Product Manual

Page 3 - Mascaro Profile Sampler Instructions
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each of the following characteristic in this list.
Turfgrass Leaves - Observe the green surface
leaves. Use a magnifying glass to observe the cut
of the grass blade. A clean cut is necessary for
proper appearance, health, and playability of the
plant. A tom, ragged cut indicates that
adjustments need to be made to the
greensmowers. Severely injured leaf tissue
exposes more plant cells to infection from
disease organisms. A ragged cut also causes an
unsightly brown appearance in the turf. Look for
disease spots or lesions on the leaf. Also, check
for injury from leaf-sucking insects.
Topdressing - Observe the topdressing and how
it is intermixed with the thatch. If recent
topdressings have not made contact with the soil
below the mat, there is a strong possibility that a
layer is beginning to form. Make sure the
buildup of topdressing is following the growth
rate of the turf.
Thatch - Next, measure the depth of the thatch
layer. Generally, the deeper the thatch, the more
it affects the general health of the grass plant.
The depth of the thatch on a green should form a
cushion of no more than about 1/4 inch. A heavy
thatch layer can affect a green in many ways. It
can harbor diseases and destructive insects, and
can impede the movement of water into the soil.
It acts as a filter, keeping nutrients and pesticide
from entering the soil. The depth of the thatch
layer can have a pronounced effect upon the
depth of the root system.
Mat - Mat layers form beneath, and are
intermixed with, the thatch layer. This layer is
mostly decomposing thatch, and will usually be
dark brown or black in color. A heavy mat layer
resting on the soil surface can create an
impervious barrier when allowed to dry. When
wet, it can seal off the free flow of oxygen into
the root zone. It also can contribute to anaerobic
conditions.
Fungi -Beneficial fungal activity sometimes can
be observed in the mat layer. The white or brown
mycelia (threads) of these beneficial organisms
are in the process of breaking down organic
matter which can be recycled as food for the
grass plant. When conditions are favorable,
disease spores also can germinate and grow
rapidly in the mat medium.
Insects - Chinch bugs and other leaf sucking
insects sometimes can be found in the thatch and
mat layers of a soil profile. These layers provide
an almost perfect environment for insect feeding
and reproduction.
Grubs, Mole Crickets -Look for grubs and
This profile indicates
how poorly the soil
was mixed during
construction.
Concentrations of any
one of the soil
components creates
problems in water
movement and root
development in the
profile.