Progress 01/01/10 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Turfgrass industry, golf course managers and pesticide industry personnel Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated from abstracts and presentations at professional meetings, field days and communication with industry representatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report, Project Director has retired from the University.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Two experiments were conducted on the Ohio State University Golf Club practice green and one on a USGA green at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research and Education Facility. The first project on the OSU Golf Club putting green is designed to study the coupling effect of methiozolin, nitrogen rate and fertilizing frequency on creeping bentgrass recovery and annual bluegrass suppression/control in the spring with fall only methiozolin treatments and fall/spring methiozolin treatments. The second project consists of three methiozolin rates and four nitrogen rates to determine the best combination of spring methiozolin rate and spring nitrogen application strategies that shows best control over annual bluegrass while benefiting creeping bentgrass recovery and safety. The third project at the OSU Research and Education Facility is to study the effects of five different nitrogen rates on the lateral growth/recovery and quality of creeping bentgrass with/without methiozolin treatments.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The main target audiences were those turfgrass/sports field managers that are maintaining sports/athletic fields and recreational fields/facilities that are attempting to sustain aesthetically acceptable, safe and playable athletic turf surfaces for all sporting venues including football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, bugby fields, etc. for K-12 schools, colleagues/universities, professional fields and community parks/recreational fields.There are many sports/athletic ffacilities that wiould benefit from an appropriate maintenance program that is both agronomically and economically sound. For example, there are an approximately 650 school districts in Ohio with each maintaing a multitude of sport/athletic fields. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project has allowed the OSU SportsTurf Team to interact with sports/athletic clientetle in and out of the state of Ohio on issues that chalenge them regarding field playability and safety. It has also allowed us gain valuable insight inti their operatiolns, management philosophy, budgets and the potentialaccetance of a "sand cap" topressing program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Dissemination has predominantly to date been via OSUE seminars/workshops/short courses, Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show, industry/organizational groups (OSTMA, etc.) and other industry/organizational groups throughout the state. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The sand topdessing protocol and research program will end in 2014. Statistical analysis will be performed on all data and a final report prepared.Recommendations from the topdessing research on "sand capping" will be developed for our clientele. Also,a cost analalysis for the recommended programs will be made in 2015 as well.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Athletic fields are typically established on native soils. These native soils are often used for multiple sports and activities and under less than fovorable weather conditions. Native soils are almostalways incapable of sustaining a high degree of traffic/activity especially when saturated or nearly saturated without becoming compacted with resultant poor drainage. Subsequently, there is a decline in turfgrass quality/turf cover, poor playability conditions, and safety concerns. Sands are often usede in rootzone construction of higher maintenance/budgeted sports facilities to overcome these latter problems. HOwever, the construction/reconstruction costs of building high sand content rootzone fields is simply beyond the budgetary and technical resources of most high schools and other athletic facilities. An alternate approach may be to utilize sand topdressing as a protective layer on the top of native soil converting the upper field surface slowly and more economically over time to a predominantly upper sand profile or so called "sand cap". A key in this process is to select a proper sand with the appropriate size, particle size ditribution and sand shape for both adequate drainage and"surface stability". The "sand cap" system with periotic topdressing on an annual basis and the appropriate sand should in theory contribute to an athletic field with more sustainable turfquality/cover, better playability, under traffic and adverse weather conditions, and improved surface stability and traction. This "sand cap" (upper sand profile) approach would save high schools and other low-to moderate budgeted athletic facilities budgeted athletic facilities significant upfront costs, spread improvement costs over time and ultimately make fields more playable, safer, and less costly to maintain. In 2014, the upper sand profile cap has continued to develop based on the rate and frequency of sand topdressing applications from 1.0 inches (two topdressings per yeear @ 0.125 inches annually from 2011-2014 to an extreme of 8 inches (four sand topdressings per @ 0.5 inches annually from 2011-2014.The 0.5 inch sand topdressing program at 4X per yearcontinues to be too excessive as the turf becomes physically covered and lacks recuperative potential under wear. The 0.5 inch 4X per year program has resulted in poor turfgrasss cover and, in turn, a significant reduction in playability characteristics like surface stability. The 0.25 inch 4X peryear topdressing program with now a total sand accumulation of 4 inches in the upper profile (2011-2014)is performing best with consistently higher turfgrass quality and overall better playability characteristics.With the 0.25 inch 4X per year program, there continue to be significant differences among sand shape and patricle size gradation treatments. By far, the angular and sub-angular sand particles with medium to medium-fine gradation are performing best among playability characteristics being monitored especially with regard to surface stability. Coeficient of UNiformity and Fineness Modulus values with medium to medium-fine sands in the 0.25 inch 4xper year programs are providing best playability characteristics with as previously reported CU and FM values of 3.0-4.0 and 2.2-2.8, respectively.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The overall target audience are those turfgrass managers and sports facilities that are maintaining sports/athletic fields and recreational fields that are attempting to sustain aesthetically acceptable, safe, and playable athletic surfaces for all sporting venues including football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, etc. for K-12 schools, colleagues/universities, professional fields, and community parks and recreational facilities. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Ohio State University Extension seminars/workshops to outreach athletic/sports field managers and maintenance personnel have been given to the Ohio Sports Turf Managers Assoc., OSU Sports Turf Short Course, and other industry groups beginning to define the concepts of sand characteristics, and topdressing rates and frequencies on athletic field playability based on our preliminary results over three years (2011-2013). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? THe protcol treatments and playabiliy measurements as originally designed will be continued in 2014.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Athletic fields are typically established on native soils. These native soils fields are often used for multiple sports and activities even under inclement weather. Native soils are almost always incapable of sustaining a high degree of traffic/activity especially when saturated or nearly saturated without becoming compacted and poorly drained. Subsequently, there is a decline in turfgrass quality/cover, poor playability conditions and safety concerns. Sands are often used in rootzone construction of higher maintenance/higher budgeted sports facilities to overcome these latter problems. However, the construction/reconstruction costs of high sand content rootzone fields is simply beyond the budgetary and technical resources of most high schools and turf facilities. An alternate approach may be to utilize sand topdressing as a protective layer or on the top of native soil converting it slowly and more economically over time to a predominately upper sand profile or “sand cap”. A key in this process is to select a proper sand with appropriate size, particle size distribution and shape for both adequate drainage and “surface stability”. The “sand cap” system with periodic topdressing on an annual basis and the appropriate sand should contribute to an athletic field with more sustainable turf quality/cover, better playability under adverse weather conditions, and improved surface stability and traction. This “sand cap” (upper sand profile) approach would save high schools and other low –to-moderate budgeted athletic facilities significant upfront costs, spread improvement costs over time and ultimately make fields more playable, safer, and less costly to maintain. In 2013, the upper sand profile (cap) has continued to develop based on rate and frequency of sand application from 0.75 inches (two topdressings per year @ 0.125 inch annually in 2011-2013) to an extreme of 6 inches (four topdressings per year at 0.5 inch annually - 2011-2013). The 0.5 inch topdressing rate at 4X per year is too excessive as the turf becomes physically covered and lacks recuperative potential under wear. The 0.5 inch-4X/year program has resulted in poor turfgrass cover and, in turn, a significant reduction in playability characteristics like stability regardless of sand gradation or shape. The 0.25 inch-4X/year topdressing program with a total accumulation of 3 inches of sand in the upper profile (a 3 inch sand cap in 2011-2103) is performing best with consistently higher turfgrass quality and better playability characteristics like surface stability. With the 0.25 inch-4X/year program, there are significant differences among the sand shape and gradation treatments. The angular to sub-angular sands with medium gradation are performing best among playability characteristics being monitored especially with regards to surface stability. Coeficient of Uniformity and Fineness Modulus values with the medium sand in the 0.25 inch-4x/year program are providing best playability characteristics at CU and FM values of 3.0-4.0 and 2.2-2.8, respectively.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Current specific recommendations on sand selection characteristics for topdressing native soil and sand rootzones for sports fields including golf putting greens were rigorously reviewed from a variety of sources including the USGA, Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI-Europe), FEFA, USA universities and soil testing labs. Sands were chosen with a coefficient of uniformity(CU)and fineness modules(FM)values ranging from 1.1 to 4.0. Sand graduation groupings selected were fine, medium, and coarse ranges. Graduations are used to test the influence of particle size distribution and it's interaction with particle size and shape. One company was finally selected to produce the sand topdressing blends based on our selection criteria. The two sand shapes chosen were sub-angular to sub-rounded and angular to sub-angular. The final sand topdressing programs were based on rate and application frequency. The topdressing rates ranged from 0.125 to 0.5 inches per application. Application frequecies were two and four (accelerated) times per year. Wear was applied in spring and fall of 2012 to simulate typical high schoolfootball/sports. A wear machine developed at OSU was used to simulate wear/traffic. Wear was performed to simulate 20 games/activities in both spring (20) and fall(20). Playability measurements using various apparatus provided values for surface stability, hardness, and traction. Measurements were taken four times per year at the onset and completion of each wear event. With two seasons of topdressing (2011,2012) at the treatment rates of 0.125 to 0.5, accumulations are 0.25 (0.125 twice per year) to the extreme of 4.0 inches (0.5 four times per year.). PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The overall target audiences are those turfgrass managers and facilities that are maintaining sports/athletic fields and recreational areas that are attempting to sustain aesthetically acceptable, safe, and playable athletic surfaces for all sporting activities including football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, etc. for the K-12 schools, colleagues/universities, and community parks and recreational facilities. There are a multitude of sport/athletic facilities that would benefit from an appropriate maintenance program that was sound both agronomically and economically. For example, there are estimated to be approximately 650 school districts in Ohio with each maintaining a multitude of sport/athletic fields. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Athletic fields are typically established on native soils. These native soil fields are often used for multiple sports and activities even during inclement weather. Native soils are almost always incapable of sustaining a high degree of traffic/activity especially when saturated or nearly saturated without becoming compacted and poorly drained. Subsequently, there is a decline in turfgrass quality/cover, poor playability conditions and safety concerns. Sands are often used in rootzone construction of higher maintenance/higher budgeted sports facilities to overcome these latter problems. However, the construction/reconstruction of high sand content rootzone athletic fields is simply beyond the budgetary and technical resources of most high schools and turf facilities. An alternate approach may be to utilize sand topdressing as a protective layer or cap on the top of native soil converting it slowly and more economically over time to a predominately upper sand profile or "sand cap". A key in this process is also to select a proper sand with appropriate size, particle size distribution and shape for both adequate drainage and surface stability. The "sand cap" system with periodic topdressing on an annual basis and the appropriate sand should contribute to an athletic field with more sustainable turf quality/cover, better playability under adverse weather conditions, and improved surface stability and traction. This "sand cap" (upper sand profile) approach would save high schools and other low to moderate budgeted athletic facilities significant up front costs, spread field improvement costs over time, and utimately make athletic fields more playable, safer and less costly to maintain. In 2011/2012, the upper sand profile (cap) has developed based on rate and frequency of application from 0.25 inches (two topdressings at 0.125 annually) to an extreme of 4.0 inches (four topdessings at 0.5 annually). The 0.5 inch topdressing rate at 4X per year is clearly too excessive as the turf becomes physically covered and is not able to recover. The sand rates and application frequencis providing both acceptable turf cover and slightly enhanced playability after two seasons are those providing 0.5 to 1.0 surface sand inches per year. CM and FM values have been difficult to define so far except that the finer ratio sands appear to be attributing to slightly better surface stability. Rounded to sub-rounded sand shapes are attributing to slightly less stability.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Current specific recommendations on sand selection characteristics for topdressing native soil and sand root zones for sports turf including golf putting greens was rigorously reviewed from a variety of sources including the USGA, Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI - Europe, FEFA, USA universities, and soil testing labs. Sands were chosen with coefficient of uniformity and fineness modulus values ranging from 1.1 to 4.0. Sand gradation grouping selected were fine, medium and coarse. Gradations are used to test the influence of particle size distribution and its interaction with particle size and shape. Two industry companies were selected to produce the sand topdressing blends based on our selection criteria. The two sand shapes chosen were sub-angular to sub-rounded and angular to sub-angular. The sand topdressing programs were based on rate and application frequency with rates ranging from 0.125 to 0.50 inches per application and application frequencies of four (normal program) to eight(accelerated program)per year. A wear machine was developed to simulate wear/traffic in cooperation with OSU Ag Engineering. Wear will be imposed to simulate typical football activity. In addition to the wear simulator, equipment was acquired to collect a variety of playability measurements like surface stability, hardness,etc. These data collection devices were calibrated for turfgrass use. The turf research area was maintained using typical sports turf cultural practices in 2010. Sand topdressing treatments, programs and playability measurements under simulated wear will be initiated in the spring of 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Green Industry; Golf Course Industry; Sports Turf Industry; Turfgrass Industry; Lawn and Landscape Industry; Homeowners PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
High school athletics fields are typically constructed on native soils. These soils are often used for multiple sports and activities even during inclement weather. Native soils are almost always incapable of sustaining a high degree of activity without becoming compacted and poorly drained. Compaction and poor drainage occurs more quickly if these native soil fields are used when saturated or nearly saturated. Subsequently, there is a decline in turfgrass cover, playability and safety. Sands are used in the construction of rootzones profiles to overcome these problems. However, this type of construction/reconstruction is usually beyond the budetary constraints and technical resources of most school districts. An alternative approach may be to utilize topdressing as a protective layer or cap on the top of the native soil converting it slowly and more econmically overtime to an upper sand profile. A key in this process is also to select the proper sand for both acceptable drainage and surface stability. This sand cap system with periodic topdressing and the appropriate sand should contribute to an athletic field with more sustainable turf cover and quality, playability, surface stability and traction. This type of sand cap/upper sand profile would save high schools significant costs, spread field improvement costs over time, and in the transtion make athletic fields more playable, safer and less costly to maintain.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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