INTERACTION OF MANAGEMENT FACTORS ON DOLLAR SPOT DISEASE SEVERITY IN TALL FESCUE TURF

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivar, seeding rate, N fertilization rate, and cutting height on the severity of dollar spot (Lanzia and Moellerodiscus spp.) disease incidence. All possible two-factor interactions among these four management factors were statistically significant when averaged over the 2 years of study. Disease severity tended to be lowest at low fescue seeding rate (2100 pure-live seeds/m2) at the lower (19 mm) height of cut. 'Mustang', the turf-type cultivar with improved density, was more susceptible to dollar spot than 'Kentucky-31', the common-type cultivar.