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| Publication Type:
| Report |
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| Author(s): | Bridges, Barry;
Powell, A. J. Jr. |
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| Title: | Kentucky bluegrass thatch studies: I. Mechanical thatch study |
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| Source: | Kentucky Turfgrass Research. 1981, p. 29-30. |
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| Publishing Information: | Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Poa pratensis; Thatch; Coring; Earthworms; Dolomitic limestone; Topdressing; Vertical mowing; Liming; Thatch decomposition; Lawn turf; Mechanical control
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| Abstract/Contents: | 1981 study to determine the effects of lime and certain mechanical treatments on the rate of thatch decomposition by natural means in a Kentucky bluegrass lawn with a severe thatch problem. This lawn is maintained by a lawn service company and although the soil is not very acid, no history of liming is known. On April 23, 1981, three replications of the following treatments were imposed. A) coreing - traversed plots in two directions using a Ryan Lawnaire equipped with 3/4" coreing tines; extracted cores were left on the surface. B) coreing - traversed plots in two directions using a deep tine aerifier; extracted cores remaining on the surface. C) topdressing - a Maury topsoil (Ph=5,9; P=200+; K=500+) was spread to a calculated depth of 1/4". D) vertical mowed - traversed plots in two directions with a Ryan Ren-O-Thin equipped with blades spaced every two inches. The loosened thatch was removed. E) coreing + liming - coreing identical as treatment A with the addition of 150#/1000 sq ft of finely ground dolomitic lime. F) check - no treatment. All mechanical treatments were repeated on October 30, 1981. Visual observations suggest that the verticut treatment is removing the thatch to a greater degree than the other treatments. This is indicated by the firmer surface noticed on the verticut treatment when walking across the plots. The "firmer" surface indicates less thatch buildup as opposed to a "spongy" turf which indicates a greater thatch accumulation. Earthworm counts were made at four locations within the study. No earthworms were extracted using the formalin extraction method. Additional work has shown a relationship between a lack of an active earthworm population and thatch accumulation. Work to be done in 1982 includes thatch thickness measurements, pH measurements, and the repeat of all treatments in the spring and fall. |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | See also Part II: "Thatch-lime study", p. 30-32, R=19896 R=19896
See also Part III: "Thatch-nitrogen study", p. 31-32, R=19899 R=19899 |
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| Note: | Tables |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Bridges, B., and A. J. Jr. Powell. 1981. Kentucky bluegrass thatch studies: I. Mechanical thatch study. KY. Turfgrass Res. p. 29-30. |
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