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Clipping Volume vs. PGR GDD Models: Which is more important?
I received an interesting question following a plant growth regulator (PGR) programming webinar. The webinar covered introductory PGR topics including: PGR degradation and removal, prediction of PGR performance with growing degree day (GDD) models, and clipping volume collection. The attendee asked, “Do superintendents need to use PGR GDD models if…
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Spiio Soils Data to Drive Pest Models in GreenKeeper
Data has transformed turfgrass management. Relatively new tools such as hand-held soil moisture meters have helped turfgrass managers improve irrigation decisions for over a decade. As we move into the next decade of water efficiency, in-ground senors like those from Spiio, allow turfgrass managers to constantly monitor soil temperature, moisture…
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The Cost of High Quality Putting Greens
Jim Ager Memorial Golf Course is a municipal par-3 golf course in Lincoln, NE. This nine-hole facility was created in the mid-1960’s, and it has served as the gateway to golf for many of Lincoln’s golfers. Their mission is to provide a stress free golf experience no matter what the…
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Minimize Pesticide Resistance Development with Application Advisor
By Bill Kreuser, PhD Repeated applications of the same type of pest control product can increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance. Many of today’s pesticides are more elegant than products from several decades ago. Instead of targeting many aspects of a pest’s biochemistry or physiology, most newer products impact a…
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PGR & DMI GDD Models v2.0
By Bill Kreuser, PhD We first started talking about PGR growing degree day (GDD) models back in 2008. These models use daily average air temperature to estimate PGR longevity and help schedule PGR re-application events. The original model was limited to Primo Maxx applications on bentgrass putting greens. Since then,…
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Growth potential models can improve management efficiency
By Bill Kreuser, PhD Turfgrass response to nitrogen fertilizer depends on many factors like temperature, sunlight, water availability, root health, and soil compaction. Some factors like soil water content and compaction can be altered by turf managers with irrigation and cultivation. Other factors like sunlight (cloud cover) and air temperature…
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Weekly COVID-19 Zoom Meetings
GreenKeeper is pleased to host weekly COVID-19 meetings during this pandemic. These meetings will focus on agronomic practices, strategies, and other BMPs to help golf course superintendents… Read more “Weekly COVID-19 Zoom Meetings”
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Managing Growth Rate During COVID-19
By Bill Kreuser, PhD There is a lot of uncertainty in the turfgrass industry as we all grapple with the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The golf industry associations are working to stay up with changing regulations and policies that will impact their business (i.e. GCSAA, CMAA, PGA, USGA). A…
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The Nuance of Growing Degree Day Calculations
By Bill Kreuser, PhD For twelve years now, I’ve been talking and writing about using growing degree day (GDD) models to schedule plant growth regulator (PGR) applications. But GDD models have many other uses in turf management. For example, there are models to predict when to apply products for Poa…
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SOIL TESTING INTERPRETATION IS BROKEN
By Doug Soldat, PhD The old saying goes “don’t guess, soil test”. The thought behind this axiom is that soil testing can prevent unnecessary applications of fertilizer that would’ve been applied if not for the soil test. This is probably true in some cases; but EIFG’s recent nutrient use survey…