Non-pesticidal disease management

Disease suppression is major factor in the successful management of amenity turfgrasses, this class will explore how it’s possible to suppress turfgrass disease in the absence of, or with limited fungicide availability. The class will explain what a disease is, and how various pathogens infect turfgrass. Using the ‘disease pyramid’ John will show how turf managers can target factors which influence disease incidence. Specific areas which will be expanded upon include; environmental factors, such as dew control, air movement, and light quality. The class will provide research data showing how cultural practices such as rolling,  
sand topdressing, mowing and irrigation can also reduce disease levels.  

Learning outcomes 

• Understand what a disease is and using the disease pyramid 
• Gain knowledge of how cultural practices can be used to reduce disease while maintaining playing surface quality 
• Awareness that many turfgrass nutrients also have a direct effect on disease incidence and learn how combinations work together  
• Identify cool‑season turfgrass pathogens and their infection symptoms 
• Identify the many factors which combine to influence disease levels  

Presented by:

Dr John Dempsey

Chief Scientist Independent Turfgrass Research

Dr John Dempsey is a turfgrass scientist specialising in plant pathology. His career began in the 1980s with greenkeeping, culminating in his role as Superintendent of The Royal Curragh, Ireland’s oldest golf course, from 1993 to 2019. John's educational journey spans from basic greenkeeping courses at the botanic gardens in Dublin to a 1st Class Honours Degree in Turfgrass Science from Myerscough College in the UK, and a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of the West of England, Bristol, completed in 2016. For the past 15 years, John has conducted independent research on turfgrass disease management, nutrition, and surfactants, publishing numerous articles on infection processes and turf health. He has presented the results of his research at numerous conferences and seminars in Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, USA, Canada, Iceland, Japan and at the GCSAA Conference and BTME in the UK.