Additional Notes

In the world of resilient turf and amid challenging water conditions, the use of saline and reclaimed water has become increasingly vital for irrigating golf courses and expansive turf areas. Elevated levels of salts, commonly present in water sources, pose toxicity risks to plants and disrupt soil structure. Managing salinity and its related stress on putting greens and fairways presents a significant obstacle. While sodium is a primary concern in salinity management, other factors such as sodicity, specific ion toxicity, nutrients, and the complexities of water and soil analysis further compound the challenge. The typical approach to addressing high salinity involves applying a leaching fraction. However, existing leaching protocols for turf assume a uniform plant response to salinity, overlooking variations in irrigation requirements among different species and factors such as nonpoint source pollution. Selecting appropriate turfgrass species is crucial for successful salinity management, particularly given the potential challenges of integrating a leaching fraction into regular irrigation practices on golf courses. Additionally, modifying soil physicochemical properties affected by salinity provides another avenue for alleviating plant stress. While gypsum has historically been the go-to solution for mitigating sodium hazards due to its affordability, alternative strategies are increasingly accessible to golf course superintendents.

Speaker 1: Manuel Chavarria

Speaker 2: Pablo Boeri

2 hour Seminar