Page 20 - GM Fall 2025 flipbook

u FEATURE u GREG MOORE, DISTRIBUTOR SALES MANAGER, PLANT FOOD COMPANY
Science Series
A SIMPLE APPROACH
Each year, turfgrass professionals test their soils to
identify nutrient deficiencies or excesses, aiming to
enhance nutrient efficiency within their turfgrass
systems. Our goal is not to harvest crops but to
maintain a playing surface that ensures soil firmness,
prevents wilting, guarantees playability, and promotes
overall plant health.
You are expected to interpret soil tests quickly
and know what priorities should be reviewed and
addressed. In my experience, many turfgrass managers
conduct soil tests but then set them aside because
they are unsure about the insights these tests provide
regarding their soil chemistry. The numbers in the
tests often seem meaningless.
Can you examine a few simple details to determine
if your soils are in the appropriate “nutrient zone”?
This article aims to help you interpret a soil test and, in
30 to 40 seconds, identify whether any action is
required or if nutrient strategies should be
implemented to improve performance. The focus
should be on minimizing sodium levels while ensuring
adequate calcium and potassium to improve the
availability of all nutrients. To determine this, we will
utilize the Base Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR).
FINE TUNING YOUR SOIL TRANSMISSION
Some experts recommend simply feeding the plant.
However, neglecting imbalances in soil chemistry can
be costly, potentially requiring additional fertilizers,
fungicides, and surfactants to remedy the soil issues
that weaken turf.
An analogy can be drawn between turf plants and
soil to your family car. Think of your turf as the engine
and the soil as the transmission. They work together
to ensure optimal turf performance. You can have the
best turf varieties, the finest irrigation system, and the
best “engine,” but if your soil “transmission” is not
“tuned up,” your journey can be very inefficient.
Poor soil chemistry is like driving from Ontario to
Manitoba with the automatic transmission stuck in first gear.
Reaching Manitoba in first gear strains your engine, wastes
fuel, and stresses the ride. Similarly, imbalanced soil chemistry
weakens the turf by restricting specific nutrients and
affecting the playing surface. An imbalance in soil chemistry
leads to nutrient inefficiency. When reviewing soil tests, it is
essential to focus on the soil “transmission.”
The Base Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR) is closely
linked to Minimum Levels for Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN).
A favourable BCSR (soil transmission) is essential for the
effective functioning of MLSN (plant engine). Soil must
contain sufficient soluble calcium to maintain low sodium
levels. Potassium should exceed sodium levels to reduce
wilting, while magnesium is of lesser importance. Once these
factors are addressed, you can proceed with MLSN strategies.
KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING SOIL CONDITIONS
The following are three factors of soil health that we
consistently strive to improve:
1. Soil Physical Structure - This refers to the composition of
sand, silt, and clay, which allows for the effective movement
of water, air, and roots. Topdressing, aerification, and
drainage are physical elements that influence soil structure.
2. Soil Biology - Soils are alive. Natural, beneficial soil
microorganisms enhance soil structure. A microorganism
may live for only a few hours or up to a few weeks, sometimes
undergoing many generations in a single growing season.
These microorganisms feed on sugars and organic
compounds containing carbon, which serve as their energy
source. The microorganisms that thrive and die in our soil
produce nutrients that benefit the turf while contributing to
various enzyme activities.
3. Soil Chemistry - The soil test reports provide detailed
information about the soil’s chemical composition. Proper
soil chemistry is essential for ensuring optimal nutrient
availability. Nutrients cannot be effectively utilized when soil
chemistry is imbalanced.
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• CGSA • GreenMaster