Duration: 10/01/2011 to 09/30/2016

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Urbanization is a global trend which is accompanied by a corresponding and rapid increase in the area of managed turfgrass, including: home lawns, commercial landscapes, parks, golf courses, recreational facilities, and other greenbelts. Of the total land area comprising the WERA011 member states (approximately 972.5 million acres), an estimated 1.0% of this area (9.8 million acres) is turfgrass - most of which is irrigated. Cropland acreage in the WERA011 states totals approximately 132 million acres - of which 35.5 million acres is irrigated; clearly, turfgrass ranks among the most important irrigated agricultural crops in the Western region.

In most of the WERA011 states, turfgrass requires 1-3 acre feet of supplemental irrigation per acre per growing season. The continued growth in turf acreage accompanying western urbanization presents a clear demand for research and educational outreach on turfgrass water use and management, evaluation and use of alternative water sources for irrigation, management of new turfgrass pests, environmental impacts of turf management, and the development and evaluation of new turf species and cultivars for drought resistance and salinity tolerance.

Since its formation in 1972, the WERA011 (formerly the WRCC-11) committee has been an active and essential vehicle for (1) identifying current and future research, education, and outreach needs in turfgrass science, (2) sharing and evaluating research findings, (3) developing cooperative research projects pertinent to the changing demographics and increasing resource limitations in the western US, and (4) reducing the potential for duplicative research. The committee has been very successful in the promotion of collaborative research by individuals and programs possessing diverse specialties, who conduct relevant research under the varied environmental conditions of the region.

The WERA011 strives to (1) foster exchange of information of current research and extension activities and (2) promote cooperative efforts among turf programs in the region. The WERA011 has active and positive influence on the Western Region of the United States, nationally and internationally. The project objectives are similar to those described in the previous WERA011 project. The goals are written broadly so that they are relevant to issues most important to the turf industry in the western US. The drier than average conditions during the past several years have only heightened awareness of issues such as water resource limitations and the effects of the often severe environmental stresses (heat, drought, salinity) to which turfgrass and other landscape plants are subject to in the western US. As new turf species and cultivars are introduced, information about the efficient management of these new grasses remains a dynamic and continuous process.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Turfgrass breeding efforts continue in TX, NE, AZ, CO, UT, CA, and NM to develop better quality, resource efficient, and environmental adapted zoysiagrass, bentgrass, as well as native grasses which include buffalograss, saltgrass, and selected grama grasses etc. WERA011 fosters cooperative research activities that include: a) germplasm exchanges, b) germplasm cross-site screenings for biotic and abiotic stress resistance, and c) testing new varieties and potential varieties at coordinated sites across the region to define the areas of adaptation and information for cultivar release.

The NTEP tests are conducted by WERA011 members. Cultivar adaptations and best management practices (mowing, optimal water requirements , fertility, and pest managements) are tested in all states under diverse environmental conditions .

Disease, weed, and insects that are developing in response to changes in environmental conditions such as climate change, salinity, water issues, etc. need to be addressed. Rapid blight (Labyrinthula terrestris) is an example of a disease of cool season turf that is developing due to changes in water quality and quantity in the western U.S. Pest management research is being conducted for weeds (WA, OR, CA, ID, UT, CO, AZ, NM, NE), diseases (CA, AZ, CO, NE), and insects (CO, WA, ID).

Progress in reducing turf water requirements and dependence on potable water for irrigation will be accomplished by (a) identifying grasses with increased drought resistance, (b) assessing water use efficiency and feasibility of different irrigation systems (such as drip irrigation vs. sprinkler irrigation, use of real time ET, developing new methods of irrigation scheduling), and (c) evaluating alternative water resources (such as reclaimed wastewater, saline, and other non-potable sources of irrigation water aquifer) for urban landscape irrigation. Research in AZ, CA, CO, NE, NM, NV, TX, UT, and WA continues to deal with the demands on limited water supplies. Salinity effects on turfgrasses are being investigated in AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, and TX. Different irrigation systems are being investigated in NM and CO. Reclaimed wastewater reuse is continuing to be investigated in Guam, AZ, CA, CO, and NV as reclaimed wastewater is considered as the alternative water resource for urban landscape irrigation.

Assessment of different management and conditions on nutrient and pesticide fates is conducted in WA and CA.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Promote the use of BMPs and better-adapted turf species and cultivars using:
o mass media
o field days
o Extension bulletins
o Master Gardener Programs
o State Pesticide Applicator Training
o cross-linking web pages between states
o providing links and information on the WERA011 web page
o participation in state turf conferences

A WERA011 website will be developed (as part of the Colorado State University Turfgrass website) to provide a clearinghouse for links to member institutions and sources of research-based information.

Participation in professional scientific meetings (ASA, SSSA, CSSA, APS, ESA, WSSA)

Organization/Governance

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a NIFA Representative.

Literature Cited

Anon. 2005a. Landscaping / turf sector. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP/publications/vol6se/IIA4h-landsc-turf.htm

Milesi, C., C.D. Elvidge, J.B. Dietz, B.J. Tuttle, R.R. Nemani, and S.W. Running. 2005. Mapping and modeling the biogeochemical cycling of turf grasses in the United States. Environmental Management. Online First. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-004-0316-2.

Morris, K. 2005. The national turfgrass research initiative. National Turfgrass Federation. www.ntep.org/pdf/turfinitiative.pdf

United States Geological Survey. Water Use in the United States. http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, NE, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions