Full TGIF Record # 120701
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Publication Type:
i
Professional
Content Type:Q & A
Corporate Author(s):USGA Green Section
Title:Injury to greens from excessive fertilization
Section:Questions and answers
Other records with the "Questions and answers" Section
Source:The Bulletin of the United States Golf Association Green Section. Vol. 10, No. 4, April 1930, p. 71-72.
Publishing Information:Washington, DC: USGA Green Section
# of Pages:2
Question:"Our putting greens, which are creeping bent planted one year ago, are now, in June, in poor condition, some being so poor that there is no place for a cup. Last year we fertilized them only with sulphate of ammonia at the rate of 75 pounds to a green, the greens being 5,000 to 6,000 square feet in area. We watered them about three times a week, and cut them as often to about 5/16 inch. Last September they suffered as if from brown-patch. They came up pretty well in April of this year but about May 15 the grass began to die. We have fertilized them this spring with activated sludge at a rate of 250 pounds to each green, and we have now just completed fertilizing them with a mixture of 40 pounds of activated sludge and 3 pounds of sulphate of ammonia to each 1,000 square feet. We have top-dressed each green twice this year, using about 1½ cubic yards at each application. We do not think the injury is due to brown-patch for the reason that we have been treating each green twice a month with a combined fungicide and fertilizer, the fertilizing element being urea. We have at times thought that the grass might have been scalded by the sulphate of ammonia that has been applied. Do the greens require lime? We are sending you a specimen of our turf and shall be glad to have your advice in the matter."
Source of Question:Michigan
Answer/Response:"An examination of the specimen of your turf indicates that the soil contains plenty of lime. The grass roots do not penetrate below 1 inch. There is considerable organic matter mixed in the top inch of soil. This may be muck used either in the construction of the greens or in the top-dressing applied, or it may have been occasioned by the application of too much activated sludge. The soil below the top inch is sandy loam and should be a good medium in which the roots may develop. There is no doubt that something is dwarfing the root system of the grass, and from what you write we are inclined to think that the main trouble is the use of too much fertilizer. From your letter it appears that so far this season you have applied a total of about 90 pounds of activated sludge to each 1,000 square feet of surface. In addition, each 1,000 square feet has received 3 pounds of sulphate of ammonia, and also the urea contained in the combined fungicide and fertilizer. It is a wonder that the turf is not completely ruined by this extremely heavy fertilization. The application of 40 pounds of activated sludge and 3 pounds of sulphate of ammonia to 1,000 square feet would be sufficient at certain times to ruin a green. In hot weather we would not apply activated sludge at a heavier rate than 20 pounds to 1,000 square feet on putting greens, and would certainly not risk the application of sulphate of ammonia along with the sludge on putting greens during hot weather, since it is likely to cause burning. We would recommend that you do not fertilize your greens again until September, and that you make use of a fungicide which contains no fertilizing element, at least until the greens are in a healthy condition, since if they are now overloaded with nitrogen from the fertilizers it would not be good practice to continue to apply nitrogen. There are a number of fungicides on the market which are not combined with fertilizer and may be advantageously used by following the directions supplied with the fungicide. In place of these, however, you could apply corrosive sublimate at a rate not exceeding 2 ounces to 1,000 square feet in hot weather. You will probably have to use any of these fungicides as often as every 2 weeks, or more often, to keep brown-patch under control, as it is necessary to apply a fungicide with each appearance of the disease."
Keywords:TIC Keywords: Application rates; Fertilization rates; Fertilizer injury; Fungicide recommendations; Organic matter accumulation
Language:English
References:0
ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
USGA Green Section. 1930. Injury to greens from excessive fertilization. Bull. U.S. Golf Assoc. Green Sec. 10(4):p. 71-72.
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    Last checked: 01/25/2017
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MSU catalog number: SB 433.15 .B85
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