Assessment of compost for suppression of Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale) and Typhula Blight (Typhula ishikariensis) snow molds of turfgrass

Two composts were evaluated for suppression of Fusarium Patch (Microdochhium nivale) and Typhula Blight (Typhula ishikariensis) snow molds in field experiments, conducted in 1998-1999 in two distinct areas of turf management. One plot was on a creeping bentgrass green (mowing height 4 mm) and the second plot was a creeping bentgrass range (mowing height 25 mm). Fall applications of compost applied at either 48.7 or 97.4 kg/100 m(2) reduced snow mold severity to levels not significantly different (P < 0.05) from fungicide controls. In addition, a significant increase in green-up of turf (recovery from disease and/or winter dormancy) compared to fertilizer and fungicide controls (P < 0.05) was observed. The two composts showed no significant differences in their capacities to suppress disease. However, most plots that received a higher application rate of compost had significantly less disease for most ratings (P < 0.05) than those that received the lower application rate. At both turf management locations, there were significant increases in green-up in compost-treated plots (similar to 85%) compared to the fungicide plots (similar to 30%) and fertilizer treatments on a field range (P < 0.05). These differences in green-up among treatments diminished over a four-week-rating period, after which the controls approached or were not significantly different from the compost-treated plots (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between composts at either experimental location on any rating date (P < 0.05). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.