Golf Course Update
In the previous edition of the Golf Newsletter we discussed the importance of maintenance practices in order to keep a golf course in prime condition and crucial to any maintenance program is fertilizer.Before any kind of fertilizer is used on a golf course, a soil sample must be taken to identify which components are missing, Furthermore, it is essential that the fertilizer used is environmentally friendly. The main ingredients in fertilizer are N-Nitrogen (Growth), P-Phosphates (Roots) and K-Potassium (Hardiness). In conjunction with NPK, products with trace elements are also used, such as Iron, Manganese, Zink, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium and Sulphur. At PPBGR we use mainly Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium based products applied through a spray tank using a technique known as "spoon feeding" and the process is done every two weeks. In addition to this process we also use "foliar feeding" whereby the product is applied via a spray rig and is absorbed by the leaves. A good example of the benefits of products with trace elements is Iron, used to improve the color of the grass. Most top golf courses use Iron on the greens before major tournaments and it is this very element that gives a great golf course its aesthetic appeal. Fertilizing also plays it part in speeding up the recovery process from disease, such as fungus. For example, when we get Dollar Spot, we need to increase the nitrogen to help the plant recover quickly. The opposite applies with a root disease such as Pythium, when we would be required to decrease the nitrogen as this will make the disease worse and help it to spread quicker. So the next time you see the Spray Rig on the course, don't curse us, we are probably busy feeding our babies! Regards, Hardus Maritz Head Golf Course Superintendent |
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