Maintenance practices on golf greens with focus on creeping bent grass (Agrostis palustris Huds) at Camp John Hay Golf Club, Baguio City

Date

4-2008

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Horticulture

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr.

Abstract

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) is a perennial cool-season grass belonging to the family Festucoideae and is popularly used in the temperate golf greens for its low cutting height favorable for faster ball roll. Its popularity spread down to the warmer tropical countries but can only be successfully grown and maintained on golf greens and at areas where altitude results in a colder temperatures of 16 to 24°C. Only Camp John Hay Golf Club at Baguio where the temperature ranges from 18 to 24°C has the ideal conditions for the growth of creeping bentgrass in the Philippines. During the 1999 renovation at OK the turfgrass for greens was replaced with Penn A-4 variety of creeping bentgrass. The major practice covered the primary and secondary maintenance practices done to keep creeping bentgrass (A. palustris Huds.) at the desired level of playing quality envisioned for Camp John Hay Golf Club's greens. Primary operations covered mowing, irrigation, and fertilization which are essential in the growth and function of any turfgrass species. Secondary maintenance practices undertaken included verticutting, spiking, rolling to topdressing. Greens mowing at Camp John Hay Golf Club were done daily at an average cutting height of 3.4 mm in summer and much lower during wet season at 2.8 mnt with different mowing direction each time. Irrigation on greens at any one time is 2.54 mm for every application that is required as deemed necessary by the golf superintendent. Application of nitrogen based fertilizers at Camp John Hay Golf Club was based on the recommendation of 2.93 kg N/100m2/year. The findings from the technical analysis covering a period of one-year term from May 2003 to April 2004 however shows that total N application is at 1.81 kg N/1002m. Although not meeting the generally accepted amount of fertilizer recommended, the amount applied seems sufficient enough for the needs of creeping bentgrass at Baguio City as supported by the general appearance and health of the greens at the time covered by the study. A local fertilizer recommendation may be necessary.

Seasonal wet-dry maintenance cost variations show that during the wet months from May to October, disease management comprises the biggest cost and irrigation cost is zero. Irrigation costs spiked up, however, during the dry months since water from the reservoir dried up needing to import from water companies. Irrigation takes 51% of the total maintenance expenditure for the period covered. Fertilization is also affected by season; Nitrogen application was greater during the wet season consisting of 82% of the total N applied as compared to only 18% during the dry season. The maintenance cost per-square-meter for wet season is Php35.20 and Php72.32 during the dry season.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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