Nematode Management in Turfgrass

About 85 percent of the turfgrass sod produced in Georgia is grown on soils that are susceptible to nematode infestations and across all areas of turfgrass management nematodes are estimated to be responsible for $51 million in damage annually. With the pending loss of Nemacur as a nematode control strategy, turf managers have limited options for controlling plant parasitic nematodes. UGA crop and soil scientists conducted trials with Telone II and an experimental biological nematicide to refine the effective rates for optimal nematode control in sod production and general turfgrass management. Results indicate that if nematode infested soils were treated with Telone II, there could be a potential increase of harvestable sod per acre, translating to a net revenue increase of $731 per acre. Unfortunately, the results of trials on a biological nematicide have not been encouraging. Further work will continue to look at an integrated approach to turfgrass nematode management.