The Worm Turns: Earthworm Cast Reduction on Golf Courses

research research thrive under the conditions required to maintain mid-1990s were applied for grub control but were healthythrive under turfgrass the conditionsand are so required adaptable to maintainthat cul- alsomid-1990s acutely were toxic applied to earthworms for grub (14).control Most but of were the turalhealthy manipulations turfgrass and alone are soare adaptableunlikely tothat resolve cul- olderalso acutely worm-toxic toxic topesticides earthworms can no (14). longer Most be of used the castingtural manipulations problems. Physical alone are removal unlikely of tocasts resolve by onolder turf, worm-toxic and presently pesticides no pesticides can no longerare labeled be used for brushing,casting problems. switching Physical or dragging removal is laborious of casts and by earthwormon turf, and control presently in theno pesticidesUnited States. are labeled for Theofbrushing, only temporary switching worm benefit or dragging (8). is laborious turns: and earthworm control in the United States. of only temporary benefit (8). Peter Lees’ invention Chemical control PeterAn approach Lees’ inventionwidely used used for earthworm earthwormChemicalDuring control the past 20 years the problem of exces-castandAn cast approach suppression reduction widely from used the used early for 20th earthworm century siveDuring earthworm the past castings 20 years interfering the problem with of play exces- on untiland cast about suppression 1960 involved from the the early use 20thof chemical century ongolfsive earthwormcourses, golf sport castings fields interfering andcourses other with recreational play on expellantsuntil about that 1960 were involved applied tothe irritate use of the chemical worms, turfgolf venuescourses, has sport become fields more and serious other recreationaland wide- causingexpellants them that to were come applied to the to surfaceirritate thewhere worms, they Aspread.turf byproduct venues Why? has Pesticides become of historicallythemore teaserious usedtree and to wide- maycon- providewerecausing swept them oran toraked comeorganic up to and the discarded surfacesolution where (8). totheyThe trolspread. earthworms Why? Pesticides included historically mercuric chloride used to (alsocon- method,were swept pioneered or raked by up British and discarded greenkeeper (8). PeterThe acalledtrol long-standing earthworms corrosive sublimate), included andmercuric lead arsenate vexing chloride and (alsoproblemeven W.method, Lees faced duringpioneered theby by1890s, British was greenkeeper so effective Peter that golfsodiumcalled corrosivecourse cyanide sublimate),and superintendents. have long lead since arsenate been and banned even itW. had Lees become during the the mainstay 1890s, was for soearthworm effective sup-that becausesodium cyanidethey were and highly have longpoisonous since been (8). bannedDuring pressionit had become on European the mainstay and U.S. for golf earthworm courses by sup- the Thethebecause “The1950s following they12th and were 1960s,greenarticle highly has awas single been poisonousoriginally applicationinfested published(8). with of During chlor-thou- in the1920spressionplaying September (3,4,9,10,11). onon surfacesEuropean 2011 that(Authors’ and are U.S. more note: golf mud Leescourses than provides by turf. the issuesandsdane,the 1950s ofandat GCM. that thousandsand 1960s,time Reprint ofthe a earthworms. singlepermissionmainstay application forThe by white Oceanworm of chlor- grub cast-Organics. a1920sCompacted fascinating (3,4,9,10,11). earthworm account (Authors’ of casts his reduceexperimenting note: Leeswater provides infiltra- with ingscontrol,dane, were at wouldthatso prolific time kill the thatearthworms mainstay mowing forandwas white noteliminate possible grub thisation fascinating methodand provide onaccount pages ideal seedbedof37-43 his ofexperimenting conditions his seminal for bookwith weed withoutcastingcontrol, problems dispersingwould killfor them. asearthworms long … Theas seven turf and years.was eliminateextremely But the “Carethisestablishment. method of the onGreen,” Casts pages also 37-43available blunt of hisonlinemower seminal atblades http:// book set shallow-rootedcasting problems and for about as long 60% as seven of the years. bentgrass But theon “Careat low cuttingof the Green,”heights, availableand they mayonline be soat numer-http:// EPA cancelled chlordane registration for turfgrass archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/turfgrass/PDF/care-Article continued from last issue. theinEPA 1983 green cancelled because had died. chlordane of itsWhat buildup canregistration clubsin the with environment, for (excessive) turfgrass ofthegreen.pdf).archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/turfgrass/PDF/care-ous that putting greens cannot be mowed without earthwormharmin 1983 to because wildlife casts doof and itsto overcomechronicbuildup human inthis the problem?” environment, health risks. ofthegreen.pdf).firstLees’ physically method dispersing involved them. applying Earthworm powdered casts Manyharm— toturfgrassUSGA wildlife Green pesticides and chronicSection used humanSenior from theAgronomist’shealth 1970s risks. to mowrahon Lees’the surface mealmethod (made of greensinvolved from and seeds applyingtees of mayBassia alsopowdered latifolia affect, emailMany to turfgrass D. Potter pesticides used from the 1970s to mowrahtheplayers’ butter perceptions meal tree (made of India, of from course after seeds quality. the of Bassiaedible In 2009latifolia oil had the, beentheSports butter pressed Turf tree Research out) of and India, Institutewatering after itreceivedthe in. edible Natural more oil com- que-had Excessive earthworm casts — small mounds of ponentsbeenries about pressed in mowrahearthworms out) and meal watering than irritated any it in.theother Natural earthworms, turf com-man- soil-rich fecal matter — are a worldwide problem causingponentsagement themin problem. mowrah to come meal to irritated the surface, the earthworms, where they on golf courses and sports fields when they dis- werecausingEarthworms raked them into to piles, playcome shoveleda tovital the rolesurface, into in wheelbarrows naturalwhere theyand rupt the playability, aesthetics and maintenance of andweremanaged hauled raked grasslands intooff the piles, site. where shoveled they into literally wheelbarrows plow the playing surfaces (8,13). A single worm can pro- andsoilLees’ byhauled burrowing method off the is throughsite. regarded it (7).as among Earthworm the most tun- duce its own weight in casts in 24 hours. In Great importantnelsLees’ reduce method historicalsoil compaction is regarded innovations and as amongprovide in turf the passage- man-most Britain, estimates of the quantity of earthworm agement,importantways through in historical part which because airinnovations and it allowed water incan expansion turf percolate, man- of casts deposited on the surface range from 16 to Britishagement,enhancing golf in penetrationcourses part because on upland and it growthallowed soils, areasof expansion plant that roots. pre- of 20 tons per acre [40-50 tons/hectare] per year viouslyBritishEarthworm golfhad coursesbeenfeeding ill-suited on activity upland for stimulates soils,golf becauseareas microbial that earth- pre- on sports turf pitches, and more than 2 tons per wormsviouslydecomposition madehad been the of ill-suited puttinggrass clippings greensfor golf unplayableand because thatch earth- (4).and year on a typical 5,000-square-foot [465-square- USGAwormsaccelerates madebulletins nutrient the describedputting recycling greens mowrah (12). unplayable mealAn acre as (4). anof meter] push-up golf green (8). “outstandingUSGAturf can bulletins support efficacious moredescribed than treatment” amowrah quarter ofmealand a million aas “very an Casts adversely affect ball roll and muddy and effective“outstandingearthworms earthworm thatefficacious collectively eradicator” treatment” eat 4when tons and ofapplieda “veryclip- smother the grass when smeared or compacted by ateffectivepings the andrate earthwormother of 15 plant pounds debris,eradicator” to 1,000and turn whensquare over appliedfeet 15 tonsof tires or foot traffic so that golfers find themselves greenatof topsoil.the andrate Awateredof moderate 15 pounds liberally level to of afterward1,000 earthworm square (10,11). activity, feet Atof onegreen time, and atwatered least aliberally dozen proprietaryafterward (10,11). fertilizers At andone othertime, productsat least acontaining dozen proprietary mowrah mealfertilizers were marketedand other productsfor earthworm containing control mowrah on golf meal courses were (11).marketed Use offor the earthworm method declined control inon the golf late courses 1940s and(11). 1950sUse of withthe method development declined of in chlordane the late 1940s and otherand 1950s earthworm-toxic with development synthetic of pesticides. chlordane and otherMowrah earthworm-toxic meal is rich synthetic in saponins pesticides., natural soaps or surfactantsMowrah meal found is richin the in leaves saponins and, naturalseeds of soaps oats, spinach,or surfactants alfalfa, found chickpeas, in the leaves soybeans, and seedsginseng, of oats, tea andspinach, hundreds alfalfa, of chickpeas, other plants soybeans, (6,15). ginseng, Saponins tea haveand hundredsantifungal of andother antibacterial plants (6,15). activity Saponins and (Top left) In the 1890s Peter Lees, head greenkeeper at Mid-Surrey GC in England, introduced mow- formhave partantifungal of the plant’sand antibacterial natural defenses activity against and Danielrah(Top

Load more