Measuring Clipping Yields Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   8/7/2017 9:08 AM

   Good morning Turfers,
   
   There appears to be some increased discussions/mentions of Supts performing daily clipping measurements from putting surfaces in order to evaluate nutrient needs, pgr performance etc.
   
   For those that have begun to perform this practice, would you share your routine?
   
   How collect?
   Measure by weight or volume? What about moisture?
   Frequency of data collection?
   # of greens collected & measured?
   
   Amount of time dedicated to process?
   
   Thanks in advance

   
   
   
   
2. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   8/7/2017 11:08 AM

   I look in the mower baskets every day. I do not weigh or measure the clippings. From day to day I am able to tell a difference. We spray every week during the growing season. Inspect clipping yield, visually inspect greens, then I might make adjustments to nutrients and primo.

   
   
   
   
3. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   8/7/2017 12:08 PM

   Cecil K Daniel said: I look in the mower baskets every day. I do not weigh or measure the clippings. From day to day I am able to tell a difference. We spray every week during the growing season. Inspect clipping yield, visually inspect greens, then I might make adjustments to nutrients and primo.

   
   
   I agree as that is my normal practice also. However, measuring provides exact data verses 'a look or feel'. For years I would do the same for green speed. But, without measuring with a Stimpmeter, there's no real answer to how the putting surfaces performed each day. I also utilize a moisture meter for irrigation needs. Gathering that data has definitely impacted my program and management practices.
   
   Now, I'm pondering if it's worth adding the clipping measurement & data collection. Could fertility be dialed in so that all greens statistically grow at the same rate? It could be the next step in attempting to achieve consistency.

   
   
   
   
4. Eric Johnson

   

   1 posts
   
   8/7/2017 2:08 PM

   I used to look in the basket too. However, if the area of each green is different, how would you determine growth rate?

   
   
   
   
5. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   8/8/2017 11:08 AM

   I do use a stimp meter. I just think that the work of drying the clippings to weigh them would not be a good use of my time. If you weigh them wet you would have drastic changes in weight depending on the amount of dew that day. Volume also would be problematic in that the size of each individual blade of grass would change with atmospheric conditions and chemical apps.
   
   I look in the baskets and if everything is right it looks like a small amount of dark green sawdust. If it doesn't, then I change my plans accordingly.

   
   
   
   
6. Eric Johnson

   

   1 posts
   
   8/8/2017 1:08 PM

   Cecil K Daniel said: I do use a stimp meter. I just think that the work of drying the clippings to weigh them would not be a good use of my time. If you weigh them wet you would have drastic changes in weight depending on the amount of dew that day. Volume also would be problematic in that the size of each individual blade of grass would change with atmospheric conditions and chemical apps.
   
   I look in the baskets and if everything is right it looks like a small amount of dark green sawdust. If it doesn't, then I change my plans accordingly.

   
   
   Just to clarify, the clippings are measured by volume (Liters) on the course. no drying necessary. Course setup guy measures and records the numbers on his phone then later in the day I enter the data in the office.

   
   
   
   
7. Larry Stowell

   

   0 posts
   
   8/13/2017 11:08 AM

   I have used clipping yields (simple volume of fresh clippings) as a measure of PGR efficacy and duration of growth suppression in research trials. It is a simple method to determine how much growth has occurred since the last mow. You can change that value to a rate of growth per day by dividing by the number of days between mowing. It is a simple method and data collection is easy.
   
   Dr. Micah Woods has been looking at clipping yields for a years and I think he has the best handle on use of clipping yields. Clipping yields are not a precise measurement and there are many factors influencing yields, but the data answers the question; how fast is the grass growing?
   
   Most of you have a rough idea based upon clipping disposal. When you see loads of clippings pile up, you get concerned. When no clipping are collected and it isn't too hot or cold and you expected good growth, that is a trigger to look more carefully into what is going on. Measuring clipping seems to be worth the effort so why not give it a try.
   
   You can pick up a measuring bucket here: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Master-G ... B00IGFFFVK
   
   Here is a data entry spreadsheet you can use to start with: https://wwww.paceturf.org/PTRI/Document ... _form.xlsx
   
   Photograph of how Chris Tritibaugh measures clippings: https://www.paceturf.org/photo/cultural ... olume.html
   
   Blog from Jason Haines on how he uses clipping yields: http://www.turfhacker.com/2017/07/can-i ... event.html
   
   Dr Micah Woods comments on clipping yields: http://www.files.asianturfgrass.com/201 ... ina_en.pdf