 |
|
||||||||||
Gazing in the Grass... Think outside the bottle...“It is a brave man who suddenly changes to restricted feeding with nitrogen-only from a high NPK diet,” wrote the late Jim Arthur in his book, “Practical Greenkeeping” (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, 2003). Reading this book, it is easy to imagine a simpler time when the playability and cost of management mattered more than emerald green turf. Reading this book led me to wonder about the influence fertilizer technology has had on the golf turf industry. As Arthur writes, we moved from a nitrogen-only regime to a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium approach to applications of copious amounts of potassium and calcium in conjunction with regular micronutrient packages, humates, biostimulants, etc. Clearly, it is not simple anymore. ...we moved from a nitrogen-only regime to a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium approach to applications of copious amounts of potassium and calcium in conjunction with regular micronutrient packages, humates, biostimulants, etc. Clearly, it is not simple anymore.Many turf managers have hitched their wagons to the train of soil fertility experts seeking to balance cations. The arguments to justify complicated nutrient management range from “keeping turf on the edge,” to “golfer expectations are higher, so the stress level is higher.” It is very expensive to maintain a complicated fertility program that requires adding 10 or so formulations to a tank. Recent research conducted at several universities, including here at Cornell, has debunked many of the myths that have become part of the golf turf fabric. Researchers at Connecticut and Massachusetts have suggested many turf managers are overdoing it in terms of their nitrogen and potassium applications. Research conducted at Iowa State and Utah State has illuminated the lack of effect of capricious calcium applications and the futility of trying to balance cations. Studying pH levels in the soil usually is a good indicator of a plant’s nutrient needs. Light, air, water After reviewing current research and research from the past few decades, it is apparent that nutrient management is not the most important consideration regarding turf health. Turf managers should focus on light, air and water, or what I call the “big three.” We grow plants in marginal environments that cannot be altered because of design issues, but it is possible at times to solve a problem by altering one of the big three rather than a fertilizer program. It might sound crazy, but turf managers often say they must add more nutrient to adjust soil properties. If you were plagued with irrigation water tainted with high levels of sodium that accumulate in the soil, then this approach would be valid. But it is hard to imagine any area with regular rainfall concerned about salt-affected soils. Turf managers should focus on light, air and water, or what I call the “big three.”It is not necessary to turn back the clock to the days when we applied leaf mold compost as topdressing to supply nutrients. But we should be thoughtful, yet disciplined when it comes to using fertilizer technology. Years of research conducted on myriad fertilizer and biostimulant products indicates there are important compounds worth implementing. The Andersons has developed some fascinating granular-release technology, including the DG product line that allows for delivery of extremely low rates of nutrients with granular technology. The Nutramax products, such as Macro-Sorb Foliar, have been shown to enhance efficacy of foliar-absorbed growth regulators and herbicides. Seaweed extracts from Emerald Isle and some microbial inoculants, such as AMS SuperBio Soil Life, have been shown to enhance stress tolerance and improve nutrient use efficiency. Technology vs. thought Technology should provide turf managers and researchers with flexibility and performance. But those who rely solely on technology to forgive the sins of poor management (especially of the big three) are doomed. Needless to say, it is easy to become reliant, and maybe even addicted, to new technology. For example, a GPS system can help save time for those who travel often. But those who rely on a GPS system to prevent getting lost are doomed when the system cannot link up to a satellite. Just like it is possible to prevent getting lost by following directions and searching for landmarks, proper nutrient management can be accomplished through similar discipline and understanding of some basic principles. It does not have to be complicated and often is best when it is simple. Contributing editor Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., is associate professor of turfgrass science at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He can be reached at fsr3@cornell.edu. |
|
 |
 — The TurfNet Media Network: TurfNet.com, TurfNet TV, TurfNet Monthly, TurfNet Today, TurfNet Events — Connecting golf course superintendents worldwide, since 1994. © 1994-2008, Turnstile Publishing Company. All rights reserved. |
 |