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A legendary superintendent that I once worked for would deliver a severe tongue lashing if turf was ever overwatered. That same veteran would be very understanding if the decision was made not to water and turf suffered because of it. That wisdom has been reinforced over and over again in my travels as I have witnessed that managing water is the most important and often most difficult thing about managing quality turf. There is always something that complicates the seemingly simple practice of making sure the grass is watered. Either there is too much of it, not enough of it, the soil won’t absorb it, the wind is too strong, the well has dried up or the pumps have died. How can we best find this critical balance?
Excess Moisture
Prolonged rainfall, excessive irrigation, poor drainage and poor air circulation lead to excess moisture in the soil and on the turf surface. Excess moisture results in abiotic and biotic stresses responsible for turf damage and loss.
Turfgrass pathogens thrive in moist environments. Wet soils and the increase in pathogen activity results in turf disease.
Excess moisture restricts the process of gas exchange in the soil. Gas exchange is critical for respiration and photosynthesis. Turf grown in wet saturated soils cannot breathe.
Excessively wet soils result in poor playing conditions. Whether the turf is managed for golf, football, soccer or baseball, no one likes to play on soft, wet ground.
Drought
Dry conditions result from lack of irrigation, poor coverage, lack of water, or hydrophobic soils. Water is critical for all turf growth processes. Water also acts as a cooling mechanism through transpiration and evaporation. When soils hit the physiological wilt point, turf will die.
The best turf managers know that just the right amount of dry is ideal for turf health and playing conditions. A soil that has a good balance of air and water, provides the turf with the right conditions for health. The challenge is supplying just the right amount of water to allow the turf to thrive, while providing the driest conditions possible.
On the Edge
The ultimate challenge is keeping the turf alive and healthy while ensuring there isn’t excessive moisture. This is challenging and often results in errors one way or the other. The best turf managers walk the line close to the edge, and balance carefully, hoping not to fall off one way or the other.
The Guard Rail
The Turf Fuel Product Development Team is constantly trying to put ourselves in the shoes of our customers. What if we could build a guard rail on the edge of moisture management where turf managers could control moisture, yet have a safety net in case things get a bit too dry?
The latest Turf Fuel Specialty product; INFINITE is a combination of the most advanced capped polymer technology coupled with a collection of university-proven ingredients for fighting drought stress.
The surfactant system includes a patent pending capped polymer that improves longevity and reduces application rates. The drought stress component has been university tested to increase turf quality 4x over untreated controls under drought conditions. The combination gives the superintendent the confidence to get right to the edge and not worry as much about turf loss.
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Mark Jull - Target Specialty Products Proprietary Products Manager
Mark Jull is an experienced agronomist, business leader, and turf manager. Driven by curiosity and passion for helping peers, he takes pride in providing new and innovative nutritional solutions. As the Proprietary Products Manager, his goals include creating a product portfolio that empowers turf managers to take control of their plant health by creating more sustainable turfgrass systems. Mr. Jull oversees Turf Fuel, Strike Max and TS Pro brands at Target Specialty Products. In addition to his career aspirations, Mr. Jull enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and hockey with his wife and two boys in Calgary Canada.