Golfdom, April 2016

RESEARCH FOR REAL SUPERINTENDENTS Hosted by Clark Throssell Ph D clarkthrossell@ bresnan net Super Science STRESSFUL STUDY SOIL SURFACTANT IMPROVES PERFORMANCE OF GREENS UNDER STRESS By Kevin Laskowski Kevin Frank Ph D and Emily Merewitz Ph D C reeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera and annual bluegrass Poa annua are important putting green turfgrass species that are sensitive to drought and traffic stress The objective of this study was to investigate whether a soil surfactant Revolution would positively impact drought and traffic tolerance in grass species on a putting green built to USGA recommendations Revolution was applied as a foliar spray at 6 fl oz 1000 sq ft to creeping bentgrass Penn A4 and annual bluegrass under three target soil moisture percentages 8 percent 12 percent and 16 percent based on the Rainbird TSM 1 soil sensors in a two year field study Golf course traffic was applied through the use of a Mayes traffic simulator to represent low 5688 rounds of golf moderate 11376 rounds and no traffic control that could occur on a golf course putting green in one season The effect of Revolution on turfgrass quality normalized difference vegetation index soil moisture and percent localized dry spot coverage was measured Revolution treated turf that received the least amount of irrigation 8 percent held more moisture than control plots plots not treated with Revolution The high irrigation 16 percent Revolution treated plots held less moisture than control plots Plots treated with Revolution also maintained better quality than control plots The results of the study show that Revolution can increase turfgrass quality increase normalized difference vegetation index decrease localized dry spot by increasing soil moisture when water is insufficient and decrease soil moisture when water is excessive Kevin Laskowski M S candidate Kevin Frank Ph D and Emily Merewitz Ph D are at Michigan State University Kevin Laskowski can be reached at laskow29@ msu edu for more information NEWS UPDATES GCSAA TO SUPPORT SEVEN NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS IN 2016 Seven new research projects will receive funds provided by a block grant from the Environmental Institute for Golf EIFG the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Americas GCSAA philanthropic organization Four of the projects are part of GCSAAs Chapter Cooperative Research Program Researchers can apply for this program after a participating GCSAA chapter identifies it as a significant local issue for superintendents and then donates funds for support The four new studies were funded based on recommendations by the GCSAA Research Committee and approved by the associations board of directors The three additional grants are through other specific EIFG programs including the Dr Michael Hurdzan Endowment focused on environmental research with the goal of reducing requirements for water fertilizer pesticides or fossil fuels in golf course maintenance the Aquatrols Robert A Moore Endowment focused on applied research for optimizing the growing environment for golf course turf while minimizing inputs of water fertilizer and pesticides and the Mark Kizziar Research Grant focused on optimizing water use on golf courses GCSAA is continuing to support 10 projects that were selected for funding in 2012 2014 and 2015 April 2016 Golfdom 29 Golfdom com PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEVIN LASKOWSKI OVER REGULATION OF TURF CAN RESEMBLE OTHER TYPES OF STRESS AND OFTEN IS CONFUSED WITH DISEASE Bill Kreuser Ph D see story on page 30 A Soil surfactant treated plot with localized dry spot surrounding B Untreated plot displaying severe localized dry spot