Turfgrass Epistemology

Can carbon fix soil pH? Does calcium improve soil aeration? Can oxygen-deficient soils produce toxic carbon monoxide and cyanide?

In this episode of Turfgrass Epistemology, we critically examine claims made by Soil Works and Dr. Tom Dykstra about soil chemistry, plant nutrition, microbial activity, and soil pH.

From claims that alkaline soils lack hydrogen to assertions that plants absorb phosphorus as P₂O₅, we separate established scientific principles from misconceptions and unsupported explanations.

What does the scientific evidence actually tell us?

#SoilScience #TurfgrassEpistemology #SoilChemistry #Calcium #SoilpH #PlantNutrition

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

In this episode of Turfgrass Epistemology, we examine the peer-reviewed study “Effect of Late-Fall Wetting Agent Application on Winter Survival of Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens” by Eric J. DeBoer, Douglas E. Karcher, John H. McCalla, and Michael D. Richardson (2020).

The researchers evaluated whether late-fall applications of wetting agents could reduce winter desiccation injury, improve spring turfgrass coverage, and reduce soil water repellency. Some treatments improved spring green-up compared with untreated turf, but results varied among treatments and years.

What does the scientific evidence tell us about using wetting agents for winter protection?

Published in: Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 6.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20035

#TurfgrassEpistemology #WettingAgents #Bermudagrass #WinterInjury #SoilScience #GolfCourseManagement

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines the 2019 study “Evaluation of Water Retention Products to Conserve Urban Water Resources in Home Lawns” by Vikram B. Baliga, Joseph R. Young, and Mario A. Carrillo, exploring wetting agents, hydrophilic sands, drought stress, and bermudagrass water conservation. 

#WaterRetention #WettingAgents #Bermudagrass #LawnCare #SoilMoisture #TurfScience

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines the 2001 study “Effects of Flutolanil Fungicide and Primer Wetting Agent on Soil Water Repellency in Creeping Bentgrass” by Karnok and colleagues, exploring flutolanil, Primer wetting agent, hydrophobic soil, and turfgrass management.

#SoilWaterRepellency #WettingAgents #Flutolanil #LocalizedDrySpot #GolfCourseManagement #TurfScience

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines “Localized Dry Spots as Caused by Hydrophobic Sands on Bentgrass Greens” by Tucker and colleagues (1990), investigating water-repellent sand, organic coatings on sand particles, soil moisture, and localized dry spots on golf putting greens.

#HydrophobicSand #LocalizedDrySpot #SoilWaterRepellency #GolfGreens #TurfScience #WettingAgents

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines research comparing Aqueduct, Primer, Cascade, and LESCOFlo for managing localized dry spot and soil water repellency in turfgrass—and the results may challenge how we choose among turfgrass wetting agents.     

#Turfgrass #WettingAgents #GolfCourseManagement #TurfScience #LocalizedDrySpot

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines research comparing low and high surfactant rates for managing soil water repellency, localized dry spot (LDS), turf quality, and wilting—and asks whether more product actually provides more benefit. 

#Turfgrass #WettingAgents #GolfCourseManagement #SoilScience #LocalizedDrySpot

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines the 1987 study “Root Growth, Seedhead Production, and Quality of Annual Bluegrass as Affected by Mefluidide and a Wetting Agent” by R. J. Cooper, P. R. Henderlong, J. R. Street, and K. J. Karnok, exploring seedhead suppression, root growth, and turf quality in annual bluegrass.

#PoaAnnua #RootGrowth #WettingAgents #Turfgrass #GolfCourseManagement #TurfScience

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines the 1985 study “Annual Bluegrass Growth and Quality as Influenced by Treatments of Growth Retardants” by A. M. Petrovic, R. A. White, and M. K. Bhowmik, including the surprising effects of Aqua Gro on annual bluegrass seedhead production and turf quality.

#PoaAnnua #WettingAgents #Turfgrass #GolfCourseManagement #TurfScience

📌 https://www.gofundme.com/f/TurfgrassEpistemology

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Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

This video examines the 1978 study “Investigation and Treatment of Localized Dry Spots on Sand Golf Greens” by J. F. Wilkinson and R. H. Miller, exploring soil water repellency, wetting agents, coring, and water infiltration in creeping bentgrass greens.

#LocalizedDrySpot #WettingAgents #GolfGreens #Turfgrass #SoilScience #TurfScience

📌 https://www.gofundme.com/f/TurfgrassEpistemology

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting evidence-based turfgrass science.

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Turfgrass Programs and Extension Service Information:

Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view