Research

What putting green firmness measurements actually tell us

June 5, 2019 By Daniel O’Brien, Doug Karcher, Ph.D. and Mike Richardson, Ph.D.

Firmness is an important attribute of championship greens, affecting both playability and durability of the putting surface. However, firmness can be interpreted and managed in various ways. Underlying factors often associated with firmness include volumetric water content (VWC), organic matter ...

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Dollar spot foliar lesions on leaf blades of bermudagrass are one of the telltale signs of dollar spot. (Photo: Bayer)

Defeating dollar: Tips for controlling dollar spot

June 5, 2019 By Sarah Webb

Dollar spot is a fungal disease that affects a wide variety of turfgrasses. The disease pressure of this pathogen can vary by region because its prevalence is dictated by the weather. According to Clark Throssell, Ph.D., research editor for Golfdom, ...

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Selecting appropriate sand-cap depths

June 5, 2019 By Philip Brown, Ph.D. and Bert McCarty, Ph.D.

Poor drainage is a major concern for golf course superintendents. It can restrict play, which reduces income, potentially having a long-term negative financial impact on a course. Drainage problems are compounded by demands for perfect facilities and playability, while rainfall ...

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Removing coarse topdressing sand from greens

June 4, 2019 By James Murphy, Ph.D. and Hui Chen

Superintendents use topdressing to manage thatch accumulation and maintain smooth putting green surfaces. However, they often avoid topdressing during the growing season because residual coarse sand may interfere with play and dull mower blades. A field study was initiated in ...

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On the lookout for nematodes

May 31, 2019 By Clark Throssell, Ph.D.

Clark Throssell interviews Jim Kerns, Ph.D., about nematodes. Kerns is a turfgrass pathologist at North Carolina State University. In addition to conducting research on turfgrass diseases, Kerns and his team devote considerable time to understanding nematodes, the problems they cause ...

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Half-life is not the whole story

May 28, 2019 By Rick Latin, Ph.D.

There’s been a fair amount of chatter lately about fungicide half-life and what it means for disease control and fungicide resistance risk. Half-life is the time required for a substance to be broken down into half the original amount. It ...

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