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Abstract
Turfgrass stands can be injured and damaged by biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) agents. Most abiotic diseases cause generalized symptoms such as wilting, yellowing, thinning and the development of smaller than normal grass blades, limited root growth or slow growth. Based solely on symptoms, however, determining whether the condition is caused by a biotic or an abiotic agent can be challenging. In many cases, a proper diagnosis of abiotic diseases requires thorough examination of the site, knowledge of relevant past and present environmental conditions, in-depth knowledge of plant species biology, site management history, and an orderly series of tests to determine possible causes.