1. Assessing various wetting agents on golf putting greens comprised of calcareous and siliceous sand-based rootzones
- Author
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Lyons, E.M., Watson, J.R., and Husiny, J.
- Subjects
Annual Bluegrass ,Wetting Agents ,Calcareous Sand ,Creeping Bentgrass ,Guelph Turfgrass Institute ,Golf Putting Greens ,Siliceous Sand ,Cores ,Profiles ,Volumetric Water Content ,Rootzones - Abstract
Maximizing the amount of water that reaches the rootzones is important for maintaining healthy golf greens. This study compared various wetting agent treatments on calcareous and siliceous sand putting greens to determine their capabilities of reaching soil root zones and their impacts on turfgrass properties. To document the effect of the wetting agents on the rootzone profiles over time, soil volumetric water content was taken throughout the study using a TDR probe. Visual ratings and NDVI readings were taken on a weekly basis as an indicator of turfgrass colour quality. Water droplet penetration tests (WDPT) were done periodically throughout the study to assess infiltration of wetting agents into the rootzones. There were few significant differences in TDR values between treatments and controls at various days after treatment on the calcareous sand putting green. The siliceous sand putting green had significant differences in TDR values between treatments and controls at certain days after treatment. There were no significant differences in visual ratings and NDVI readings on both calcareous and siliceous sand putting greens. On the calcareous sand putting green, there were significant differences in WDPT at 0 cm between the treatments and controls. On the siliceous sand putting green, there were significant differences in WDPT at 0-5 cm depths between the treatments and controls. Wetting agent applications improved water absorption on both calcareous and siliceous sand-based golf rootzones. Ontario Seed Company, Guelph Turfgrass Institute
- Published
- 2019