Duration: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2029

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

1) Turfgrasses cover nearly 50 million acres in the United States, larger than any other irrigated crop (Milesi et al., 2005), with the turfgrass industry contributing an estimated annual economic impact of more than $60 billion (Haydu et al., 2006). 

2) Turfgrass industry professionals (golf, sports, lawncare, sod farmers, highway rights-of-way) and homeowners rely on university turfgrass science programs for regionally targeted recommendations regarding best adapted turfgrass species and cultivars, athletic field safety, fertility requirements, irrigation needs, and sustainable strategies for improved turfgrass pest and stress management.

 3) This project provides community leadership in the area of sustainable turfgrass systems for the southern and transition zones with an emphasis on water conservation, stress physiology, plant breeding, pest management, nutrient management, and ecosystem services.

4) This southern multi-state project creates impactful opportunities for testing of germplasm across multiple locations and environments, networking for development of multi-institutional grant proposals, mentorship of early career faculty, professional development of students in a small group atmosphere, sharing of impactful teaching and extension approaches, and rapid information exchange to address regionally important emerging pests, weeds, and diseases. 

Statement of Issues and Justification

Turfgrasses cover nearly 50 million acres in the United States, larger than any other irrigated crop (Milesi et al., 2005), with the turfgrass industry contributing an estimated annual economic impact of more than $60 billion (Haydu et al., 2006). The broader green industry has more recently been estimated to have a $160 billion impact in the United States (Hall et al., 2020). Turfgrass systems provide aesthetic and recreational opportunities that are important for human physical and mental health (Ho et al., 2003; Ulrich and Addoms, 1981). Turfgrass also provides ecosystems services in urban environments that are otherwise made of hardscapes such as streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and concrete or pavement (Beard and Green, 1994; Braun et al., 2023; Monteiro, 2017; Qian and Follett, 2002). With increasing urbanization occurring across the United States, demand for green spaces, parks, landscapes, and functional turfgrass areas, and proper design and management of these areas has also increased.

Turfgrass industry professionals (golf, sports, lawncare, sod farmers, highway rights-of-way) and homeowners rely on university turfgrass science programs for regionally targeted recommendations regarding best adapted turfgrass species and cultivars, athletic field safety, fertility requirements, irrigation needs, and sustainable strategies for improved turfgrass pest and stress management. Currently, some of the most important issues facing the turfgrass industry in the southern U.S. include water scarcity, nutrient management, emerging pests, herbicide resistance, abiotic stress, and socio-economic drivers of policy and consumption (Galle et al., 2021; Granberry et al., 2023; Hampy et al., 2021; Hutchens et al., 2021; Katuwal et al., 2022; McCurdy et al., 2023). This southern multi-state project creates impactful opportunities for testing of germplasm across multiple locations and environments, networking for development of multi-institutional grant proposals, mentorship of early career faculty, professional development of students in a small group atmosphere, sharing of impactful teaching and extension approaches, and rapid information exchange to address regionally important emerging pests, weeds, and diseases. Over the past several decades, southern region turf information exchange groups have directly contributed to substantial impacts in each of these target areas – most notably in the efforts to develop transdisciplinary teams that secure federal funds towards development of drought resistant cultivars.

Research is being conducted and extension resources are being developed to provide stakeholders with pertinent research-based information regarding the performance of several new or existing turf care products and technologies. These research, extension and teaching efforts align with each of the goals from SAAESD’s Strategic Roadmap Action Plan to increase scope, diversity and relevance of our collective research portfolios, strengthen collaborative research that has regional relevance, support and develop excellent human capital, and showcase our member successes, both internally and externally.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Objectives will be accomplished by meeting three of every four years, typically at or nearby to one of the institutions with a turf program in the Region. There are no annual meetings every fourth year, when faculty attend the meeting of the International Turfgrass Society. Participants exchange information regarding selected and timely research, extension, and academic topics. In addition to touring the host institution facility and/or active research sites, scientists critically review, summarize, and often lead discussions on topics of interest to the group during the two-day meeting.

Research, teaching, and extension activities in the Region often involve the common issue of turfgrass sustainability. As such, discussion topics often center on how to manage turfgrasses using cultural, chemical and biological inputs judiciously while making efficient use of non-renewable natural resources, as well as improving quality of life and preservation of environmental quality.

Anticipated procedures and activities of SERA48 members in each focus area for the proposed project period include:

1. Water Conservation/ Drought/ Turfgrass Water Use.
   1. Provide the turfgrass irrigation industry with weather and/or soil moisture-based irrigation information for cool- and warm-season turfgrass systems (Ketchum et al., 2023). Turf irrigation can be scheduled using real time or historical reference evapotranspiration (ETo) data derived from species-specific crop coefficient (Kc) adjustment factors, and/or through use of soil moisture based approaches. Validating these approaches and evaluating feasibility of new irrigation technologies will reduce the amount of water used on turfgrass systems in the region.
   2. Select and breed warm- and cool-season varieties for drought avoidance based on their chronic drought response and subsequent recovery from drought. Such experiments are underway at multiple locations within the Region via funding from the USDA SCRI initiative and the United States Golf Association (USGA) Green Section.
   3. Develop improved water conservation practices by 1) Measuring plant responses to mowing height, fertility, applied PGRs, and suitable soil amendments (Hejl et al., 2022); 2) Educating clientele and promoting the use of near- real-time ET for irrigation scheduling, use of plant and soil amendments that increase water use and availability, and the use of sensory, soil moisture based irrigation components designed to interact with standard irrigation system control devices (satellites and or PC based controllers); 3) identifying different irrigation water quality and influence on irrigation needs, 4) evaluating turf root zone construction and management practices that reduce offsite losses due to leaching and/or runoff of irrigation water, and 4) The release and use of low-maintenance turfgrasses which require significantly less water and are capable of tolerating poor quality irrigation water.

2. Ecosystem Services / Environmental Stewardship
   1. Monitoring nutrient runoff and leaching from turfgrass areas to determine the proper fertilizer application rates and schedules while minimizing detrimental environmental effects, especially pollution of ground- and surface-water supplies (Chang et al., 2022). Identify cultural, chemical, and biological mechanisms related to increased nutrient use efficiency and reduced nutrient leaching.
   2. Develop best management practices for culture of mixed species swards to increase species richness, create pollinator refuge, and improve soil health. Collaborative efforts on this topic include the Refuge Lawn project involving Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
   3. Develop production systems for turfgrass alternatives that serve the landscape, nursery, seed, and sod industries. 

3. Disease, Insect, and Weed Management
   1. Documenting, publishing and investigating herbicide resistance occurrence, mechanisms and distribution, while testing and developing new herbicide chemistries (McCurdy et al., 2023).
   2. Conducting basic and applied research regarding insect pest and pathogen biology and ecology leading to more effective cultural and biological control strategies, and a wiser, more targeted use of chemical pesticides. Collaborative efforts on this topic are represented through the ResistPoa team led by Texas A&M University and include universities from across the region.
   3. Investigate and increase stakeholder knowledge of influence of environmental factors on pesticide efficacy.

4. Development of Improved Turfgrass Varieties for the Southern Region
   1. University turfgrass breeders in the region continue to develop turfgrass varieties with improved pest resistance, lower water and nutrient requirements, and improved heat, cold, salt and/or shade tolerance. Examples of recent warm-season varietal releases include Tahoma 31, Latitude 36, NorthBridge, TifGrand and TifTuf bermudagrasses, and Pristine, Lobo, and Ultimate zoysiagrasses; and Cobalt and Citrablue St. Augustinegrass.
   2. Universities within the region actively participate in conducting trials for the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) which is designed to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and promising selections in the U.S. and Canada. Each NTEP Test is usually conducted for five years, and results are published online every year. 
   3. Research results and other ongoing activities of NTEP are reported during each annual SERA48 meeting to assist in the recognition and promotion of the best-performing varieties throughout the region.

5. Developing and Conducting Educational, Extension and Outreach Programs Summarizing Research Results and Promoting Technology Transfer of the Previous 1- 4 Focus Areas.
   1. Evaluating and identifying current and emerging extension and outreach avenues to effectively disseminate information to stakeholders.
   2. Encouraging information exchange on student trends, program promotion, and curriculum development.
   3. Train extension educators to efficiently communicate solutions to regional challenges among professional and consumer stakeholders.
   4. Work collaboratively to develop multi-state extension programming. For example, the 2023 Deep South Turfgrass Expo continued a partnership with regional superintendent associations and state turfgrass associations from Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

• Creation of multi-state, cooperative efforts in developing grant proposals, publications, and educational programs relating to sustainable turfgrass management for the betterment of industry stakeholders and citizens of the southeastern U.S
• Strengthened collaborative efforts aimed at determining the impacts of turf management practices on the environment and facilitation of more widespread adoption/implementation of best management practices across the industry.
• Cooperative development of new germplasm by university breeders through support of USDA- SCRI and other awards
• Reduction in the overall reliance by the turfgrass industry on water resources, and the improved water use efficiency of turfgrasses.
• Sustainability projects should result in the application of fewer fertilizers and amendments to turfgrasses, reducing the potential for nutrient runoff into local surface waters and leaching through the turfgrass root zone into ground water
• Development of best management practices will serve as science-based resources for turfgrass industry professionals, and will help guide legislators and state regulators when formulating laws and regulations governing turf irrigation and fertilization
• Collaborative turfgrass disease, insect, and weed management projects will address specific, existing, and emerging regional problems, such as: 1) Avoiding pesticide resistance in weed, insect, and fungal populations; 2) Development of alternatives to methyl bromide, MSMA, and triazines; 3) Control/management of both existing and new turfgrass pests; and 4) Development of cultural practices that promote ecosystem health and reduce reliance on pesticides

 

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Research results will be published in appropriate journals, trade magazines and electronically to continue to inform and educate interested peers, clientele and other stakeholders. In addition to the classroom, information will also be presented during national and regional professional meetings, outreach/extension programs, and industry association conferences.

Organization/Governance

In addition to our Administrative Advisors, leadership is provided by the President, Vice-president and Secretary Treasurer, who are elected for a one-year term (except during the two-year period when the meeting is not held). One representative from each University presents a state update report during the Business Meeting. Additionally, committee chairs provide a summary of committee issues and activities. One designee from each University faculty has voting privilege.

 

Literature Cited

Beard, J.B. & Green, R. L. (1994). The role of turfgrasses in environmental protection and their benefits to humans. Journal of Environmental Quality, 23(3), 452-460.

Braun, R. C., Straw, C. M., Soldat, D. J., Bekken, M. A., Patton, A. J., Lonsdorf, E. V., & Horgan, B. P. (2023). Strategies for reducing inputs and emissions in turfgrass systems. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 9(1), e20218.

Chang, B., B. Wherley, J. AitkenheadPeterson, K. McInnes, and P. Dwyer. 2022. ShortTerm Impacts of Urban Landscape Conversions on Surface Runoff Quality.  In Press Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252022012472  

Galle, G.H., Shew, H.D., Opperman, C., and J.P. Kerns, 2021. Population dynamics of Belonolaimus longicaudatus and Meloidogyne spp. in North Carolina. Journal of Nematology. In Press.

Granberry, T., M. Lamber, J. S. Beasley, J. S. Kuehny, L. Fultz, and S. D. Rampold. 2023. Perceptions of organic practices among turfgrass professionals in Louisiana. Advancements in Agricultural Development. Vol. 4:2.

Hampy, H., VanRyzin, B., E.L. Butler, and J.P. Kerns. 2021. Etiology and management of Pythium root rot. International Turfgrass Research Journal. In Press.

Haydu, J. J., Hodges, A. W., & Hall, C. R. (2006). Economic impacts of the turfgrass and lawncare industry in the United States: FE632/FE632, 4/2006. EDIS, 2006(7).

Hejl, R. W., B.G. Wherley, K. McInnes, C.M. Straw, C. Fontanier. 2022. Evaluation of irrigation scheduling approaches within sand‐capped turfgrass systems. Agronomy Journal.

Ho, C., Payne, L. L., Orsega-Smith, E., & Godbey, G. C. (2003). Parks, recreation, and public health. Parks Recreation, 38, 18-25.

Hutchens, W.J., Henderson, C.A., Bush, E.A., Kerns, J.P., and McCall, D.S. 2021. Geographic distribution of Ophiosphaerella species in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-04-21-0076-S.

Katuwal, K.B., Jespersen, D., Bhattarai, U., Chandra, A., Kenworthy, K.E., Milla-Lewis, S. R., Schwartz, B.M., Wu, Y., Raymer, P. 2022. Multi-locational screening identified new drought tolerant warm-season turfgrasses. Crop Science https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20726

Ketchum, C., G. Miller, and G. Pinnix. 2023. Stress coefficients for hybrid bermudagrass in the transition zone. Forage, Crop, & Turfgrass Management. 9, e20212. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20212

McCurdy, J.D., Bowling, R.G., de Castro, E.B., Patton, A.J., Kowalewski, A.R., Mattox, C.M., Brosnan, J.T., Ervin, D.E., Askew, S.D., Goncalves, C.G. and Elmore, M.T., 2023. Developing and implementing a sustainable, integrated weed management program for herbicide‐resistant Poa annua in turfgrass. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 9(1), p.e20225.

Milesi, C., Running, S. W., Elvidge, C. D., Dietz, J. B., Tuttle, B. T., & Nemani, R. R. (2005). Mapping and Modeling the Biogeochemical Cycling of Turf Grasses in the United States. Environmental Management, 36(3), 426-438.

Monteiro, J. A. (2017). Ecosystem services from turfgrass landscapes. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 26, 151-157.

Qian, Y. L., & Follett, R. F. (2002). Assessing soil carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems using long-term soil testing data. Agronomy Journal, 94,930–935.

Ulrich, R. S. & Addoms, D. L. (1981). Psychological and recreational benefits of a residential park. Journal of Leisure Research, 13, 43-65.

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AR, GA, LA, MS, OK, TX

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

USDA-ARS/OK