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Number 3, 1999
Musings From the 1999 NCR 192 Meeting
Several members of the U. of I. Turf Science Team attended the
NCR-192 annual meeting last month in East Lansing, Michigan. NCR-192
is the group of the North Central Region Turfgrass researchers,
educators, extension professionals and students. The Universities
represented at the meeting were from Illinois, lowa State, Kansas
State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State,
Purdue, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Many topics were discussed via an open forum including; Breeding
and Genetics, Weed Management, Irrigation, Stress Physiology,
Disease Management, Insect Management, and Soil Fertility and
Plant Nutrition. The meeting is designed and set up to disseminate
specific research findings conducted by the participants. As a
new member of the group, I quickly realized the vast amount of
knowledge placed behind the current turf research being conducted
by the group. I also realized the importance of research through
controlled experiments. The findings of the research become the
basis for our common turf practices.
FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION
One of the discussions was about soil fertility and plant nutrition.
A particular point that was stressed was the importance of fertility
levels in relation to plant health, particularly as it relates
to the common trend of "spoon-feeding." The practice
of spoon-feeding seems to be cyclical; it was the thing to do
ten years ago, lasted for about five years, and then managers
reverted back to more accepted and documented ways of fertilizing
their turf. At present the spoon-feeding trend, at least in some
areas of the Midwest, appears to be back. Lower and lower levels
of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, are being applied throughout
the whole course of the growing season. A reason for this cyclical
trend is, perhaps, due to turf managers seeing a slow decline
of turf while spoon feeding, causing a retum to heavier, more
traditional methods when organic matter in the soil is able to
increase. Then the spoon-feeding begins again. Perhaps during
this period the plants use and deplete that supply of organic
matter that had been built because spoon-feeding is not enough
to sustain a healthy plant. Once this supply of organic matter
is exhausted, managers need to stop spoon-feeding and give the
plants the nutrients that they require.
It could be time to re-think the spoon-feeding regimes. I know
that if I were to rely on my reserves for an extended period of
time, I wouldn't perform to my fullest potential. Early fall is
the best time to fertilize. Available nutrients give the plant
the opportunity to achieve their healthiest potential, and plant
health is the most important factor when facing environmental
stresses. See to it that the turf you manage is receiving adequate
nutrition by looking at current soil tests, shoot density, shoot
and root growth, disease proneness, and recuperative potential.
CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL
Wouldn't it be nice to know for sure that your pest controls
are working? One can, though it has nothing to do with the weather.
When researchers set up experiments, they use systems designed
to interpret data. Sometimes these systems are complex and include
randomization, blocking, replication, and restrictions. But, the
one thing that allows researchers to compare results within their
trials is the control (or checks). The control is that physical
part of the experiment that does not receive any of the treatments
or receives standard treatment. The control becomes a standard
on which all treatments are judged.
Put a little control into your everyday life. Find out for yourself
if the pesticide and fertilizer treatments you apply to your turfgrass
make a difference. One quick and easy method is to cut a piece
of plywood into a manageable size, say 3' x 3', put a gate handle
on one side and hang it on your sprayer. The next time you make
an application place the plywood on the turf in an area that you
can easily identify and spray over it. You now have an untreated
control plot (be sure to paint the plywood, wash it off after
use, and handle it with rubber gloves to minimke pesticide exposure).
Keep an eye on that area that didn't receive any treatment. How
is that turf performing? Is there any difference in that area?
Now you have an easy way to check to see whether that formulation
you used increased turf vitality, or perhaps it didn't make a
difference at all.
(LUKE CELLA)
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