Technical Bulletin

Apply Organic Matter - Reduce turfgrass diseases

In 1997, Dr Nelson of Cornell University published an article in the July 1997 of Golf Course Management documenting maximum level of control observed of turfgrass diseases using a variety of organic amendments.

• "Organic amendments can affect a long-term change in the soil environment to favor disease–suppressive microbes."¹
• "Organic amendments not only introduce varied and diverse microbes into soils, but also provide food for microbes already present."
• "To sustain this activity, periodic applications are required."
• The goal is to increase the populations and activity of disease suppressive microbes."
• "Studies conducted over the past 10 to 15 years have clearly shown the potential for amendments to reduce the severity and incidence of a wide variety of turfgrass diseases…monthly applications composed of as little as 20 percent compost by volume applied at rates of as little as 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet are effective against diseases on turf."
• Poultry manure is a major component of the Nutrients Plus products. Approximately 4 lbs of a Nutrients Plus organic matter fertilizer per 1,000 square feet delivers similar amounts of poultry litter.

Conclusion: The addition of organic amendments such as Nutrients Plus fertilizer can aid in the suppression of certain turfgrass diseases. The actual level of disease controlled may be less than the maximum level of control observed as stated in the following chart.

[1] Nelson, Eric B, Ph.D., 1997, Biological control of turfgrass diseases, Golf Course Management, July 1997