Nitrogen source and mini-ring disease

I went to the Clemson University turfgrass field day at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center on April 14. Graduate student Grace Gable presented her research about nitrogen (N) source effects on mini-ring disease (Waitea zeae, syn. Rhizoctonia zeae) of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens, and the take home message is clear.

Avoid ammonium sulfate as the sole nitrogen source for ultradwarf bermudagrass greens.

Urea as the only N source had less mini-ring than did treatments with ammonium sulfate as…