ABSTRACT
Although genetically transformed grasses may ultimately be the answer to several common pest problems, alternative nonchemical methods and technologies are being studied for their potential to reduce the use of fungicides on turfgrasses. Composts and natural organic fertilizers are being used in the hope that they can boost the activity of beneœcial soil microbes. It is generally believed that enhanced soil microbial activity results in more competition with or antagonism of potential pathogens, thereby resulting in fewer disease problems. Natural organic materials may be helpful, but the few œeld studies that directly compared natural organic to synthetic organic (i.e., manufactured) fertilizers did not provide a great deal of evidence that natural fertilizers are superior. Furthermore, when natural and synthetic organics were shown to reduce diseases, such as brown patch or dollar spot, the level of suppression generally was not commercially acceptable to superintendents or golfers throughout the entire “active disease” period. There are two general approaches to biological management of turfgrass diseases: (1) apply overtop of turf or incorporate into soil natural organic fertilizers or composts to boost microbial activity, and (2) apply microbial inoculants overtop the turf or incorporate them in soil.
