NCERA221: Turfgrass and the Environment

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[09/09/2022] [11/13/2023] [08/01/2024] [08/08/2025]

Date of Annual Report: 09/09/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/09/2022 - 07/11/2022
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2021 - 08/31/2022

Participants

Keenan Amundsen (chair), University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Deying Li (Secretary), North Dakota State University
Nick Christians (historian), Iowa State University
Paul Johnson (WERA11 administrator), Utah State University
Thom Nikolai, Michigan State University
Clint Mattox, USDA-ARS representing Oregon State University
Zhiquang Cheng, University of Hawaii

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

NCERA221 Draft Report.docx

Accomplishments

Outcomes <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Collaborative and combined multi-year grant funding supporting turfgrass research in the region exceeded $33 mil, including a new $8 mil project to study winter stresses of cool-season turfgrasses. Research is supported by state, regional, and national sponsors and federal agencies. The research focused on winter stress, soil moisture, turfgrass and soil ecology, cultivar development and pest management. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Several collaborative research projects were initiated or ongoing, designed to address regionally important turfgrass issues such as best turfgrass management practices, winter injury, salinity tolerance, shade tolerance, establishment practices, cultivar selection, traffic tolerance, and pest management.  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Participants reported sustained student enrollment and some capacity building through new hires, equipment purchases, and expanded field research areas. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Research-based recommendations were shared through invited presentations, publications, public media outlets, state level turfgrass conferences and field days, and at national and international meetings. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Research in alternative methods for pest control, including evaluation of biocontrols to manage pests and mechanical pest removal without disrupting turf. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Impact of management practices on turf and beneficial organisms are being evaluated. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Multi-state research is underway to optimize best re-seeding techniques following winter injury. </li> </ul>   Impacts <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Committee members maintain active extension programming and engagement with the turfgrass industry to promote research-based best management practices. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Minnesota led a collaborative project to develop a new turfgrass cultivar database that is now available for public use, providing information to stakeholders on locally-adapted turfgrass cultivars. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Purdue led production of an annual turfgrass weed control for professionals publication, considered the most comprehensive guide for managing turfgrass weeds. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">New research provided sod producers the necessary agronomic tools to produce fine fescue sod in the north central U.S. Researchers in Indiana and Minnesota collaborated on research trials that identified best management practice for low-input cool-season turfgrass sod production. In addition, economists developed budget tools to help producers understand costs and benefits associated with producing these species. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Several projects tested new cultivars and experimental breeding lines throughout the region, helping to decrease maintenance costs and save resources. </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Studies were conducted in 10 states during the summer of 2022 that evaluated the effectiveness of the organic herbicides corn gluten meal and chelated iron for the control of crabgrass compared to a conventional herbicide standard.  Preliminary results indicate that some of the combinations tested performed like conventional control, providing practitioners new tools for managing crabgrass. Research is ongoing. </li> </ul>

Publications

Acuna, A; Gardner, DS; Villalobos, L; Danneberger, TK. 2021. Effects of plant biostimulants on seedling root and shoot growth of three cool-season turfgrass species in a controlled environment. Int Turf Res. J. DOI:  10.1002/its2.97 Amundsen, Keenan; Warnke, Scott E.; Bushman, Bradley S.; Robbins, Matthew D.; Martin, Ruth; Harris-Shultz, Karen. 2021. Colonial bentgrass transcript-expression differences compared with creeping bentgrass in response to water-deficit stress. Crop Science. May. 61(3): p. 2135-2147. Barnes, M.R., K.C. Nelson, A.R. Kowalewski, A.J. Patton, and E. Watkins. 2020. Public land manager discourses on barriers and opportunities for a transition to low input turfgrass in urban areas. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126745 Bartel, C.A., K.J. Moore, S.Z. Fei, A.W. Lenssen, R.L. Hintz, and S.M. Kling. 2022. Evaluating Strip and No-Till Maintenance of Perennial Groundcovers for Annual Grain Production. Crops, 2(3), pp.268-286. Bartel, C.A., K.J. Moore, S.Z. Fei, A.W. Lenssen, R.L. Hintz, and S.M. Kling. 2022. Evaluating Chemical Suppression Treatments to Alter the Red: Far-Red Ratio in Perennial Groundcovers for Maize Production. Agronomy, 12(8), p.1854. Berndt, WL, RE Gaussoin. 2022. Predicting Munsell color for turfgrass leaves. Crop Science. In press Braun, R. C., E.T. Braithwaite, A.R. Kowalewski, E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, and A.J. Patton. 2022. Nitrogen fertilizer and clover inclusion effects on the establishment of fine fescue taxa. Crop Science 62: 947– 957. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20704 Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, J.A. Murphy, B.S. Park, A.R. Kowalewski, and E.T. Braithwaite. 2021. Optimal fine fescue mixture seeding dates in the northern United States. Agronomy Journal 113(5):4413-4428. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20859  [Open Access] Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E. Watkins, P.L. Koch, N.P. Anderson, S.A. Bonos, and L.A. Brilman. 2020. Fine fescues: A review of the species, their improvement, production, establishment, and management. Crop Science 60: 1142– 1187. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20122 Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, A. Chandra, J. Fry, A.D. Genovesi, M. Meeks, M. Kennelly, M. Xiang, M. Chhetri, M.D. Richardson, D.S. Richmond, M.T. Pudzianowska, and J.H. Baird.  2022.  Development of winter hardy, fine-leaf zoysiagrass hybrids for the upper transition zone.  Crop Sci.:(in press). Braun, R. C., E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, N.T. Mihelich, and A.J. Patton. 2022. Management, harvest, and storage characteristics of low-input cool-season turfgrass sod mixtures. Agronomy Journal, 00, 1– 17. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21051 Braun, R.C., E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, N.T. Mihelich, and A.J. Patton. 2021. Investigation of cool-season species, seeding rate, and nitrogen fertilization in sod production: I. Establishment and sod tensile strength. Agronomy Journal 113(5):4176-4189. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20810  [Open Access] Braun, R.C., E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, N.T. Mihelich, and A.J. Patton. 2021. Investigation of cool-season species, seeding rate, and nitrogen fertilization in sod production: II. Management and shelf-life. Agronomy Journal 113(4):3460-3474. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20777  [Open Access] Breuillin-Sessoms, F., D.P. Petrella, J.M. Trappe, N.T. Mihelich, A. Patton, and E. Watkins. 2021. Field evaluation of weed suppression in fine fescue (Festuca spp.). Crop Science  61: 2812– 2826. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20506 Carlson, M. G., Gaussoin, R. E., & Puntel, L. A. (2022). A review of precision management for golf course turfgrass. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 8, e20183. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20183 Chen, A.A., S.Z. Fei, A.W. Lenssen, and K.J. Moore, 2022. Photothermal controls of vegetative dormancy in Poa secunda. Grassland Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12008 Chen A, S. Fei, A. Lenssen, and K.J. Moore. 2022. Evaluating cool-season grass species as potential perennial groundcover for maize production. Agronomy J. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21087. Christians, N., B. Pease, and A. Thoms. 2021. The mathematics of tank mixing. SportsField Mgmt. April:26-28. Gardner, DS, Nangle, EJ “Biostimulants – What are they and What is their Place in Golf Course Management”.  OTF Turf News Spring/Summer 2021: p. 12-15.  Gardner, DS, Nangle, EJ “Water and Field Playability”.  OTF Turf News Spring/Summer 2021: p. 16-19.  Hao J, Y. Yin, and S Fei. 2021. A Novel Method of Generating RNAi Library for High Throughput Gene Function Analysis in Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Intl Turfgrass Res J. He, Q., and D. Li. 2021. Assessing shade stress in leaves of turf-type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Photosynthetica 59:474-485. Li, L., Sousek, M., Reicher, Z., & Gaussoin, R. (2021). Strategies for increased yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) control in turfgrass with halosulfuron, sulfentrazone, and physical removal. Weed Technology, 35(6), 894-900. doi:10.1017/wet.2021.43 Lindsey, A.J., A.W. Thoms, M.D. McDaniel, and N.E. Christians. 2021. Plant-available soil nitrogen fluxes and turfgrass quality of Kentucky bluegrass fertilized with humic substances. Crop Sci. doi:10.1002/csc2.20592 Lindsey, A.J., A.W. Thoms, M.D. McDaniel, and N.E. Christians. 2021. Evaluation of humic fertilizers on a sand-based creeping bentgrass putting green. Crop Sci. doi:10.1002/csc2.20577 Lindsey, A.J., A.W. Thoms, J. Dancer, and M. Gross. 2021. Evaluation of algae-based fertilizers produced from revolving algal biofilms on Kentucky bluegrass. Agron. 11(7):1288. doi:10.3390/agronomy11071288 Lindsey, A.J. and A. Thoms. 2021. Soil health solutions. Turf Magazine. Winter. 34(4):16-17, 35. Lindsey, A., and A. Thoms. 2021. Impact of humic fertilizers on putting green turfgrass and soil health. Golf Course Manage. Nov. 89(11):70-74. Lindsey, A.J., A. Thoms, N. Christians, and R. Adams. 2021. Natural (organic) fertilization for turf. Iowa State University Extension Publication. HORT 3031. p. 7. Lindsey, A., A. Thoms, and N. Christians. 2021. Turfgrass calendar: warm-season grasses for lawns. Iowa State University Extension Publications. HORT 3105. p. 3. Lindsey, A., A. Thoms, and N. Christians. 2021. Turfgrass biological soil health. Iowa State University Extension Publication. HORT 3111. p. 3. Marshall, Collin; Warnke, Scott; Amundsen, Keenan. 2022. Simple sequence repeat marker development and diversity analysis in buffalograss. Crop Science. May/June. 62(3): p. 1373-1382. Mertz, I., A. Thoms, and N. Christians. 2021. Glycerin-based nitrogen applications for turfgrass growth. Intl. Turf. Soc. Res. J. doi:10.1002/its2.83 Moore, V.M., B. Schlautman, S.Z. Fei, L.M. Roberts, M. Wolfe, M.R. Ryan, S. Wells, and A.J. Lorenz. 2022. Plant Breeding for Intercropping in Temperate Field Crop Systems: A Review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21087. Nangle, EJ, DS Gardner, “Schedonorus (Festuca) – Tall Fescue” OLCANews Spring 2021: p. 5-6.  Nangle, EJ, Gardner, DS, A developing area of turf management – Biostimulants – What are they and how do we use them? Greenside Magazine, Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland, Spring 2021. Nangle, EJ; Gardner, DS; Shetlar, DJ (2021) What to Look for in a Lawn Care Company.  OSU extension bulletin HYG-4025-88. <a href="https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4025-88">https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4025-88</a> Nangle, EJ; Gardner (2021) Lawn Grass Cultivar Selection.  OSU extension bulletin HYG-4027-02. <a href="https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4027">https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4027</a> Nangle, EJ; Gardner, DS (2021) Lime and the Home lawn.  OSU extension bulletin HYG-4026. <a href="https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4026">https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4026</a> Pease, B., N. Christians, and A. Thoms. 2021. Tank mixing procedures. SportsField Mgmt. May:18-20. Patton, A.J., M. Elmore, J. Kao-Kniffin, B. Branham, N. Christians, A. Thoms, S. Keeley, T. Shaddox, T.A. Nikolai, M. Reiter, L. Miller, X. Xiong, B. Kreuser, R. Gaussoin, M. Carroll, D. Li, D. Gardner, Z. Raudenbush, P. Landschoot, D. Soldat, and P. Koch. 2021 Turfgrass weed control for professionals. Purdue University Extension Publication. HORT 3066. p. 132. Petrella, D.P., F. Breuillin-Sessoms, and E. Watkins. 2022. Layering contrasting photoselective filters improves the simulation of foliar shade. Plant Methods 18:16  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-022-00844-8 Qian, Y., D. LuChen, and D. Li. 2021. Physiological integration improves mock strawberry [Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke] uniformity under heterogeneous saline conditions. Scientia Horticulturae. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110579">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110579</a> Rodriguez-Soto, M.M., L.S. Enders, R. Ramirez, X. Xiong, and D.S. Richmond. 2021. Characterizing billbug (Sphenophorus spp.) seasonal biology using NDA barcodes and a simple morphometric analysis. Insects. 12 (10), 930. DOI: 10.3390/insects12100930. Schlautman, B., C. Bartel, L. Diaz-Garcia, S. Fei, S. Flynn, E. Haramoto, K. Moore, and D.R. Raman, 2021. Perennial groundcovers: an emerging technology for soil conservation and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 5(2):337-347. Stahnke, Gwen K.; Rieke, Paul E.; Cookingham, Pete O.; Shearman, Robert C.; Gaussoin, Roch E.; Kopec, David M. 2022. James B Beard: The father of contemporary turfgrass science. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. June. 14(1): p. 1-11 Thoms, A.W., R. Bearss, J.N. Rogers, and J.C. Sorochan. 2021. An evaluation of mat hybrid turfgrass systems under simulated traffic. Short Comm. Intl Turf. Soc. Res. J. 1-5. doi:10.1002/its2.58 Thoms, A., S. Lord, and W. Appelfeller. 2021. Selecting and making the most of an internship. SportsField Mgmt. May:14-16. Thoms, A., and N. Christians. 2021. Turfgrass renovation. Iowa State University Extension Publication. HORT 3113. p. 5. Thoms, A., N. Christians, and M. Agnew. 2021. Purchasing seed. Iowa State University Extension Publication. HORT 3112. p. 2. Xie, Y, M. Farhadloo, N. Guo, S. Shekhar, L. Kne, H. Bao, E. Watkins, A. Patton, and K. Morris. 2021. NTEP-DB 1.0: A relational database for the national turfgrass evaluation program. Int Turfgrass Soc Res J. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.76 Xu N, J. Zobrist, K. Wang, and S. Fei. 2021. Genetic transformation of recalcitrant upland switchgrass using morphogenic genes. Frontiers in Plant Science.  doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.781565. Yue, C., M. Cui, E. Watkins, and A. Patton. 2021. Investigating factors influencing consumer adoption of low-input turfgrasses. HortScience 56(10): 1213-1220. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15981-21 Zhao, X., Y. Zhao, S. Guan, K. Dong, and D. Li. 2021. Seed production and yield components of Lespedeza davurica in response to N, P, and K fertilization and plant density. J. Plant Nutrition <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2021.2020825">https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2021.2020825</a>

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 11/13/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/06/2023 - 06/08/2023
Period the Report Covers: 06/18/2022 - 06/08/2023

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached file below for NCERA221's annual report.

Minutes Attachment:

NCERA221 Report 2023.pdf

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 08/01/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/17/2024 - 06/19/2024
Period the Report Covers: 06/01/2023 - 05/31/2024

Participants

The 2024 annual meeting was held in Madison, WI and attended by 28 people from 13 institutions. The attendees included several students and staff members, and guests from outside organizations including the United States Golf Association and the Scandinavian Turfgrass Research and Environment Foundation. The 17 faculty/directors/decision-makers from the institutions in attendance are listed below.

Branham, Bruce, University of Illinois; Carr, Tyler, Ohio State University; Carroll, Mark, University of Maryland; Folck, Amanda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Frank, Kevin, Michigan State University; Gardner, David, Ohio State University; Gaussoin, Roch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Koch, Paul, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Law, Quincy, Iowa State University; Li, Deying, North Dakota State University; Miller, Lee, Purdue University; Rinehart, Geoffrey, University of Maryland; Settle, Derek, Chicago District Golf Association; Soldat, Doug, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Thoms, Adam, Iowa State University; Trappe, Jon, University of Minnesota; Xiong, Xi, University of Missouri.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

NCERA-221 Business Meeting called to order by Doug Soldat at 9:00 AM

Aaron Patton (Purdue Univ.) provided an update via pre-recorded video message regarding the changes to and process for updating the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication.

Bruce Branham (Univ. of Illinois) gave an update on the organic broadleaf weed control manuscript. The publication was rejected in 2023, but is being revised and will be resubmitted to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management in 2024.

Dave Gardner (Ohio State Univ.) gave an update on the organic crabgrass control trial. Data is being analyzed and plan is to submit in 2024 to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management.

Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) gave an update on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) as the NCERA-221 representative on the NTEP board.

State/Station Reports were delivered
- Chicago District Golf Association - Derek Settle
- University of Illinois - Bruce Branham
- Purdue University - Lee Miller
- Iowa State University - Quincy Law
- Kansas State University - Ross Braun (report read by Doug Soldat)
- University of Maryland - Mark Carrol
- Michigan State University - Kevin Frank
- University of Missouri – Xi Xiong
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Amanda Folck
- North Dakota State University – Deying Li
- The Ohio State University – David Gardner
- University of Wisconsin -Paul Koch
- University of Minnesota - John Trappe

New business
- New collaborative research project discussion

Tall fescue/fine fescue management – new project to be led by Deying Li (North Dakota State Univ.), with participation from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Michigan State. Goal is to build upon and continue to advance no/low input turfgrass management in the North Central region.

2) Collaborative water conservation research proposal aimed at International Turfgrass Research Initiative. Xi Xiong (Univ. of Missouri) will develop a two-page proposal and gauge interest in participation from NCERA-221 members

3) Collaborative clover lawn project focusing on input minimization and agronomic benefits/effects of clover inclusion discussed. Quincy Law (Iowa State Univ.) will lead the project, several institutions expressed interest in participating.

4) A bee lawn project focusing on biodiversity and incorporating more native species was discussed. Mark Carroll (Univ. of Maryland), Jon Trappe (Univ. of Minnesota), and Derek Settle (Chicago District Golf Assn.) will lead.

Collaborative extension initiatives

1) Dollar spot communication NC-1208 project generated a lot of data and NCERA-221 could help summarize and disseminate the information. Paul Koch (Univ. of Wisconsin) will lead and Iowa State and Ohio State Universities will support.

2) NCERA-221 Lawn Problem Solver needs modernization. Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) is working on a proposal to develop a problem solver app that uses machine learning to identify common lawn problems. He requested support from the group in developing a database of pictures that could be used to train the model should the grant be funded. All were supportive.

3) Organic turfgrass extension materials NCERA-221 has focused on organic and low input turf management for decades. The group decided that developing a suite of extension materials aimed at various audiences (homeowners, professionals, etc.) would be beneficial. Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) offered to lead, with Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa State, and Minnesota participating in the efforts.

4) Lawn establishment/grass variety selection tool. Tyler Carr (Ohio State Univ.) will lead this effort to provide regionalized cultivar recommendations. Purdue and Kansas State Universities will participate.

Historian Report – (Adam Thoms – Iowa State Univ.)
- Future sites discussed: Ohio State Univ. next year (timing early June, 2025) then Michigan State in 2026

Business meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM

Accomplishments

Short-term Outcomes: The work of NCERA-221 continues to result in more sustainable ways to manage turfgrass, including the assessment and development of improved cultivars that require less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and/or mowing. Use of these grasses have resulted in lower resource use and pesticide exposure.   Outputs: One major output was the successful update of the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication. This publication (led by Aaron Patton at Purdue University) involves all NCERA-221 institutions and is the most comprehensive, research-based guide on turfgrass weed control available. All institutions conduct trials that inform the publication on an annual basis. Activities: NCERA-221 engaged in several activities that support the groups two main objectives of 1) providing national leadership in the area of sustainable turfgrass systems for transition zone and temperate climates, including collaborative research in turf management, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, cultivar selection, breeding and genetics, weed science, and ecosystem services; and 2) Developing and delivering innovative outreach and educational programming to various stakeholder groups including turfgrass management professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, public agencies, scientists, and the general public. Below are summaries of these efforts for the reporting period <ol style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Research on Sustainable Turf Management</li> <ul> <li>Bermudagrass performance was assessed for athletic fields under organic and conventional management. This research provided evidence that organic management can be a viable alternative in the transition zone, though occasional use of conventional herbicides may be necessary to control growing weed seed banks.</li> <li>Several institutions focused on pest control with organic or reduced-risk pesticides. Key findings included significant suppression of crabgrass by some organic products without phytotoxicity and effective billbug population monitoring through a mark-release-recapture method.</li> <li>The University of Maryland Turfgrass Pathology Program, in collaboration with USDA-ARS Beltsville, conducted surveys across 28 golf courses and ten athletic fields in Maryland.</li> <li>A collaborative project evaluated the impact of soil temperature and fungicide types on summer patch disease management. Initial studies conducted in 2024 will be repeated in 2025 to refine fungicide spray timing recommendations for different geographical locations.</li> </ul> <li>Grass Variety Trials Participation</li> <ul> <li>All NCERA-221 participants are involved in the evaluation of cultivars of the major turfgrass species grown in the North Central region, including creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass. The group has decided to work collaboratively in 2024 and beyond to develop extension materials to recommend the most appropriate species and cultivars for various situations and scenarios.</li> </ul> <li>Winter Stress Research</li> <ul> <li>The University of Minnesota continues to lead an $8 million multi-state project to study winter stresses on cool-season turfgrasses, involving researchers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. This project aims to understand and mitigate winterkill effects on turfgrass.</li> </ul> <li>Sustainable Turfgrass Extension and Outreach Events</li> <ul> <li>NCERA-221 members organized and executed several conferences, workshops, and field days over the reporting period. These events showcased the latest research results to consumer and professional audiences.</li> </ul> </ol> NCERA-221 Milestones: <ol style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Development of a Standard Method for Measuring Surface Organic Matter </li> </ol> <ul> <li>This new method is expected to result in the more sustainable management of putting greens by introducing a more quantitative way to make decisions regarding cultivation and topdressing, both of which rely on natural and monetary resources.</li> </ul> <ol style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Nematode Survey Results</li> <ul> <li>The surveys conducted across Maryland golf courses and athletic fields revealed the prevalence and diversity of 13 plant parasitic nematodes, contributing to better nematode management strategies.</li> </ul> <li>Billbug Monitoring Technique Development</li> <ul> <li>The development and testing of billbug monitoring techniques using a mark-release-recapture method allowed for effective population estimation and control.</li> </ul> <li>Development of a Turfgrass Cultivar Database</li> <ul> <li>Led by the University of Minnesota, the creation of a new turfgrass cultivar database provided stakeholders with easy access to information on well-adapted turfgrass cultivars.</li> </ul> </ol> Impacts: Research and extension activities within the NCERA-221 group have yielded significant advancements in turfgrass management across various focus areas. Key findings and developments include: <ul> <li>Cold Hardiness and Salinity Tolerance: Research addressing cold hardiness, especially in annual bluegrass, and salinity tolerance has led to practices that help reduce maintenance costs and conserve resources.</li> <li>Weed Control with Reduced-Risk Pesticides: Collaborative efforts in weed control using reduced-risk pesticides have provided stakeholders with effective alternatives to conventional methods, ensuring better compliance with environmental regulations.</li> <li>Fine Fescue Sod Production: Innovative research has demonstrated the feasibility of producing fine fescue sod in the north central region. Additionally, new methodologies for screening turfgrasses and other crops for shade tolerance have been developed, accelerating the improvement of this important trait.</li> <li>Buffalograss Development and Genomic Sequencing: Cooperative projects have focused on developing buffalograss for reduced input areas and conducting genomic sequencing for various turfgrass species. These efforts are aimed at creating cultivars that require fewer resources and are better adapted to regional conditions.</li> <li>Insect Control Innovations: Research on billbug control has led to the development of a novel mechanical approach using a sweeper designed for artificial turf surfaces. This method effectively reduces billbug populations without damaging the turf, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides.</li> </ul>

Publications

Anonymous. (2023) Recommended turfgrass cultivars for certified sod production and seed mixtures in Maryland. University of Maryland Technical Update TT-77. Bekken, M. A., Soldat, D. J., Koch, P. L., Schimenti, C. S., Rossi, F. S., Aamlid, T. S., ... & Spring, C. (2023). Analyzing golf course pesticide risk across the US and Europe—The importance of regulatory environment. Science of The Total Environment, 874, 162498. Berndt, W. L., & Gaussoin, R. E. (2023). Predicting Munsell color for turfgrass leaves. Crop Science, 63, 1566–1580. Browning, S., Fech, J., Folck, A., & Gaussoin, R. (2023). Cool Season Lawn Calendar-Western Nebraska. NebGuide (G2359). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Extension. Browning, S., Fech, J., Folck, A., & Gaussoin, R. (2023). Cool Season Lawn Calendar-Eastern Nebraska. NebGuide (G2356). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Extension. Carey, A. A., Nair, A., & Thoms, A. (2024). Evaluating the soil block method and growing media in organic vegetable transplant production. HortScience, 59(4), 542-551. doi:10.21373/HORTSCI17566-23. Chou, M. Y., Pavlou, D., Rice, P. J., Spokas, K. A., Soldat, D. J., & Koch, P. L. (2024). Microbial diversity and soil health parameters associated with turfgrass landscapes. Applied Soil Ecology, 196, 105311. Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). New herbicide evaluation for hard-to-control weeds in turfgrass. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:63-65. Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Perennial ryegrass sun cultivar evaluation trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:61-62. Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Perennial ryegrass shade cultivar evaluation trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:59-60. Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Effects of various wetting agents on athletic turfgrass under simulated traffic. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:53-54. Donelan, T., Thoms, A., Arora, R., Tekeste, M., & Jjagwe, P. (2023). Comparative study of morphological, anatomical, cell wall compositional, and leaf elemental features of traffic-tolerant vs. -sensitive tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Crop Science. doi:10.1002/csc2.21114. Fidanza, M., Bigelow, C., Kostka, S., Ervin, E., Gaussoin, R., Rossi, F., Dinelli, D., Pope, J., & Steffel, J. (2023). Considerations with biostimulants in turfgrass. In M. Fidanza (Ed.), Achieving sustainable turfgrass management. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. Fleetwood, M., Barrett, B., Ramirez, R., Richmond, D., Enders, L., & Xiong, X. (2023). Development of a novel mechanical approach for control of billbugs. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, November 1, 2023. Folck, A. J., Bigelow, C. A., Jiang, Y., & Patton, A. J. (2023). Genotypic variation in germination rate, seedling vigor, and seed phenotype of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Crop Science, 63, 3065–3078. Folck, A. J., Bigelow, C. A., Jiang, Y., & Patton, A. J. (2023). Growth analysis of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars from six classification groups. Agrosystems Geosciences & Environment, 6, e20444. Gould, T., & Thoms, A. (2023). Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass cultivar fairway establishment evaluation. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:69-70. Gould, T., & Thoms, A. (2023). Turfgrass on a roll: Sod production for Jack Trice Stadium and Iowa State’s Soccer facility. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:67-68. Hatten, C., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Field evaluation of plant proteins for creeping bentgrass performance. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:57-58. Monson, B. J., Brockenborough, R. J., Smeda, R. J., & Xiong, X. (2023). Influence of systemic herbicides on tuber suppression of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, October 31, 2023. Patton, A. (2023). Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals: Turf-100. Purdue Extension Education Store. Peddigari, Shravya. 2023. Understanding organic and conventional management programs and rhizosphere microbiome for sports turf in Maryland. M.S. thesis., University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Raudenbush, Z., Sousek, M., Thompson, C. S., & Gaussoin, R. E. (2024). Safety of carfentrazone-ethyl following application of bensulide to creeping bentgrass putting greens. Crop Forage & Turfgrass Management, 10, e20285. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20285">https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20285</a>. Shahoveisi, F. (2024). Turfgrass Diseases: Pythium Blight (FS-2024-0707).   Shahoveisi, F. and Waldo, B., 2024. Plant-Parasitic Nematode Genera Associated with Turfgrass in Maryland Golf Courses and Athletic Fields. The Plant Pathology Journal, 40(3), p.272. Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Evaluation of seeding dates and varieties for recovery from winterkill. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:55-56. Thoms, A., Gould, T., & Donelan, T. (2023). Effects of smooth crabgrass and white clover populations in athletic turfgrass under simulated traffic. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:51-52. Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Creeping bentgrass dollar spot fungicide trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:49. Thoms, A. W., Dalsgaard, T. O., Lindsey, A. J., & Christians, N. E. (2023). Tall fescue mowing height effects under simulated athletic traffic. HortTechnology. doi:10.21273/HORTTECH05219-23. Thoms, A. W., & Lindsey, A. J. (2023). Advances in maintenance practices of turfgrass in achieving sustainable turfgrass management. In M. Fidanza (Ed.), Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. Chapter 6. ISBN-13: 9781801460194. Waldo, B.D., Shahoveisi, F. and Carroll, M.J., 2024. Long‐term fertilization and cultivation impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue turfgrass. Ecology and Evolution, 14(2), p.e10905. Zhou, Q., Soldat, D. J., & Ruark, M. D. (2024). Short‐term soil carbon mineralization on golf course sand‐based putting green and its effect on creeping bentgrass nitrogen uptake. Crop Science, 64(2), 1051-1060. Zhu H., H. Guo, D. Li. 2023. Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) accessions differ in nitrogen cycling during a simulated seasonal senescence. Grass and Forage Science DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12638   Zhu H., P. Guo, D. Li. 2023. Parameters of nitrogen use efficiency of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars at different N levels under deficit irrigation. Grass and Forage Science DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12637

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 08/08/2025

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/09/2025 - 06/11/2025
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2024 - 08/31/2025

Participants

The 2025 annual meeting was held in Columbus, OH and attended by 23 people from 10 institutions. The attendees included several students and staff members. The 16 faculty/directors/decision-makers from the institutions in attendance are listed below.

Carr, Tyler, Ohio State University; Carroll, Mark, University of Maryland; Folck, Amanda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Frank, Kevin, Michigan State University; Gardner, David, Ohio State University; Karcher, Doug, Ohio State University; Koch, Paul, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Law, Quincy, Iowa State University; Li, Deying, North Dakota State University; Miller, Lee, Purdue University; Nangle, Ed, Ohio State University; Patton, Aaron, Purdue University; Rinehart, Geoffrey, University of Maryland; Settle, Derek, Chicago District Golf Association; Wu, Shaohui, Ohio State University; Xiong, Xi, University of Missouri.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

NCERA-221 Tuesday Meeting called to order by Dave Gardner at 9:00 AM

Kevin Frank (Michigan State Univ.) provided an update on the WinterTurf Proejct.

Lee Miller (Purdue Univ.) provided an update on the NC 1208 Project. The project was renewed for 5 years on 10./1/2024. There are 11 participating institutions.

Aaron Patton (Purdue Univ.) provided an update on the Zoysiagrass and bermudagreass winter survey

Deying Lee (North Dakot State Univ.) provided an update on the Tall fescue/fine fescue management project. Research commenced at NDSU, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, mixtures of tall fescue and fine leaf fescue along with different nitrogen rates are being investigated. Planted in the fall of 2024. Results pending.

Mark Carroll (Univ. of Maryland) gave an update on the Pollinator project. The original idea was pollinator lawns vs. conventional lawns. Domestic pollinators tend to populate bee lawns, attracted by white clover. Research concept has evolved to investigate bee lawns vs. conventional fine leaf fescue lawns, and also include golf courses to gauge public perception of private golf course members vs public golfers on pollinator habitats vs fine leaf fescue monostands. Participants include Univ. of Maryland, Univ. of Minnesota, and Chicago District Golf Association.

Xi Xiong (Univ. of Missouri) presented a Research funding opportunity from STERF, grants require collaborator from Nordic countries. This is a potential opportunity for the NCERA group to work on a multi-state grant for submission. Discussions ensued.

NCERA-221 Wednesday Business Meeting called to order by Dave Gardner at 9:00 AM

Aaron Patton (Purdue Univ.) provided an update regarding the changes to and process for updating the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication.

Dave Gardner (Ohio State Univ.) gave an update on the organic crabgrass control trial. Data is being analyzed and plan is to submit in 2025 to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management. Also, the publication reporting the organic broadleaf control trial was rejected in 2023, but is being revised and will be resubmitted to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management in 2025.

Quincy Law (Iowa State Univ.) gave an update on the Clover Lawns LIST study. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa State (lead) are involved – Quincy will send out seed for 2025 fall establishment

Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) via Dave Gardner gave an update on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) as the NCERA-221 representative on the NTEP board.

Doug Karcher (Ohio State Univ.) gave an administrative update

State/Station Reports were delivered
- Chicago District Golf Association - Derek Settle
- University of Illinois – No report
- Purdue University – Aaron Patton
- Iowa State University - Quincy Law
- Kansas State University – No report
- University of Maryland - Mark Carroll
- Michigan State University - Kevin Frank
- University of Missouri – Xi Xiong
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Amanda Folck
- North Dakota State University – Deying Li
- University of Wisconsin -No report
- University of Minnesota – No report
- The Ohio State University – David Gardner and Tyler Carr

New business
- New collaborative research initiatives
  - 1) Collaborative clover lawn project focusing on input minimization and agronomic benefits/effects of clover inclusion discussed. Quincy Law (Iowa State Univ.) will lead the project. Wisconsin and Ohio State are also participating. Seed will be sent for autumn 2025 establishment
- New collaborative research project discussion. We split into groups to discuss potential future initiatives including: lawn irrigation BMPs, granular fertilizer and pesticides for lawns, dollar spot and brown patch management on home lawns, species and cultivar selection, topdressing sand angularity for golf courses, biochar and reducing fertilizer on greens, core aeration effects on diseases on greens, how clippings on lawns effect diseases, artificial intelligence and turf recommendations, old or off label modes of action for turfgrass weeds that are resistant, endangered species act (Bulletins Live) and pesticide applications, water management, nutrient management, improved cultivar adoption, pest management with fewer or no pesticides, business education for small landscape operators, benefits of turfgrass, no mow May education, water conservation and quality, carbon neutral and carbon sequestration, and autonomous mowers.
- Updates on Collaborative extension initiatives

1) Dollar spot communication NC-1208 project generated a lot of data and NCERA-221 could help summarize and disseminate the information. Paul Koch (Univ. of Wisconsin) is leading and Iowa State and Ohio State Universities will support.

3) Organic turfgrass extension materials NCERA-221 has focused on organic and low input turf management for decades. The group decided that developing a suite of extension materials aimed at various audiences (homeowners, professionals, etc.) would be beneficial. Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) is leading, with Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa State, and Minnesota participating in the efforts.

4) Lawn establishment/grass variety selection tool. Tyler Carr (Ohio State Univ.) is leading this effort to provide regionalized cultivar recommendations. Purdue and Kansas State Universities will participate.

Historian Report – (Quincy Law – Iowa State Univ.)
- Future sites discussed: Michigan State Univ. next year (timing early June, 2026) then Purdue in 2027

Business meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM

Accomplishments

NCERA 221 Accomplishments:   Short-term Outcomes: The work of NCERA-221 continues to result in more sustainable ways to manage turfgrass, including the assessment and development of improved cultivars that require less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and/or mowing. Use of these grasses have resulted in lower resource use and pesticide exposure.   Outputs: One major output was the successful update of the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication. This publication (led by Aaron Patton at Purdue University) involves all NCERA-221 institutions and is the most comprehensive, research-based guide on turfgrass weed control available. All institutions conduct trials that inform the publication on an annual basis. Activities: NCERA-221 engaged in several activities that support the groups two main objectives of 1) providing national leadership in the area of sustainable turfgrass systems for transition zone and temperate climates, including collaborative research in turf management, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, cultivar selection, breeding and genetics, weed science, and ecosystem services; and 2) Developing and delivering innovative outreach and educational programming to various stakeholder groups including turfgrass management professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, public agencies, scientists, and the general public. Below are summaries of these efforts for the reporting period <ol> <li>Research on Sustainable Turf Management</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Bee lawn study: The CDGA is now investigating bee lawns as a landscape area in a golf course setting. This project is in collaboration with Univ of Minnesota and Univ of Maryland. The project idea was originally to focus solely on lawns. The CDGA introduced the idea that a bee lawn may also be of interest when used as a landscape area in a golf course outer rough. A bee lawn could also be used like a landscape area in a highly visible location such as near a golf tee.</li> <li>A collaborative project evaluated the impact of soil temperature and fungicide types on summer patch disease management. Initial studies conducted in 2024 are being repeated in 2025 to refine fungicide spray timing recommendations for different geographical locations</li> <li>NC 1208 – Biology, Etiology, and Mgt. of Dollar Spot: Project renewed for 5 years on 10/1/2024. There are 11 participating institutions including several that are part of NCERA-221. The group met in March 2025 in Pinehurst at Sandhills Community College. There are six different dollar spot related research projects including:  Fall dollar spot sampling and sequencing, Determining degree of dollar spot suppression from cultural practices, Creeping bentgrass inter-seeding project, and Creeping bentgrass cultivar survey to encourage increased adoption of disease-resistant cultivars.</li> <li>Tall fescue, fine leaf fescue management: Research commenced at NDSU, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, mixtures of tall fescue and fine leaf fescue along with different nitrogen rates are being investigated. Planted in the fall of 2024. Results are pending.</li> <li>Several institutions have focused on pest control with organic or reduced-risk pesticides. Key findings included significant suppression of crabgrass by some organic products without phytotoxicity and effective billbug population monitoring through a mark-release-recapture method. Manuscripts are in preparation for submission for publication.</li> <li>Nebraska began collaboration with USDA and Purdue University scientists to develop genetic markers suitable for rapid dollar spot identification and quantification.</li> </ul> <ol> <ul> <li>Bermudagrass performance was assessed for athletic fields under organic and conventional management. This research provided evidence that organic management can be a viable alternative in the transition zone, though occasional use of conventional herbicides may be necessary to control growing weed seed banks.</li> </ul> <li>Grass Variety Trials Participation</li> <ul> <li>All NCERA-221 participants are involved in the evaluation of cultivars of the major turfgrass species grown in the North Central region, including creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass. The group has decided to work collaboratively in 2025 and beyond to develop extension materials to recommend the most appropriate species and cultivars for various situations and scenarios.</li> </ul> <li>Winter Stress Research</li> </ol> <ul> <li>The University of Minnesota continues to lead an $8 million multi-state project to study winter stresses on cool-season turfgrasses, involving researchers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. This project aims to understand and mitigate winterkill effects on turfgrass. The multi-state collaboration USDA sponsored WinterTurf grant will end in 2026.  The group is planning to submit for a second grant in 2026. At MSU efforts focus on physiological research to understand the mechanisms of winterkill from anoxia and management research to investigate reestablishment practices, and mitigation practices.</li> <li>Zoysiagrass and bermudagrass winter survey – Aaron Patton, Purdue University, Tyler Carr, Ohio State, and Wendell Hutchens, University of Arkansas are collaborators.</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Sustainable Turfgrass Extension and Outreach Events</li> <ul> <li>NCERA-221 members organized and executed several conferences, workshops, and field days over the reporting period. These events showcased the latest research results for consumer and professional audiences.</li> </ul> </ol> <ul> <li>NCERA-221 members provide program updates, and extension articles on their websites and through their industry partners in each state.</li> </ul> NCERA-221 Milestones: <ol> <li>Development of a better understanding of what causes winterkill of zoysiagrass and bermudagrass</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Bermudagrass winterkill management guide published in Crop Forage and Turfgrass Management, another publication focusing on zoysiagrass is to be published soon. Conducted 2025 survey of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass winterkill. Mostly bermudagrass suffered winterkill. Largest percentage of bermudagrass that suffered winterkill was over 3 years old. Developed an ARC GIS map of areas that suffered winterkill. What didn’t cause winterkill, snowfall and average low temperatures didn’t appear to cause winterkill. What did cause winterkill: dry fall, wet winter, and cold spring.</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Development of a Standard Method for Measuring Surface Organic Matter </li> </ol> <ul> <li>This new method is expected to result in the more sustainable management of putting greens by introducing a more quantitative way to make decisions regarding cultivation and topdressing, both of which rely on natural and monetary resources.</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Nematode Survey Results</li> <ul> <li>The surveys conducted across Maryland golf courses and athletic fields revealed the prevalence and diversity of 13 plant parasitic nematodes, contributing to better nematode management strategies.</li> </ul> <li>Billbug Monitoring Technique Development</li> <ul> <li>The development and testing of billbug monitoring techniques using a mark-release-recapture method allowed for effective population estimation and control.</li> </ul> <li>Development of a Turfgrass Cultivar Database</li> <ul> <li>Led by the University of Minnesota, the creation of a new turfgrass cultivar database provided stakeholders with easy access to information on well-adapted turfgrass cultivars.</li> </ul> </ol>

Publications

Amundsen, K., Thompson, C., Kreuser, W., & Gaussoin, R. (2024). Management costs influence golfer perceptions of turfgrass quality and playability. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. DOI: 10.1002/its2.160 Carr, T.Q., W.H., Hutchens, A.J. Patton, R.C. Braun, D. McFadden, and M.D. Richardson. 2025. Management strategies for preventing and recovering from zoysiagrass winterkill. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Mgmt. (In press).  <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70050">https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70050</a> Cashbaugh, M.K., Koch, P.L., and Miller, G.L. 2025. Evaluating the capabilities of artificial intelligence for interpretation and retrieval of research data stored in a repository. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70046">https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70046</a> Hutchens, W. J., Carr, T. Q., Patton, A. J., Bigelow, C. A., DeBoer, E. J., Goatley, J. M., ... & Xiang, M. (2024). Management strategies for preventing and recovering from bermudagrass winterkill. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 10(2), e20302. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20302">https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20302</a> Malehorn, T., Kostka, S., Gadd, N., Bigelow, C., & Fidanza, M. (2025). Evaluation of soil surfactant applications to turfgrass utilizing a transect method for monitoring soil moisture. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70052">https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70052</a> Macleod, G.R., D.S. Richmond and T.R. Filley. 2024. Invasive Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica Newman) alter structure and carbon distribution in infested surface soil. Science of the Total Environment 918: 170687. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170687">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170687</a> McCurdy, A.L., Barizon, J., Miller, G.L. 2024. Depth distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes on bentgrass golf green in Missouri and Indiana. Journal of Nematology. 56:1:20240006. <a href="http://http/doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2024-0006">http//doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2024-0006</a> Miller, K.M., K. Frank, and E. Merewitz. 2025. Mowing height changes and annual bluegrass putting green recovery from winter in field conditions or simulated ice encasement. Agronomy J. May/June. 117(3): p. 1-11. McNally, B. C., Chhetri, M., Patton, A. J., Liu, W., Hoyle, J. A., Brosnan, J. T., ... & Fry, J. D. (2025). Optimizing ethephon application timing for ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass seedhead suppression. Crop Science, 65(1), e21350. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21350">https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21350</a> Patton, A.J., M. Elmore, J. Kao-Kniffin, B. Branham, Q. Law, A. Thoms, J. Fry, S. Keeley, K. Clayton, T. Nikolai, J. Trappe, X. Xiong, A. Folck, D. Li, D. Gardner, P. Landschoot, J. Kaminski, D. Soldat, and P. Koch. 2024. Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals, 2024 edition. Purdue University Extension Publication. TURF-100. pp. 128. Peddigari, S., Roberts, J. A.,& Carroll, M. J. (2025). Comparison of TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter and Clegg impact soil tester measurements on athletic fields. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1–7. Powlen, J. S., Kerns, J. P., Fidanza, M. A., & Bigelow, C. A. (2024). Brown patch severity of five tall fescue cultivars as influenced by summer nitrogen rates. Crop Protection, 184, 106790. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106790">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106790</a> Powlen, J. S., Kerns, J. P., Fidanza, M. A., & Bigelow, C. A. (2024). Brown patch severity as affected by cool‐season turfgrass species, cultivar, and nitrogen rate. Crop Science, 64(4), 2393-2403. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21256">https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21256</a> Powlen, J. S., McCall, D. S., Hensler, K. L., Kerns, J. P., Fidanza, M. A., & Bigelow, C. A. (2024). Blend ratios and mixtures of brown patch susceptible and resistant tall fescue cultivars. Agronomy Journal, 116(6), 2690-2700. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21712">https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21712</a> Qian He, and D. Li. 2024. Growth and cation uptake in turf-type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) are affected by low light intensity. Eur. J. Hortic. Sci. 89:1611-4434. Raudenbush, Z., Sousek, M., Thompson, C. S., & Gaussoin, R. E. 2024. Safety of carfentrazone-ethyl following application of bensulide to creeping bentgrass putting greens. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management, 10, e20285. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20285">https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20285</a> Shahoveisi, F., Shah, K. K., Koch, P., Kaminski, J. E., Roberson, T., McCall, D., & Nangle, E. (2025). Efficacy of integrated cultural practices for dollar spot disease management on creeping bentgrass and bermudagrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1–10. Stanton, A., Keeley, S. J., Boyer, C. R., Domenghini, J. C., Patton, A. J., Chavarria, M. R., Carr, T. Q., Hutchens, W. J., Frank, K. W., Xiang, M., Folck, A. J., Soldat, D. J., Koch, P. L., Thoms, A. W., Koski, A. J., Barnes, M. R., Trappe, J. M., & Braun, R. C. 2025. Horticulture industry awareness and use of lawn and landscape cooperative extension education resources. Natural Sciences Education. In Review.    Zhou, Q., Soldat, D. J., & Ruark, M. D. (2024). Short‐term soil carbon mineralization on golf course sand‐based putting green and its effect on creeping bentgrass nitrogen uptake. Crop Science, 64(2), 1051-1060.

Impact Statements

• Cold Hardiness and Salinity Tolerance: Research addressing cold hardiness, especially in annual bluegrass, and salinity tolerance has led to practices that help reduce maintenance costs and conserve resources.
• Bee lawn study: Each collaborator has three sites (public lawn, public golf course, private golf course) and a survey will ask respondents at each site a series of questions to better understand how the public views bee lawn areas. We hypothesize that site selection can influence the public’s overall appreciation and understanding of bee lawns. The results can provide insight as to where bee lawns are warranted and welcome. This information could aid establishment of naturalized lawn areas in the United States – specifically the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions.
• Integrated Weed Management: Turfgrass is used on athletic fields, golf courses, grounds (business and industrial complexes, airports, schools, parks, cemeteries and hospitals), lawns, sod farms, and roadsides. Across the US, turfgrass covers ~40 million acres. As urban areas push outwards into rural areas and suburbs are developed, lawns, parks, athletic fields, and other green spaces are added. Information on integrated weed management for turfgrass professionals managing these turfgrass areas was lacking and applicators were uncertain on the best approach (cultural, chemical, biological) for controlling common weeds in turf. Beginning in 2012, a 128-page Purdue University publication was developed to address these questions. The goal of the publication was to provide science-based information to turf professionals on weed identification, ecology, management, and herbicide use. Over 19,000 hard or electronic copies have been distributed since its development. The publication has been used in workshops to train 200-350 annually since 2012. A survey of 130 people who purchased the publication, found this reference helped 76% of them improve their weed control (8% no improvement, 16% undecided). The publication had little impact on total herbicide use (63% no change, 16% increase, 21% decrease), but the survey revealed the publication helped each save $500 to $833 (weighted avg.=$833, median =$500) annually. The publication was expanded in 2017 as a new, 16-state regional publication with accompanying color photos of 118 weed species and content from coauthors. Drs. Patton and Elmore are the editors. • Integrated Insect Management: Purdue’s Turfgrass Entomology IPM program empowers turf
• Integrated Insect Management: Purdue’s Turfgrass Entomology IPM program empowers turf professionals with science-based tools to manage insect pests sustainably and safely. In 2024, the program supported hundreds of continuing certification hours and reached over 51,700 users through digital resources, with more than 17,500 downloads and 744 new installations of the TurfDoctor mobile app. These efforts advance workforce development and expand access to timely, effective, and environmentally responsible pest management solutions across Indiana’s turf industry.
• Low Intensity sustainable turfgrass: In response to pesticide bans and fertilizer restrictions, the NCERA-221 institutions devote much effort to documenting reduced input turfgrass performance. This aids turfgrass stakeholders in identifying management approaches that will produce turfgrass of acceptable quality while also being in compliance with current mandates
• Weed Control with Reduced-Risk Pesticides: Collaborative efforts in weed control using reduced-risk pesticides have provided stakeholders with effective alternatives to conventional methods, ensuring better compliance with environmental regulations.
• Buffalograss Development and Genomic Sequencing: Cooperative projects have focused on developing buffalograss for reduced input areas and conducting genomic sequencing for various turfgrass species. These efforts are aimed at creating cultivars that require fewer resources and are better adapted to regional conditions. In Nebraska Five buffalograss breeding populations were developed that yield more than the current buffalograss seeded cultivars in test production plots. Following three years of evaluations of elite buffalograss lines suitable for vegetative cultivar development, six lines performed better than the leading industry cultivars ‘Prestige’ and ‘Legacy’.
• Insect Control Innovations: Research on billbug control has led to the development of a novel mechanical approach using a sweeper designed for artificial turf surfaces. This method effectively reduces billbug populations without damaging the turf, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides.