Which statement best describes the approach to necrotic ring spot management in turfgrass?

• A. Integrated Disease Management is employed
• B. Chemical controls alone are sufficient
• C. Watering alone cures the disease
• D. Mowing height is the only important factor

Answer: (A)

Necrotic ring spot is best managed with an integrated disease management approach because this turf fungal disease is driven by multiple interacting factors, not by a single fix. Relying on one tactic—like chemicals alone or trying to “water it away”—won’t address the root causes that let the pathogen persist, such as poor drainage, leaf wetness from irrigation, excess thatch, and turf vigor. An IDM approach targets both the environment and the plant, reducing disease pressure and strengthening the grass so it can resist or recover from infection.

In practice, this means combining cultural practices (improve drainage and soil structure, reduce thatch, adjust irrigation to minimize leaf wetness, and maintain an appropriate mowing height and balanced fertility) with the judicious use of fungicides when needed and strategies to prevent resistance (like rotating products with different modes of action). By addressing the conditions that favor the disease and supporting healthy turf, you achieve longer-lasting control than any single method could provide.

Watering alone cannot cure the disease, and chemical controls alone don’t fix the environmental issues that allow it to recur. Mowing height helps, but on its own it doesn’t tackle the root causes, which is why a comprehensive integrated approach is the most effective.