OBJECTIVE: Monitor and manage abiotic stresses to reduce turfgrass damage and minimize environmental impact.
Determine action levels for abiotic problems at a particular site.
- Abiotic problems are non-biological agents that have the potential to cause turf damage or impart stress.
- The turf manager should have a general knowledge of sound cultural practices as well as turf damaging abiotic factors and their management.
- Abiotic stresses and associated problems, including improper cultural management techniques, can influence turf function and quality as well as pest activity.
- Action levels should be based on knowledge of the desired quality and use of the turf, careful monitoring, and a history of the site.
- Action levels for abiotic problems may be very subjective and vary greatly based on the management program, desired quality and function for a lawn. For these reasons, no general action level guidelines for management of abiotic problems are presented.
Establish and conduct a scouting program for abiotic factors that damage turf.
- Visually scout turf areas at each site visit, noting conditions which may lead to turf damage or actual symptoms of abiotic problems.
- Conduct an inclusive, in-depth scouting event annually, during late summer or early fall.
- Regularly monitor weather conditions at a weather station representative of site conditions or through reputable online sources.
- Record observations on a site map or to a list with the location identified.
- Note and record particular ‘hot spots’ or symptomatic areas that might act as indicator spots in future seasons.
- Since many abiotic problems arise as a result of specific cultural problems, determining and using corrective action may be critical to minimizing future problems.
Problem | What to look for |
---|---|
Winter desiccation |
Large areas of straw-colored grass especially where exposed to wind with little snow cover. |
Spring frost damage |
New growth killed back. |
Water and ice damage |
Straw-colored or rotted grass, especially where water collects on frozen soil. |
Salt damage |
Dead or yellowed grass along sidewalks, driveways, or roads where salt has been applied. |
Compaction |
Soil is hard. Turf is thin. Rooting is poor. |
Acid or alkaline soil |
Overall poor growth. Soil test indicates inappropriate pH for grass growth. |
Nutrient deficiency |
Yellowing or other discoloration; generally poor growth. |
Over-fertilization |
Exaggerated turf color, along with rapid growth rate; tissues succulent. |
Fertilizer misapplication |
Browned streaks lined with extra green growth can occur in areas of application overlap. Yellowed, nutrient deficient streaks may occur in missed areas. |
Wilt, drought or moisture stress |
Turf loses its luster, appears slightly off-color and ‘foot printing’ occurs. |
Overwatering |
Soil is saturated; grass is overly lush and may mat down easily. |
Poor drainage |
Waterlogged soil, puddling. |
Scalping |
Mowing height excessively low, especially on uneven terrain. |
Dull mower injury |
Turf develops grayish or brownish cast, close inspection reveals shredded leaf tips. |
Shade |
Turf is thin; leaves may appear elongated and succulent. |
Poor air circulation |
Increased leaf wetness duration, increased disease incidence. |
Excess thatch |
‘Spongy’ turf surface, water infiltration problems, thick layer of matter at soil interface. |
Excess traffic and wear |
Bruising and crushing injury to turf, compacted areas, loss of stand density. |
Animal urine damage |
Spots of browned or yellowed turf, perhaps with extra green growth around them. |
Foreign chemical (gas, oil, hydraulic fluid) damage | Sudden scorched areas of turf. |
Use cultural practices that help to prevent or mitigate problems caused by abiotic factors.
- Use proper species and cultivar selection, sound fertility, judicious irrigation, proper mowing and cultivation, integrated pest management strategies, and other appropriate cultural practices to avoid or mitigate abiotic problems.
- Take steps to remediate conditions conducive to damage from abiotic factors.
- Refer to other pertinent sections of this document regarding BMPs related to specific cultural practices.
Refer to Appendix B, ‘Calendar for Cultural Practices and Related Activities’.