Technical
Greens organic matter samples being collected for processing
years is decreasing (degrade) at significant levels. Results collected in 2012, an extremely wet year, appear to see no significant reduction in such buried layers. Similarly, organic matter in the upper 20mm during wet years, where buried layers at 20-50mm are present, has shown accumulation at accelerated rates.
Contextual classification of organic matter
Through processing several hundreds of lab tested organic matter samples, the development of our understanding beyond just the percentage results has been developed. Different species create different types and characteristics of organic matter, and these varying types impact highly on lab results received and
High lignin content, fescue based organic matter
how they should be interpreted.
Poa annua organic matter - containing high levels, leaf and soft tissue (both the annual and biannual varieties) produce intensive layers of organic matter in the upper 0-10mm. LOI test results can tend to come in slightly lower than expected, due to high levels of soft moisture retentive leaf and crown content contained within the upper soil profile. In addition, being a bunch plant, no significant level of rhizome or stolon growth takes place. A combination of these factors results in poa annua based thatch requiring lower organic matter target ranges in comparison to other species, such as bentgrasses.
Creeping bentgrass - widely regarded in the industry as the most aggressive
The impact of excessive accumulation of organic matter
organic matter producing species used in greens. The plants use of stolons and aggressive growing nature tends to result in faster thatch production in comparison to other cool season species. This thatch can also be moisture retentive in nature, impacting heavily on surface characteristics such as firmness. Careful interpretation of results are required where creeping bentgrass is the dominant species; aggressive stolon content contains much heavier lignin content and produces higher LOI results in comparison to poa annua, again bespoke target levels are required.
Fine fescue and bentgrass organic matter - both browntop bentgrass and fine fescues develop heavily via rhizomous growth habits. Heavy in lignin
112 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013
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