PEST MANAGEMENT organisms . So why do we treat the entire fields the same when we know that some areas are clearly struggling more than other areas ? Because it is the safer route ( CYA !), and one that we ’ re more comfortable with . It is also perceived to be the easier route because of mixing up the tank , turning on the spray booms , and driving . I get it . I see the reason for treating everything the same . But pesticides cost money . Fertilizer costs money . Solid-tining a field takes time and money . Plus , even the safest chemicals ( most new active ingredients fall in this category ) can still have some negative environmental consequences , and the public is always watching . Now , let ’ s circle back around to the pesky concept of precision turfgrass management so we can start thinking about saving money and enhancing our environmental profile .
On the surface , precision turfgrass management sounds easy ; and sometimes it can be . We find out where the problems are occurring , and we address the problem only in that area . But it can also get much more complicated in a hurry , and that is when many people begin to tune out the noise . It can be like traveling to a different country where another language is spoken , and that takes us out of our comfort zone . If you ’ ve never heard of waypoint navigation , orthomosaicking , or georectification , you ’ re not alone . These were all new concepts to my group not too long ago , but we have started to incorporate these things into our language . And now we are able to understand how a pest incidence map can point us to where problems need to be addressed . But let ’ s start simple .
Pest incidence maps can be built in a variety of ways with varying levels of technology . I started decades ago , without even knowing it , when I would draw scouting maps to know where to place fungicide efficacy trials . These were hand-drawn maps with a few geographical features added in for a frame of reference . To do my due diligence for this article , I checked online and found that paper can be purchased for around two pennies , and pens are available for a shade under a dime . That is a pretty cheap start to precision turfgrass management . Now take the next baby step toward understanding a pest outbreak by making your hand drawing on an aerial printout of your facility from Google or Bing Maps ( the cost just went up to now cover the cost of printer ink ). Looking at a facility from above truly helps understand how a pest is distributed across large surfaces , particularly when we also have the general knowledge of underlying conditions that may not be seen in a snapshot in time , such as poorly drained or shaded areas . It is surprising how much more detail can be gleaned about a pest outbreak just by adding the context of an actual image with our personal on-site experiences as an agronomist .
sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2021 | SportsField Management
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