1.
A
Credible Resource:
Question: During the recent Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America (GCSAA) conference and show several of my fellow
superintendents from the Midwest were
discussing the possibility of an abnormally hot, dry summer season. Can the
USGA point me in the direction of a credible source of long-range forecasting,
given the ominous implications of such a weather pattern? (Iowa)
Answer: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) was created in 1970 to, in part, develop a more
comprehensive understanding of weather phenomena. It is a multifaceted agency
of the Commerce Department and is composed of the National Ocean Service,
National Weather Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, National
Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service and the Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research. Based on accurate predictions of the El Niño and La
Niña events over the past three years, their long-range forecasting credibility
has reached new heights. To assess the probability of a future drought in your region,
visit their website at www.noaa.gov.
2.
The
Right Combination:
Question: I need to repair some thinned turf from a drought
last summer and also will be seeding two new greens this fall. If I seed at a
rate higher than the recommended 1-2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., say a
4-5 lb. rate,
will I be able to open the green sooner? (Wisconsin)
Answer: The results from several independent research
studies indicate that excessive seeding rates only produce an abundance of
weak, crowded seedlings. The rapid cover over the green provides a false sense
of security. The heavily seeded green is generally not ready to accommodate
play any sooner than a green seeded at a more appropriate rate. The dense stand
of crowded seedlings is often more susceptible to a variety of disease
pathogens and matures more slowly compared to turf on a green seeded at a lower
rate. Stick with the recommended seeding rate.
3.
Question: We are in the fourth consecutive year of a drought.
Our superintendent says our turf is yellow because we haven’t had enough rain. What
is the story? (Arizona)
Answer: We have been seeing drought-related turf
problems for the past several years, and it is primarily due to salt
concentration. Nothing moves salts deeply into the soil and away from the turf
better than a half-inch to 1
inch of natural rainfall. Drought-stressed turf (having
small amounts of rainfall) will actually wick salts up into the root zone and
cause the yellowed condition seen throughout the Southwest. The natural
flushing action of rainfall also eliminates the hydrophobic (or water-repelling)
problems seen in drought-impacted soils, making subsequent irrigation much more
effective at moving into and through the soil. Although this condition can be
seen year-round, it is most prevalent in winter on overseeded bermudagrass
since the cool-season grasses are less salt-tolerant, as a rule, than
warm-season turf species.