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Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) is a fine‐textured, high‐density forming turfgrass ideal for golf course putting greens. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of N and Fe fertilizer, N:K2O ratio, and vertical mowing and topdressing on velvet bentgrass (VBG) performance on a silt loam soil and two sandy soils. Nitrogen was applied at 0 to 243 kg/ha/year in 1:1 and 1:2 N:K2O ratios. Surface cultivation treatments were: no treatment, topdressing only, and vertical mowing + topdressing. Turfgrass color, density, recovery from vertical mowing, and thatch depth were measured. Each increasing increment of N resulted in higher color scores and higher‐density VBG. Lower N rates on silt loam soil produced better color and higher‐density turf than the same N treatments on the sand soils. Thatch accumulation was not affected by treatments. Results indicated that VBG putting greens on sandy soils will require a minimum of 196 to 243 kg of N per ha/year to maintain adequate vigor, color, and density. Velvet bentgrass turf can be excellent quality with minimal intervention, however, VBG putting greens will require higher maintenance practices in some situations to meet high quality expectations.

Many golf courses throughout the United States are perennially affected by moss encroachment. Unfortunately, moss control products must often be applied at regular intervals throughout the season and can be very phytotoxic. In addition, application timing impacts efficacy. Copper in the form of copper hydroxide + mancozeb (Junction) can control moss when applied on a biweekly basis at 0.2 lb/1000 ft2 with minimal phytotoxicity. Season‐long application may be required on heavily infested greens and fall applications are often most effective. Higher rates can severely damage turf. Silver nitrate is extremely effective at eliminating moss infestations in 1 to 2 applications at 0.275 lb/1000 ft2 without phytotoxicity. However, silver is currently not labeled as a pesticide. Carfentazone (Quicksilver) has been labeled for use against moss and appears to be very effective in reducing up to 90% of moss when applied twice at a 14‐day interval of 6.7 oz/acre [* see erratum]. Terracyte applied at 14‐day intervals at no more than 8 lb/1000 ft2 can also successfully combat a moss infestation but season long application may be necessary and higher rates can cause dramatic turf injury. Other products that have met with limited success include iron, lime, chlorothalonil and soap‐based products, which often fail upon repeated trials.

The northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) causes significant damage on vegetables in New York State. This study was conducted to determine if other species of Meloidogyne are also present in New York vegetable fields and to better characterize the root-knot populations in order to facilitate the development of effective rotations for nematode management. Populations of Meloidogyne were collected from 18 vegetable fields across New York and maintained in the greenhouse on tomato cv. Rutgers as both field populations and single-female populations. For the purposes of species identification, nematodes from each population were examined using perineal pattern analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and cytological analysis. All techniques identified the presence of only Meloidogyne hapla in the collected samples. The host range of the populations of Meloidogyne that were collected was investigated using a modified form of the North Carolina Differential Host Test. While host ranges were variable among the collected populations, the host range of all populations closely corresponded to that of M. hapla. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1) of the collected populations was amplified and sequenced. All sequences from the collected populations corresponded to the published sequence of M. hapla. Based on these results, it was concluded that M. hapla is the only root-knot nematode species present in New York vegetable fields. Crop rotational strategies for management of the root-knot nematode on vegetables in New York should be devised to reflect this fact.