Effects of Belonolaimus longicaudatus Management and Nitrogen Fertility on Turf Quality of Golf Course Fairways

摘要

Field experiments evaluated the effects of nematicide and fertility on performance of 'Tifway 419' bermudagrassparasitized by the sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus). Plot treatments were nontreated or nematicide (1,3 dichloropropene) treated combined with different nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels. Effects of treatments on numbers of B. longicaudatusand turf performance were compared. Nematicide consistently reduced numbers of B. longicaudatus, but fertilizer level had no effecton B. longicaudatus. Turf performance of nematicide-treated plots was improved compared with nontreated plots during bothexperiments. Increasing N fertilizer level improved turf performance in nematicide-treated plots in some cases, but had no effecton turf performance in nontreated plots in either experiment. Results suggest that increasing N fertilizer levels may not improveturf performance at sites infested with B. longicaudatus unless nematode management tactics are effective in reducing nematodedensities.