[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”2270.4px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Organic matter management on putting greens is vital for maintaining playability, firmness, and overall turfgrass health. Until recently, measuring and managing organic matter relied largely on assumptions and outdated methods. But that’s changing with the introduction of the new Surface Organic Matter testing method, developed by a USGA committee which I had the pleasure of serving on.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Surface organic matter, defined as all the living and dead organic material within the top inch of a putting green, can affect putting green performance characteristics including firmness, moisture retention, and susceptibility to diseases and other pests. Historically, turfgrass managers have relied on generic recommendations or intuition to guide organic matter management practices like topdressing and aeration. However, the lack of a standardized measurement method, not to mention the lack of organic matter targets, has made data-driven decision-making difficult.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/20200528_092916-scaled.jpg” title_text=”20200528_092916″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”||0px|||”]<\/p>\n
Recognizing this gap, in 2019 the USGA assembled our committee (which included Roch Gaussoin from University of Nebraska, Doug Linde of Delaware Valley University, Jim Murphy of Rutgers University, and Brian Whitlark of the USGA) to develop a standardized method for accurately measuring surface organic matter of putting greens. Through experimentation and analysis, our committee recommended:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
GreenKeeper App users can purchase soil organic matter tests directly through the software and have their results automatically uploaded to site. Navigate to the Cultivation Planning Tool in Program Builder and click the green “Buy Organic Matter Tests” in the top right corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_text=”Purchase Tests” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” url_new_window=”on” button_url=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/ProgramBuilder\/Cultivations” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/20240729_092519.jpg” title_text=”20240729_092519″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
With this new test, turfgrass managers now have a standardized, data-driven tool to precisely measure and track organic matter accumulation on their greens. This allows for more informed decisions regarding cultivation practices like aeration and sand topdressing. To demonstrate this, we recently concluded a three-year field study on a bentgrass putting green in Wisconsin that evaluated the GreenKeeper App Cultivation Tool in Performance Tracker. Here are some of the key findings:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-11-104211.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-03-11 104211″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” url_new_window=”on” url=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/ProgramBuilder\/Cultivations” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In summary, the highest and lowest sand volumes in our study had significantly different soil organic matter in the top inch (4.4% vs. 6.2%) but those differences did not lead to differences in putting green performance characteristics. The GK Cultivation Tool was remarkably accurate in predicting the impact of topdressing and aeration on surface organic matter. While we did find lower soil moisture in the treatments receiving the most sand annually, this did not result in differences in performance. However, a green with less soil moisture may be less prone to diseases and other pests. This will be the subject of future study. While we still don\u2019t have a handle on the optimal target or ideal range for surface organic matter of putting greens, that goal is now within reach with more research.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Using the Surface Organic Matter test, superintendents can:<\/p>\n
At GreenKeeper App, we’ve integrated the Surface Organic Matter test to help superintendents make better decisions, optimize cultivation practices, and ensure excellent putting green performance. Embracing this new approach allows turf managers to deliver higher-quality greens sustainably and cost-effectively, taking the guesswork out of organic matter management.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/20211012_073811.jpg” title_text=”20211012_073811″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Organic matter management on putting greens is vital for maintaining playability, firmness, and overall turfgrass health. Until recently, measuring and managing organic matter relied largely on assumptions and outdated methods. But that’s changing with the introduction of the new Surface Organic Matter testing method, developed by a USGA committee which I had the pleasure of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":101033,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/20190829_080706-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101660"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101674,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101660\/revisions\/101674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenkeeperapp.com\/marketing\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}