Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to NRP
MANAGEMENT OF TURFGRASS STRESS DUE TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0220807
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
Plant Sciences
Non Technical Summary
In 1989, managed turf was planted on more than 30 million acres in the U.S., and recently it has been estimated that it occupies three times more acres than irrigated corn. In Missouri, turfgrass occupies more than 1.5 million acres and the combined expenditures for turf management in Missouri exceed $1 billion annually. Managed turfgrass has shallow root system which demands periodic irrigation and presence of fertilizers near to the soil surface. Fresh water has becoming a limiting resource, and during drought conditions water restrictions for residential turfgrass are imposed in many states. Recently, the EPA released specifications for water-efficient single-family new homes from its WaterSense program. Requirements include minimizing the turf area to less than 40% of landscaped areas or restricting irrigation to no more than 60% of the reference evapotranspiration (ET) rate for cool-season grass. Accordingly, turfgrasses are likely to be managed under sub-optimal conditions of water availability in the future. Another major input on turf system, fertilizers, has also raised public concerns. When applied inappropriately, up to 100% of surplus nitrogen (N) can be lost through surface runoff or leached through the soil. Resultant N is accumulated in surface or ground water. Drinking water containing more than 10 mg nitrate nitrogen per litter is considered detrimental to human health, a level that is becoming common in many locales. Therefore, limit fertilizer inputs, while maintaining turf quality, is an important goal for reducing environmental contamination from turf areas. The last input essential to maintain turf quality is pesticide, which may potentially contribute to ground contamination as well. Consequently, in order to reduce the potential environmental contaminations from turf areas and to appease the general public?s concern about water consumption, turfgrasses are likely to be managed under sub-optimal conditions of less input. Therefore, there is practical value in developing management practices to increase turfgrass tolerance to various stresses while maintaining acceptable levels of turf quality. The objectives of this proposed project are to 1) determine the ability of exogenous applications of abscisic acid (ABA) for sustain growth and quality under water and nutrient deficiency; and to 2) determine the effect of mustard seed meals for weed and disease management of turf. Both greenhouse and field experiments are going to conducted in this project. Turfgrass will be subjected to drought and nutrient deficiency and treatments with ABA will be applied for objective 1 experiment. For objective 2 mustard seed meal will be applied and the suppression effect on turf weeds and dollar spot disease will be evaluated. Research findings will be delivered to turf managers in local industry conference, organization newsletters, and extension publications. Demonstration plots will be setup in a local golf course and in MU turfgrass research center. Peer reviewed publications from this project are also expected.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2052130106065%
2032130102035%
Goals / Objectives
Maintaining a high quality, healthy-looking turf demands constant inputs, such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Fresh water has becoming a limiting resources and global water crisis has increased water restrictions on turf in many areas. Other inputs on turfgrass, such as fertilizers and pesticides, may contribute to environmental contamination and have raised public concern as well. Therefore it is the goal of this proposed project here to develop management practices to sustain turf quality while reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and pesticides used on turf. Our specific objectives are: 1) to determine the ability of exogenous applications of abscisic acid (ABA) for stimulating stress response mechanisms that increase the ability of turfgrass to sustain growth and quality under reduced water and nutrient inputs; and 2) to determine the effect of mustard seed meals for weed and disease management of turf. The expected outputs from the proposed project will include conducting and analyzing experiments, demonstrate research findings on turf field day, presenting data in local industry workshop and national academic conferences, and publish research results in peer reviewed journals.
Project Methods
For objective 1, two experiments will be conducted: measurement of ethylene accumulation in response to abiotic stress and quantification of ethylene biosynthesis in response to exogenous applications of ABA. Greenhouse studies will be established using tall fescue plants in flats containing sand. Drought stress will be induced and nutrient stress will be applied for N, P, K, and Ca and in combination. The experimental design will be a factorial treatment arrangement in a block design (three replications). A total of 36 flats will be established using two levels of water availability and six nutrient treatments. Leaf water potentials and ethylene evolution will be monitored on a daily basis and clippings will be collected to record dry biomass. Ethylene evolution will be measured using gas chromatography and leaf water potentials will be measured using a pressure chamber. In the second experiment, plants grown as described above using the appropriate stress regimen will be treated with either ABA or with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), a key enzyme in ethylene synthesis. Six treatments will be arranged in a completely randomized design. ABA content will be determined by radioimmunoassay; tissue N, P, K, and Ca content will be analyzed. For objective 2, greenhouse trials will be established to ascertain weed suppression and field trials will be used to determine seed meal activity on dollar spot. Treatments will consist of mustard seed meal amended into the soil at rates from 1,350 to 3,360 kg/ha. The synthetic dazomet will be applied as a standard. Following treatment, common turfgrass weeds (annual bluegrass, large crabgrass, buckhorn plantain, white clover, and common chickweed) will be planted. Seeds of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bermudagrass will be planted as well. Emergence of each species and the fresh weight biomass will be counted weekly. The trial will be established as a randomized complete block with four replications, and repeated. A field trial will be conducted at two locations in mid-Missouri for two years to identify the activity of mustard meal on dollar spot. Mustard seed meal at 0 to 3,360 kg/ha will be spread with shaker bottles to evenly place residues over a uniform area of creeping bentgrass. A commercial fungicide, iprodione, will be applied as control. At weekly intervals for 12 weeks, the incidence of dollar spot will be evaluated by visual counts of the patches. A chlorophyll meter will quantify turf quality by estimating the leaf level of chlorophyll. The experiment will be designed as a randomized complete block with four replications and repeated. Effort will be made to deliver turf managers with research finding in local industry conference, organization newsletters, and extension publications. The success of this project will be evaluated by setup demonstration site in local golf course with management practiced adapted with research findings. Number of professional turfgrass managers reached by our extension services will be evaluated. Finally peer reviewed publication from each of the objective would be part of the success evaluation.

Progress 10/01/13 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, audiences reached were: 1) undergraduate students in the discipline of Turfgrass Science through formal classroom instruction; 2) turfgrass management scientific community through national and regional conference; 3) turfgrass management professionals, such as golf course superintendents and lawn-care professionals, through university turf field day and regional professional meetings. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students involved in these two projects include two Ph.D. candidates, a Research Specialist, and an Undergraduate Researcher. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared with turf professionals, including home-lawn managers and golf course superintendents, at the University of Missouri Turf Field Days. Presentations were made at various local and regional conferences, including ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting, regional Weed Science Society meeting, Missouri Green Industry Conference, and Mississippi Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association educational meeting. Articles were also published in popular trend magazines including GCM (golf course management). Two peer-reviewed publications have also been generated in the Agronomy Journal. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the last year of this 5-year research project; a new 5-year project has been proposed which build upon the findings from this past project. Future plans include development of techniques to improve water and nutrient use efficiency on turfgrass plants, and to gain a better understanding of soil hydrophobicity and its impact on plant available water.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For objective 1, since we have shifted the focus to develop techniques that improve water and nutrient use efficiency for turfgrass plants. Through a collaborative effort, we have been able to conduct a series experiments with a Ph.D. student focusing on improving soil infiltration using various wetting agents. Both laboratory- and field-based experiments have been carried out, results generated have been published on peer-reviewed journal. We have also conveyed the knowledge we learned to the end users via various regional, national, and international conferences. We have also able to obtain research funding support from turf professional organization, such as the United States Golf Association. Through these studies, we were able to determine that wetting agents vary significantly in their influence on infiltration. Some of the commercialized compounds are able to change the soil condition from water-repellent to wettable condition, and able to provide more plant available water under water deficiency. Our experiment also found that, however, some of the compounds lack of persistence, and their effects are quickly disappeared within 2-3 runs of irrigation. For objective 2, a different Ph.D. student has been performing experiments both in the growth chamber and under field conditions. This two-year field experiment has found that organic-based materials, including mustard seed meals, are able to influence soil microbial population and activity over time, which in return influenced soil-born pathogen activity on infected turf area. We are right now in the final step of this experiment for data analysis and manuscript development.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Song E., J.G. Schneider, S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, and X. Xiong. 2014. Wetting agent influence on water infiltration into hydrophobic sand: I. Re-wettability. Agronomy Journal. 106: 1873-1878.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Song, E., J.G. Schneider, S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, and X. Xiong. 2014. Wetting agent influence on water infiltration into hydrophobic sand: II. Physical property. Agronomy Journal. 106: 1879-1885.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., E. Song, and X. Xiong. 2014. Do wetting agents applied via irrigation have potential for maintaining turf quality under reduced irrigation? ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., K.W. Goyne, S.H. Anderson, and X. Xiong. 2014. Characterization of hydrophobicity of various soil-less potting mixtures. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., K.W. Goyne, S.H. Anderson, and X. Xiong. 2014. Methodologies to develop water-repellency in USGA grade sand. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Xiong, X. 2014. Soil water repellency and wetting agent use on turf: What we know and what we dont know. Departmental Seminar. Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University.


Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience:1) undergraduate students in the discipline of Turfgrass Science through formal classroom instruction; 2) turfgrass management scientific community through national and regional conference; 3) turfgrass management professionals, such as golf course superintendents and lawn-care professionals, through university turf field day and regional professional meetings. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students involved in these two projects include two Ph.D. candidates, a Research Specialist, and an Undergraduate Researcher. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared with turf professionals, including home-lawn managers and golf course superintendents, at the University of Missouri Turf Field Days. Presentations were made at various local and regional conferences, including ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting, regional Weed Science Society meeting, Missouri Green Industry Conference, and Mississippi Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association educational meeting. Articles were also published in popular trend magazines including GCM (golf course management). Two peer-reviewed publications have also been generated in the Agronomy Journal. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the last year of this 5-year research project; a new 5-year project has been proposed which build upon the findings from this past project. Future plans include development of techniques to improve water and nutrient use efficiency on turfgrass plants, and to gain a better understanding of soil hydrophobicity and its impact on plant available water.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For objective 1, since we have shifted the focus to develop techniques that improve water and nutrient use efficiency for turfgrass plants. Through a collaborative effort, we have been able to conduct a series experiments with a Ph.D. student focusing on improving soil infiltration using various wetting agents. Both laboratory- and field-based experiments have been carried out, results generated have been published on peer-reviewed journal. We have also conveyed the knowledge we learned to the end users via various regional, national, and international conferences. We have also able to obtain research funding support from turf professional organization, such as the United States Golf Association. Through these studies, we were able to determine that wetting agents vary significantly in their influence on infiltration. Some of the commercialized compounds are able to change the soil condition from water-repellent to wettable condition, and able to provide more plant available water under water deficiency. Our experiment also found that, however, some of the compounds lack of persistence, and their effects are quickly disappeared within 2-3 runs of irrigation. For objective 2, a different Ph.D. student has been performing experiments both in the growth chamber and under field conditions. This two-year field experiment has found that organic-based materials, including mustard seed meals, are able to influence soil microbial population and activity over time, which in return influenced soil-born pathogen activity on infected turf area. We are right now in the final step of this experiment for data analysis and manuscript development.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Song E., J.G. Schneider, S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, and X. Xiong. 2014. Wetting agent influence on water infiltration into hydrophobic sand: I. Re-wettability. Agronomy Journal. 106: 1873-1878.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Song, E., J.G. Schneider, S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, and X. Xiong. 2014. Wetting agent influence on water infiltration into hydrophobic sand: II. Physical property. Agronomy Journal. 106: 1879-1885.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Xiong, X. 2014. Soil water repellency and wetting agent use on turf: What we know and what we dont know. Departmental Seminar. Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., E. Song, and X. Xiong. 2014. Do wetting agents applied via irrigation have potential for maintaining turf quality under reduced irrigation? ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., K.W. Goyne, S.H. Anderson, and X. Xiong. 2014. Methodologies to develop water-repellency in USGA grade sand. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schneider, J.G., K.W. Goyne, S.H. Anderson, and X. Xiong. 2014. Characterization of hydrophobicity of various soil-less potting mixtures. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, November, 2014.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: During this reporting period, audiences reached were: 1) undergraduate students in an Advanced Turfgrass Management course (PS 4355) through formal classroom instruction; 2) turfgrass management scientific community through national and regional conference; 3) turfgrass management professionals, such as golf course superintendents and lawn-care professionals, through university turf field day and regional professional meetings. Changes/Problems: The first project hasevolved to explore other techniques for improving water and nutrient use efficiency. An earlier study found that the ethylene production under drought stress varied constantly and we were not able to identify a certain stress level/stage when excessive ethylene production occurs. On the other hand, our preliminary study on turfgrass plant growing on a hydrophobic soil with reduced water regime found that plants maintained certain water content after treatment with certain wetting agents. We are planning on continuing our work on this and potentially develop field-based projects to establish water-saving techniques, utilizing chemicals and better irrigation techniques, on a large scale. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Students involved in these two projects include two Ph.D. candidates: Steve Song and Natalie Pan, a Research Specialist, John Haguewood, and an Undergraduate Researcher, Joe Schneider. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been shared with turf professionals, including home-lawn managers and golf course superintendents, at the University of Missouri Turf Field Days. Presentations were made at various local and regional conferences, including ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting, regional Weed Science Society meeting, Missouri Green Industry Conference, and Mississippi valley Golf Course Superintendents Association educational meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Future plans include development oftechniques to improve water and nutrient use efficiency on turfgrass plants through various lab and field studies. Additionally, anM.S. student is needed to conduct such research. Complete the field study for the 2nd objective and develop lab-based experiments to understand how mustard seed meal affects soil microbial population and/or activity.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For objective 1, as we were not able to identify stress stage/level when excessive ethylene production occurs, we have shifted the focus of this researchto techniques that improve water and nutrient use efficiency for turfgrass plants. Collaborations were formed with a couple of soil specialists and a Ph.D. student is currently working on a couple of projects which have shown promising results. Research proposals have been submitted to the United States Golf Association, withone project selected for funding starting in 2014 (total approved amount at $30K). For objective 2, a different Ph.D. student has been performing experiments both in the lab and under field conditions. A manuscript has been submitted for publication, and results have been presented in different scientific and professional conferences.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2013 Citation: Earlywine, D. T., X. Pan, R. J. Smeda, T. C. Teuton, J. T. English, C. E. Sams, J. C. Sorochan, and X. Xiong. 2013. Oriental Mustard (Brassica juncea) Seed Meal Suppresses Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) on Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) Turf. HortScience.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Pan, X., J.G. Schneider, J.T. English, C.E. Sams, and X. Xiong. 2013. Influence of application method on phytotoxicity of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) seed meal on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) Turf. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, November, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Schneider, J. G., J. B. Haguewood, and X. Xiong. 2012. Methods to safen mustard seed meal applications on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) putting greens. North Central Weed Science Society Annual Meeting. St. Louis, MO.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Haguewood, J.B., E. Song, S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, and X. Xiong. 2013. Plant available water in hydrophobic soil affected by wetting agents. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, November, 2013. (Haguewood won the first place in poster competition of C5 graduate students competition in the category his poster was placed).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Song, E., S.H. Anderson, K.W. Goyne, J.B. Haguewood, and X. Xiong. 2013. Evaluation of infiltration into artificial hydrophobic sand influenced by wetting agents. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, November, 2013.


Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: For objective 1 regarding ABA interaction with nutrient deficiency influencing turfgrass plant growth, a Post-doctoral Research Associate was hired during 11/2010-02/2012 with a financial support from the University of Missouri Research Board grant ($48,453). Two green-house studies and one growth chamber study were carried out during this period. Results collected indicate that within 10-20 days after drought stress was induced, tall fescue plants exhibited various levels of ethylene productions. Compared to untreated control plants, tall fescue plants under drought condition produced less ethylene during the entire dry-down cycle. The differences between drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive plants were minimal. At 12 days after drought stress was initiated, the drought-tolerant variety, 'Finessee II' showed increased ethylene production following exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) application. In comparison, drought-sensitive variety, 'Wolfpack' did not show ethylene production increasing. At 15 days after drought treatment, however, the influence from ABA application had disappeared. Plants that received exogenous ABA application, or the drought-tolerant variety, also showed less wilting symptoms, higher relative water content, and better turf quality. Currently, we haven't been able to find the stress level/stage when excessive ethylene production occurs. This is an incomplete study and further efforts are needed. For objective 2 regarding integration of the mustard seed meal (MSM) into turfgrass management, there are a couple of publications and international conferences abstracts that have been generated from studies related to this goal. Various experiments, including laboratory and field studies on MSM usage on turfgrass weeds and fungal diseases have been conducted. Up to date, results indicate that MSM can be used on turf safely for control of various weeds and fungal diseases, including large patch of zoysiagrass, which is the most detrimental disease on zoysiagrass fairway in golf course fairways. Results have been shared with turf professionals, including home-lawn managers and golf course superintendents, at the University of Missouri Turf Field Days, as well as various local and regional conferences. Currently, there is a PhD student and undergraduate student working on this project. PARTICIPANTS: K. Wang, Post-doctoral Research Associate, 11/2010-02/2012, Plant Sciences Division, MU. X. Pan, Graduate Research Associate (PhD candidate), 8/2011-current, Plant Sciences Division, MU. J. Schneider, Undergraduate Researcher, 04/2011-current, Plant Sciences Division, MU. Dr. Nathan Walker, Oklahoma State University. Dr. Carl Sams, University of Tennessee. Dr. Michael Richardson, University of Arkansas. Dr. Shiping Deng, Oklahoma State University. Dr. Jim English, University of Missouri. Dr. Reid Smeda, University of Missouri. Dr. Bob Sharp, University of Missouri. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are turfgrass management professionals, including lawn-care professionals and golf course superintendents. Turfgrass academic programs in the United States were initiated, and still to-date are driven by the golf course community. The findings from my research are mainly geared towards turf professionals. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
For objective 1, a Research Board Grant was obtained and a Post-doctoral Research Associate was trained. A proposal to NIFA was submitted (not funded). It is still a continuing project. For objective 2, a research grant from the United States Golf Association has been recently rewarded ($19,976). A collaboration was formed with a number of collegues at MU and other institutions. A Ph. D. student and an undergraduate researcher are currently working on this project. Two publications were generated and a few more are expected in the next several years. Results have also been presented at varous international meetings and Turf Field Days at MU. A NIFA grant proposal has been submitted (unfunded), and a revised one will be submitted in 2013.

Publications

  • Earlywine, D.T., R.J. Smeda, T.C. Teuton, C.E. Sams, and X. Xiong. 2010. Evaluation of oriental mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) seed meal for weed control in turf. Weed Technology. 24(4): 440-445.
  • Pan, X., J. T. English, C.E. Sams, and X. Xiong. 2012. The residue effect of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) seed meal for in vitro suppression of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Cincinnati, OH, October, 2012.
  • Wang, K., J.T. English, C.E. Sams, and X. Xiong. 2011. Control of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) large patch disease (Rhizoctonia solani) using mustard (Brassica juncea) seed meal. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX, October, 2011.
  • Sharp, R. E., F.B. Fritschi, C. Galen, R. L. Kallenbach, M. Liscum, H. T. Nguyen, M. J. Oliver, S. G. Pallardy, G. Shannon, D. A. Sleper, and X. Xiong. 2009. Plant adaptation to drought --- interdisciplinary research at the University of Missouri. Missouri Energy Summit, Columbia, MO.