Which step is part of the IPM process for turfgrass?

• A. Detect pest.
• B. Harvest a portion of turf before spraying.
• C. Remove the soil profile completely.
• D. Ignore pest thresholds.

Answer: (A)

Detecting and monitoring pests is a fundamental part of IPM for turfgrass. IPM starts with regular scouting to find out which pests are present, where they are, and how severe the infestation is. This information feeds into action thresholds that guide whether and when control measures are needed, aiming for the least disruptive and most targeted approach. Therefore, recognizing and detecting a pest is the step that aligns with IPM. The other options don’t fit because harvesting turf before spraying is an unnecessary and harmful step, removing the soil profile is destructive to the turf system, and ignoring pest thresholds contradicts the whole idea of using thresholds to guide management decisions.