Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

• NCERA-221 Business Meeting called to order by Doug Soldat at 9:00 AM
• Aaron Patton (Purdue Univ.) provided an update via pre-recorded video message regarding the changes to and process for updating the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication.
• Bruce Branham (Univ. of Illinois) gave an update on the organic broadleaf weed control manuscript. The publication was rejected in 2023, but is being revised and will be resubmitted to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management in 2024.
• Dave Gardner (Ohio State Univ.) gave an update on the organic crabgrass control trial. Data is being analyzed and plan is to submit in 2024 to Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management.
• Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) gave an update on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) as the NCERA-221 representative on the NTEP board.
• State/Station Reports were delivered
  • Chicago District Golf Association - Derek Settle
  • University of Illinois - Bruce Branham
  • Purdue University - Lee Miller
  • Iowa State University - Quincy Law
  • Kansas State University - Ross Braun (report read by Doug Soldat)
  • University of Maryland - Mark Carrol
  • Michigan State University - Kevin Frank
  • University of Missouri – Xi Xiong
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Amanda Folck
  • North Dakota State University – Deying Li
  • The Ohio State University – David Gardner
  • University of Wisconsin -Paul Koch
  • University of Minnesota - John Trappe

• New business
  • New collaborative research project discussion
• Tall fescue/fine fescue management – new project to be led by Deying Li (North Dakota State Univ.), with participation from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Michigan State. Goal is to build upon and continue to advance no/low input turfgrass management in the North Central region.

2) Collaborative water conservation research proposal aimed at International Turfgrass Research Initiative. Xi Xiong (Univ. of Missouri) will develop a two-page proposal and gauge interest in participation from NCERA-221 members

3) Collaborative clover lawn project focusing on input minimization and agronomic benefits/effects of clover inclusion discussed. Quincy Law (Iowa State Univ.) will lead the project, several institutions expressed interest in participating.

4) A bee lawn project focusing on biodiversity and incorporating more native species was discussed. Mark Carroll (Univ. of Maryland), Jon Trappe (Univ. of Minnesota), and Derek Settle (Chicago District Golf Assn.) will lead.

• Collaborative extension initiatives

1)   Dollar spot communication NC-1208 project generated a lot of data and NCERA-221 could help summarize and disseminate the information. Paul Koch (Univ. of Wisconsin) will lead and Iowa State and Ohio State Universities will support.

2)   NCERA-221 Lawn Problem Solver needs modernization. Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) is working on a proposal to develop a problem solver app that uses machine learning to identify common lawn problems. He requested support from the group in developing a database of pictures that could be used to train the model should the grant be funded. All were supportive.

3)   Organic turfgrass extension materials NCERA-221 has focused on organic and low input turf management for decades. The group decided that developing a suite of extension materials aimed at various audiences (homeowners, professionals, etc.) would be beneficial. Doug Soldat (Univ. of Wisconsin) offered to lead, with Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa State, and Minnesota participating in the efforts.

4)   Lawn establishment/grass variety selection tool. Tyler Carr (Ohio State Univ.) will lead this effort to provide regionalized cultivar recommendations. Purdue and Kansas State Universities will participate.

• Historian Report – (Adam Thoms – Iowa State Univ.)
  • Future sites discussed: Ohio State Univ. next year (timing early June, 2025) then Michigan State in 2026
• Business meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM

Short-term Outcomes: The work of NCERA-221 continues to result in more sustainable ways to manage turfgrass, including the assessment and development of improved cultivars that require less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and/or mowing. Use of these grasses have resulted in lower resource use and pesticide exposure.

Outputs: One major output was the successful update of the Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals publication. This publication (led by Aaron Patton at Purdue University) involves all NCERA-221 institutions and is the most comprehensive, research-based guide on turfgrass weed control available. All institutions conduct trials that inform the publication on an annual basis.

Activities: NCERA-221 engaged in several activities that support the groups two main objectives of 1) providing national leadership in the area of sustainable turfgrass systems for transition zone and temperate climates, including collaborative research in turf management, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, cultivar selection, breeding and genetics, weed science, and ecosystem services; and 2) Developing and delivering innovative outreach and educational programming to various stakeholder groups including turfgrass management professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, public agencies, scientists, and the general public. Below are summaries of these efforts for the reporting period

1. Research on Sustainable Turf Management
• Bermudagrass performance was assessed for athletic fields under organic and conventional management. This research provided evidence that organic management can be a viable alternative in the transition zone, though occasional use of conventional herbicides may be necessary to control growing weed seed banks.
• Several institutions focused on pest control with organic or reduced-risk pesticides. Key findings included significant suppression of crabgrass by some organic products without phytotoxicity and effective billbug population monitoring through a mark-release-recapture method.
• The University of Maryland Turfgrass Pathology Program, in collaboration with USDA-ARS Beltsville, conducted surveys across 28 golf courses and ten athletic fields in Maryland.
• A collaborative project evaluated the impact of soil temperature and fungicide types on summer patch disease management. Initial studies conducted in 2024 will be repeated in 2025 to refine fungicide spray timing recommendations for different geographical locations.
2. Grass Variety Trials Participation
• All NCERA-221 participants are involved in the evaluation of cultivars of the major turfgrass species grown in the North Central region, including creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass. The group has decided to work collaboratively in 2024 and beyond to develop extension materials to recommend the most appropriate species and cultivars for various situations and scenarios.
3. Winter Stress Research
• The University of Minnesota continues to lead an $8 million multi-state project to study winter stresses on cool-season turfgrasses, involving researchers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. This project aims to understand and mitigate winterkill effects on turfgrass.
4. Sustainable Turfgrass Extension and Outreach Events
• NCERA-221 members organized and executed several conferences, workshops, and field days over the reporting period. These events showcased the latest research results to consumer and professional audiences.

NCERA-221 Milestones:

1. Development of a Standard Method for Measuring Surface Organic Matter

• This new method is expected to result in the more sustainable management of putting greens by introducing a more quantitative way to make decisions regarding cultivation and topdressing, both of which rely on natural and monetary resources.

1. Nematode Survey Results
• The surveys conducted across Maryland golf courses and athletic fields revealed the prevalence and diversity of 13 plant parasitic nematodes, contributing to better nematode management strategies.
2. Billbug Monitoring Technique Development
• The development and testing of billbug monitoring techniques using a mark-release-recapture method allowed for effective population estimation and control.
3. Development of a Turfgrass Cultivar Database
• Led by the University of Minnesota, the creation of a new turfgrass cultivar database provided stakeholders with easy access to information on well-adapted turfgrass cultivars.

Impacts: Research and extension activities within the NCERA-221 group have yielded significant advancements in turfgrass management across various focus areas. Key findings and developments include:

• Cold Hardiness and Salinity Tolerance: Research addressing cold hardiness, especially in annual bluegrass, and salinity tolerance has led to practices that help reduce maintenance costs and conserve resources.
• Weed Control with Reduced-Risk Pesticides: Collaborative efforts in weed control using reduced-risk pesticides have provided stakeholders with effective alternatives to conventional methods, ensuring better compliance with environmental regulations.
• Fine Fescue Sod Production: Innovative research has demonstrated the feasibility of producing fine fescue sod in the north central region. Additionally, new methodologies for screening turfgrasses and other crops for shade tolerance have been developed, accelerating the improvement of this important trait.
• Buffalograss Development and Genomic Sequencing: Cooperative projects have focused on developing buffalograss for reduced input areas and conducting genomic sequencing for various turfgrass species. These efforts are aimed at creating cultivars that require fewer resources and are better adapted to regional conditions.
• Insect Control Innovations: Research on billbug control has led to the development of a novel mechanical approach using a sweeper designed for artificial turf surfaces. This method effectively reduces billbug populations without damaging the turf, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Anonymous. (2023) Recommended turfgrass cultivars for certified sod production and seed mixtures in Maryland. University of Maryland Technical Update TT-77.

Bekken, M. A., Soldat, D. J., Koch, P. L., Schimenti, C. S., Rossi, F. S., Aamlid, T. S., ... & Spring, C. (2023). Analyzing golf course pesticide risk across the US and Europe—The importance of regulatory environment. Science of The Total Environment, 874, 162498.

Berndt, W. L., & Gaussoin, R. E. (2023). Predicting Munsell color for turfgrass leaves. Crop Science, 63, 1566–1580.

Browning, S., Fech, J., Folck, A., & Gaussoin, R. (2023). Cool Season Lawn Calendar-Western Nebraska. NebGuide (G2359). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Extension.

Browning, S., Fech, J., Folck, A., & Gaussoin, R. (2023). Cool Season Lawn Calendar-Eastern Nebraska. NebGuide (G2356). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Extension.

Carey, A. A., Nair, A., & Thoms, A. (2024). Evaluating the soil block method and growing media in organic vegetable transplant production. HortScience, 59(4), 542-551. doi:10.21373/HORTSCI17566-23.

Chou, M. Y., Pavlou, D., Rice, P. J., Spokas, K. A., Soldat, D. J., & Koch, P. L. (2024). Microbial diversity and soil health parameters associated with turfgrass landscapes. Applied Soil Ecology, 196, 105311.

Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). New herbicide evaluation for hard-to-control weeds in turfgrass. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:63-65.

Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Perennial ryegrass sun cultivar evaluation trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:61-62.

Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Perennial ryegrass shade cultivar evaluation trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:59-60.

Donelan, T., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Effects of various wetting agents on athletic turfgrass under simulated traffic. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:53-54.

Donelan, T., Thoms, A., Arora, R., Tekeste, M., & Jjagwe, P. (2023). Comparative study of morphological, anatomical, cell wall compositional, and leaf elemental features of traffic-tolerant vs. -sensitive tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Crop Science. doi:10.1002/csc2.21114.

Fidanza, M., Bigelow, C., Kostka, S., Ervin, E., Gaussoin, R., Rossi, F., Dinelli, D., Pope, J., & Steffel, J. (2023). Considerations with biostimulants in turfgrass. In M. Fidanza (Ed.), Achieving sustainable turfgrass management. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

Fleetwood, M., Barrett, B., Ramirez, R., Richmond, D., Enders, L., & Xiong, X. (2023). Development of a novel mechanical approach for control of billbugs. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, November 1, 2023.

Folck, A. J., Bigelow, C. A., Jiang, Y., & Patton, A. J. (2023). Genotypic variation in germination rate, seedling vigor, and seed phenotype of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Crop Science, 63, 3065–3078.

Folck, A. J., Bigelow, C. A., Jiang, Y., & Patton, A. J. (2023). Growth analysis of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars from six classification groups. Agrosystems Geosciences & Environment, 6, e20444.

Gould, T., & Thoms, A. (2023). Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass cultivar fairway establishment evaluation. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:69-70.

Gould, T., & Thoms, A. (2023). Turfgrass on a roll: Sod production for Jack Trice Stadium and Iowa State’s Soccer facility. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:67-68.

Hatten, C., Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Field evaluation of plant proteins for creeping bentgrass performance. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:57-58.

Monson, B. J., Brockenborough, R. J., Smeda, R. J., & Xiong, X. (2023). Influence of systemic herbicides on tuber suppression of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, October 31, 2023.

Patton, A. (2023). Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals: Turf-100. Purdue Extension Education Store.

Peddigari, Shravya. 2023. Understanding organic and conventional management programs and rhizosphere microbiome for sports turf in Maryland. M.S. thesis., University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Raudenbush, Z., Sousek, M., Thompson, C. S., & Gaussoin, R. E. (2024). Safety of carfentrazone-ethyl following application of bensulide to creeping bentgrass putting greens. Crop Forage & Turfgrass Management, 10, e20285. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20285.

Shahoveisi, F. (2024). Turfgrass Diseases: Pythium Blight (FS-2024-0707).

Shahoveisi, F. and Waldo, B., 2024. Plant-Parasitic Nematode Genera Associated with Turfgrass in Maryland Golf Courses and Athletic Fields. The Plant Pathology Journal, 40(3), p.272.

Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Evaluation of seeding dates and varieties for recovery from winterkill. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:55-56.

Thoms, A., Gould, T., & Donelan, T. (2023). Effects of smooth crabgrass and white clover populations in athletic turfgrass under simulated traffic. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:51-52.

Thoms, A., & Gould, T. (2023). Creeping bentgrass dollar spot fungicide trial. 2022 Annual Progress Reports, Hort. Res. Station, ISRF 22H:49.

Thoms, A. W., Dalsgaard, T. O., Lindsey, A. J., & Christians, N. E. (2023). Tall fescue mowing height effects under simulated athletic traffic. HortTechnology. doi:10.21273/HORTTECH05219-23.

Thoms, A. W., & Lindsey, A. J. (2023). Advances in maintenance practices of turfgrass in achieving sustainable turfgrass management. In M. Fidanza (Ed.), Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. Chapter 6. ISBN-13: 9781801460194.

Waldo, B.D., Shahoveisi, F. and Carroll, M.J., 2024. Long‐term fertilization and cultivation impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue turfgrass. Ecology and Evolution, 14(2), p.e10905.

Zhou, Q., Soldat, D. J., & Ruark, M. D. (2024). Short‐term soil carbon mineralization on golf course sand‐based putting green and its effect on creeping bentgrass nitrogen uptake. Crop Science, 64(2), 1051-1060.

Zhu H., H. Guo, D. Li. 2023. Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) accessions differ in nitrogen cycling during a simulated seasonal senescence. Grass and Forage Science DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12638

Zhu H., P. Guo, D. Li. 2023. Parameters of nitrogen use efficiency of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars at different N levels under deficit irrigation. Grass and Forage Science DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12637