. Many

of them have resources available thatwe may not know about: many are will-ing to spend time working for a com-mon goal, and many can raise fundsthat the school district cannot matchby increasing taxes. It’s funny how resi-dents will scream, kick and fight overraising taxes but will turn around andhand over money to children when theycome knocking on the door or holdfundraisers to support a good cause.

I guess my grandmother was rightwhen she said $1 was too much tospend but when sold for 99¢ you madea killing. Give up your penny to earna dollar, you may find yourself on thewinning end. 7

Jim Cornelius, CSFM, is services manager,FSC Professional Services, a division ofFisher & Son Co., Inc., based in Exton, PA.

Better Fields in Spring Come From Work in the FallBy Jim Cornelius, CSFM

A


What on-field maintenance task do youmost like performing?

Haffling: For visual satisfaction, itwould be mowing. [I like it] when thegrass is emerald green, and there is anice pattern cut on it. It’s the culmina-tion of all of the work that was put intoit. From an operational standpoint, itwould be when we aerate. I feel that byaerating, I am doing the most good forthe grass without artificially altering it,such as with fertilizing or topdressing.

What’s you least favorite task?

Haffling: When I have to sod. Thoughit’s common to have to sod areas such asgoalmouths, I still question myself andthink is there something that I couldhave done to avoid having to sod. It’s aninternal struggle, but I guess it’s a goodthing because it pushes me to strive tocontinually try to improve our fields.

How do you communicate with coachesand administrators? What is importantfor success in that part of the job?

Haffling: I try to meet with each coachbefore their season starts to discuss howwe will maintain their field. I think mostwould agree that it can be challengingworking with coaches. Each coach tendsto be different in how they look at themaintenance of their field. Some wantto be very involved, while some, verylittle. The key, I feel, is to keep theminformed as much as possible of whatyou are doing on their fields. A goodrapport with your coaches will comein handy when it comes to things likedealing with the weather. If your rec-ommendation is not to use the fieldbecause of rain, then you want them torespect your judgment and hopefullyagree with you.

How has KAFMO helped you inyour job?

Haffling: I have attended KAFMO field

days and have found them to be reallybeneficial. But I would say I get themost from the networking opportuni-ties KAFMO has brought me. I havebeen able to meet really great peopleat the KAFMO events and visited manygreat fields, and I have gained so muchrespect for my fellow KAFMO members.KAFMO is a great organization, and Ifeel fortunate to be a part of it.

Has winning the Field of DistinctionAward made any noticeable differencein how your work is viewed byadministration?

Haffling: Honestly, I wish I had adifferent answer, but it hasn’t, not atMoravian College. Yes, our sports infor-mation director has shared with thecampus community our winning theField of Distinction Awards, but that iswhere it has ended. I hear from otherwinners how well received the award

has been for them, and I haven’tseen anything close to that happen-ing here. My goal for entering was tobring pride to my staff, the coach andteam but also to Moravian. We havethis opportunity to tell prospectivestudents that we have award-winningfields, which to me is a big deal sincewe are a Division III school. Also, as analum, I would be proud to hear thatmy alma mater has such a distinction.Despite all this, it’s never too late for itto happen.

What, if any, maintenance changes are you planning for the winning fieldin 2016?

Haffling: It has taken some time, butwe have built a program that has showngreat results. We have the same pro-gram as last year, and we’ll just have tosee how the year progresses and adjustit as needed. 7

2015 Field ofDistinction Winner

Randy M. Haffling, CGM,Moravian College, Bethlehem


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