Turfgrass Pest Management
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MSUE Pesticide Education Program TurfgrassTurfgrass PestPest ManagementManagement TrainingTraining forfor CommercialCommercial PesticidePesticide ApplicatorsApplicators Category 3A Developed by Greg Patchan, Julie Stachecki, and Kay Sicheneder MSUE Pesticide Education Program PrinciplesPrinciples ofof PestPest ManagementManagement Chapter 1 A pesticide applicator doesn’t just apply pesticides. Social and legal responsibilities accompany the use of toxic materials. MSUE Pesticide Education Program Pesticide application must protect plant material from pest injury without endangering nontarget organisms. MSUE Pesticide Education Program Integrated Pest Management MSUE Pesticide Education Program IPMIPM n Use of all available strategies to manage pests. n Achieve acceptable yield and quality. n Least environmental disruption. MSUE Pesticide Education Program IPMIPM PestPest ControlControl StrategiesStrategies n Resistant varieties n Cultural practices n Natural enemies n Mechanical controls n Pesticides n IPM is NOT anti-pesticide IPMIPM waswas developeddeveloped forfor agricultureagriculture because....because.... n No one method achieves long term pest management. n Pest management is a part of plant care. n Reduce costs. n Failures, resistance, pollution were the lessons. MSUE Pesticide Education Program IPMIPM StepsSteps forfor TurfgrassTurfgrass n Detection of what is injuring turfgrass. n Identification of agents injuring turfgrass. n Economic significance. n Selection of methods. n Evaluation. MSUE Pesticide Education Program Detection-MonitoringDetection-Monitoring n Benefits:Benefits: – Discover pests present – Determine life cycle stage – Detect low level populations, So: • serious injury is prevented • more options are available • less toxic methods possible MSUE Pesticide Education Program ScoutingScouting TechniquesTechniques n Visual inspection n Coffee can technique n Disclosing solutions n Turf roll-back n Golf cup-cutter samples MSUE Pesticide Education Program MSUE Pesticide Education Program MSUE Pesticide Education Program MSUE Pesticide Education Program MonitoringMonitoring n Scouting n Monitor weather n Degree days (CAT Alerts) n Phenology (Coincide) – Plant/pest development relationships MSUE Pesticide Education Program Create a standard sheet for recording monitoring data. MSUE Pesticide Education Program ProblemProblem IdentificationIdentification n KnowKnow healthyhealthy turfgrassturfgrass – Species/variety – Growing requirements MSUE Pesticide Education Program ProblemProblem IdentificationIdentification n KnowKnow thethe agentsagents thatthat damagedamage turfgrassturfgrass:: – Cultural - environmental – Weeds – Diseases (fungal) – Insects – Animals MSUE Pesticide Education Program DiagnosingDiagnosing TurfgrassTurfgrass DisordersDisorders n Symptoms n Investigate the environment n Turfgrass history n Investigation tools n References n Diagnostic Lab n Multiple causes possible MSUE Pesticide Education Program CostCost ofof ControlControl Benefit MSUE Pesticide Education Program EconomicEconomic SignificanceSignificance n Economic injury level – Cost vs. benefit n Aesthetic injury level – unacceptable injury • Whose decision? n Action threshold – Pest level starting management action – e.g., 5 grubs per square foot MSUE Pesticide Education Program FactorsFactors AffectingAffecting InjuryInjury LevelsLevels n Tolerance of pest damage n Visibility or use of turf area n Level of maintenance n Health and vigor of the turf n Greatest possible pest injury to the host n Expected impact of natural controls MSUE Pesticide Education Program Setting turfgrass injury levels that reflect specific pest and host conditions is the cornerstone of IPM. MSUE Pesticide Education Program SelectionSelection ofof MethodsMethods n ManyMany factorsfactors limitlimit pestpest populations:populations: – Weather – Natural enemies – Plant defenses – Controls implemented by people ChooseChoose ControlControl Methods...Methods... n Least toxic to nontarget organisms n Enhance natural controls n May permanently limit the pest n Least hazardous for the applicator n Most likely to stay on the target area MSUE Pesticide Education Program FactorsFactors ThatThat LimitLimit OptionsOptions n Budget n Availability of equipment n Availability of labor n Time n Availability of products n Public/client acceptance of methods MSUE Pesticide Education Program EvaluationEvaluation n Was turfgrass protected from serious injury? n Negative consequences? – Environmental impacts – Promotion of other pests n Practical? n Cost effective? MSUE Pesticide Education Program Evaluate the results of management efforts. Generate complete and accurate records. MSUE Pesticide Education Program Pests can’t be maintained below threshold levels for long periods of time solely through the use of pesticides. MSUE Pesticide Education Program Practical, economical and environmentally sound pest management requires the use of all aspects of IPM. TurfgrassTurfgrass PestPest ManagementManagement (Category(Category 3A)3A) CareCare ofof TurfgrassTurfgrass Chapter 2 MSUE Pesticide Education MSUE Pesticide Education EcologicalEcological BenefitsBenefits ofof TurfgrassTurfgrass n Oxygen n Reduced production leaching n Reduced n Cooling erosion n Pesticide n Pollutant degradation absorption MSUE Pesticide Education TurfgrassTurfgrass Disorders:Disorders: Non-PestNon-Pest n Improper species selection n Lack of air movement n Too hot, dry or wet weather n Too much or not enough nutrients MSUE Pesticide Education TurfgrassTurfgrass Disorders:Disorders: Non-PestNon-Pest n Soil compaction n Competition from other plants n Excessive wear or traffic n Too much thatch MSUE Pesticide Education TurfgrassTurfgrass Disorders:Disorders: Non-PestNon-Pest n Improper height of cut n Too much or little sunlight n Poorly maintained mower n Improper irrigation MSUE Pesticide Education TurfgrassTurfgrass Disorders:Disorders: PestPest n Animal Pests Pest problems are often the result, not n Insect Pests the cause, of poor quality turf. n Weeds n Disease Pests MSUE Pesticide Education RequirementsRequirements forfor HealthyHealthy TurfTurf n Water n Soil organisms n Temperature n Nutrients n Sunlight n Soil type and condition MSUE Pesticide Education Water has the greatest influence on turf health and quality. Cooling takes place through transpiration. Without sufficient water, I’ll go dormant. MSUE Pesticide Education TemperatureTemperature && ClimateClimate n Cool season grasses: – Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues, tall fescue, bentgrass n Transition grasses: – Tall fescue, bermudagrass n Warm season grasses: – Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, centepedegrass, bahiagrass MSUE Pesticide Education Michigan is a cool - cold growing zone. Shoot growth greatest between 60-75F. Root growth optimum with soil temperatures between 50-65F. MSUE Pesticide Education Temperatures above these ranges affect the entire grass plant. Respiration Photosynthesis = EnergyEnergy ShortageShortage MSUE Pesticide Education SunlightSunlight n Required for photosynthesis n Species and cultivar preferences n Most grasses require at least partially sunny sites MSUE Pesticide Education ShadedShaded turfturf MSUE Pesticide Education SoilSoil TypesTypes MSUE Pesticide Education SoilSoil n SoilSoil isis composedcomposed of:of: – Inorganic particles (minerals) – Organic matter (remains of organisms) – Water – Air – Soil organisms MSUE Pesticide Education An ideal soil contains: • 50% organic and inorganic solid particles, and • 50% open space (soil pores). Pores are filled with water or air depending on soil type, drainage, and season. MSUE Pesticide Education SoilSoil TextureTexture n Percentages of sand, silt, clay particles Sand Silt Clay MSUE Pesticide Education SandSand n Large particles & large pores – Limited water and nutrient holding capacity – Limited compaction – Rapid water infiltration MSUE Pesticide Education ClayClay n Small particles & small pores – Compacts – Slow drainage & water infiltration – Holds moisture – Holds nutrients – Poor aeration MSUE Pesticide Education IdealIdeal SoilSoil n Composite of soil particle sizes and organic matter with: – Good water and nutrient holding capacity – Good aeration – Resists compaction MSUE Pesticide Education SoilSoil pHpH n pH is a measure of soil acidity 1 5 7 7.5 13 Very Neutral Very Acidic Alkaline Range for turfgrass MSUE Pesticide Education pH affects nutrient availability. Determine pH with a soil test. Use lime to raise and sulfur to lower pH. MSUE Pesticide Education NutrientsNutrients n Nutrient holding capacity determined by % of clay particles and organic matter. n Nutrient levels constantly change in the soil. MSUE Pesticide Education Even when you suspect turf is showing symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, soil testing is the only reliable method of diagnosis. MSUE Pesticide Education Nutrients:Nutrients: OverviewOverview n Nitrogen (N) n Phosphorus (P or P2O5) n Potassium (K or K2O) n Micronutrients MSUE Pesticide Education NitrogenNitrogen n Used in largest quantities – Dry clippings are about 5% N by weight n Turf most responsive to N n Deficiencies: – Poor color, growth – Symptoms develop easily because N levels can change quickly 24-4-8 MSUE Pesticide Education NitrogenNitrogen n Periodic applications needed for good quality. n Do not exceed 1lb./1,000 sq. ft./appl. – Do not over apply nitrogen – Too much N = weak, lush turf n N can move and contaminate water sources. 24-4-8 MSUE Pesticide Education PhosphorusPhosphorus n Important