Bob Raley on his bentgrass management strategy

Bob Raley's M.S. project at Penn State University looked at the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilizer and P soil test levels on Poa annua encroachment into creeping bentgrass putting green turf.

He found an effect. When there was more P in the soil, and more P in the leaves, there was also more annual bluegrass cover. In a summary quote from his thesis, "Results show annual bluegrass

populations increased in plots treated with P versus plots in which no P…