Protect your turfgrass by flushing salts.
Water & Salt Management Are Critical To Plant Health
Posted in General, Summer Turf Management by Curtis Williams
BY DALE MILLER, AMERITURF AGRONOMIST
Summer heat and typically low rain – or no rain – is the norm across much of the country.
Moisture and salt management are very important this time of year to aid in nutrient efficiency and uptake as well as water conservation and use.
As ET rates go up, it is increasingly difficult to move salts and get moisture deep enough into the root zone to be effective.
Salt accumulation at the surface is not always visible but for those with devices like the POGO or EC meters, it is quite clear that salts are accumulating.
To effectively understand the depth of the salt accumulation and flushing events, take a surface reading then pull a 2-inch cup and take a reading at the base of the cup and evaluate the differences. Moisture will be significantly lower with salts potentially higher.
It is very important to understand the salt accumulation relative to the EC in the surface, and at depth, to further understand the salt issues that may be occurring.
Salts are in fertilizers we apply as well as the water we use, recycled water contributing the most salts by far of any source. Typically carbon-based fertility apply less, or even no salts.
That said, several types of salts generally applied from water that are most detrimental include Sodium, Sulfate Sulfur, Chloride and Bicarbonate, with Nitrate Nitrogen being another of concern.
As salts levels accumulate in the top few inches and plant, and the chemistry tolerance/threshold is reached, it becomes increasingly important to flush and ensure the flush is complete at the surface and depth to prevent floating up of salts. Use of specific products to accomplish this goal when water is poor or not enough is important.
AmeriTurf has several great options from our manufacturer partners including Green Industries, Redox, Performance Nutrition and Aquatrols.
Water management also involves poor penetration and holding of moisture this time of year. Where salts are an issue, moisture holding is not recommended, but continual movement of the salts is important.
Where water quality is not bad and moisture management of both penetration and holding are required, AmeriTurf again represents great manufacturers with products that meet specific needs and perform well in both penetration as well as holding where appropriate.
It is important to design water management correctly, understand water quality and how it impacts fertility and water use, as well soil related issues impacting water management.
Different grasses deal with drought based on tolerance but none can survive without water, and all function far less effectively if salts are accumulating and water is so low that nutrient flow is restricted.
Nutrients travel in water and are available in water so it is equally important to manage water correctly in the summer for salt accumulation, water uptake and nutrient availability.
These issues may seem complicated in some cases, but when soil management, water management and proper nutrient and flushing programs are in place, quality turf conditions are within reach even during long, hot, dry summers like this one.
Please contact your AmeriTurf Sales Consultant or Agronomist for additional information and programs that successfully manage water, salts, fertility, the soil and ultimately the plant.