1

Thomas Fischer - International Technical Support

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.

Ben Hogan

Cost-effective winter-preparation of turf-grasses on golf-courses Light House Golf Resort18.09.2009

Vita - Thomas Fischer• 48 years old, married, two daughters of 15 and 18• Horticultural and commercial education, since 1994

working for Scotts• Golf-Operation-Manager IST/GMVD since 2003• Consultant for golf-courses, sport-fields and landscaping

e. q. in D/PL/A/CH/EST/MA and technical support in Germany and foreign countries

• Teacher at the greenkeeper-education in Kempen• Secretary of the GVD district East • Publications in Greenkeepers Journal, campos,

Meyer GaLaBau diary et al. • Arrangements of turf-seminars with leading turf-specialists like Dr.

Beard, Dr. Bernd Leinauer et al.• Own Web-Site www.golf-infos.de (Turf Internet-Address-Book)

Liebig’s law of the minimum

Growth is not controlled by the total of resources available,but by the limiting factor.

Light Oxygen in soil

Soil

Micro-nutrientsMacro-nutrients

Water

Temperature

2

Influence on winter-hardness

Winter-hardness of turf-grasses

Soil

Fertili-zation

Mainte-nance

Fungi-cides

Is winter-hardness possible?

• Physical properties• Granule-size

• USGA-spec

• Compaction

• Chemical properties• Nutrients - absolute

• Nutrients - balance• NPK-ratio

• Bad figures results in weak turf!!

• Weak turf has no winter-hardness!!

Black Layer

Physical properties

• During construction

• Left side

• Low precipitation

• Right side

• Higher precipitation

• Important to know!

• Weather-forecast!

Green 13

3

Weather-forecast - and history Varna-BG

Thomas Fischer - International Technical Support

Chemical properties

SamplingSoil - Tissue - Water

The Integrated Analyzing Concept

Normal Maintenance

No

N-P-K-Mg-ratio1 - 0.2 - 1(max. 1.4) - 0.1

Adapt fert-plan

Main nutrientsN-P-K-Mg

Liquid nutritionLiquid / WSF

Trace elements

Acidifying Ferts

RZM Water Topdress/Sand

Check reason

High> 7,2

Liming

Low> 5,5

pH

Yes

Problems?

Soil-sampleHarris

Water-sampleHarris

Topdress-samplewww.etl-ltd.com

Tissue-sampleLocal lab

DiseasesKate Entwistle

Base of all planning

4

Why tissue-analysis?• Support on daily work

• Diagnosis (actual situation)• Deficiency or excess • E. q.:

Potassium in excess is luxury-consumption (use of SR-potassium!) Mg-uptake is reduced

• Control of nutrient-supply during play (tournament-situation)• Preparation for winter-hardness

• Monitoring (regular sampling)• Control of nutrition-status and fertilization especially in autumn-time• Control of nutrient-supply during play (tournament-situation)

• Problems with nutrient-uptake• pH-value in soil• Sub-function of rooting-system

• Decision-guidance for use of liquid fertilization

Tissue-analyse

• Worldwide aligned analysis-guidelines

• Check for reference-values!• Difference between grass-species

• Take soil-samples into consideration

Anlage Fläche Datum0 GRN 18

Wasser n. a. %Trockensubstanz 18,3 %Organ. Substanz n.a. % i. T.

für AgrostisMinimum Maximum

Gesamt-Stickstoff 5,5 % i. T. 3,2 4,5Phosphor 0,8 % i. T. 0,3 0,5Kalium 2,8 % i. T. 2,5 3,5Magnesium 0,3 % i. T. 0,4 0,7

Calcium 0,50 % i. T. 1,00 1,50Natrium 0,02 % i. T. 0,01 0,16Schwefel 0,84 % i. T. 0,26 0,40

Bor n.a. mg/kg TS 11 20Kupfer 18 mg/kg TS 15 20Eisen 575 mg/kg TS 125 175Mangan 115 mg/kg TS 60 90Molybdän n.a. mg/kg TS 2 4Zink 69 mg/kg TS 80 120

Rückfragen bitte an:Thomas FischerAm Stadtbad 2429451 DannenbergTel.: 05861/4790Fax: 05861/6741Mobil. Tel.: 0171/4616247

11. August 2006

Scotts-Analyse-KonzeptBlatt-Analyse

Ges.-Stickstoff

0,0

2,0

4,0

6,0

% i.

Ts.

Minimum

Ist-W ert

Maximum

Eisen

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

pp

m

Minimum

Ist-Wert

Maximum

Phosphor

0,0

0,4

0,8

% i.

Ts.

Minimum

Ist-W ert

Maximum

Kalium

0,0

2,0

4,0

% i.

Ts.

Minimum

Ist-Wert

Maximum

Magnesium

0,0

0,4

0,8

% i.

Ts.

Minimum

Ist-Wert

Maximum

Important information from soil-sampling• Complete package

• Harris et al.• P, K, Mg

• Ca, S

• B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn

• pH, CEC, saturation

• Organic matter

Graphics

Averages

5

Historical data-collection

• Overview over three years

• Intensive mechanical work

• Change of sand-material

• Reduced fertilizer-budget

GRN12

Phosphat

05

101520253035

04.0

4

07.0

4

10.0

4

01.0

5

04.0

5

07.0

5

10.0

5

01.0

6

04.0

6

Phosphat

Optimum

Kalium

0

20

4060

80

100120

04

.04

04

.05

04

.06

Kalium

Optimum

Magnesium

020406080

100

04.0

4

04.0

5

04.0

6

Magnesium

Optimum

Calcium

0

200

400

600

800

1000

04.0

4

08.0

4

12.0

4

04.0

5

08.0

5

12.0

5

04.0

6

Calcium

Optimum

pH-Wert

5,5

6

6,5

7

7,5

8

04.0

4

07.0

4

10.0

4

01.0

5

04.0

5

07.0

5

10.0

5

01.0

6

04.0

6

pH

Optimum

Eisen

05

101520253035

04.0

4

04.0

5

04.0

6

Eisen

Optimum

Natrium (Max.)

02468

101214

04.0

4

04.0

5

04.0

6

Natrium

Optimum

KAK

0

1

2

3

4

5

04.0

4

07.0

4

10.0

4

01.0

5

04.0

5

07.0

5

10.0

5

01.0

6

04.0

6

KAK

Optimum

Interpretation

• Product-independent• Deviation of optimums• Nutrient-ratios• Comparison with historical

datas• Highlighting of solutions• On demand: comments on

analytical methods

Why testing irrigation water?• Water-requirement

• ET (evapotranspiration-rate)2.5 - 5.5 mm/day

• Rainfall in Varna-region approx. 510 le. Q. Sofia 627 l, Hamburg 832 l/m²/a

• Demand more than 1.000 l/m²/year

• 50 water-buckets for one m²!!

• With bad water-quality you need long-range investment for:• Re-construction• Water-treatment

• Optimization of nutrient-supply• E. q. Mn-supply is reduce with hard water

• Documentation towards authorities

6

The grass you have!

Source: www.usga.org/turf/green_section_record/2006/nov_dec

Important details of a water-test-report

Graphs

Datum 16. August 2006 Ver 04-04-22

Anlage 0

1 Masseinheit Ergebnis okmögl.

ProblemeProbleme zu

erwartenpH-Wert 6,9 xxxxxxxHärte ppm 256,8 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBicarbonat ppm 176,0 xxxxxxxxxxxCarbonat ppm 0,0 xGrad Dt. Härte 14,4Härte-Klassifizierung sehr hart

EC-Wert mmhos/cm 0,48 xxxxxxLösliche Salze ppm 307 xxxxxx

Natrium meq/l 0,60 xxChlorid ppm 21,2 xxBor ppm 0,30 xxxxxx

Natrium ppm 14,00Chlorid ppm 21,2

SAR adj meq/l 0,77 xSAR meq/l 0,38 optimalRSC meq/l -2,15EC-Wert mmhos/cm 0,48 xxxxxxxxxxLösliche Salze ppm 307 xxxxxxxxxx

Infiltration in den Boden SAR und EC-Wert möglicherw. beeinträchtigt

g/lpro 100 l H2O Bereg./qm/Jahr in g/qm

Beurtei-lung Kationen (in meq/l)

Stickstoff 0,000002 0,0 niedrig K+ 0,10Phosphat (P2O5) 0,002688 0,3 sehr hoch Na+ 0,60

Kalium (K2O) 0,004767 0,5 niedrig Ca++ 4,55

Magnesium (MgO) 0,008276 0,8 niedrig Mg++ 0,42Calcium (Ca) 0,091043 9,1 sehr hoch Anionen (in meq/l)Schwefel (S) 0,019200 1,9 normal Cl- 0,61

Bor (B) 0,000300 0,0 normal SO4-- 1,22

Eisen (Fe) 0,004502 0,5 normal HCO3- 2,82

Mangan (Mn) 0,000500 0,1 hoch CO3-- 0,00

Natrium (Na) 0,014007 1,4 normalSalz in g/l 0,31 30,7 normal Ges.-Kationen (in meq/l) 5,67

Ges.-Anionen (in meq/l) 4,65Faktor 1,2

Einschränkungen f. d. Wassernutzungkeine SAR 0,38keine SAR adj 0,77

Rückfragen bitte an: keine RSC 0,56Thomas Fischer keine EC-Wert 0,48

Am Stadtbad 24

29451 Dannenberg7,42

Tel.: 05861/4790Sättingungs-Index -0,52

Fax: 05861/6741Mobil-Tel.: 0171/4616247 11 :1eMail: Fischer.Tho@t-online.de 44 :1Homepage: www.golf-infos.de 4 :1

Wasser-Charakteristik

Einfluss auf die Bodenstruktur

Einfluss auf das Blatt

Scotts-Analyse-KonzeptWasser-Analyse

Ergebnisse Bewertung

Einfluss auf die Wurzeln

Einfluss auf das Pflanzenwachstum

optimal

Kalkfaktoren

Kalkausfällung im Boden möglich

keine Einschränkungkeine Einschränkung

Analyse der Nährstoffe

Kalklösung wahrscheinlich

pHc

(kalkulierter pH-Wert)

optimal Mg : K (2 : 1 - 10 : 1)

Nährstoffverhältnisse und mögl. MangelerscheinungenMg-Mangel möglich Ca : Mg (3 :1 - 8 :1)K-Mangel möglich Ca : K (10 :1 - 30 :1)

Nutrients per l irrig.-water

Side-note …

• The pH-level from water has only limited influence on the

pH-level from soil!

• pH-level-average from 63 samples (pH from 6,6 - 8,8)

• Relation from pH-level and Bi-carbonates

• Sample 1: pH-level 7,8 Bi-carbonates 222 ppm

• Sample 2: pH-level 7,9 Bi-carbonates 56 ppm

• A detailed interpretation and discussion on-site is necessary!

7

Water in the soilWet Soil � Humid Soil � Dry Soil � Extremely Dry Soil

Growth-disturbance

Growth-optimum

No growthNo growth

Die-back of plants

Water-logging Wilting

Temporary survival from plant-material

Oxygen-absence in root-zone Retention of

live-functionsPermanent wilting

Less root-mass

Winter-kill Recovery in humid air

No recovery after irrigation

Recovery after irrigation

Available water in soil Dead water (unavailable)Suction-power to low

Field-capacity Wilting-point Permanent w-p Ultimate w-p

pF 2,2 3,8 4,2 4,5

Analysis-concept for a golf-course• Soil-samples

• 1 x year e. q. 4 greens (two equal per year - two new)• With problems possibly all greens; possibly several times a year

• Water-analysis• Every 2 - 3 years• Under use of recycling-water or with problematic water-sources several times per

year• Tissue-analysis

• For control 1 - 2 x/year• For nutrition-management every 2 - 6 weeks

• Soil-physical sampling• RZM-analysis for sand-selection 1 x/year• Advanced analysis on demand

• Disease-analysis on demand

Influence on winter-hardness

Winter-hardness of turf-grasses

Soil

Fertili-zation

Mainte-nance

Fungi-cides

8

Thomas Fischer - International Technical Support

Nutrients to prepare winter-hardness

Greens: Agrostis stolonifera (Bent)• Nitrogen (N) - Motor of Growth

• SRF (Slow release fertilizer)• 2 g - 4 g/m²/growing-month

• WSF (Water soluble fertilizer)• 0,5 - 1 g/m²/14 days

• Phosphorous (P2O5) - Motor of Rooting• Based on chemical soil-test best

• Potassium (K2O) - Motor of Heat-, Cold- and Stress-Tolerance• Potassium-demand in N : K-ratio: 1 : 0,8 - 1,4

depending on soil-test • You need 1 g pure K to higher the soil-test result with 1 ppm

• pH 5.5 - 6.0

Potassium -Important for heat-, wear-, cold- and stress-tolerance

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Soil forms of Potassium

90-98% 1-10% 0.1-0.2%0.9-1.8%

KKKK++++KKKK++++ KKKK++++

KKKK++++ KKKK++++

KKKK++++

KKKK++++KKKK++++KKKK++++

KKKK++++

KKKK++++

Non-exchangeable KMineral K Solution KExchangeable K

KKKK++++

Potassium Cycle

• Exchangeable K (0.9-1.8%)• K is on CEC sites on clay SURFACES

• Higher K levels for soils with higher CEC

• Soil Solution K (0.1-0.2%)• Affected by fertilizer inputs,

PLUS soil K base levels, soil type and environmental conditions

• Easily taken up by plants (needs to be replaced by Exchangeable K)

• Can contribute to salinity stress

• Leaching with heavy rain

• Fertilizer• Quantity and type can be managed and has efficiency on plant uptake

• Timing is important

Improved wear tolerance – K input

0000

20202020

40404040

60606060

80808080

100100100100

120120120120

140140140140

160160160160

0 90 180 270 360

Wear tolerance at 0 kg K/100m2 = 100Turf: Creeping Bentgrass Green: 180 kg N/ha applied

Rel

ativ

e w

ear

tole

ranc

e

K applied (Kg /Ha)

10

Potassium Fertilization

• Over-application

• Inefficient K use

• Loss out of soil system (leaching, run-off)

• Luxury consumption (beyond plant needs)

• N, Ca and Mg deficiencies or restricted uptake

• Potential fertilizer burn

• Increase in salt levels

The solution - Slow Release K

• Continuous supply of K (over ~8 week period) results in

• Improved uptake of N, Ca and Mg

• Increased turf-hardness and stress-tolerance against

• Drought-, salinity-, disease-stress

• Low and high temperatures

• Wear

• Turf colour stays longer

Scotts Slow Release K – Release Pattern

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Minimise K losses

Slow Release Potassium (K)• Slow Release Potassium/SRK-Technology

• K is contained in a slowly degradable synthetic matrix (developed by Scotts)

• K slowly releases in field conditions under influence of water

• Content in granules - no blend - no coating

• Release Mechanism influenced by water• The release is triggered by water, normal soil moisture levels are sufficient

• Once the SR-K is activated (by moisture), it will continue to release potassium over time

• Even in heavy rain or with excessive watering potassium is not leached out

• This is an advantage over normal K that will leach very quickly

• Longevity• 2+ months longevity

The technique behind Slow Release K

12

K-Fertilization• Avoid high quick releasing K-applications

• Salt-problems (de-hydration)

• Luxury-consumption

• Recommended K-rates • Granules ca. 2 g - 4 g Pure-K/m²

• Liquid ca. 0,5 g - 1,5 g Pure-K/m²

VerhältnisN N K2O N K2Obis 17 1 : 1,75 17 29,7517 35 1 : 1 30 3035 u. mehr 1 : 0,75 40 30

Beispiel

Rates in g/m²

<

>

RatioN : K2O

Example

Thomas Fischer - International Technical Support

Effective nutrition-Combination of Granules and Liquids

N-Fractions in granules

Nitr

ogen

re

leas

e

ammonium

urea

MU short chains

MU intermediate

MU long chains

TOTAL

Ammonium

Urea

MU - short chains

MU - middle chains

MU - long chains

TotalTime

13

Nutrient Uptake Options for Liquids

Applied water volume will effect which uptake route is dominant

Low water-volumes - uptake by foliage

High water-volumes - uptake from roots

30 %

10 % 70 %

Water-amount in l/ha

90 %

Iron- a nutrient for winter-hardnessFe

Fe

Iron

• Availability of Iron

• > pH 7,0 - very limited

• pH 6,0 1.000 ppm available

• pH 6,5 350 ppm available

• pH 7,0 35 ppm available

• pH 7,5 5 ppm available

• Experience from practice

• Iron reduces especially in autumn the disease-pressure

• Main reason is reducing the pH-level on tissue-area

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Iron-sources for turf-fertilizationProduct

Iron-content(in %)

Chem. Formulation Remarks

Iron-oxide 69 Fe2O3 Not availalbe for plants

Iron-sulfate 23 Fe2(SO4)3 · 4H2OOnly effective for foliar-application;not available on alkaline soils

Iron-oxide 77 FeO Not availalbe for plants

Iron-sulfate 19 FeSO4 · 7H2OOnly effective for leave-application;not available on alkaline soils

Iron-ammonium-sulfate 14 (NH4)2SO4 · FeSO4 · 6H2OVery effective for foliar-application;fast green-up

Iron-oxysulfate 45-50 Fe2O3 · FeSO4High fraction not available for plants;limited longevity on thatch

5-14 FeEDTA5-9 FeHEDTA6 FeEDDHA10 FeDTPA

Iron-sucrate 50 Org. Bestandteile 4-5 % from Iron very fast soluble;limited longevity

Iron-humate Ca. 20 Org. Bestandteile Slowly available iron linked to an organic complex;limited activity on neutral or alkaline soils

Iron-lignin-sulfate 5-7 Org. Bestandteile

Iron-chelate

More ffective than anorganic Iron-compositions;EDTA more effective on neutral or acidic soil;all chelates very effective for foliar-application;low application-rates with high effectivity

Scotts Iron-fertilizer

• Greenmaster Autumn 6+5+10 (+6%Fe) - Zeolite

• Reversible binding of Cations

• Nutrient-deficiency and –excess can be balanced

pH-variations will be buffered

• Adapted water-storage-capacity

• Minimizes leaching-loss

• Improves longevity

• Granule-size: only 0,7 - 1,7 mm

Greenmaster Liquid EfFect• For use throughout growing season• Very quick - green-up within 3 hours• Longevity up to 6 weeks• Treat iron chlorosis• No blackening from wheels or footmarks• Can be used on acidic soils without further

reducing pH• Can be used when black layer is present• Hardens turf without excess growth• Independent trials have shown that with an

integrated approach with Sierraform GT and H2Pro disease levels are suppressed

15

Influence on winter-hardness

Winter-hardness of turf-grasses

Soil

Fertili-zation

Mainte-nance

Fungi-cides

Winter-preparation - SunlightGo Back to Basics - Basic turf-grass management costs less

“No matter who you are,where your golf course is located andwhat type of grass you are growing.Without enough sunlight your turf will not be healthy.” Reference: USGA Green Section July-August 2009; page 28 Stanley J. Zontek

• Huge amounts of money can be spent and all sorts of different products, programs and techniques can be tried, but there is no substitute for sunlight.

• If sunlight is limited, you have a problem.

• Solution• Tree removal

• Limb pruning

• Underbrush clearing

• Also improve air circulation, which is good for the grass as well.

Mechanical work• Good

• All mechanical work• Verticutting

• Spiking

• Aeration

• But ....• In the right period

• Keeping a well draining root-zone is a basic tool for improvement of winter-hardness! Putting Green 27.02.2009

16

Influence on winter-hardness

Winter-hardness of turf-grasses

Soil

Fertili-zation

Mainte-nance

Fungi-cides

Fungicide-programs

Recommendations must be adapted to local permissions

Spore-germination Penetration Mycelium-

growthCracking of

fruiting-bodiesSpore-forming

Preventive Curative - Tissue alive Eradicative - Tissue dead

Preventive and CurativePreventive

• Application made prior to plant-infection

• Disease-symptoms will be reduced �enhanced turf-quality

• Working-principles• Active barrier between plant and

pathogen• E. q. Daconil

• Inhibition of spore-germination• E. q. Heritage

Curative• Application made after pathogen

infected the plant• Presence of different diseases

symptoms shows the stage of infection

• Requires higher application-rates and often shorter intervals to control the disease

• Risk of resistance• Effective in periods without

growth• Contact-fungicides like Iprodione