SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/448298
www.stma.org February 2015 | SportsTurf 35 access any soil moisture. Also, as the fungus breaks down organic matter, ammonium can accumulate to toxic levels which shuts down root function. Perhaps our current "sustainable" practices, such as a reduction in fertilizer rates, lower mowing heights, increased use of sand for topdressing and rootzone mixes all contribute to the frequent appearance of fairy ring by favoring the growth and development of these basidiomycetes in our turfgrass systems. Also, long wet/ dry cycles—either due to the weather or irrigation practices— seems to be related to the appearance of fairy ring symptoms. Back on the mushroom farm, I remember irrigating the com- post beds heavily and then using high-speed air handlers to dry out the growing rooms in order to stimulate mycelial growth and subsequent mushroom production. So, borrowing from my mushroom farming days, it appears that soil moisture manage- ment may be the key to fairy ring control in turf. Control options A fairy ring 'spot' can be eradicated by carefully removing the sod, digging out and removing the soil, replacing the rootzone mix, and seeding or sodding. This is labor intensive and time consum- ing, and could turn into a large excavating project. Mushrooms can be mowed off easily, but keep an eye that spot for further symptoms to develop, especially during drought stress periods. On close-cut turf, lush, excessive growth is easily scalped, which can lead to wilting and necrotic, damaged turf anyway. Type II symptoms can be "masked" with an appropriate dose of nitrogen or iron to get the same dark green color over an entire turf area. In addition to urea or ammonium sulfate, there are other soil approach-related products available from 3Tier Technologies, Grigg Brothers, Floratine, EarthWorks, Aqua-Aid, and others. Several fungicides are currently labeled for fairy ring in turf. For best results, follow the label very carefully, especially for pre- ventive and/or curative statements, and include some key cultural practices. For example, spike or needle tine or "punch holes" into the affected areas first. This may help get oxygen into the rootzone and displace any toxic gases. Next, apply a wetting agent (or soil surfactant) andimmediatelywater in enough to wet the rootzone to overcome any hydrophobicity. Apply the fungicide next, and immediately "rinse-in" and wash the product off the turf canopy to the thatch and rootzone target areas. Another time-saving option is to tank-mix the fungicide and wetting agent and apply together followed by irrigation. Again, check the fungicide product label for recommendations on using wetting agents. Keep in mind, repeat applications may be needed for either a preventive or curative program. It seems that every case of fairy ring is unique and different. It may be severe one year but not the next. What products or practices work on one ball field may not work at another site. As previously mentioned, soil moisture content should be considered when battling fairy ring. Soil moisture monitoring is useful to help make decisions on irrigation practices. Most importantly, the use of wetting agents should help to alleviate those extreme wet/ Penn State turf alum Tom Malehorn standing inside type I fairy ring. Left: Type I fairy ring symptoms on a football field. Right: Severe type I fairy ring on a fairway. Left: Example of a "shaggy mane" mushroom common in lawns. Right: Close-up of commercial "white button" mushroom production. Type II fairy ring on a baseball field.