2020 journal article
Creeping bentgrass summer decline as influenced by climatic conditions and cultural practices
Agronomy Journal, 112(5), 3500–3512.
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger
(Web of Science)
Source: ORCID
Added: July 21, 2020
AbstractDespite its popularity as a putting surface in North Carolina, creeping bentgrass (Agrostsis stolonifera L.) is highly susceptible to summer bentgrass decline (SBD) during hot summer months. Cultural practices have been shown to help alleviate the pressure of SBD. The objectives of this study were to detail the impacts of N fertility, soil water content, and hollow‐ and solid‐tine cultivation on creeping bentgrass quality. Cultural treatments included four N rates (97, 195, 293, and 391 kg ha−1 yr−1), four hollow‐tine core cultivation programs (6.4 mm diam. tines two times yr−1, 9.5 mm diam. tines two and three times yr−1, and a non‐cored control), two soil water content levels (low and high), and two summer solid‐tine spiking cultivation treatments (spiked and not spiked). Visual turfgrass quality was measured. A N rate greater than 195 kg ha−1 was needed to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality. High soil water content consistently provided better summer turfgrass quality compared to low soil water content conditions. Nitrogen fertility and soil water content interacted where higher levels of both resulted in the best quality ratings. Hollow‐core cultivation reduced turfgrass quality at the lower N rates; whereas, solid‐tine spiking had no effect on turfgrass quality. Although weather plays a large role in SBD in North Carolina, results from this study show that cultural practices can influence its severity.