Super Science: A year of research in review
Product combos improve irrigation efficiency
By Marco Schiavon, Ph.D., and Jim Baird, Ph.D.
Using a plant growth regulator (PGR), soil surfactant and different nitrogen fertilizers can help improve water savings for bermudagrass fairways.
- Researchers tested a combination of PGRs, soil surfactants and sufficient nitrogen fertilization for water conservation on golf course fairways.
- None of the plots irrigated at 40 percent evapotranspiration (ETos) had acceptable turfgrass quality, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) or percent green cover comparable to those irrigated at 70 percent ETos.
- At 70 percent ETos, Primo Maxx, combined with Revolution, had the most positive effect on turfgrass quality, NDVI and percent green cover confirmed these findings.
- Except for May 2016 and 2017, bermudagrass irrigated at 70 percent ETos always provided acceptable quality.
Controlling annual bluegrass on golf course putting greens
By Aaron J. Patton, Ross C. Braun, Geoffrey P. Schortgen, Daniel V. Weisenberger, Bruce E. Branham, Bill Sharp, Matthew D. Sousek, Roch E. Gaussoin and Zachary J. Reicher
Photo 3 Study area being prepared for an application on Sept. 23, 2014. Three injured plots are evident from a late August application of Bensumec followed by early September Velocity applications. The treatment was discontinued shortly thereafter. (Photo: Daniel Weisenberger)
A recent four-year experiment evaluated individual PGR and herbicide active ingredients applied up to 12 times per year in three U.S. states (Photo 3).
- Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.; ABG) is among the most common weeds of highly maintained turf in the United States.
- In three Midwestern U.S. states, the researchers conducted a four-year systems approach experiment to control ABG on putting greens by examining seven season-long programs of plant growth regulators, herbicides and iron sulfate fertilizer with a July or September hollow tine aerification.
- Aerification timing did not influence annual bluegrass cover at the three locations.
- Monthly applications of iron sulfate alone did not effectively control ABG.
- The effectiveness of season-long treatments varied by location, but methiozolin, paclobutrazol or bispyribac-sodium consistently reduced ABG. None completely removed annual bluegrass.
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About the Author: Mike Kenna, Ph.D.
Mike Kenna, Ph.D., is the retired director of research, USGA Green Section. Contact him at mpkenna@gmail.com.
About the Author: Kevin Morris
Kevin Morris is the executive director of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. You can contact him at kmorris@ntep.com. About the Author: Cole Thompson, Ph.D.
Cole Thompson, Ph.D., is a turfgrass scientist at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
About the Author: Paul Koch, Ph.D
Paul Koch, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he conducts research and provides information to professional turf managers on disease management and control. Koch's research article in the August 2013 issue of Golfdom, "Beat the summer heat, plan for snow mold," won a TOCA Award (merit) for turf feature article. Koch can be reached at plkoch@wisc.edu. About the Author: Marco Schiavon, Ph.D.
University of Florida About the Author: Ana Luiza Sousa, Ph.D.
Sousa, Ph.D.is a postdoctoral researcher in Koppenhöfer’s program. About the Author: Ryan Geisert, Ph.D.
Geisert, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher in Koppenhöfer’s program. About the Author: Bruce Clarke, Ph.D.
Bruce Clarke, Ph.D. is an extension specialist in turfgrass pathology at Rutgers University. About the Author: James Murphy, Ph.D.
James Murphy, Ph.D. is an extension specialist in turfgrass management at Rutgers University. About the Author: Ben McGraw, Ph.D.
Ben McGraw, Ph.D., is an associate professor of turfgrass entomology at The Pennsylvania State University. He can be reached at bam53@psu.edu.
About the Author: Wendell Hutchens
Wendell Hutchens earned his MS degree at North Carolina State University, and now is a Ph.D. candidate at Virginia Tech University. You may reach Wendell at wendelljh@vt.edu. About the Author: Travis Gannon, Ph.D.
Travis Gannon, Ph.D., is at North Carolina State University About the Author: Dave Shew, Ph.D.
Dave Shew, Ph.D., is at North Carolina State University About the Author: Khalied Ahmed
Khalied Ahmed is at North Carolina State University
About the Author: Bruce Branham, Ph.D.
Bruce Branham, Ph.D., is a professor of turfgrass science at the University of Illinois and can be reached at bbranham@illinois.edu.
About the Author: Matt Sousek
Matt Sousek, research manager, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, can be reached at msousek2@unl.edu. About the Author: Zac Reicher, Ph.D.
Reicher is a turfgrass scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he works with professional turf managers, teaches and conducts research. Each year Reicher conducts annual grass weed-control experiments that he uses to help formulate weed-control recommendations. Reicher can be reached at zreicher2@unl.edu for more information.
