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The USGA has been funding a study at Rutgers University to assess different root zone mixes for putting greens over time under two environmental conditions. The primary objective of the 1998 growing
season was to evaluate the establishment of creeping bentgrass as affected by the sand size distribution and amendment used in the root zone mixes. The 37 root zone treatments constructed in either one or two
microenvironments of the field research facility at North Brunswick, NJ were seeded to 'L-93' creeping bentgrass turf on May 31, 1998.
Microenvironment did affect bentgrass establishment, however, this was not a strong
influence in the two studies. A greater affect on establishment was observed in the amendment study compared to the sand size distribution study. The fastest establishment was exhibited by the ZeoPro-amended
plots. All of the amendments enhanced establishment, but not to the extent of the ZeoPro. At 30 days after seeding (DAS) ZeoPro had achieved a rating of 8.5 of 9 points, while Profile was at 6, peat was at 6 and the
control sand was at 3. ZeoPro maintained these high ratings for the entire rating period of 84 days, whereas Profile ratings became similar to the unamended sand after 40 DAS.
The
four pictures below show the plots
containing ZeoPro, Profile, peat and the sand only control. The pictures were taken on June 25, 1998 which was 26 days after seeding. |
