Title: Turf Production Without Pesticides
1Turf Production Without Pesticides
2A Change in Attitude
- Prevention is the key
- Treating the cause rather than the symptoms
- pesticides are no longer the only way to go
- We cannot only be concerned about the specific
site we are dealing with but adjacent areas as
well - Total site management not just pest management
- We must be more knowledgeable about what is going
on in a turf
3Growing Turf Without Pesticides
- The philosophy of growing turf (or anything else)
without pesticides is simply that a healthy soil
grows healthy plants - When you feed the beneficial life in the soil,
those growing populations of microorganisms begin
to accomplish many jobs that now consume great
amounts of your time, money, and energy.
4Key Definitions
- Plant Health Care (PHC) A comprehensive system
for managing the appearance, structure, and
vitality of ornamental landscapes and sports turf
within client expectations - Site evaluation and preparation
- Plant selection, establishment, and cultivation
- Pest management
- Plant removal and utilization
- Integrated Pest Mgt. (IPM) A method for
managing pests that combines cultural,
biological, and chemical control tactics into a
single management strategy - IPM is an essential component of the PHC
management system!
5Key Definitions
- Pest any organism that
- threatens the health, structure, appearance, or
value of desirable plants - Competes with desirable plants for resources
- Diminishes personal enjoyment, comfort, or safety
in the landscape - Most organisms in the landscape are not pests
- Many organisms make positive contributions to the
landscape - A pest is not always a pest
- Not all pests require control
6Categorizing the site
- Class A
- High level of service fine ornamental lawns,
golf and lawn bowling greens, irrigated sports
fields. - Class B
- Moderate level of service general park areas,
residential and commercial lawns, boulevards,
recreational fields, golf fairways. - Class C
- Low level of service meadows, picnic areas,
rough grass, undeveloped and naturalized areas.
7 IPM is
- A pest management philosophy that utilizes all
suitable pest management techniques and methods
to keep pest populations below economically
injurious levels or below what causes damage that
is aesthetically unacceptable. - Prevention is the key
- Each pest management technique must be
environmentally sound and compatible with
turf/landscape managers objectives.
8A changing perspective on IPM and its
implementation
- an increasingly competitive market
- higher expectations
- continued societal concerns over pesticides
- increasing regulations in many areas
- newer, less-toxic products
- Treating problems rather than symptoms
9Societal and industry concerns
- Environmental concerns
- Pesticide contamination of urban creeks,
estuaries, and other waterways is an increasing
concern - Health concerns
- Chronic health concerns, environmental
sensitivities - Pesticide resistance
- Pest resurgence
- Pest replacement
10Glyphosate Resistant Buckthorn Plantain
Rates L/ha 0 2 4 6 8 10
Glyphosate resistant Susceptible
11Sustainable Landscape Practices
- Best Management Practices
- Emphasize plant health and longevity
- creating outdoor spaces that utilize fewer inputs
- are environmentally friendly
- are self-perpetuating over a period of time.
- Improve the environment by conserving resources,
reducing chemical inputs and reduce labour inputs
12Manage pests
- Most problems in lawns are not caused by pests,
such as weeds, insects or disease-causing
pathogens. - Damage is more likely the result of poor
turfgrass selection or improper maintenance
practices. - Providing proper care and using an appropriate
turfgrass species can prevent the majority of
lawn problems.
13Does IPM work?
- If our team invested time monitoring the turf
conditions and paid attention to what were the
stressors on a specific area such as a sports
field, we knew we could keep the area very
healthy with good plant cultural practices,
-Karen Richter, Organizational Leader of Parks
Maintenance at the City of Waterloo. - With the consistent application of sound
horticultural practices, Waterloo decreased its
use of pesticides at a steady pace throughout the
1980s. By the mid-1980s, the city had eliminated
blanket spraying. By 1990, Waterloo spot sprayed
less than 10 per cent of its green space.
14Basic Principles of IPM
- A dense, vigorously growing, healthy plant
population will resist invasion by pests - Pests must be kept below levels that are
incompatible with the purpose of the desirable
species
15A Good Pest Management Strategy
- A good pest management strategy incorporates some
or all methods available to manage a given pest. - The goal
- to reduce pest populations and damage to
economically and aesthetically tolerable levels.
Complete eradication may not be possible,
practical, or desirable.
16A Good Pest Management Strategy
- Prevention
- Prevention the introduction and/or spread of a
pest - Into or away from a site
- Exclusion One of the safest and most effective
ways to manage pests in the home environment is
to deny them access - pest-proofing - Exclusion by Regulation
- Mechanical Exclusion
17What does a Turf IPM program look like
Tom Voigt and Tom Fermanian - University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
18Establishing new turf
- Rapid establishment of turf is desirable
- Reduces erosion
- Suppresses weed seed germination and weed growth
- Optimum seeding rates (1.5-2.5 kg 100m2)
- Healthy turf to enter winter
19Pre-plant weed control
- Cultivation
- Irrigate to allow germination of weeds in
planting bed. - Follow up with a shallow (less than 1 inch)
cultivation after weeds have emerged but before
they get too big (usually before they have 4
leaves). - Repeat the irrigation and cultivation cycle two
or three times for best results. - Summer cultivation for perennials
- For perennial weeds, it is ideal to repeatedly
cultivate soil in summer, keeping it completely
dry for extended periods to dehydrate propagules
(stems, rhizomes, or tubers). - Herbicide application
- Irrigate to allow germination of weed seeds in
planting bed. - Apply non-selective herbicide, such as
glyphosate. - Repeat the irrigation and herbicide cycle if
necessary. -
- Solarization
- Solarization is very effective during the hottest
part of the year. Six weeks are required for best
results
20Role of soil microorganisms
- Fertilize by fixing nitrogen from the air,
mineralizing soil organic nutrient, generating
carbon dioxide, and dissolving mineral nutrient
from rock - De-thatch by composing thatch and other organic
matter into valuable nutrients and humus, which
in turn increase the water and nutrient holding
capacity of the soil - Aerate the soil
- Control many insect and disease problems by
competition and predation
21Soil amendments and fertilizers
- Fertilizers vs. soil amendments
- Fertilizers improve the supply of nutrients in
the soil, directly affecting plant growth. Soil
amendments improve a soil's physical condition
(e.g. soil structure, water infiltration),
indirectly affecting plant growth. - Topsoil
- Topsoil may be added to raise the soil level to a
minimum depth of 6 to 8 inches. - The topsoil should be mixed into the existing
soil. - Soil pH
- The ideal soil pH ranges from 6.0 - 7.0.
- Grass loses it comprtitive ability at lower pH
22Soil amendments
- Organic (material) amendments
- Organic material improves soil structure.
- Organic material can be added to sandy soils to
increase nutrient and moisture retention. - Clay soils can also be amended with organic
material to help loosen the soil and provide
better aeration and drainage. - Compost is the easiest organic material to use.
- A rotary tiller works best to incorporate the
organic material to your soil. - A layer of 1 - 2 inches spread over your site
should be tilled to a depth of 3 - 6 inches.
23Choose and identify your turf species
- Successful selection of a turf grass requires
knowing how the turf will be used, where it will
be grown and what level of quality is desired - Failure to properly identify a turf grass species
can lead to mistakes in maintenance. - not all turf grass species tolerate the same
mowing height or frequency. - Irrigation frequency and the amount of water
needed vary among species as do the frequency and
amount of fertilizer. - Turf grasses also differ in how they adapt to
sun, shade, and temperature. - Most lawns are mixtures of various turf grass
species.
24Endophytic grasses
- Endophyte is a naturally occurring fungus that
grows symbiotically in the grass plant. - It produces compounds that prevent insects from
feeding on the leaves and stems of the plant. - Improved performance under low maintenance
situations makes some of the endophytic forms
good candidates for low maintenance uses such as
on roadside right of ways and in parks. - The presence of the fungus improves plant vigour
and helps with resistance to some environmental
stresses. - Avanex - endophyte tall fescue for airports
research has shown that it reduces bird
populations by 87
25Concerns with endophytic grasses
- Animal toxicity alkaloids -Ergovaline
- Reduced biodiversity
- Invasive species
- Storage issues that affect the viability of the
endophytes therefore, variety may not perform
as expected
26Lawn care for established lawns
- No two lawns are exactly alike. Lawns may differ
by turf species, soil type, climate, location,
how they are used, and how they are maintained.
Tailor a program with the specifics of your
situation in mind. - A good maintenance program includes
- Mowing
- Irrigating
- Fertilizing
- Dethatching
- Aerating
- A well-planned and executed maintenance program
will produce good-looking, green turf grass that
will quickly recover from wear, pest damage, or
mechanical injury
27Lawn renovation
- Some causes of lawns deterioration
- from poor maintenance,
- inadequate drainage
- heavy traffic
- pest problems,
- weed invasions,
- simply because the wrong grass species was
planted.
28Lawn Renovation
- Neglected lawns
- Take better care of your lawn and bring it back
to life with regular maintenance. - Localized problems - Partially renovate your lawn
by patching. - Problem areas spread throughout the lawn
- Overseed your lawn.
- Severe problems encompassing more than 40 of the
lawn - Completely renovate your lawn by killing it and
starting over from scratch. - Don't repeat mistakes! Find the cause of your
problems before you renovate
29Weeds as stress indicators in turf
Species Condition Annual bluegrass low
fertility, compact soil, mowing too short,
excessive moisture Buttercup Excessive
moisture Chickweed thin grass, excessive
moisture Clover low nitrogen, drought,
compaction Crabgrass thin grass, low fertility,
compaction Dandelion thin grass, low fertility,
mowing too short Hawkweed low pH
30Weeds as stress indicators in turf
Species Condition Sheep sorrel low
pH Moss heavy shade, low fertility, low
pH Plantain low fertility, mowing too
short Dock excessive moisture Creeping
charlie excessive shade
31Overseeding a lawn
- When should you overseed?
- Your lawn appears to be in good condition, but
just a little thin - Thinning lawn following winter
- High traffic areas
- Always determine and solve the cause of your
current problem before beginning repairs, and
plan to seed at a time of year appropriate to the
planted turf species. - What should you overseed with?
- If your lawn is in relatively good condition in
most areas, choose the seed mix you used in the
past or turf recommended for overseeding
32- Overseeding your lawn
- Closely mow the turf and rake up the debris
- Dethatch and aerate
- Seed, fertilize, and irrigate
- Maintenance
- Patching the lawn with seed, sod, sprigs, plugs,
stolons - Dig out the affected area
- Work the soil
- Replant with seed, sod, stolons, sprigs, plugs
- Complete renovation
- Kill the existing turf and weeds
- Remove the remaining turf
- Rethink your irrigation system
- Prepare the soil
33Thinning lawn
34What are the abiotic stress factors
35Examples of poor design that can lead to problems
36Abiotic factors
37Abiotic factors
38Abiotic factors
39Abiotic factors
- Uneven fertilizer application
40Abiotic factors
41Abiotic factors
- Glyphosate (Roundup damage)
42Abiotic factors
43Abiotic factors
44Abiotic factors
45Abiotic factors
46Components of a Sustainable Urban Landscape/Golf
Course Program
- Fertility management
- Mowing practices
- Water management
- Traffic management
- Weed management
- Disease and insect management
Integrated pest (turf) management
47A pest management philosophy
- Recognizes there is no cure-all in pest
control. - Dependence on any one pest management method will
have undesirable effects. - Determine and correct the cause of the pest
problem. - Understanding Pest biology and ecology is
essential. - Manipulate the environment to the crops
advantage and to the detriment of the pest. - Recognizes that eradication of a pest is seldom
necessary or even desirable, and generally not
possible. - Some damage is unavoidable and acceptable
48- Effective pest management plans
- are comprehensive in scope
- integrate agronomic and biological principles
- integrates cultural, biological and chemical pest
control practices. - They provide proven, science-driven and reliable
methods for resolving the sometimes conflicting
goals that golf course superintendents face - producing consistently high quality, high
playability turf - at the same time reducing environmental impacts
and keeping within budget constraints.
49Toolbox of management tactics
Biological Controls Cultural Controls Mechanical
Controls Chemical Controls
Decision-making aids
Proper Pest Identification Pest Monitoring
Methods Environmental Monitoring
Use of Degree Days Models economic injury Action
thresholds
Knowledge of pest/host/ecosystem biology
Life Cycle
Behaviour
Seasonal Cycle
Population dynamics
Interaction
Schematic of IPM Concept
50Approaches for Turf Protection using IPM
- Regulation using certified seed, sod, sprigs
- Genetic selection of the best adapted
species/cultivars for the location - Cultural a healthy grass means fewer problems
- Physical isolating areas where pests are a
problem - Biological favouring natural competition
- Chemical
51- The ability to identify, understand the biology
and stay abreast of control strategies for golf
course pests including weeds, diseases, insects
and other arthropods and nematodes is essential
for development and implementation of IPM plans.
52Each Pest Control Technique Must be
Environmentally SoundRisk vs. Benefits
53AndCompatible with With Producers Objectives
54Pest Identification
- What are the key pests to be managed in the
system, what are their life cycles, how do they
reproduce and how do they disperse. - Text books
- Fact sheets
- Specialists
- Expert pest id systems
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59Monitoring - Whats Needed
- Site Descriptions
- Past history, soil factors, fertility level,
drainage, management - Develop a descriptive and predictive models
- What pests are most likely to occur, ways in
which they can be introduced and seriousness of
the problem - Identify and fill in knowledge gaps
- Life cycles, reproductive strategy
- Biology, ecology
-
60MONITORING
- Based on visual inspections (rough estimations)
and on pest counts, presence - It is important to keep written records of all
counts, as well as notes from visual inspections
for future reference. - Photographs are useful as a record.
61Diagnosing your problem
- Lawn problems are difficult to diagnose, and the
diagnosis process can be quite complex. - Remember that most turf grass problems are caused
by improper management practices, not by insects
or diseases. - Before you begin the diagnostic process, take a
look at how you manage your lawn. You may be able
to solve your problem by simply changing your
cultural practices.
62Diagnostic tips
- Know the history of your lawn
- Know your predominant turf species
- Identify the problem when you first see symptoms
- Check for symptoms in the early morning
- Collect entire grass plant samples
- Perform a drench test
- Get help
63Drench test
64Winter dessication
65Pink Snow Mold
66Gray Snow mold
67anthracnose
- Colletotrichum graminicola
68Colletotrichum graminicola
69Dollar spot
70Fairy ring
71Crane flies
72White grubs
73Japanese Beetle
74European Chafer
75Chafer Damage
76June Bug
77Black Turfgrass Ataenius
78Black Turfgrass Ataenius damage
79White Grubs
Japanese Beetle
European Chafer
June Beetle
80Chinch bug
81Action Threshold
- Pest Population at which a grower must take
action to prevent a pest populations from
reaching the economic injury level - Economic threshold is slightly below the economic
injury level - Pest populations must be increasing
82Economic Injury Level (Aesthetic)
Action Threshold
Pest Density
Pest Population
Time
83Action thresholds
- In turf, it is difficult to put a dollar value
- Therefore it is dictated by the individuals
tolerance for pest damage -aesthetic - Aesthetic threshold similar to economic
threshold except based on what is visually
unacceptable - Most lawns can withstand some loss of foliage
without quality and growth being affected - May need to adjust aesthetic sensitivities to
allow for a little more damage
84To Keep Pests Below the Economic Injury Level
- Economic Injury Level
- Cost of control amount of damage caused by
the pest - Includes amount of pest damage
- Cost of each control practice
- Are determined through extensive research
- Economic Injury Level is the information that is
necessary to develop an Economic Threshold, which
is used by crop advisors
85Action thresholds of some common pests
Pest Number per sq. ft. Monitoring method
Army worms 3-4 Visual, soap flush
Chinch bugs 20 adults Flotation, soap flush
Cutworms 1 Visual, soap flush
White grubs 3-4 Visual
86Action thresholds for cranefly
Average larvae per sq. ft Decision
0- 25 Do nothing fertilize appropriately. May need to treat if turf is young, not well established and with poor root structure
25 - 50 If your lawn is vigorous and healthy, do nothing. Decisions are based on the health of the turf, your personal tolerance, location and use of the turf
50-80 Treat crane fly problem. Look towards long-term solutions, such as replacing problem areas with a turf alternative species.
87Insect traps for monitoring
- omnidirectional shape
- smooth poly surface
- scientifically tapered cone
- attractive, permanent yellow color
88Growing degree days
- Daily high daily low/2 base development
temperature of the insectdaily degree days - Below the base development temperature the insect
will not develop. Insects vary in their base
development temperature. The base development
temperature of European corn borer is 7oC
89Example
- Can use a max-min thermometer
- Max 25oC
- Min 10oC
- Average 17.5oC
- Subtract base temperature 7oC
- Total degree days 10.5
- Cumulative total
90Chinch bug and damage
91Hairy Chinch Bug
- Blissus leucopterus hirtus
- Immature nymphs - bright red in colour when they
first hatch, and begin to darken from brick red
to grey/brown when they are nearly mature - Characteristic white band across their abdomen
which is eventually covered by the enlarging
wings as the insects become larger and mature.
92Control - monitoring
- obtain a large can which has a circular area of
approximately 200 centimetres - cut out the bottom and the top to form a cylinder
and force this into the turf - fill the cylinder with water, the chinch bugs
will soon float to the surface where they can be
seen
93Growing degree days Chinch bug
- max temperature min temperature base
temperature - 2
- 427 and 877 degree-days (7ºC base, air
temperature) - numbers of second and third instar nymphs peak
between mid-July and mid-August. - Threshold -100 nymphs per sq ft.
- Based on growing degree-days for
- normal years - monitor for chinch
- bugs from July 1 to mid-August.
94Annual bluegrass
- BIOLOGY
- a winter annual, cool-season grass.
- The leaf tips are boat-shaped like the bow of a
boat. - Poa has a prominent membranous ligule and a
shallow, fibrous root system. - The plant oftentimes is lighter green than
perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and
creeping bentgrass.
95Annual Bluegrass
96Annual Bluegrass
- Annual Bluegrass is a lighter green colour than
Kentucky Bluegrass or Fine Fescue and therefore
causes discoloration throughout the lawn - It has a tendency to thin out and die during
summer drought conditions. This can cause areas
of patching which weeds and insects will take
advantage of. - its seed head production is higher than Kentucky
Bluegrass or Fine Fescue, which causes the lawn
to appear overrun and not well maintained and
gives it an unsightly look.
97Control of Annual Bluegrass
- Use certified seed and cut out and re-seed bare
areas or overseed later in season - Aerating your lawn once a year
- Water deeply and infrequently to encourage good
root development in your Fescue and Bluegrass
lawns. - Mow at 2 1/2 to 3 inches to discourage
development of seed heads.U - Unless a soil test recommends otherwise, cut back
on applying high phosphorus fertilizers - Slow release N fertilizers and spread over the
summer
98Control
- Insecticides
- cultural and mowing practices that minimize
thatch accumulation - WATCH FOR Chinch bugs when weather turns hot and
dry - Weekly deep waterings
99Should Pesticides be used in an IPM Program?
- Pesticides used only as a last resort and in a
manner that is legal. - Pesticides are to be used when there is no risk
of environmental damage or when benefits outweigh
the risks. Use pesticides only when other control
practices arent available, economical or
practical. - Must monitor pest populations in the field.
- Identify the pest
- Compare pest population and the economic
threshold - Life stage susceptible to pesticide?
- Crop stage and preventable loss.
100What is Cultural Control
- Agronomic practices that are designed to
- Optimize growing conditions for the desirable
plants. Anything that increases a plants
competitive edge will result in increased
tolerance to pests often resulting in reduced
pesticide use. - Create unfavorable conditions for the pest
- E.g. fertility management, irrigation scheduling,
mowing heights
101What is Mechanical Control?
- Uses machinery and/or other tools to control
pests - Mowing
- Physical barriers
- Mulches
- Floating mulch
- Greens covers
102What is Sanitary Control?
- Methods to avoid introducing a pest into a site
- Cleaning equipment mowers, golf carts,
fertilizer applicators - Planting certified seed
- Quarantines
103What is Natural Control?
- Enhancement of naturally occurring pest
management methods - Beneficial insects
- Beneficial diseases
104What is Biological Control?
- Manipulation of biological organism to control
pests - Release of predators/parasites/disease of an
insect or weed - Can be time consuming, expensive and difficult
- E.g. cinnabar moth,
105Registered Bioherbicides
- 1992 - Biomal for roundleaf mallow control
- 2003 Chontrol for woody shrubs along rights
of way - 2007 Sarritor limited use of Sclerotinia
minor on dandelion
106Dandelion
107Dandelion control
108Biological Pesticides
Herbicides Fungicides Insecticides
Sarritor Biomal Chontrol Nivalis Mycostop Rootshield Serenade (Bacillus Subtilis) Rhapsody BTK Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) Beauveria bassiana
109Constraints for use of biological pesticides
- Environmental
- Specific temperature and moisture requirements
- Formulation
- Shelf life
- Specificity
110Natural Products
Herbicides Fungicides Insecticides
Acetic acid (vinegar) Citric Acid Organosol (Lactic acid/citric acid) Fiesta (FeHDTA) Elemental Sulphur Garlic powder Borax Garlic oil
111What is Host Plant Resistance?
- Manipulating the plant to withstand or tolerate
pests - Natural breeding method
- Genetically modified plants
- Not a permanent method of control
- Examples resistant varieties, endophyte grasses
112Barriers to adaptation of IPM
- There is a large gap between the general IPM
principles found in textbooks and the development
of site-specific strategies that address issues
of climate and weather, turf varieties, soil and
water quality, specific pest complexes,
client/golfer expectations and varying budgets. - There are currently few tools available to
landscapers/superintendents that bridge this gap,
and as a result, IPM programs are rarely realized
to their full potential.
113Barriers to adaptation of IPM
- Once IPM plans are developed, they cannot remain
static. - Shifts in pest populations
- Changes in client/golf course expectations and
budgets - The introduction of new products, technologies
and scientific information - Require methods of evaluating new advances as
well as procedures for periodic updating of IPM
plans.
114Barriers to adaptation of IPM
- Monitoring (for pests, weather, equipment
operation/calibration and for the quality of
water, soil and turf) and record keeping are the
backbone of any successful IPM program - Information on monitoring and record keeping
tools and procedures needs to be centralized and
presented in a form that is easily accessible to
landscapers/golf course superintendents.
115Barriers to adaptation of IPM
- Objective evaluation of the success (or failure)
of newly introduced practices in meeting turf
maintenance goals. - Without tools for assessing the effectiveness of
new techniques, the landscapers/superintendents
ability to justify and promote their management
decisions can be compromised.
116Barriers to adaptation of IPM
- Superintendents vary widely in their technical
backgrounds, computer literacy access to
information. -
- And golf courses vary widely in their interest in
IPM principles and the budgets available to
implement them. - Yet the ability to incorporate IPM into turf
management programs should be feasible for all
interested superintendents and golf courses - Rather than assuming a one size fits all
approach to IPM, successful plans need to be
flexible enough to take these differences into
account and to make it possible for
superintendents at levels to participate.
117- IPMgolfpro SPRAY SCOUT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
- IPM golfpro is a web based software specifically
designed for golf course Superintendents to track
and manage their Spray and Scout activities. - IPM golfpro offers the following
- Easy to use and understand
- Plan, execute, track and document your pest
management strategies - Generate reports required by the IPM regulatory
legislation - Track your Fertilizer and Pesticide usage
- Calibrate your Sprayers
- Track your staff Training history
118- Subscription
- Annual subscription to IPM golfpro software
includes initial course setup, technical support,
maintenance and updates - PRICING Annual Subscription in CAD (plus
applicable taxes) - Number of Holes
- 9 349
- 18 698
- 27 1047
- 36 1396