This is a service provided by RUcore, Rutgers University Community Repository. https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/48711/syndicate/rss/ Copyright 2018, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey cmmills@libraries.rutgers.edu (RUcore Syndication Service) en-us RUcore Syndication System, v1.0 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 RUcore, Rutgers University Repository RSS Record Syndication https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/48711/ https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3H41TDT Wang, Ruying Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Topdressing sand is applied to maintain desirable surface root zone characteristics on golf course putting greens; however, coarse sand interferes with mowing and playability. Additionally, sand topdressing applied to annual bluegrass (Poa annua L. f. reptans [Hauskins] T. Koyama) turf can reduce anthracnose severity (caused by Colletotrichum cereale Manns sensu lato Crouch, Clarke, and Hillman). Three field trials were conducted from 2010 to 2013 to evaluate the effect of sand size and topdressing rate on turf performance, disease severity and surface root zone characteristics. Increasing topdressing rate was more effective at improving the quality of ‘Greenwich’ velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) turf than varying sand size; however, a substantial quantity of sand particles remained on the surface when medium-coarse sand was applied. Conversely, topdressing with medium-fine sand was readily incorporated into the turf. All topdressing treatments increased saturated hydraulic conductivity estimated from tension infiltrometer measurements. Topdressing annual bluegrass turf with medium-coarse, medium, or medium-fine sand improved turf quality and suppressed anthracnose severity compared to non-topdressed turf, and finer sands were much easier to incorporate into the turf than medium-coarse sand. Increasing topdressing rate from 0 to 1.2 and 2.4 L m-2 during the spring was more effective at improving turf quality and reducing anthracnose severity than increasing the rate of autumn topdressing. Topdressing rates (0, 0.075 or 0.15 L m-2 applied every two weeks) during the summer were too low to consistently reduce anthracnose severity and increase turf quality. Increasing spring or autumn topdressing rate reduced organic matter concentration and increased mat layer depth more than summer topdressing. Across all trials, increasing topdressing rates also reduced volumetric water content of the 0- to 3.8-mm surface root zone. Plots topdressed with greater quantities of sand often had decreased surface hardness when measured with a Clegg Impact Soil Tester; however, a depth measuring penetrometer indicated that surface strength often increased. The beneficial effects of topdressing with medium-fine sand suggest that sands finer than typically used for construction of root zones may be useful for topdressing putting green turf. Additionally, topdressing during spring is more effective than autumn for suppressing anthracnose disease.