Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Outcomes

• 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. 
• 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.  
• Participants reported sustained student enrollment and some capacity building through new hires, equipment purchases, and expanded field research areas. 
• 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. 
• Research in alternative methods for pest control, including evaluation of biocontrols to manage pests and mechanical pest removal without disrupting turf. 
• Impact of management practices on turf and beneficial organisms are being evaluated. 
• Multi-state research is underway to optimize best re-seeding techniques following winter injury. 

Impacts

• Committee members maintain active extension programming and engagement with the turfgrass industry to promote research-based best management practices. 
• 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. 
• Purdue led production of an annual turfgrass weed control for professionals publication, considered the most comprehensive guide for managing turfgrass weeds. 
• 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. 
• Several projects tested new cultivars and experimental breeding lines throughout the region, helping to decrease maintenance costs and save resources. 
• 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. 

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. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4025-88

Nangle, EJ; Gardner (2021) Lawn Grass Cultivar Selection.  OSU extension bulletin HYG-4027-02. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4027

Nangle, EJ; Gardner, DS (2021) Lime and the Home lawn.  OSU extension bulletin HYG-4026. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4026

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110579

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 https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2021.2020825