Preliminary investigation of soil chemical and physical properties associated with type‐I fairy ring symptoms in turfgrass

Abstract

Abstract:Fairy ring is a common disease of turfgrasses worldwide, and necrotic or severely injured turfgrass and soil water repellency are frequently observed in those turfgrass sites exhibiting type-I fairy ring symptoms. The objective of this research was to evaluate soil chemical and physical properties associated with type-I fairy ring symptoms in turfgrass. Soil samples were obtained from type-I fairy ring symptoms on two golf course fairways and one lawn area. Soil analysis from all the three locations revealed concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen, potassium, and sulphur were statistically higher in soil underlying necrotic or bare zones versus soil in healthy turfgrass zones. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) also was higher, while volumetric soil water content was consistently lower in necrotic zones versus soil under healthy turfgrass. Soil water repellency was considered moderate to severe in necrotic zones and mostly wettable to subcritical repellency in soil underlying healthy turfgrass. Soil pH, total nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter content (OM) levels were not consistently different among necrotic and healthy turfgrass zones. The necrotic zones of those type-I fairy ring areas in turfgrass were most likely associated with a combination of direct and indirect effects of the basidiomycete fungi on soil hydrophobicity and the accumulation of potentially phytotoxic compounds in the turfgrass root zone. Further research is needed to explore the interaction of basidiomycete fungi and the soil chemical and physical environment on turfgrass, and evaluate practices and strategies to control type-I fairy ring symptoms in turfgrass.

Surfactant and Polymer‐Coated Sand Effects on Deficit Irrigated Bermudagrass Turf

“…Topdressing and soil surfactant were applied monthly (sand at 3.3 kg m -2 and surfactant at 20 L ha -1 Data are averaged over five sampling depths (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 cm). also been shown to improve the delivery of some soil-active pesticides such as fairy-ring fungicides (Fidanza et al, 2007a(Fidanza et al, , 2007bFidanza, 2009). Our study documented that turf quality can be maintained at reduced irrigation if either topdressed with a hydrophilic sand or with sand in combination with a surfactant.…”

“…Some of these hydrophobic compounds are exuded by roots (Dekker and Ritsema, 1996;Doerr et al, 1998). Other compounds are produced by microbes, fungi, and even decaying organic matter oft en induced by highly humid conditions (Fidanza et al, 2007a;Jex et al, 1985;McGhie and Posner, 1981;Savage et al, 1972). As a consequence of water repellency, localized dry spots (LDS) can develop and become a signifi cant problem of turfgrass areas.…”

Hydrophobicity of Sparta Sand under Different Vegetation Types in the Lower Wisconsin River Valley

“…This could be a direct product of pine root and shoot growth and decay or the result of an association between the pine or soil fungus. In turfgrasses, it has been observed that an increase in soil water repellency because of fungus growth in what are called fairy rings (Fidanza et al, 2005;Fidanza et al, 2007). Soil water repellency associated with fairy rings can decrease with soil depths within a few centimeters (0-3-cm deep) in some cases from strongly water repellant to nonrepellent (Fidanza et al, 2007).…”

“…In turfgrasses, it has been observed that an increase in soil water repellency because of fungus growth in what are called fairy rings (Fidanza et al, 2005;Fidanza et al, 2007). Soil water repellency associated with fairy rings can decrease with soil depths within a few centimeters (0-3-cm deep) in some cases from strongly water repellant to nonrepellent (Fidanza et al, 2007). In the case of the pine plantation, although the water repellency decreased with soil depths, at 35 cm the soil is moderately hydrophobic for WDPT and slightly hydrophobic at 50 cm for SWA and MED analyses, suggesting that water repellency, at least at deeper depth might be associated to combination of properties in addition to SOC.…”

“…For example, in hydrophobic grassland soils there is a greater amount of large polar compounds than in hydrophilic soils . In turfgrasses, the formation of hydrophobic dry patches has been partially attributed to basidiomycete-type fungi (York and Canaway, 2000;Fidanza et al, 2007).…”