Organic Management Practices on Athletic Fields: Part 1. The Effects on Color, Quality, Cover, and Weed Populations

Abstract

Many organic products have been used effectively in turfgrass management progranns, but their exclusive use in athletic field maintenance and effect on playing surface quality has not been extensively researched. The objectives were to determine the effects of management regimes and overseeding during simulated traffic on (i) turfgrass color and quality, (ii) percent cover, and (iii) weed populations. The experimental design was a 2 X 6 factorial, with two overseeding levels (overseeded and not overseeded) of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) blend during traffic and six management regimes: (i) conventional, (ii) organic manure (OMan), (¡ii) organic protein (OPro), (iv) organic manure plus compost tea (OMan+GT), (v) organic protein plus compost tea (OPro+GT), and (vi) none or the control. This research was conducted over 2 yr on a mature stand of 'Lángara' Kentucky bluegrass {Poa pratensis L.) on a Paxton sandy loam soil. Fall traffic was simulated with a Gady Traffic Simulator. The conventional treatment consistently produced higher quality turfgrass, lower weed counts, and better mid-to late-fall color. Weed populations were significantly less with the conventional regime. Overseeding increased cover at the end of the traffic periods by 32% in the first year and by 103% in the second year. Overseeding was also beneficial to turfgrass color and quality and in reducing weeds. The conventional treatment also retained significantly higher turfgrass cover than the organic regimes under trafficked conditions late into the fall in 2008. However, no difference in late fall cover between the conventional and organic management regimes was observed in late fall 2009. Gompost tea applications showed no enhancement of turfgrass color, quality, or cover over the entire duration of the study.

Large Crabgrass, White Clover, and Hybrid Bermudagrass Athletic Field Playing Quality in Response to Simulated Traffic

“…For example, Miller and Henderson (2012) observed greater natural infestations of crabgrass in organically managed Kentucky bluegrass that only resulted in reduced green cover following simulated traffic in a single year of a 2-yr study. Deleterious effects on athletic field playing quality may have been less pronounced on polystands of hybrid bermudagrass and the two weed species studied.…”

“…Miller and Henderson (2012) observed more crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) To that end, use of corn gluten meal has been researched as an alternative strategy for preemergence grassy weed control.…”

“…To that end, use of corn gluten meal has been researched as an alternative strategy for preemergence grassy weed control. Miller and Henderson (2012) observed more crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) on a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) athletic field treated with four organic management programs incorporating the use of corn gluten meal at 588 kg ha −1 compared with a conventional program incorporating applications of the synthetic herbicides dithiopyr (202 kg ha −1 ) and siduron (73 kg ha −1 ).…”

“…Elford et al (2008) and Miller and Henderson (2012) reported reductions in white clover, common dandelion, and crabgrass populations in Kentucky bluegrass research plots subjected to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) overseeding, although these effects were not observed when overseeding was performed at similar rates at in-use soccer fields in Ontario (Elford et al, 2008). Elford et al (2008) and Miller and Henderson (2012) reported reductions in white clover, common dandelion, and crabgrass populations in Kentucky bluegrass research plots subjected to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) overseeding, although these effects were not observed when overseeding was performed at similar rates at in-use soccer fields in Ontario (Elford et al, 2008).…”

Influence of Dissolved Organic Carbon from Natural and Synthetic Fertilizers on Phosphate Leaching from a Sand‐Based Golf Green

“…Fertilizers with high phosphorus (P) contents may inadvertently contribute to elevated P loading and subsequent losses from leaching and runoff. Organic fertilizers exhibit slow N release characteristics as a result of their requirement for microbial decomposition and have been shown to offer some benefits in maintaining turf function (Tester et al, 1982; Landschoot and Waddington, 1987; Blume et al, 2009; Miller and Henderson, 2012). However, natural organic fertilizers derived from plant and animal by‐products or municipal biosolids may supply P in excess of plant demands when applied to meet N requirements (Liu et al, 1995; Maguire et al, 2000; Sims et al, 2000; Stahnke et al, 2013).…”