Importance of Organic Matter

Why use organic matter in greens instead of to using straight sand? Using straight sand, can be difficult for a grow in, because it cannot hold nutrients well and the water drains too fast for the grass to utilize it. The carbon structure of organic matter is made of a ring structure that is harder to break down by microbes. It has great surface area, a high amount of negative charge, and it holds water very well. It can result in a poor growing environment when you have too much organic matter because your percolation rate may decrease. What can you do to remove or control the buildup of organic matter is to pulling cores or dilute with an aggressive topdressing program.
In top soil, organic matter helps many factors of the growing medium. These include:

• Increased CEC
• Increased aggregate formation(structure)
• Energy for microbe development
• Heat absorption due to its dark color
• Micronutrients can be present.

Organic matter is a source of carbon, but addition, organic matter will affect the carbon to nitrogen ratio; the ideal ration being 30:1. So when carbon starts to decrease, the available nitrogen levels start to increase again. Nitrogen is important because microbes need it to survive and to break down the OM.
Raw clippings from grass cuttings are a source of organic matter. The clippings consist of 75% water and 25% dry mater. The dry matter contains carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The ash alone contains the nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and sulfur. Many other factors that the raw material holds include 60% carbohydrates, and other complex molecules including 10% protein and 5% fats.
By using organic matter, the percolation rate on your greens might decrease and increase your water-holding capacity. By having too much organic matter this may cause compaction to your greens. The golf course then may aerify their greens or be concentrated with top-dressing.