During spring 2017, Dennis Croumie, superintendent at Vero Beach, Fla.’s Riomar Country Club, began to conduct a trial of Divanem nematicide with an experimental use permit.
Dennis Croumie
The nematicide had just been released to the public and was already gaining global recognition for its nematode control.
Seeking to significantly reduce the lance, root-knot and sting nematodes on Riomar Country Club’s greens, Croumie applied Divanem at various rates on the private club’s 10,000 ft2 Tifeagle croquet court — by itself and in combination with a variety of fungicides, insecticides and surfactants. In all, four monthly applications were performed throughout the trial.
The results were nearly immediate on plots that were treated at Syngenta’s recommended spot treatment rate, as Croumie noticed a considerable difference in turf quality, especially under stressed conditions. Aside from a substantial improvement in the turf’s conditioning, Croumie also observed an increase in core aerification recovery. In particular, the plots with spot treatment rates of Divanem recovered up to two weeks faster than any of the non-treated plots.
Divanem’s performance was so effective, in fact, that Croumie decided to incorporate the nematicide into Riomar Country Club’s nematode management program shortly after the trial ended. Beginning in September 2017 and continuing through March 2018 (the same timeline that the club has followed ever since), Croumie applied Divanem to Riomar Country Club’s greens, along with a surfactant, on a monthly basis.
Left side: Trial plot, includes Divanem nematicide 12.2 oz/10,000 ft2 + fungicides. Visit GreenCastOnline.com/Divanem for additional data and rates.
Right side: Untreated control plot
Photos: Riomar Country Club
“I’ve found Divanem to be an outstanding tool for our greens management program,” Croumie says. “It’s not only helped us achieve better root density and stress recovery, but overall plant health as well.”
As the demands for higher quality turf conditions continue to increase, Croumie believes superintendents can rely on Divanem as a vital component of their maintenance program, primarily to control nematodes and improve spot treatments, regardless of their course’s location. However, to ensure full effectiveness — vastly improved turf conditions, utmost performance of nematode management and faster core aerification recovery — Croumie advises superintendents to apply Divanem at the recommended spot treatment rate: 12.2 oz./10,000 ft2.
“If a superintendent has a turf injury as a result of nematodes, the best shot at recovery using Divanem is at the spot treatment rate,” Croumie says.
Photo: Riomar Country Club
Strengthening turf’s natural defenses
Due to Divanem’s effectiveness, Riomar Country Club’s nematicide program has evolved to a point that is more in line with a fungicide program, as he also uses the Action brand fungicides from Syngenta (Daconil Action, Heritage Action and Secure Action) in rotation. The fungicides have provided Riomar Country Club additional tools to control diseases and increase the timeliness of recovery from physical stresses.
“Riomar Country Club greens are only four years old and have very little organic matter,” Croumie says. “With that, the greens tend to wilt and show signs of heat stress quickly.”
The Action brand fungicides from Syngenta have seemed to help with that particular stress immensely, according to Croumie. Each of the fungicides contain the active ingredient acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), which boosts turf’s natural defenses against disease and overall resilience to heat and drought.
“I have moved away from worrying about what the number is on the assay report, and instead I focus on overall plant health and developing a program that maximizes nematicide performance,” Croumie says. “Divanem is certainly a big part of that program now, especially with its broad-spectrum appeal.”
He adds, “As I continue to focus on further improving Riomar Country Club’s greens conditioning, performance and recovery, I’m looking forward to establishing a long-term relationship with Syngenta. And I’m sure Divanem will be at the forefront of that relationship for many years to come.”
To learn more about Divanem, visit GreenCastOnline.com/Divanem.
To learn more about nematodes, including a list of labs to send samples, visit GreenCastOnline.com/NematodeKnowledge.
Divanem is a Restricted Use Pesticide.
This page was produced by North Coast Media’s content marketing staff in collaboration with Syngenta. NCM Content Marketing connects marketers to audiences and delivers industry trends, business tips and product information. The Golfdom editorial staff did not create this content.
Header photo: Riomar Country Club
