OM246

We provide soil testing services for clients around the world through Brookside Labs, and have an active research program in the area of turfgrass nutrition, soil and plant analysis, and sampling methods.

Measure exact topdressing effect, and requirement, by checking total organic material by depth.

Soil testing timelines can detect changes in product application. If you add lime, you’ll see a change in the pH timeline. If you stop adding Mn, you’ll see a change in the Mn timeline.

Last December I collected OM246 samples from six greens at a 27 hole facility—two greens from each nine. This course has been rebuilding greens nine holes at a time, which is a great way to establish a gradient of total organic material at the surface of the greens.

Field data from multiple golf courses show the 1:1 sand-to-clipping ratio lets OM246 increase over time. A revised equation, d = K · V · (100 − OM%) / OM% with K ≈ 0.106, sets sand depth from clipping volume and starting organic matter.

I realized it’s the end of April and I haven’t written any new posts on the ATC site this month. Here are some recent updates I’ve published at PACE Turf, which cover a wide range of topics.

The way we manage the turf affects playability. That’s obvious. Everyone knows that. Knowing that management affects playability is one thing. Doing something about it is another. When you see just how large the clipping volume and OM246 effects on playability actually are, the numbers will surprise you.

TL;DR: 1) Know the standard sand rate recommendations, which range from 6 to 11 mm per year at present 2) Measure the amount of sand you apply 3) Don’t apply the standard amount!

I’ve looked at soil organic matter (SOM) and OM246 test results for putting greens of different species. In the top 5 cm (that’s about 2 inches), there will be some SOM and there will also be undecomposed material.

A set of OM246 total organic material samples inadvertently got a grinding and sieving process just like normal soil samples.1 As you probably know, a key distinction of OM246 testing is that soil samples are tested at the lab as is, with no subsampling or screening of the sample.