Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 8:30AM, June 3 by Dr. Greg Wiecko, who welcomed the group to Guam.  Dr. Kopp agreed to take minutes during the meeting.  The agenda was presented and included state reports and discussion June 3, golf course tours, and play June 4, and morning discussions and meeting with the owner of LMS Landscaping over lunch on June 5.

Discussion began with the renewal of WERA-11 in 2021 and the location for the 2020 meeting.  The timing of the meeting in 2019 was challenging for those who attended the European Turfgrass Science (ETS) meetings, so the recommendation was to combine the meeting with the ETS 2020 meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and extend travel to Wangeningen the day after ETS ends for the WERA-11 meeting.  Oregon was suggested as the 2021 meeting location.  A timeline of previous meeting locations was developed:

2016-Hawaii

2017-Rutgers

2018-Ft. Lauderdale

2015-Phoenix

2014-Utah

2013-Tampa

2012-Oregon

2011-Colorado

2007-Las Cruces

2010-UCR, California

2008-Pullman, WA

2009-uncertain, possibly ITC in Chile

2006-uncertain

2004-Lincoln, NE

Dr. Wiecko moved that the 2020 meeting be held in conjunction with ETS.  Dr. Leinauer seconded the motion.  Motion carried with unanimous support.

State Reports

Colorado State University, Oregon State University, University of Arizona, University of Hawaii-Manoa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Utah State University reports are attached as appendices in this report.  The University of Guam report is presented below.

University of Guam

Dr. Wiecko has entered phased retirement and is currently working 50% time, likely for the next 3 years.  He is officially retiring in 2022.

All research and projects have been scaled down and he is not requesting funding or support.  There are currently no students and, therefore, no demand for courses.  The University of Guam will not be continuing the turf program, however, the college does have environmental science and soil science.  There is still University response to various diseases, palm disease, plumeria rust, and now rhino beetle (also an issue in Hawaii).  The college maintains one plant pathologist, one soil scientist, and two entomologists.  There are also faculty in aquaculture and plant physiology.

Discussion and Planning

The committee had discussions around four main topics over the course of the meeting.  These included: 

• changes in pests, diseases and general management as a result of climate change,
• general communications/messaging around glyphosate,
• turfgrass alternatives, and
• development of turfgrass education options for the region.

Regarding changes in pests, diseases and management due to climate change, discussion was held about compiling regional information about prominent pests and diseases and sharing them regionally.  In this way, changes and movement in pest and disease ranges could be monitored and shared.  Diagnostic labs, practitioners and Master Gardeners could all be resources of this information.  This topic area could also provide a research opportunity for the committee.

It was suggested that each state represented provide a list of top 10 pests on relevant turfgrass species to be included in the annual committee report going forward.  As different turfgrass species are better adapted to different locations, this information would assist researchers and practitioners in determining what pests might be anticipated.

Regarding general communications and messaging around glyphosate, California representatives reported that glyphosate use is banned on all campuses.  Hawaii has prepared a position paper for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, which presented a neutral response that leaned toward continued use.  Bayer continues to defend the product legally, but more lawsuits are being filed.  Arizona has been recommending continued use with care and very obvious safety precautions.  Discussion was held of available substitutes, which were deemed not as safe or effective.

Regarding turfgrass alternatives, discussion was held about general opinions of turfgrass in the landscape.  Even within faculty and Extension groups, there is a lack of understanding.  Discussion of turfgrass vs. food production was held, as well as the opportunity to work with Master Gardeners to educate and change minds.

Regarding development of regional turfgrass education options, Oregon and Nebraska had expressed interest in online education options.  The possibility of a 2-year certification program was discussed, as well as the Rutgers model and existing online options in Utah and New Mexico.  Arizona has a 1-week, intensive course and invited broad participation from the regional committee members.  Another option suggested, was the Master Gardener (once per week) model.  In every case, identifying the key topics in the region would be critical.

There is need for golf course managers/superintendents/employees who want professional development specific to SW/W turfgrass education.  They want additional information on top of what they are receiving online through programs such as Rutgers/Penn State.

Discussion was held of starting with a 1-wk short course and then thinking/working toward the possibility of a 2-year program.  Our experience on Guam visiting two courses indicated that there could also be interest from Asia in general, with many ex-patriots living and working in the region.  The possibility of a 3-day training program with golf on either end was discussed.  Funding options were also discussed.

Accomplishments

1. Develop improved turfgrass cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses important to the western states and identify genetic components conferring drought resistance and salinity tolerance to improve the efficiency of stress resistant germplasm identification and selection.

In a continuing effort of the development of turf-type saltgrass, seeds from the third generation crossing block were harvested.   Individual seeds were stratified and germinated in the greenhouse.  Resulted single seed plugs were used to initiate field plots in the spring of 2017.  Five lines of third generation of saltgrass that showed the best turf quality in terms of cover, color and density were selected. The top five female lines and 5 male lines with abundant seedheads were also selected.   In 2018, seed yield data was collected for selected females.  In 2018, most female lines produced seeds but few of them produced significant amount. One line showed the highest seed production at 1504.0 lb per acre. (CSU)

Completed greenhouse and field evaluations of 140 new buffalograss accessions during establishment.  Evaluations continue to assess persistence, turf quality, and production traits.  Data will help guide plant breeding decisions to develop broadly adapted buffalograss cultivars.

Refining buffalograss breeding schemes by isolating traits in genetic lines and stacking traits to reduce time needed for cultivar development.  Research is sponsored by Todd Valley Farms, The Native Turf Group, and the USGA. (Nebraska)

With Scott Warnke, USDA, Beltsville, MD, interspecific bentgrass hybrids were developed and will be evaluated in Nebraska for heat and drought tolerance.  Germplasm will benefit bentgrass breeders and their ability to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in creeping bentgrass.  Research is sponsored by the USGA. (Nebraska)

Dr. Bushman is completing a Kentucky bluegrass genome reference this fall which will be freely available.  It is derived from the variety ‘Hampton’. (Utah)

2. Exchange information on features and importance of newly developed cultivars and coordinate research to develop and evaluate optimal low-input management practices.

Selecting species and cultivars that use less water while maintaining acceptable quality will mitigate irrigation demands.  As part of NTEP/USGA trial, Qian along graduate student Mr. Lambright is conducting a field research to: 1) compare turfgrass quality and growth of 15 new Kentucky bluegrass cultvars, 19 tall fescue lines, 1 perennial ryegrass line  under different irrigation treatments [0.80 reference ET (ETo), 0.60 ETo, and 0.40  ETo] applied twice weekly, 2) determine relative drought resistance of different entries, and 3) document water quantity required for each entry to maintain acceptable and desirable turf quality and thereby assessing their water use efficiency.   A full set of replicated study plots, i.e. 9 blocks, with each block consisting of 35 cool season turfgrass lines were established in 2017 with field study conducted in 2018 and 2019.  Research and data collection for the 2018 season showed that en masse, tall fescue lines showed higher overall quality than Kentucky bluegrass cultivars in all 3 reference ETo treatments while Kentucky bluegrass cultivars showed increased ability to recover from drought.  These initial results could be due to tall fescues adapted ability to excavate deeply within the soil profile in search for water while Kentucky bluegrass adaptively reverts to dormancy in the face of drought stress.   Successive yearly research regimes and data collection are necessary and will be conducted throughout 2019 to determine the amount of water needed to maintain acceptable quality for each included turfgrass cultivar. (CSU)

Investigating nativegrasses and alternative groundcovers (Kurapia) as a replacement where turfgrasses are removed; initiating new project to determine Kurapia water use and requirements. (Arizona)

Currently managing four NTEP trials (cool-season low input, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue).  Data provides regional turfgrass performance data to turf managers giving them the necessary tools to make informed species and cultivar selections. (Nebraska)

Dr. Johnson has continued to coordinate the NTEP trials and warm-season low input trials were added in 2018 and 2019 in St. George, UT.  Two tall fescue trials, one standard condition and one drought condition, were also added.  The cool-season water use trial results were interesting, although billbugs were somewhat of a problem and affected the results. Dr. Johnson has observed that the plots that are irrigated less, which went more-or-less dormant in the study, have slightly higher quality in fall after recovery. (Utah)

The cool-season low input trial has been very interesting with no input other than mowing. In the first year, everything survived fairly well, although some of the fine fescues were lost. In the second year, the bluegrasses thinned quite a bit and many of the fine fescues didn’t survive. Tall fescue was still surviving at that time with reasonable quality. After summer 2018, most of the bluegrasses are gone and the fine fescues are mostly gone. Tall fescue is thinner but recovering. The only species that really survive well and come back with good density are the wheatgrasses that were added to the trial (intermediate wheatgrass and crested wheatgrass). Also, the yarrow entry maintained the longest green color into summer, finally browning in August and then recovering well. (Utah)

Dr. Bushman has found that electrolyte leakage is not a very useful measurement for drought tolerance screening but is for salt tolerance screening.  The method has been a key component of graduate student Paul Harris’ research project. (Utah)

Dr. Kopp completed a TWCA trial of tall fescue in 2019 and continues trials of Kentucky bluegrass varieties for both A-LIST and Jacklin Seed. (Utah)

3. Develop, refine and disseminate sustainable turfgrass management protocols for turfgrass managers throughout the western United States

A study was conducted in Colorado to evaluate the effectiveness of two compost products, one inoculated with microorganisms and a conventional dairy manure compost without microbial inoculation on Necrotic Ringspot disease suppression and the improvement of turfgrass color and quality. Two Kentucky bluegrass home lawns infected with necrotic ringspot (NRS) disease were chosen for the study. Treatments were applied twice during the growing season in 2018.  The inoculated and conventional compost treated plots had less disease than the control.  Season-long averages showed that the plots treated with the both compost products had better color and better turf quality than the control.   This study demonstrated that compost decreased NRS incidence and improved turf color and quality. (CSU)

Field trials conducted from 2013-2018 have provided promising results regarding alternative methods of controlling Microdochium patch on annual bluegrass putting greens.  Effective alternatives to conventional fungicides include: rolling, crop oil, iron sulfate, elemental sulfur, phosphoric acid. (OSU)

Annual bluegrass samples were collected from 19 different golf courses in the central Oregon area.  These samples will be cultivated and screened for herbicide resistance. (OSU)

Continuing to evaluate glyphosate tolerance of buffalograss with Doug Karcher at the University of Arkansas. (Nebraska)

Dr. Kopp’s MS student, Shane Evans, is completing an evaluation of wi-fi based irrigation controllers which follows on from separate work evaluating climate-based irrigation controllers.  Potential water savings is of interest to many regional water wholesalers and retailers as they consider providing rebates to their customers for such products. (Utah)

4. Coordinate reduced input turfgrass management practices
   Comments: a. Reduce turfgrass water use and improve irrigation management practices b. Evaluate the use of non-potable water sources. c. Identify germplasm and management practices to reduce salinity stress d. Coordinate research on nutrient and pesticide fate e. Develop integrated pest management strategies to address new and emergent pest issues. f. Evaluate the use of turfgrasses for bioremediation of contaminated

To reduce freshwater use, golf courses in the western United States are increasingly being irrigated with recycled water. Research was conducted by Qian and her graduate student on eight golf courses in a semiarid region to evaluate the relationships of soil analysis, turf quality, and shoot analysis of Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) under effluent water irrigation on golf courses.  Effluent water irrigation for 10 and >18 years increased clipping Na by 4.3 and 9.9 times and Cl by 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively. Compared to surface water irrigation, B concentration in KBG shoots increased by 3.5 times and K concentration reduced by 16% in the pioneer recycled water irrigation group.    Multiple regression analysis indicated that there was a negative linear relationship between turf quality and Na concentration in the shoots (R2= 0.65). Soil SAR in 0-20 cm depth was highly associated with KBG shoot Na as documented by a logarithmic regression of R2=0.70.  Stepwise regression indicated that Na accumulation in the shoots was the leading plant variable causing the decline of turf quality under recycled water irrigation.  Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that water treatment and management practices that can reduce soil SAR and Na concentration in KBG shoots would improve turf quality and plant health. (CSU)

Weed control (amicarbazone and methiozolin for Poa annua control, Urochloa panicoides control with preemergence and postemergence herbicides, spring transition ryegrass removal with postemergence herbicides) (Arizona)

-Higher rates of irrigation that produced consistent leaching resulted in improved turf performance and greater reductions in soil salinity and sodium levels.

-Soil salinity and sodium levels decreased to a lesser extent under deficit irrigation as a result of occasional heavy rain events that resulted in short-term periods of leaching.

-Soils receiving amendments exhibited enhanced movement of sodium early in the study. 

-Measurable impacts of the amendment treatments diminished over time, impacting only soil calcium levels at the conclusion of the study. 

-Tillage did not greatly impact turf performance and soil chemical properties in this study. (Arizona)

Testing Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and buffalograss in response to varying levels of inputs as golf course fairway turf in Eastern Nebraska. (Nebraska)

5. Communicate research results and promote sustainable practices to the public through workshops, conferences, websites, extension publications, social media, and research publications

Hold the 2018 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION (RMRTA) Conference & Trade Show from December 4 to 6, 2018, to communicate research results and promote sustainable practices to the public.  This is the 65th Annual Conference and Trade Show of RMRTA.  This conference is a collaborating with Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals (CALCP); Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association (CSTMA); Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association (RMGCSA); Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Association, and Colorado State University.

Annual Desert Turf School in January (suspended 2019); sports turf field & EXPO with AZSTMA planned for July; annual short course planed in August/September; annual pesticide safety education for Cactus and Pine GCSA in November, spring turfgrass seminar March 27, 2019 in Phoenix for introduction of new LED trap for beetles, other timely and relevant field days, demonstrations, workshops, seminars (nativegrasses, weed management, spring turf transition, pest management, etc.)

2^nd annual Schools IPM Conference conducted in Phoenix April 24, 2019 included outdoor turf maintenance demonstrations and weed management presentations. (Arizona)

Dr. Kopp continues to develop relevant fact sheets and Extension materials on sustainable turfgrass management practices and pest management practices in collaboration with Drs. Johnson, Ramirez, and Mr. Ryan Davis (arthropod diagnostician), along with assistance from several other Extension faculty throughout the state.  In addition to regular talks to clientele groups and Master Gardeners, the quarterly publication of the USU Extension Turfgrass IPM Advisory is disseminated via listserv to 8008 subscribers. (Utah)

Dr. Kopp manages an ongoing, long term program doing onsite landscape and irrigation system evaluations.  The Water Check program emphasizes efficient turfgrass irrigation and in recent years has transitioned to tablet based data collection and electronic reporting, along with data-base upgrades.  She is currently working with Salt Lake City to incorporate geographic information system (GIS) tools to allow mapping of landscapes and irrigation systems, identification of breaks, leaks, etc. (Utah)