Turf & Surface Management Flashcards

When aerifying with hollow tines on a natural grass field, what happens to the extracted soil cores?

Answer: They are removed or broken up and dragged back in

Cores are typically broken up with a drag mat and worked back into the surface or removed entirely, depending on thatch management goals.

What is the main advantage of using a sand-based root zone over a native soil field?

Answer: Improved drainage and reduced compaction

Sand-based root zones drain rapidly and resist compaction, allowing fields to be used sooner after rainfall.

Which irrigation scheduling method uses real-time weather data to replace only the water lost to evapotranspiration?

Answer: ET-based scheduling

ET-based scheduling uses evapotranspiration data from weather stations to apply only the water the turf consumed, improving efficiency.

A field is showing circular brown patches with a dark border after rainy weather. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Brown patch (Rhizoctonia) disease

Brown patch caused by Rhizoctonia solani produces circular, tan-to-brown patches with a dark smoke ring border under warm, humid conditions.

What is the purpose of overseeding a warm-season field with perennial ryegrass in the fall?

Answer: To provide winter color and playing surface while bermuda is dormant

Perennial ryegrass is overseeded into dormant bermuda to maintain a playable, green surface through winter months.

What does a 'complete fertilizer' designation mean on a product label?

Answer: It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K)

A complete fertilizer contains all three primary macronutrients—nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)—listed as the N-P-K ratio.

Which renovation technique uses vertical blades to slice through thatch and loosen the soil surface without removing material?

Answer: Verticutting (vertical mowing)

Verticutting uses vertically spinning blades to cut through thatch and mat, thinning it without extracting cores.