ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the effects of soil fertility, soil pH, watering, and mowing on turfgrass disease. Cultural management is only one aspect of a comprehensive program for managing turfgrass disease. In the course of one growing season a single turfgrass species may be subject to a variety of diseases, all of which must be taken into account. If most turfgrasses were subject to only one serious disease, it might be worthwhile to maintain relative concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium designed to mitigate that disease. Sulfur is known to be a fungicide. It may act to reduce disease directly as a fungicide or indirectly as a plant nutrient. Proper irrigation can help minimize turfgrass diseases. The best time to irrigate is in the afternoon, lightly, and daily. Removal of the clippings for a crown- or root-rot disease, like necrotic ring spot and summer patch, has little effect on inoculum levels.
