Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In North Carolina, and other areas of the U.S., many golf courses maintain creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) as the putting green grass of choice. While not well adapted to high summer temperatures, the superior quality of creeping bentgrass during much of the year makes it a popular golf course species. A common problem, however, is an unacceptable decline in both visual quality and playability of bentgrass putting greens due to summer stresses such as high temperatures, drought, and disease. During recent years many supplemental products containing seaweed-based biostimulants and/or humic substances have become commercially available for use on turfgrass. Manufacturers claim that regular application of these products can be expected to enhance turfgrass quality, rooting, high temperature tolerance and disease resistance. The purpose of this research is to determine if application of seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substance application might enhance these properties of creeping bentgrass putting greens. In order to maintain golf course putting greens for their intended use, great care must be taken to provide a wide range of essential cultural practices. These include: daily mowing, irrigation, fertilization and regular pest control. Even when these practices are not limiting, putting green performance may prove unacceptable, especially during the summer months. In an effort to improve summer performance and survival golf course superintendents often turn to application of supplemental materials such as seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substances with the hope that these products might provide the extra improvement in performance needed to survive stressful conditions. In summary, numerous studies evaluating the effects of humic substances on plant growth have shown a positive response. Little of this work, however, has involved turfgrasses. The following research is proposed to evaluate humic substances as potential growth enhancers of turfgrass. The objectives of this work are to: a. To determine the effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green; and, b. To determine the influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. If application of supplemental biostimulants and/or humic acid application is successful, an improved creeping bentgrass putting green would result which is better capable to survive summer stress than an untreated putting green. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Studies will be conducted primarily at the NCSU Lake Wheeler Road Turfgrass Field Laboratory. Additional field research may be located at off-station field sites throughout the state. a. Effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green. Crenshaw creeping bentgrass turf growing on a sand based area at the NC State Turfgrass Field Laboratory will be used for this research. Commercial seaweed-based biostimulants and humic acid products will be applied to 1 x 3 m plots prior to the onset of summer heat and drought stress. Plots will be maintained using standard putting green management. Turfgrass growth rate and visual quality will be determined weekly during the course of the growing season. Rooting depth will be determined monthly to determine if product application affects seasonal rooting patterns with particular emphasis on summer root die-back. Shoot density determinations will also be made periodically during the season. In order to assess long term effects in response to HA treatments, field evaluations will be conducted during 2009 -2013. b. Influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. Visual observation of summer turfgrass quality, as well as measurement of plant density counts will be used to assess summer stress tolerance in response to biostimulant and humic acid application. Summer disease incidence, primarily Brown Patch will be monitored and noted when present using a percentage-area- infected rating scale.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In North Carolina, and other areas of the U.S., many golf courses maintain creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) as the putting green grass of choice. While not well adapted to high summer temperatures, the superior quality of creeping bentgrass during much of the year makes it a popular golf course species. A common problem, however, is an unacceptable decline in both visual quality and playability of bentgrass putting greens due to summer stresses such as high temperatures, drought, and disease. During recent years many supplemental products containing seaweed-based biostimulants and/or humic substances have become commercially available for use on turfgrass. Manufacturers claim that regular application of these products can be expected to enhance turfgrass quality, rooting, high temperature tolerance and disease resistance. The purpose of this research is to determine if application of seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substance application might enhance these properties of creeping bentgrass putting greens. In order to maintain golf course putting greens for their intended use, great care must be taken to provide a wide range of essential cultural practices. These include: daily mowing, irrigation, fertilization and regular pest control. Even when these practices are not limiting, putting green performance may prove unacceptable, especially during the summer months. In an effort to improve summer performance and survival golf course superintendents often turn to application of supplemental materials such as seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substances with the hope that these products might provide the extra improvement in performance needed to survive stressful conditions. In summary, numerous studies evaluating the effects of humic substances on plant growth have shown a positive response. Little of this work, however, has involved turfgrasses. The following research is proposed to evaluate humic substances as potential growth enhancers of turfgrass. The objectives of this work are to: a. To determine the effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green; and, b. To determine the influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. If application of supplemental biostimulants and/or humic acid application is successful, an improved creeping bentgrass putting green would result which is better capable to survive summer stress than an untreated putting green. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Studies will be conducted primarily at the NCSU Lake Wheeler Road Turfgrass Field Laboratory. Additional field research may be located at off-station field sites throughout the state. a. Effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green. Crenshaw creeping bentgrass turf growing on a sand based area at the NC State Turfgrass Field Laboratory will be used for this research. Commercial seaweed-based biostimulants and humic acid products will be applied to 1 x 3 m plots prior to the onset of summer heat and drought stress. Plots will be maintained using standard putting green management. Turfgrass growth rate and visual quality will be determined weekly during the course of the growing season. Rooting depth will be determined monthly to determine if product application affects seasonal rooting patterns with particular emphasis on summer root die-back. Shoot density determinations will also be made periodically during the season. In order to assess long term effects in response to HA treatments, field evaluations will be conducted during 2009 -2013. b. Influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. Visual observation of summer turfgrass quality, as well as measurement of plant density counts will be used to assess summer stress tolerance in response to biostimulant and humic acid application. Summer disease incidence, primarily Brown Patch will be monitored and noted when present using a percentage-area- infected rating scale.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In North Carolina, and other areas of the U.S., many golf courses maintain creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) as the putting green grass of choice. While not well adapted to high summer temperatures, the superior quality of creeping bentgrass during much of the year makes it a popular golf course species. A common problem, however, is an unacceptable decline in both visual quality and playability of bentgrass putting greens due to summer stresses such as high temperatures, drought, and disease. During recent years many supplemental products containing seaweed-based biostimulants and/or humic substances have become commercially available for use on turfgrass. Manufacturers claim that regular application of these products can be expected to enhance turfgrass quality, rooting, high temperature tolerance and disease resistance. The purpose of this research is to determine if application of seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substance application might enhance these properties of creeping bentgrass putting greens. In order to maintain golf course putting greens for their intended use, great care must be taken to provide a wide range of essential cultural practices. These include: daily mowing, irrigation, fertilization and regular pest control. Even when these practices are not limiting, putting green performance may prove unacceptable, especially during the summer months. In an effort to improve summer performance and survival golf course superintendents often turn to application of supplemental materials such as seaweed-based biostimulants and humic substances with the hope that these products might provide the extra improvement in performance needed to survive stressful conditions. In summary, numerous studies evaluating the effects of humic substances on plant growth have shown a positive response. Little of this work, however, has involved turfgrasses. The following research is proposed to evaluate humic substances as potential growth enhancers of turfgrass. The objectives of this work are to: a. To determine the effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green; and, b. To determine the influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. If application of supplemental biostimulants and/or humic acid application is successful, an improved creeping bentgrass putting green would result which is better capable to survive summer stress than an untreated putting green. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Studies will be conducted primarily at the NCSU Lake Wheeler Road Turfgrass Field Laboratory. Additional field research may be located at off-station field sites throughout the state. a. Effects of biostimulant and humic substance application on the visual quality, plant density and rooting of a creeping bentgrass putting green. Crenshaw creeping bentgrass turf growing on a sand based area at the NC State Turfgrass Field Laboratory will be used for this research. Commercial seaweed-based biostimulants and humic acid products will be applied to 1 x 3 m plots prior to the onset of summer heat and drought stress. Plots will be maintained using standard putting green management. Turfgrass growth rate and visual quality will be determined weekly during the course of the growing season. Rooting depth will be determined monthly to determine if product application affects seasonal rooting patterns with particular emphasis on summer root die-back. Shoot density determinations will also be made periodically during the season. In order to assess long term effects in response to HA treatments, field evaluations will be conducted during 2009 -2013. b. Influence of biostimulant and humic materials on the summer stress tolerance and disease resistance of creeping bentgrass. Visual observation of summer turfgrass quality, as well as measurement of plant density counts will be used to assess summer stress tolerance in response to biostimulant and humic acid application. Summer disease incidence, primarily Brown Patch will be monitored and noted when present using a percentage-area- infected rating scale.
Publications
- Rutledge, J.M., C.H. Peacock, R.J. Cooper and A.H. Bruneau. 2009. Comparative Cold Tolerance of Selected Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) Cultivars. Intl. Turf. Soc. Res. J. 11: 829-835.
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