Black layer on Bear Greens

I would like to take a minute to explain an issue that we are dealing with on the Bear greens known to turfgrass managers as “black layer.”  Black layer is occurring on the Bear greens in the low areas along the edges of certain greens (#1, #2, #3, #13) and causes the turf thin out.  The cause of this ailment stems from poor water quality.  The salts in our irrigation water (sodium, chlorides, bicarbonate, and sulfate) tend to collect in these low areas and restrict the availability of oxygen to the plant’s roots.  This causes a “black layer” in the soil profile (see photos below) that is remediated most easily through extensive core aerification.  Since that option is not on the table at present we have been treating these areas with certain oxygenating agents and plugging the worst areas with new turf.  Next summer we will be able to get aggressive enough with these areas to eliminate the issue.

 

The photo above is from a weak area suffering from black layer.  Notice the blackish color of the soil

 

This is a photo from a healthy section of the same green.  No anaerobic black layer is present in this area