Which condition most favors turf disease development?

Which condition most favors turf disease development?

• A. Excess moisture and poor drainage
• B. Dry soil
• C. High soil pH
• D. Direct sun exposure

Answer: (A)

Moisture around the turf is the key driver of disease. Many turf pathogens are fungi or oomycetes that need free water to germinate spores and infect leaf tissue. When drainage is poor, water sits on the leaves and in the soil, humidity stays high, and infections become more likely with each wet period. Dry soil and sun exposure shorten leaf wetness and reduce disease risk, while high soil pH can affect some pathogens but doesn’t create the universally favorable conditions that persistent moisture and poor drainage do. So, excess moisture and poor drainage most strongly promote turf disease development.

Moisture around the turf is the key driver of disease. Many turf pathogens are fungi or oomycetes that need free water to germinate spores and infect leaf tissue. When drainage is poor, water sits on the leaves and in the soil, humidity stays high, and infections become more likely with each wet period. Dry soil and sun exposure shorten leaf wetness and reduce disease risk, while high soil pH can affect some pathogens but doesn’t create the universally favorable conditions that persistent moisture and poor drainage do. So, excess moisture and poor drainage most strongly promote turf disease development.