Trials

Field trial done on Machophylla strain lemons, sensible to Tylenchulus semipenetrans.

Several species of nematode cause substantial damage to turfgrass. Conventional chemicals for nematode control are effective but have the disadvantages of being expensive and may be hazardous to people and non-target soil microorganisms. Natural products extracted from plants are being investigated as an alternative to chemical control. These materials are much less hazardous than synthetic nematicides and probably have less disruption of trophic pathways in the soil ecosystem.

Quillaja saponaria extract, QL Agri, was tested in vitro and in field trials for determining its ability to control phytopathogenic nematodes. Production parameters (kg of grapes per plant) were also recorded.

Green, which is the most important part of a golf course, consists of about 35,000-45,000 m2 in size, and is where majority of maintenance effort is performed, and is subject to daily trampling of mechanical and artificial nature.

Disease prevention efforts in golf courses in Korea are mostly executed with pesticides and germicides, therefore side effects, such as environmental contamination, increased immunity of disease causing germs against germicides and pesticides, and destruction of soil microorganisms, present problems which must be addressed by replacement in chemical prevention program or development of prevention methods that will supplement defects of chemical usage.

Once constructed, a golf course suffers deterioration of physical properties from trampling and soil sinking. Continuous use of chemical fertilizer deteriorates soil chemistry and microbe system, affecting the growth of grass root. One method of improving these soil conditions can be the use of Yucca Ag-Aide™-50.