Case Study- Reducing Fungicide Usage

The discussion of environment and conservation is an extremely emotional topic for people and interest groups around the world. The discussion also seems to be divided along political or professional lines, depending upon one's political party or field of employment. We at the Maryland SoccerPlex are on a mission to erase all emotion and lines of divide and base the ideas of environmental protection and conservation on sound science and progressive thinking. This science and way of thinking then puts a solid foundation under a positive message working to prepare our world for a bright future.

In 2009, the Maryland SoccerPlex proctored the first year of a case study on efficiency and reduction of fungicide usage. The study began as an effort to create efficiency with currently used fungicide products through proper cultural practices such as aeration, mowing, and watering.

In the study, we also began to explore the phenomenon of "plant health" through proper nutrient management. The plant being a living and breathing organism just as humans, the comparison used for the study model was that of a human who maintains a poor diet, does not exercise at all to stay in shape, does not keep proper water intake, and gets too little sleep. A human living like this would be un-healthy and prone to sickness and would require medications and prescription drugs to deal with this illness. In science, this is no different than a plant that gets excess or insufficient fertility and nutrients, doesn't get proper aeration for root growth and development, receives too much or too little water at improper times, and is mowed at the incorrect height and/or with dull reels or blades. Thus we has turf managers are required to turn to fungicides to protect the plant from disease and turf loss.

Using this comparison, our case study focuses on all aspects of a turf management program in order to keep the plant as healthy as possible, thus reducing the need for fungicide. It is not our goal to eliminate fungicide use, but rather cut the use to the minimum threshold to maintain a proper turf stand. We may find this threshold is so low that we can eliminate fungicide use, but that is still an unknown. Any and all ideas and hypotheses are on the table at this point as we try to be as open minded and progressive as possible with this study.