RESEARCH UPDATE
Penn State News
What is the Best Way to Satisfy the P Requirements of Creeping Bentgrass? By Nathaniel Leiby (BS ’18, current MS AGRO candidate) and Max Schlossberg, PhD., Penn State University Center for Turfgrass Science
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elative to current ‘programmatic’ and/or soil test driven ‘responsive’ fertilization approaches, withholding P fertilizer from creeping bentgrass putting greens until emergence of visual P deficiency symptoms may prove both an environmentally responsible and agronomically effective practice. Prompting our research objectives in July 2018, which were to quantify how programmatic or responsive P fertilization regiments support creeping bentgrass vigor and/or root length density relative to withholding P fertilizer. ‘Penn A-1/A-4’ creeping bentgrass ‘programmatic’ plots were initially treated with monopotassium phosphate (MKP, 0-52-35) to supply 2 lbs P2O5 / M-year in four split-applications. Random assignment and application of ‘responsive’ P fertilization treatment (approx. 1 lb P2O5 / M, as MKP) to previously unfertilized ‘control’ plots was
triggered by: (1) Visual deficiency symptoms; i.e., purple coloration of old leaves on ≥7 unfertilized plots, or (2) leaf clipping P levels ≤0.42% in four or more unfertilized plots. Canopy vegetative and color indices were collected semi-weekly over the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons. A deep root sampling event (4–11" depth) preempted the responsive P fertilization treatment. Likewise, emergence of visual deficiency symptoms was followed by clipping yield collection and leaf tissue analysis. A second, deep root sampling event was collected from all plots one year following ‘responsive’ treatment initiation. While sufficient leaf P levels and a canopy free of deficiency symptoms were supported by the programmatic P fertilization regime, improved vigor and/ or canopy density weren’t. Final root analyses are underway, thus please check back for conclusions soon!
ALUMNI UPDATES
PENN STATE TURFGRASS PROGRAM UPDATES
Taylor Andersen, Cert. ‘13, is now Superintendent at San Francisco Golf Club in San Francisco, California.
The following Penn State Turfgrass students, currently matriculating in the BS or Cert. programs, were recognized as 2020 Scholars by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Congrats!
Matthew Legg, BS TURF ‘17, is now Property Director at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ontario.
Robert Sicinski, Cert. ‘16, is now Superintendent at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 18 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2021
Russell Bolarinho of Acushnet, MA
Landon Hall of Killarney, Manitoba, CAN
William Covert of West Chester, PA
Mason Marsh of Mount Washington, KY
Jack Daley of Cave Creek, AZ
Clark McCall of Maryville, TN
Keith Dubaich of Shermans Dale, PA
Garrett Wege of New Derry, PA
Luke Gabel of Laguna Beach, CA
Ryan Welker of Cambridge Springs, PA
