• Basic Information
• Additional Info

Basic Information

• Project No. and Title: SERA25 : Turf (IEG-16)
• Period Covered: 10/01/2017 to 09/30/2018
• Date of Report: 10/05/2018
• Annual Meeting Dates: 07/11/2018 to 07/13/2018

Participants

Participants: Moss, Justin (Chair) (mossjq@okstate.edu) - Oklahoma State University Wherley, Ben (Vice Chair) (b-wherley@tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University Dale, Adam (Secretary) (agdale@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Stewart, Barry (Incoming Secretary) (BaStewar@pss.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University Leinhauer, Bernhard (leinauer@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University Unruh, J. Bryan (jbu@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Fontanier, Charles (Charles.fontanier@okstate.edu) - Oklahoma State University Segars, Chrissie (csegars@utm.edu) - University of Tennessee, Martin Waltz, Clint (cwaltz@uga.edu) - University of Georgia Han, David (handavi@auburn.edu) - Auburn University Karcher, Douglas (karcher@uark.edu) - University of Arkansas Lemme, Gary (gdl0003@auburn.edu) - Auburn University Henry, Gerald (gmhenry@uga.edu) - University of Georgia Wiecko, Greg (gwiecko@triton.uog.edu) - University of Guam Kruse, Jason (jkk@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Baird, Jim (jbaird@ucr.edu) - University of California, Riverside Davis, John (jmdavis@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Umeda, Kai (kumeda@cals.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona Kenworthy, Kevin (Kenworth@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Sousek, Matt (msousek2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska, Lincoln Serena, Matteo (mserena@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University Johnson, Paul (paul.johnson@usu.edu) - Utah State University Harmon, Philip (pfharmon@ufl.edu) - University of Florida Ramirez, Ricardo (ricardo.ramirez@usu.edu) - Utah State University Fei, Shui-zhang (sfei@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University Qian, Yaling (yaling.qian@colostate.edu) - Colorado State University

Accomplishments

Impacts

1. Impact Statements 1. Water conservation and drought tolerance The UF|IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology, of which several UF Turf Team faculty are affiliated (Dale, Kruse, Kenworthy, Unruh), have reported 2017-2018 savings of 176.4 million gallons of water based on educational programs delivered, which is enough water to supply the annual indoor water needs of nearly 2,005 households and save nearly $584,000 on utility bills. Ongoing efforts by the UF Turf Team will continue to build on this progress in the 2018-2019 year. By 2018, researchers should have the data to begin reporting specific impacts resulting from the cooperative multi-state research effort to document water use for turfgrasses in the U.S., with an emphasis on water conservation in residential turfs in the next series of State Reports. In 2017, 2,496 volunteers enrolled in the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener (TNEMG) Program logged 184,640 service hours and 35,894 education hours regarding best management practices including water conservation methods in residential landscapes, turfs and gardens. 2. Nutrient management To measure both knowledge and behavior changes of individuals participating in the Texas A&M Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters (HLHW) program, evaluations were developed and implemented. SCSC developed and administered pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate HLHW attendee knowledge gain regarding 1) program principles, and 2) appropriate best management practices and other activities that address rainwater harvesting and proper turf management. In addition, participant satisfaction with the program and participant intention to adopt behavior as a result of the HLHW training were measured. Outcomes for the programs from year 1 are as follows: Knowledge gained as measured by pre/post-tests administered at the trainings: pre-test scores averaged 45% correct answers, while post-test scores averaged 80% correct. Post-training evaluation: 96.5% of participants were satisfied with the HLHW training. The value of participating in the program as estimated by attendees was an average of $856.78 or a total of $124,233 for 2017 participants. Intentions to Adopt Behavior Change: 92% of participants will fertilize based on recommendations from soil test; 83% of participants will install some type of rainwater harvesting system; 79% of participants will improve management of home irrigation system; 86% of participants will select plants/grass based on water conservation. A total of 45 soil samples have been submitted and analyzed. The Website http://tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org, typically reaches practitioners in 110 countries, 50 U.S. states and 276 Tennessee municipalities annually. To date, the mobile website http://mobileweedmanual.com developed to assist practitioners select herbicides for use in both turfgrasses and ornamentals, and containing weed control efficacy data, and turfgrass and ornamental plant tolerance information for >2,400 species, and labels for >100 different herbicides has been visited by 136,681 individuals in 182 countries, all 50 United States, and 256 municipalities in Tennessee. Presently, the Website https://www.facebook.com/SoilPlantPestCenter containing pictures and guidelines for identifying insects and diseases of turf and ornamentals active throughout Tennessee has >5,800 followers. 3. Pest management In 2017, the UF/IFAS Turfgrass Entomology Lab (Dr. Adam Dale) organized and hosted eight extension workshops and participated in five others, reaching 485 turfgrass industry professionals with hands-on training about managing insect, pathogen, and weed pests in turfgrass systems. In addition to the direct hands-on training, the UF Turf Entomology Lab reached stakeholders through presentations, email, phone, social media, and online resources shown below: • Reached approximately 2,050 industry stakeholders through presentations • Reached approximately 485 industry stakeholders through hands-on workshops and training • Fielded approximately 50 email consultations • Fielded approximately 40 phone consultations • Engaged (number of individuals who clicked on and viewed my posted content) approximately 2,469 industry stakeholders through social media via Twitter and gained 200 followers • Reached individuals through 1,525 laboratory website visits The UF/IFAS Turf Entomology Lab (Dr. Adam Dale) has found that creating native wildflower habitats in out-of-play areas on golf courses increases native bee abundance, general pollinator abundance, and predatory and parasitic insect abundance. Areas adjacent to wildflowers experience up to 50% greater biological control of caterpillar pests than areas adjacent to conventionally maintained turfgrass. In addition, planting more diverse wildflower mixtures attracts significantly more native bees and provide significantly greater pest control benefits. So far, four golf courses in north-central Florida have implemented or begun to implement these habitats (On Top of the World, Adena Golf Club, St. Johns Golf Club). Each club has expressed interest in expanding beyond the small-scale experimental work that UF has conducted. In addition, at least five other superintendents have expressed interest in creating similar habitats on their courses. Thus far, by implementing the minimum of what we recommend, we have taken 40,000 sqft of highly maintained turfgrass and converted it to low-input, drought tolerant habitats that do not need to be fertilized, mowed, or treated with insecticides. In addition, we have demonstrated that these habitats provide 50% greater biological control of caterpillar pests on maintained turfgrass within, but not limited to, a 60-meter distance from the wildflower habitats. This work has resulted in financial support from the Florida Golf Course Superintendent’s Association, partially supporting a UF master’s student beginning in the Fall 2018 semester. This student will continue to work towards developing IPM strategies that conserve beneficial wildlife and reduce pests and maintenance inputs on golf courses. 4. Development of Improved Turfgrass Varieties for the Southern Region. As a direct result of variety performance evaluations conducted at the CAFS under heavy simulated traffic, several bermudagrass varieties including ‘Latitude 36’, ‘Northbridge’ and ‘Riviera’ are now being planted on sports fields rather than the former industry standard variety ‘Tifway’. More than 590 TNEMG interns received training (2½ hr.) focusing on top performing turfgrass varieties and their management as sustainable turfs. Efforts associated with the USDA-NIFA-SCRI funded working group are leading to the development of several promising drought-tolerant turfgrass species and cultivars, two of which have been released (‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass and ‘TamStar’ St. Augustinegrass). Other recent improved turfgrass releases include ‘Innovation’ Zoysiagrass, and ‘Chisholm’ zoysiagrass. In addition, the University of Tennessee and other Universities have contributed research data supporting registration of ‘KSUZ 0802’ a new line of improved zoysiagrass. 5. Developing and Conducting Educational, Extension and Outreach Programs Summarizing Research Results and Promoting Technology Transfer of the Previous 1- 4 Focus Areas. Dr. Adam Dale and colleagues from UF actively teach landscape pest management training courses at Pest Management University held at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, FL. These courses are 3-day, hands-on workshops that train landscape industry professionals on plant and pest identification and management. We currently offer two course types in a series: Foundations (beginner level) and Masters (advanced level). Dr. Dale taught 4 courses in 2017, directly training over 80 landscape pest control professionals from over 20 different pest control companies. On average, students show a 39% improvement in landscape pest identification and management knowledge after taking the courses. The UF/IFAS Turfgrass Entomology Lab (Dr. Adam Dale) published seven extension publications that were accessed 13,623 times. Dr. Dale also published 9 articles in industry trade magazines including PestPro Magazine, PMU Newsletter, Florida Turfgrass Association Turf Digest, and the Turfgrass Producers of Florida newsletter, which are read by thousands of industry professionals throughout the southeastern U.S. The Nutrient BMP’s for Golf Courses in Louisiana and Mississippi will allow golf course superintends and other personnel to speak with regulators and possibly legislators about ways that their use of fertilizers are not having an adverse environmental impact. The MSU Turfgrass Field Day has become a go to event for turfgrass practitioners in Mississippi. They attend this event to keep current on the latest developments in turfgrass culture. It could be interest in a new cultivar or cultural program but the bottom line is things viewed at field day are used by those that attend.

Publications