A Combination of Lightweight Rolling and Sand Topdressing Programs to Decrease Pesticide Inputs and Enhance Fairway Turfgrass Quality.

Rolling has been used for centuries to achieve surface smoothness. Sand topdressing also has been used for centuries to control thatch, alter soil characteristics, and achieve surface smoothness. Although heavyweight rollers can compact the soil, lightweight rollers improve turf quality. In recent years, rollers have been used to increase ball travel on putting greens. While investigating rolling and its effect on green speeds, a scientist at Michigan State University discovered a novel strategy for plant disease management, control of dollar spot (Rutstroemia floccossum syn. Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett) with rolling regimes. Cultural practices once reserved for putting greens may prove equally beneficial to fairway turfgrass stands, with rolling regimes providing a means of reducing pesticide inputs to these areas.  The objective of this study was to compare turf grown on native soil and sand topdressed areas, and evaluate the effects of season long rolling frequency (one, three, or five times per week) on turf quality and disease severity for a mixed stand fairway of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) and annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.). No fungicide applications were used on these plots that were maintained at 0.5-in height of cut, and vibratory rollers, attached to a John Deere 2500A triplex mower, were used to administer the rolling frequency treatments. This three year investigation was initiated in July 2011 at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Turfgrass grown on the sand topdressed areas had less dollar spot incidence and rated higher in quality compared to the native soil areas in 2011. However, the hot and dry weather of June and July 2012 could be the reason for the insignificant difference in disease severity between sand and native soil plots as well as between rolling frequency treatments when compared to 2011 results.