MTC Turf News - Winter 2017

WINTER 2017

Fungicide Efficacy and Carrier Volume: How Much Is Enough?

Plus, Program for the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo, January 29 – February 1

Compost Topdressing: What Works, What Doesn’t and What’s Permissible in Maryland

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10

19

CONTENTS • WINTER 2017 10 UPCOMING EVENT Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo, January 29 – February 1, 2018

14 COVER STORY Compost Topdressing: What Works, What Doesn’t and What’s Permissible in Maryland

19 TURF TALK Fungicide Efficacy and Carrier Volume: How Much Is Enough?

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MTC TURF NEWS

DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Message

25 Calendar of Events

8 MTC Membership Dues Form

26 UMD Turf Team 26 Index of Advertisers

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Don’t Forget Your

Membership Renewals ernon Cooper (your executive director) and I have an important message for you, so we decided to team up in my letter for this issue of MTC Turf News.

Memberships in the MTC run from February 1 to January 31 the following year. This may seem like a strange timeframe, but it was actually established to assist you, the MTC member. As an active MTC member, you are entitled to several benefits and discounts, including attendance at the annual January multi-day conference. When the MTC and the Virginia Turfgrass Council joined to produce the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (M-A-T-E) in January, you as an MTC member, were also given a discount.

The MTC board of directors has not only decided to keep the MTC membership dues the same for February 2018 to January 2019 but also decided that if you are not

V

currently a member and become a member prior to January 26, 2018, you will be considered a “member” for discounts when registering at the 2018 M.A.T.E. conference and the 2019 M.A.T.E. conference. But you must act now.

Reminders for membership renewals will be going out soon. Or you can complete the form on page 8, make a copy of it, and submit it by fax or email to Vernon now. Please don’t wait.

Jamie Roell 2017–2018 MTC President

Vernon Cooper MTC Executive Director execdir@mdturfcouncil.com Fax 410-745-8867

2018 CONFERENCE DISCOUNT

MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 303 S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 (phone) 615-794-4524 (fax) info@leadingedge communications.com

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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MTC TURF NEWS

Kimberly Bohn Newsom Seed Edgewater, MO Cell: 443-875-5533 kimberly@newsom seed.com Ben Ellis The Courses at Andrews Joint Base Andrews, MD Cell: 571-340-0122 benjamin.ellis@ aafbgc.com Position Open

PRESIDENT Jamie Roell Anne Arundel County Recreation & Parks Millersville, MD Office: 410-222-6250 Cell: 443-370-2582 rproel09@aacounty.org

TWO-YEAR DIRECTORS

VICE PRESIDENT

Dave Nehila Genesis Turfgrass Fallston, MD Cell: 410-404-0112 dave@genesis turfgrassinc.com

Geoffrey Rinehart National Turf Federation Beltsville, MD Office: 202-245-5956 Cell: 253-592-3528 geoffrey.rhinehart@ ars.usda.gov

SECRETARY Cheryl A. Gaultney Churchville, MD Home: 410-734-0650 Cell: 410-322-8275 sandqueen10@aol.com

TREASURER

Doug Lechlider Laytonsville Landscaping Laytonsville, MD Cell: 240-372-2788 doug@laytonsville landscaping.com

Les Phelps Les Phelps Lawn Care Linthicum, MD Cell: 443-623-5472 phelpslawncare@ yahoo.com

THREE-YEAR DIRECTORS

Katy Cooper St. Michaels, MD Office: 410-745-9643 Cell: 443-496-0750 Fax: 410-745-8867

Ryan Howard Winters Run Golf Course Northeast, MD Cell: 610-334-3541 rhoward@wintersrun.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Chuck Wilkes Pennington Seed Laurel, MD Cell: 240-319-0043 cwilkes@pennington seed.com

Bill Warpinski Central Sod Farms Centreville, MD Office: 800-866-1387 Cell: 410-320-7791 bill@centralsodmd.com

Open Position

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

If you are not currently a member and become a member prior to January 26, 2018, you will be considered a “member” for discounts when registering at the 2018 M.A.T.E. conference and the 2019 M.A.T.E. conference. But you must act now!

ONE-YEAR DIRECTORS

Vernon W. Cooper 303 S. Talbot St., #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Cell: 443-742-6618 Office: 410-745-9643 Fax: 410-745-8867 ExecDir@ MDTurfCouncil.com

2018 MEMBERSHIP DUES FORM

Maryland Turfgrass Council 2018 MEMBERSHIP DUES FORM Thanks for your continued support!

Name | Home Address | City |

State |

Zip |

State |

Zip |

Company Name | Company Address | City | Send my mail to |

Home Address or

Company Address

Email Address | Business Phone |

Cell Phone |

Additional company members | Please list on back, or attach a listing of additional members with addresses, email and phone numbers, if different from yours.

MEMBERSHIP TYPE

• • • • •

Individual Member Student/Educator/Retiree Member Master Gardener/Non-Profit Volunteer Member Public Agency (First 10 Employees per County or Location)* Additional employees above 10 Business: (1–5 employees)* (6–10 employees)* (11–15 employees)* (16 –20 employees)* (21+ employees)*

$50 $15 $25 $150 $15 (each) $175 (Bronze) $350 (Silver) $500 (Gold) $1,000 (Platinum) $1,500 (Palladium)

PAYMENT METHOD Amount Included:

Check made to MTC

Credit Card (MC or Visa)

Name as it appears on credit card | Address where card is billed | Card Number |

Exp. Date |

3-digit code |

SEND TO Vernon W. Cooper, Exec. Dir. Maryland Turfgrass Council 303 S. Talbot St. # 389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 execdir@mdturfcouncil.com

OR

Office: 410-745-9643 Fax: 410-745-8867 Cell: 443-742-6618

Any questions please email or call! Dues year is February 1 to January 31.

Members are entitled to discounts and/or benefits at all MTC and M-A-T-E functions.

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MTC TURF NEWS

WINTER 2017

9

UPCOMING EVENT

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E) January 29 – February 1, 2018 Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center • Fredericksburg, VA

MONDAY, JANUARY 29 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Golf Session Selecting Bermudagrass Control in Creeping Bentgrass John Brewer, Graduate Student, and Shawn Askew, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Panel: Real-World Pros and Cons to Bermudagrass Putting Green Conversion Dan Taylor, CGCS, Independence Golf Club, and Jordan Booth, CGCS, Willow Oaks Country Club USGA 2017 Year in Review Darin Bevard and Elliott Dowling, United States Golf Association Direction of Golf and the USGA Darin Bevard and Elliott Dowling, United States Golf Association Interactive Rapid Fire: Turf Disease Management Joe Roberts, Ph.D., University of Maryland; Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee; and David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

Topdressing Lawns: When It Works and When It Doesn’t Mark Carroll, Ph.D., University of Maryland The Grim Reaper: Mechanisms of Turfgrass Death Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Understanding Turf Insecticides Tom Kuhar, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Practices that Enhance Turfgrass Microbiology Joe Roberts, Ph.D., and J.R. Doherty, Graduate Student, University of Maryland

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MTC TURF NEWS

Sports Field Management Making Cultivation a “Core” Part of Your Maintenance Plan Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Thinking Outside the Box on Your Sports Fields Mike Skelton, Culpeper P&R; Charlie Fultz, Strutter Turf; and Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

General Session MTC and VTC Annual Meetings Keynote Address: Growing Weeders into Leaders Jeff McManus, University of Mississippi 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Golf Session Pythium Diseases: Root Rots, Foliar Blights and Dysfunction of Both Warm- and Cool-Season Turfgrasses Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Siduron Programs for Crabgrass and Goosegrass Control in Greens Shawn Askew, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

Pros and Cons in Organic Sports Turf Management Jason Bowers, Virginia Tech 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lawn and Landscape Session Developing Your Crew Jeff McManus, University of Mississippi A New Look at Reduced Input Lawn Care — Is There a Market?

Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Controlling Sedges and Doveweed in Turf and Landscape Plantings Jeff Derr, Ph.D., Virginia Tech 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sod Production Session Spring Dead Spot Management: Many Ways to Cook an Egg, Even Some That Taste Terrible David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

Programs to Optimize Spring Seeding Success of Tall Fescue Adam Nichols, Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Tech

Brown Patch Management: Options for Both Fungicide and Non-Fungicide Control Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Weed Control and Identification Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sod Growers’ Meeting

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Fellowship Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

God’s Promises When Life Is Hard Danny Allen

Limited Pesticide Recertification (3A, 3B and 60 only) Includes Lunch and Tradeshow

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

W.S. Connelly Graduate Student Oral Presentation Contest

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Day One of Three (See below)

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Innovation Corner

Mechanic’s Seminar

12:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

See the latest in turf science!

Day Three of Three (See below)

Lunch and Tradeshow

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pesticide Recertification and Certification

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar

4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Corn Hole Tournament and Reception

Mechanic’s Seminar Day Two of Three (See below) 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Tradeshow and Lunch

(2, 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10 and 60)

Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification and Certification

During the MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO January 29 – February 1 Tuesday, January 30 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Reel Cutting Unit Optimization: A class to cover reel setup to improve quality of cut Chris Langley from Bernhard 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Tradeshow Included with Registration 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Maintenance, and Preventative Maintenance on Landscape Equipment Charles Coonradt from Mortons Power

Wednesday, January 31

Thursday, February 1

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Light Maintenance, New Products and Discussion from Floor Kenneth Glass from Stihl

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Basic Electrical: Schematic Review, Light Theory and Trouble Shooting Cort Rash and Greg Womble

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Tradeshow Included with Registration

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch on your own

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Update on Tier 4 Engines: Revisit the maintenance that technicians can do on these engines Cort Rash and Greg Womble 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

“KIS” — Keep It Simple — Record Keeping Nick Hamner

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Basic Hydraulics: Schematic Review, Components, Diagnostics Cort Rash and Greg Womble

Registration Details Only $95 for VTC Members $120 for Non-Members Register online at

www.turfconference.org WINTER 2017

11

SECTION NAME • continued

Registration Form

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E) January 29 – February 1, 2018 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center Program and lodging information: www.turfconference.org Full Name: ___________________________________________ (First name for badge): ________________________________ Company/Organization:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Preferred Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State: _____________ Zip/Postal Code: __________________ Telephone:(______) ____________________________________ Fax:(______) _________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ CONFERENCE FEES 1. Registration Fees MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY One Day Two Days Three Days Mechanic’s Seminar ONLY THURSDAY

MTC OR VTC MEMBER Member Rate Non-Member Rate $115 $150 $195 $230 $275 $310 $95 $120 FREE

$85

WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s).

Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday; Mechanics Seminar (ONLY); Thursday COST:

$ _________________________

2. Attend Trade Show ONLY ($10 per Day, includes Lunch and Tuesday Reception) WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s): Tuesday or Wednesday

$ _________________________

3. JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

$ _________________________

VTC Regular Membership (January 1 – December 31) $85 MTC Regular Membership (February 1 – January 31) $50 Further membership options at http://turfconference.org/registration.html Total Enclosed

$ _________________________

PAYMENT METHOD: Check to: Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (or MATE). Registration confirmation/receipt will be mailed.

Please check appropriate box: Check AMEX VISA MasterCard Card #: ______________________________________________ Print Cardholder Name: _______________________________ Card Security Code Number: ___________________________ Expiration Date: _____________________________________ Please mail, fax, or scan and email completed registration form with payment to: M-A-T-E P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471

Phone: (757) 464-1004 FAX: (757) 282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net

For up-to-the-minute updates and to register online, visit www.turfconference.org 12

MTC TURF NEWS

COVER STORY

COMPOST TOPDRESSING: What Works, What Doesn’t and What’s Permissible in Maryland

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MTC TURF NEWS

By Mark Carroll., Ph.D., University of Maryland

arlier this fall, members of the University of Maryland turf team received word from the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) that the use of compost as a soil amendment is permitted as long as the compost is incorporated into the soil prior to seeding. This is a change from an earlier interpretation of the Maryland Fertilizer Use Act of 2011 that effectively treated compost as a lawn fertilizer material regardless of the way in which it was used. Thus, it is now permissible to once again incorporate moderate to large amounts of compost into the seedbed prior to turfgrass establishment.

A frequently cited recommendation to improve soil properties is to incorporate 15% by volume (~ 1" or 3 yd3) of a mature compost into the top 6" of soil prior to turfgrass establishment. Typical turfgrass responses seen at this rate of application, when using a low carbonto-nitrogen ratio compost (i.e., < 20) containing more than 1% nitrogen (N), include quicker turfgrass establishment, enhanced turfgrass quality and a reduced need for fertilizer N for at least the first two years following incorporation.

Using greater amounts of compost will dramatically alter the physical properties of most soils, leading to less runoff and more water being retained by the soil for plant use. Compost incorporation of more than 40% by volume is not recommended, as this amount will usually promote excessive growth and can lead to nutrient imbalances within the plant.

What has not changed with the latest MDA announcement is that the use of compost on established turf will continue to be bound by phosphorus (P) restrictions that exist for natural organic materials and by N restrictions that exist for all materials applied to turfgrass. As for P, no natural organic material containing P can be added to soils containing Optimum or Excessive amounts of soiltest P. Two single applications of no more than 0.25 lbs. P205 /1,000 ft2 can be made per year to soils having Low to Medium soil-test P levels. The single-rate N application cap for fertilizer materials

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that consist of slowly available N is 0.9 lbs. N/1,000 ft2.

One exception to this is materials that have formally been approved as an enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (EEF) by the Maryland State Chemistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office.

This type of fertilizer can be applied at a single application rate up to 2.5 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 once a year. Annual cumulative N load caps also exist and vary with turfgrass species. The annual N cap for tall fescue lawns that are 3 years and older is 3.0 lbs. N/1,000 ft2.

Before compost can be applied to established turfgrass, it must be analyzed to determine how much of the material can be applied to the turf. Test results are valid for 12 months, and retesting of the compost is required if the material is stored for a year or more before use.

Table 1 provides the analysis of two composts that are widely available within the state and the resulting amount of each that can be applied to turf. The results were obtained from a national soil-testing laboratory as part of a composttopdressing study underway at the Paint Branch Turfgrass Facility. In this study, new batches of the compost are obtained yearly and analyzed before use. Table 1 is applicable only to sites where the soil-test P falls in the Low or Medium category.

Based on analysis, only trace amounts of the biosolids-based compost Orgrow can be applied to established turf because of the relatively high P content of this compost. The yard-trimmings compost TABLE

1

Year

LeafGro has a much lower P content than Orgrow; however, the P content in this compost is high enough that in one of the two years that this material was analyzed, P continued to be the primary nutrient restricting that application of this compost. In the other year (2017), the single-date N application restriction limited the amount of the LeafGro that could be applied to established turf to slightly less than 1/25".

Organic lawn care practitioners have traditionally relied on compost topdressing to elevate soil organic matter levels in mature turf stands. A typical practice to achieve this goal is to make one or more yearly applications of 1/8" to 1/4" compost. Higher rates of compost topdressing may be needed when an additional goal is having the compost serve as the sole source N for the turf. Documented benefits derived from compost-topdressing additions of 1/2" per year made to established turf include higher soil waterholding capacity, improved turf quality in times of moderate drought stress and, in some instances, improved turf quality.

Consistent favorable turfgrass-quality responses to compost topdressing in the absence of supplemental fertilizer N may require more than 1/2" of compost per year because anywhere from 70% to 95% of N in most mature composts is not available for plant uptake in the year that the material is applied. At these higher topdressing rates, reduced soil bulk density, more rapid infiltration and

Maximum amount of compost topdressing that can be applied to turfgrass in Maryland, based on compost-analysis results obtained for two widely available composts within the state. The results presented in this table are applicable only to sites having Low to Medium levels of soil-test P.

Moist Bulk Total Compost Density Solids g

cc-1

Single-Application Permissible Amount N

P

N based

%

P based

N based ft3

inch

P based

1,000 ft2

2016

Yard trim 0.605

40.01

1.9

0.26

0.037

0.033

3.1

2.7

2017

Yard trim 0.504

40.6

1.75

0.18

0.048

0.057

4.0

4.7

2016

Biosolid

0.508

73.52

2.48

2.37

0.019

0.002

1.6

0.2

2017

Biosolid

0.451

72.69

2.93

2.7

0.021

0.002

1.8

0.2

WINTER 2017

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COVER STORY â&#x20AC;˘ continued

PHOTO 1

Topdressing by hand to ensure uniform distribution of 1/20" compost.

enhanced disease suppression (mainly dollar spot) have been observed.

Because of the relatively large proportion of slowly available N present in most composts, topdressing amounts that may initially need to be relatively high to meet turf N needs can be reduced over time as the amount of nitrogen supplied to the soil from the added compost increases over time. Figure 1 shows a simple hypothetical example of the yearly amount of compost that would need to be applied to supply the turf with 3.0 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 per year when it is assumed that 15% of the N in compost is available in the year it is applied. Further, it is assumed that 5% of the remaining N in the compost becomes available in each of the subsequent years. The example is for composts having an N content that is equivalent to the average of two years reported in Table 1.

Figure 1 shows that, within four years of initiating a topdressing program, the amount of compost needed to supply the turf with 3.0 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 per year declines by 33%. By the tenth year, only about 1/6 the amount applied in the first year is required to supply the turf with

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MTC TURF NEWS

continued â&#x20AC;˘ COVER STORY

3.0 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 per year. If a more conservative estimate of 1% is used for the amount of N in compost that becomes available each year after the initial year of application, the reduction in amount of compost needed to supply the turf with N is still significant. In this instance, the amount of compost needed four and ten years after starting topdressing program is 81% and 59%, respectively, of the amount applied in the first year the program.

The problem with supplying all of the turfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s N needs with compost is that a considerable amount of P is applied to the turf as well. For the hypothetical example illustrated in Figure 1, 18 and 195 lbs. of fertilizer P (i.e., P2O5) per 1,000 ft2 are applied to the turf from the yard-trimmings and biosolids composts respectively over the ten years the topdressing applications are made. This amount increases to 39 and 422 lbs. of fertilizer P for those two composts when one assumes that N availability is limited

FIGURE

1

Hypothetical example of the amount of compost topdressing that would need to be applied yearly to provide turf with 3 lbs. of available N per 1,000 ft2 per year.

WINTER 2017

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to 1% of N remaining in compost after the initial year of application. Phosphorus additions of these amounts can increase soil P to levels that are of environmental concern and are of little to no benefit to mature turfgrass.

Nutrient deficiencies arising from the slow-release properties of N and the presence of P in compost have traditionally been dealt with by spiking composttopdressing applications with quickerrelease forms of N (usually from urea or mineral fertilizers) or, alternatively, making supplemental applications of fertilizer N and reducing the amount of compost applied. This has the disadvantage of delaying soil organic matter buildup, which reduces the likelihood that improved soil physical properties will be observed with the use of compost.

Hollow-tine cultivation done in tandem with compost topdressing facilitates the immediate placement of some of the added nutrients within the soil. However, some portion of the compost will always remain on the surface, making this portion susceptible to runoff when intense rainstorm events occur. Current restrictions on the use of compost topdressing within the state of Maryland minimize the potential for N and P transport by in essence limiting surface additions of compost to near-trace amounts. The amounts permitted when applied on even a long-term basis ensure that soil test P will raise slowly, if at all.

From a practical standpoint, it is difficult, at best, to uniformly apply compost at rate of a few cubic feet per 1,000 ft2.

Accordingly, given the current limitations on the use of compost topdressing within the state, using compost to improve soil properties has more or less become a one-shot opportunity. At sites possessing poor-quality soil, turf managers and homeowners should consider taking advantage of the opportunity to incorporate compost into the soil prior to turfgrass establishment. Doing so will reduce the need to aerate lawns to improve soil infiltration and will lessen the need for fertilizer in the first few years following establishment. Uniform incorporation of compost into the existing soil may require several passes of rototiller. â&#x20AC;˘

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MTC TURF NEWS

TURF TALK

FUNGICIDE EFFICACY and CARRIER VOLUME: How Much Is Enough?

1

Toro Multi Pro 1750 making a blanket application to putting green surface.

By Joseph Roberts, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Pathology, and J.R. Doherty, Graduate Student, University of Maryland we get into the winter months, both turf growth and foot traffic are slowing at many sites. For golf course superintendents, this may be a time of year for a transition to more indoor work (budgeting, product pre-orders, etc.). In addition to keeping the golf course functioning in the off-months, this can be a good time to

As

reflect on the past season and address management concerns for the pending year. One popular topic is pests and how to best control them. When reviewing diseases, questions arise often include: • Were disease issues this year identified correctly on my course?

• Did I choose the right fungicides?

• What were the weather conditions

surrounding any outbreaks?

These questions are important to consider when trying to remember pest issues and management tools. Addressing each one can be critical to limiting future outbreaks.

First, with many diseases, a quick diagnosis can be achieved in the field, but some situations require a trip to the

WINTER 2017

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2

Visualization of spray coverage achieved when comparing carrier volumes 1 gal./1,000 ft2 (left) and 2 gals./1,000 ft2 (right) using water-sensitive paper. Both applications made using the TeeJet air-induction nozzles calibrated to the desired carrier volume.

TABLE

TURF TALK • continued

Recommended Carrier Volumes for Applying Fungicides to Control Turfgrass Diseases

1

Site of Infection

Recommended H2O Carrier (gallons / 1,000 ft2)

Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Foliage

1 to 2

Brown Patch

Rhizoctonia solani

Foliage

1 to 2

Pythium blight

Pythium spp.

Foliage

1 to 2

Anthracnose Foliar Blight

Colletotrichum cereale

Foliage

1 to 2

Anthracnose Basal Rot

Colletotrichum cereale

Crown

2 to 3

Summer Patch

Magnaporthe poae

Root

4 to 5 (1 to 2 followed by irrigation)

Pythium root rot

Pythium spp.

Root

4 to 5 (1 to 2 followed by irrigation)

Disease Name

Pathogen

Dollar spot

diagnostic clinic to be sure. When in doubt, consulting your local diagnostic lab can save time and $$ when making an action plan to correct a disease issue.

Proper diagnosis often includes a discussion of the corrective action to limit progression and further loss of turf. If you’re working with a diagnostic lab to identify the pathogen, the diagnostician will often have advice on fungicide selection to reduce the severity of the disease at hand.

Finally, the environmental conditions

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MTC TURF NEWS

surrounding an outbreak are not only critical to recognizing potential future outbreaks, but also they may impact fungicide application success. For instance, some products are less effective when applied before a rain event, so be sure to check the forecast when loading up the sprayer.

All of these points are critical when trying to target a pest, but one that can be overlooked is, “Was the fungicide applied correctly?” Application methods are key to getting the product where it

needs to be, and they’re vital to controlling a target of interest. This is true not only with fungicides, but also with herbicides and insecticides.

Overlooking them increases the potential for fungicide failure.

In some cases, turfgrass managers can confuse lack of control with fungicide resistance, since multiple turfgrass pathogens have been reported to have resistance to one or multiple fungicide groups. While fungicide resistance is a cause for concern, many situations of fungicide failure are a direct result of misapplication. To avoid a misapplication at your site, it is important to follow these guidelines: 1) Properly identify the pathogen causing the disease at your site.

2) Select the right product and application rate for the pathogen of interest.

3) Maintain even coverage for the area being applied.

4) Use the correct carrier volume to put the product in contact with the pathogen.

Having covered some general guidelines for developing a plan for fungicide application, how do you know that you are targeting the pathogen of interest?

To begin, it is important to know how fungicides behave on the plant. Fungicides can be grouped based on topical mode of action, which is how they move on or inside the plant after application.

Contact fungicides, for example, stay in the same place once applied and form a protective barrier outside the plant, which is great for preventive applications. Fungicides that penetrate the plant can be categorized as localized penetrants, acropetal penetrants or systemics. Localized penetrants can move into the plant but, as their name implies, only locally across a few cells.

Acropetal penetrants can move upward in the xylem, meaning that they protect the initial area where entering the plant and all of the younger material above the entry location. It is important to recognize that acropetal penetrants will only move upward from the application point, so there is an advantage to getting them applied to the lower portions of

continued â&#x20AC;˘ TURF TALK

the plant. Systemic fungicides can move up and down in the plant via xylem and phloem, respectively. If you are trying to cure an active infection, penetrant fungicides are often recommended due to the fungus already being present inside the plant.

Assuming that you have selected the best product/rate for your application, there are some general guidelines for selecting a carrier volume. Recommended target carrier volume for foliar diseases is 1 to 2 gallons per 1,000 ft2, 2 to 3 gallons per 1,000 ft2 for diseases that infect the crown and 4 gallons per 1,000 ft2 or greater (or 1 to 2 gallons 1,000 ft2 followed by 1/8" irrigation) for diseases that infect the roots.

Some examples for common diseases in our region are included in Table 1.

Knowing where your pathogen of interest is located on the turfgrass plant is key to selecting a carrier volume.

While carrier volume is critical to getting the product in contact with the pathogen, it is also important to recognize how carrier volume impacts the coverage of an application. For greens and fairway fungicide applications, we tend to recommend spray equipment with air-induction nozzles for their excellent coverage and benefits in reducing drift (Photo 3). As observed in Photo 2 (examining spray applications on watersensitive paper), simply increasing the carrier volume from 1 to 2 gals./1,000 ft2 can increase the coverage of an application using the same nozzle type.

Kennelly et al. (2009) also observed coverage differences with carrier volume and nozzle type when testing chlorothalonil. In their study observing spray patterns, coverage provided by the TeeJet AI11002 (0.5 gal./1,000 ft2), AI11004 (1 gal./1,000 ft2) and AI11008 (2 gals./ 1,000 ft2) nozzles was 41.6%, 79.3% and 86.2%, respectively. Surprisingly, Kennelly et al. did not observe significant differences in dollar spot preventive applications across the carrier volumes tested for air-induction nozzles, meaning that 41% coverage still provided similar preventive control compared to 79% and 86% coverage on creeping bentgrass putting green turf. On creeping bentgrass

fairway turf, however, Vincelli and Dixon (2008) also examined spray coverage of different nozzle types and found that increased spray coverage resulted in improved dollar spot control.

While each of these studies highlight varying results comparing spray coverage and disease control, adequate coverage should always be a concern since it improves the chances of contacting the pathogen. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to utilize spray

applications as a curative control option, complete coverage of the infected site is absolutely critical to getting the upper hand on the pathogen.

When trying coordinate a fungicide application, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to understand the water quantities necessary to make the application. Every facility is different in terms of spray equipment, and watercapacity limitations exist with each type of sprayer. A common practice of apply-

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SECTION NAME â&#x20AC;˘ continued

3

Air-induction nozzle application.

ing fungicides at a rate of 2 gals./1,000 ft2 leads to large quantities of water being used for a single application. A golf course with 3 acres (i.e., 130,680 ft2) of putting greens can require around 260 gallons of water for a single fungicide application, which is a single pass with a 275-gallon capacity sprayer. In considering much larger areas on the golf course, typically 30 acres of fairways, then you are greatly increasing the amount of water (i.e., 2,600 gallons) and sprayer trips (i.e., 10). This results in more resources necessary to operate the spray unit and, ultimately, more money from a budgetary standpoint.

More often than not, superintendents will reduce carrier volume output to fit within the capacity of their spray equipment, which can result in big savings.

Covering a larger area with a single mix tank can lead to lower costs in fuel, water, man hours and equipment-operating

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hours. Using our previous example, a simple reduction from 2 to 1 gal./1,000 ft2 can halve the number of spray tanks required, but it is also important to consider the consequences in coverage illustrated in Figure 1. This lowering of costs may seem appealing, but you could also potentially reduce the efficacy of your fungicide application with a lower carrier volume.

What is the best course of action in trying to maximize application efficiency?

Knowing what information is available regarding certain fungicide products is key. For a foliar disease like dollar spot (caused by S. homoeocarpa), there are numerous reports examining application techniques (i.e., nozzle selection, carrier volume and time of day). In some cases, results vary according to cutting height (i.e., green vs. fairway).

Some of that research was highlighted previously with respect to nozzle selection,

but many studies have focused on the active ingredient chlorothalonil, a contact fungicide. Additional research by Couch (1984) evaluating chlorothalonil (i.e., Daconil 2787), iprodione (i.e., Chipco 26019) and triadimefon (i.e., Bayleton) for dollar spot control on creeping bentgrass putting green turf showed that 1 gal./1,000 ft2 was best for chlorothalonil, 2 gal./1,000 ft2 was best for triadimefon, and either carrier volume was effective for iprodione.

In fairway-height turf, McDonald et al. (2007) showed that preventive chlorothalonil applications for dollar spot provided better control at a carrier volume of 1 gal./1,000 ft2 as opposed to 2.5 gals./1,000 ft2. The better control at a lower carrier volume is possibly due to chlorothalonil being a contact fungicide, meaning there is no translocation of the fungicide throughout the plant. Higher carrier volumes pose a

potential to move the fungicide application deeper into the canopy or off of the foliage entirely, thus making a contact fungicide application much less effective.

In the same study, researchers also observed chlorothalonil applications to be more effective when the dew was first removed from the turf, as applications over excessive gutation water also have the potential for dilution and movement further down into the canopy. Applications of chlorothalonil at carrier volumes higher than 2 gals./1,000 ft2 are not recommended. Research by Couch (1984) showed that curative applications of chlorothalonil (i.e., Daconil 2787) was less effective at 4 gals./1,000 ft2 than at 1 or 2 gals./1,000 ft2.

When considering diseases that impact the crown, such as anthracnose (caused

by C. cereale), it is often more desirable to get the fungicide deeper into the turfgrass canopy (i.e., to the crown)

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TURF TALK • continued

impact the behavior of these applications with respect to control. For instance, if you’re considering curative control, acropetal penetrants or systemics can provide superior control due to their ability to move in the plant. So even if you get the product to the base of the plant for a disease like anthracnose basal rot, some level of foliar disease will be observed due to the fungicide’s mobility in the plant.

When considering tank-mixing or pre-mixed products, these often have multiple active ingredients that can move in different ways on the plant and often result in more effective control of the target pathogen. If you are questioning how a chemical application should be made, consult a diagnostician or extension specialist. •

References Couch, H.B. 1984. Dilution rates, nozzle size, nozzle pressure and disease control.

Golf Course Management. 73-80.

Fidanza, M.A., J.E. Kaminski, M.L. Agnew, and D. Shepard. 2009.

Evaluation of water droplet size and water-carrier volume on fungicide performance for anthracnose control on annual bluegrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 11:195-205.

4

Triple-turret nozzle configuration showing nozzle attachment.

where the pathogen is infecting the plant.

Previous research examining applications of the contact fungicide fludioxonil (i.e., Medallion) showed improved control when applied in a carrier volume of 2 gals./1,000 ft2 versus 1 gal./1,000 ft2 (Fidanza et al., 2009). Vincelli et al. (2007) also mention improved control of basal rot anthracnose with increased carrier volumes (i.e., demethylation inhibitor fungicides applied in 5 gals./1,000 ft2).

So while many of the aforementioned studies have shown variable results with adjusting carrier volume and coverage,

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there are numerous products representing multiple chemical classes, and each may behave differently when applied.

First and foremost, always read the label of the product you are applying, since it will provide general guidelines for the target pathogen.

Many of the studies mentioned here have focused on contact fungicides and how they behave on both foliar and crown diseases. While not presented here, some of the newer products on the market are known to have more mobility in the plant, which can also

Kennelly, M. M., and R. E. Wolf. 2009.

Effect of nozzle type and water volume on dollar spot control in greens-height creeping bentgrass. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-20090921-01-RS. McDonald, S.J., P.H. Dernoeden, and C.A. Bigelow. 2006. Dollar spot control in creeping bentgrass as influenced by fungicide spray volume and application timing. Applied Turfgrass Science. doi:10.1094/ATS-2006-0531-01-RS. Vincelli, P., and Dixon, E. 2008.

Improving spray coverage improves dollar spot control. Golf Course Manage. 76:114-116.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 10–12 Mid-America Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD

DIGITAL MARKETPLACE Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

January 16–19 STMA Conference and Exhibition Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX

January 29 – February 1

Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (a joint conference between the Maryland Turfgrass Council and Virginia Turfgrass Council) Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

February 3–8 Golf Industry Show Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

February 12–15 TPI International Education Conference & Field Day (Turfgrass Producers Intl.)

Westin LA Paloma Resort Tucson, AZ

MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, MTC Turf News, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright © 2017 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

All States Turfgrass Consultants, LLC ............. 23

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TURF TEAM

Fisher & Son Company Inc ............................ 13 www.fisherandson.com

Alliance Material Handling, Inc ........................16 www.alliancemat.com

KingSports .......................................................21 www.kingsportsco.com

Buy Sod .................................. Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com

Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc. ................17 www.centralsodmd.com

Chesapeake Supply & Equipment Co ...............23 www.equipmentbychesapeake.com

Chesapeake Valley Seed ...................................9 www.chesapeakevalleyseed.com

Collins Wharf Sod Farm ..................................23 www.collinswharfsod.com

CoverSports USA ............................................26

Mid Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers ......................................21 Mid-Atlantic STIHL, Inc. .....................................7 www.stihldealers.com

Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc. ......................9 www.progressiveturfequip.com

Shady Oaks Turf Farm ....................................25 www.shadyoaksturffarm.com

Smith Seed Services .......................................25

Tom Turner, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-4431 tturner@umd.edu

www.smithseed.com

www.coversports.com

Summit Hall Turf Farm, Inc. .............. Back Cover

Crop Production Services Professional Products ......................................18

The Turfgrass Group .......... Inside Front Cover, 5

East Coast Sod & Seed ...................................25

Virginia Sand & Stone .......................................3

www.eastcoastsod.com

Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1337 pd@umd.edu

www.theturfgrassgroup.com

www.virginiasand.com

Mark Carroll, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1339 mcarroll@umd.edu

Ernst Conservation Seeds ...............................18 www.ernstseed.com

Kevin Mathias, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Institute of Applied Ag. University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 jkm@umd.edu

Joseph Roberts, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture College Park, MD 301-405-4355 robertsj@umd.edu Dave Funk Manager, Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-8195 dfunk@umd.edu Geoffrey Rinehart Institute of Applied Agriculture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 GJRinehart@gmail.com 26

MTC TURF NEWS