Thatch Control in Newly Established Velvet Bentgrass Putting Greens in Scandinavia

Espevig, Tatsiana; Molteberg, Bjørn; Tronsmo, Anne Marte; Tronsmo, Arne; Aamlid, Trygve

doi:10.2135/cropsci2011.04.0217

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This is similar to observations reported by Rinehart et al (2005), where two velvet bentgrass cultivars had the highest TQ in the first 2 yr of the study but then declined due to excessive thatch accumulation, even at nitrogen rates of 49 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . Espevig et al (2012) also reported that Legendary velvet bentgrass developed significantly higher thatch content within 2 yr after seeding when maintained at 150 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , leading to a reduction in ball roll distance and surface hardness. Higher thatch levels result in a greater distribution of roots and crowns within the thatch layer rather than soil, thus becoming more susceptible to environmental stresses, as well as scalping injury, both of which can contribute to a decline in TQ.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Evaluation of Agrostis Species and Cultivars and a Wetting Agent for Use on Golf Course Fairways under Reduced Irrigation

Golden

DaCosta

Ebdon

2017

Intl Turfgrass Soc Res J

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Optimization of management practices and selection of turfgrasses with traits that help to prolong turf quality and function under drought stress are important factors for turfgrass success under reduced irrigation conditions. The primary objectives of our research were to evaluate the performance of standard and improved cultivars of three bentgrass (Agrostis L. spp.) species in response to a wetting agent and reduced irrigation under fairway conditions. Turfgrasses included ‘Penncross’, ‘L‐93’, ‘13M’, and ‘T‐1’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.), ‘Tiger II’ and ‘Revere’ colonial bentgrass (Agrostis capillaris L.), and ‘Greenwich’ and ‘Legendary’ velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.). Irrigation treatments were conducted from June through August in 2011 and 2012 and included: (i) a well‐watered (WW) irrigated control and no wetting agent application; (ii) a drought (DRT) treatment that received no irrigation and no wetting agent; and (iii) a drought treatment with no irrigation but received two pre‐applications of a wetting agent (DRT+WA). Withholding irrigation in the DRT and DRT+WA treatments resulted in a decline in volumetric soil moisture content, visual turf quality (TQ), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) compared with WW plots; however, there were no significant differences in any of these parameters between DRT and DRT+WA in either year. Among the species, colonial bentgrass generally exhibited the highest TQ and velvet bentgrass the lowest TQ, which was associated with significantly higher thatch content (∼30%) for velvet bentgrass compared with other cultivars. Among the creeping bentgrass cultivars, T‐1 and 13M generally exhibited the highest TQ and NDVI, but were not significantly different from colonial bentgrass cultivars irrespective of irrigation regime.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Evaluation of Agrostis Species and Cultivars and a Wetting Agent for Use on Golf Course Fairways under Reduced Irrigation

Golden

DaCosta

Ebdon

2017

Intl Turfgrass Soc Res J

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“…Because sand topdressing, verticutting, and fertility influence thatch development differently (Fu et al, 2009;McCarty et al, 2007;Espevig et al, 2012), the thatch measurements should vary within thatch measurement method and date. Variability in thatch measurement within collection dates was observed from WLOI, ruler, and balance measurements for each cultivar (Fig.…”

Section: ----------------------------°C -----------------------------mentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlating Methods of Measuring Zoysiagrass Thatch

Shaddox

Unruh

2019

Crop Science

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In the absence of regular management, zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) thatch can be problematic and result in unacceptable turf quality. At least three methods of measuring thatch are used in turfgrass science, including organic matter percentage by weight‐loss‐on‐ignition (WLOI), depth by ruler, and mass by balance. The objective of this study was to determine if thatch compression using the faster Volk “thatchmeter” correlated to the three abovementioned methods. The four methods were evaluated as part of a field study designed to determine the influence of fertility and cultural management practices on thatch development of five zoysiagrass cultivars. Treatments were verticutting, topdressing, and fertilization arranged in a split‐split‐plot design with three replications. Thatch measurements were collected approximately every other month from June to November during three consecutive growing seasons in Jay, FL. The thatchmeter resulted in lower F values on Zoysia japonica Steud. than on Z. matrella (L.) Merr. Cultivars, indicating that the instrument had reduced sensitivity on the higher cut Z. japonica cultivars. Linear regression of the thatchmeter and the WLOI, ruler, and mass measurements resulted in 80% of the R2 values being <0.1. The increase in turf leaf blades likely contributed to the reduced sensitivity of the thatchmeter on Z. japonica cultivars. Although the thatchmeter sensitivity increased on the Z. matrella cultivars, the instrument failed to correlate to WLOI, ruler, or balance measurements.

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“…Research on utilizing velvet bentgrass ( Agrostis canina L.) as putting green turf is limited but increasing. Velvet bentgrass has very fine texture, high shoot density, and tends to accumulate excessive thatch creating puffiness on greens (Bruneau et al, 2000; Cashel et al, 2005; Rinehart et al, 2005), therefore requiring intensive practices for thatch management (Boesch & Mitkowski, 2007; Espevig et al, 2012). Heavy routine topdressing programs can effectively dilute or/and reduce thatch (Espevig et al., 2012; McCarty et al, 2007; McCarty et al, 2005; Rieke et al, 1988; Stier & Hollman, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Velvet bentgrass has very fine texture, high shoot density, and tends to accumulate excessive thatch creating puffiness on greens (Bruneau et al, 2000; Cashel et al, 2005; Rinehart et al, 2005), therefore requiring intensive practices for thatch management (Boesch & Mitkowski, 2007; Espevig et al, 2012). Heavy routine topdressing programs can effectively dilute or/and reduce thatch (Espevig et al., 2012; McCarty et al, 2007; McCarty et al, 2005; Rieke et al, 1988; Stier & Hollman, 2003). However, the high shoot density of velvet bentgrass and the extremely low mowing heights of modern putting greens make it challenging to maintain a smooth, sand‐free putting surface when sand topdressing is applied at high rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Velvet bentgrass putting green quality, water retention, and infiltration as affected by topdressing sand size and rate

2021

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Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) putting greens require intensive sand topdressing programs for thatch management; however, their high shoot density combined with the low mowing heights make it challenging to maintain smooth, sand-free putting surface when topdressing is applied at high rates. A field trial was initiated to determine the effects of sand size and topdressing rate on a 'Greenwich' velvet bentgrass putting green. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial and included a non-topdressed control arranged in a randomized complete block design. The two factors were topdressing sand (medium-coarse sand and medium-fine sand) and topdressing rate (0.15 and 0.3 L m -2 ). Topdressing improved turf quality compared to the non-topdressed control. Additionally, velvet bentgrass had better quality when topdressed at the rate of 0.3 L m -2 compared to 0.15 L m -2 . Increasing topdressing rate from 0.15 to 0.3 L m -2 notably increased the quantity of unincorporated mediumcoarse sand remaining on the putting surface, whereas it often did not increase or only slightly increased the quantity of unincorporated sand with medium-fine sand.Independent of sand size and rate, topdressing treatments maintained the top 0-to-3.8-cm soil profile relatively dry and increased infiltration rate measured with mini disk infiltrometers. The lack of negative effects of medium-fine sand on measured parameters and the minimum disruption to putting surface may encourage superintendents to apply greater quantities of topdressing for improving the performance of velvet bentgrass putting greens.

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Thatch Control in Newly Established Velvet Bentgrass Putting Greens in Scandinavia

Cited by 14 publications

References 42 publications

Evaluation of Agrostis Species and Cultivars and a Wetting Agent for Use on Golf Course Fairways under Reduced Irrigation

Evaluation of Agrostis Species and Cultivars and a Wetting Agent for Use on Golf Course Fairways under Reduced Irrigation

Correlating Methods of Measuring Zoysiagrass Thatch

Velvet bentgrass putting green quality, water retention, and infiltration as affected by topdressing sand size and rate

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