#2 tee compost project

As you know, we used about a ton of compost on a few tees on the course. I have noticed disease activity and the lack thereof on the 2nd tee which we split in two for a composting experiment this season.  For today's purpose of this blog, the sides of the tee I am talking about are looking back at Hole #1 with the metro tracks on the left side of the tee.  Normally I discuss things in direction the hole plays but my picture is laid out differently.  The overall health of the composted section is definitely improved from the check area on the right.  The right part of the tee has developed some Dollar Spot which is a fungus.  The composted section of the tee has no dollar spot.  Without any actual testing of the soil, I would expect the composted side to have improved beneficial microbes which hold down the population of dollar spot microbes.  Also, dollar spot is also attributed to a turf that is lacking nitrogen which can help to out grow the disease activity.  Click on the link above for additional information.
 
There is a large amount of Brown Patch which is a fungus as well on the check side.  The dollar spot and brown patch were severe enough on the check side of the tee that I had to spray it with fungicide today to get them back in check.  I am trying not to spray the compost side for brown patch but if it continues to worsen, I might have to break down and spray it.  With increases in humidity, you are seeing more of these two diseases active on the types of grass that are susceptible.  Fescue, bentgrass, poa annua, blue grass and even warm season grass such as bermuda and zoysia are showing some dollar spot activity.  High humidity levels increase the activity level of these two diseases.

#2 tee looking back toward #1.  The composted side is to the left.  Its overall appearance is better than the right.  It has more disease activity, has been requiring fungicide applications every few weeks.

This is a picture of brown patch which is below my phone holder.  These are areas that  have rings ranging in various sizes.  It has a washed out look and can cause thinning and overall weakness to the plant.  Fairly simple to treat with fungicide.  It can also be checked by changes in weather such as cooler and dryer weather.  There is also a cool season brown patch which can be seen in the winter, fall and spring.

To the left of the phone holder is dollar spot mycelium that are attacking some poa and bentgrass on the weak side of the 2nd tee.  It gets its name dollar spot from the fact that it is about the size of a silver dollar.  

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