Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the National Evaluation Program (NTEP) are to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and experimental selections in the United States and Canada. Approach (from AD-416): Cooperate with university and private industry personnel in establishing, maintaining and collecting data from turfgrass trials. The NTEP will be responsible for the summarization and distribution of data collected. This is the final report for this Project, which will terminate on 9/30/ 2018. During the life of the project, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) tests were initiated, established, maintained and evaluated using standardized testing protocols. Data was collected across the U.S. and Canada by university researchers using standard procedures and formats. Data was submitted to NTEP, computer formatted, and statistically analyzed. Cultivars with superior disease, drought, heat, and cold tolerance have been identified as well as cultivars with improved traffic tolerance. This information will be useful to turf managers in reducing pesticide and water and fertilizer use, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining the quality desired by users. Low input cool-season cultivars, blends and mixtures for home lawns, parks and golf course roughs. Due to water restrictions, concerns over pesticide use and economic constraints, turf managers and homeowners are reducing inputs of fertilizer, water and labor, and are looking at cool- season (C3) grasses for those mid and northern tier lawns where homeowners want a functional lawn, but with virtually no inputs besides mowing. In addition, to reduce or eliminate nitrogen applications to lawns, clover is being included in more lawn mixtures. To evaluate various cultivars, blends and grass/clover mixtures, NTEP established a trial in 2015 at seventeen locations across the U.S. Data collected in the second year (2017) indicate that several of the tall fescue cultivars and blends continue to perform well, along with some fine fescue cultivars and blends of fine fescues. The mixtures with white or microclover� overall have not performed as well as single cultivars or blends without clover, with the exception being one tall fescue mixture with strawberry clover. The western yarrow (Achillea millefolium) entry performed well again in 2017, providing good cover and persistence in some locations.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the National Evaluation Program (NTEP) are to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and experimental selections in the United States and Canada. Approach (from AD-416): Cooperate with university and private industry personnel in establishing, maintaining and collecting data from turfgrass trials. The NTEP will be responsible for the summarization and distribution of data collected. Over the past year, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) tests were initiated, established, maintained and evaluated using standardized testing protocols. Data was collected across the U.S. and Canada by university researchers using standard procedures and formats. Data was submitted to NTEP, computer formatted, and statistically analyzed. Cultivars with superior disease, drought, heat, and cold tolerance have been identified as well as cultivars with improved traffic tolerance. This information will be useful to turf managers in reducing pesticide and water and fertilizer use, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining the quality desired by users. Accomplishments 01 Grass Roots Initiative expands to further educate the public about turfgrass. Turfgrass is under scrutiny for its use of water, fertilizer and pesticides, but is not often credited with the benefits it provides to the environment, economy and society. In addition, the science of turfgrass is not well recognized by the general public. To educate and inform the public about turfgrass, the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., developed an initiative entitled �Grass Roots�, a 1.3 acre outdoor exhibit with associated web pages. With funding from a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Grass Roots Initiative has expanded to include a new Grass Roots display at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland. Completed and opened in May 2017, this new Grass Roots location will educate the 650,000 users of this facility on the benefits and science of turfgrass, its use on sports fields, and its proper management.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the National Evaluation Program (NTEP) are to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and experimental selections in the United States and Canada. Approach (from AD-416): Cooperate with university and private industry personnel in establishing, maintaining and collecting data from turfgrass trials. The NTEP will be responsible for the summarization and distribution of data collected. Over the past year, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) tests were initiated, established, maintained and evaluated using standardized testing protocols. Data was collected across the U.S. and Canada by university researchers using standard procedures and formats. Data was submitted to NTEP, computer formatted, and statistically analyzed. Cultivars with superior disease, drought, heat, and cold tolerance have been identified as well as cultivars with improved traffic tolerance. This information will be useful to turf managers in reducing pesticide and water and fertilizer use, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining the quality desired by users. Accomplishments 01 Golf course putting greens that require fewer inputs. Due to water restrictions, concerns over pesticide use and economic constraints, golf courses managers are reducing inputs of fertilizer, water and labor. Warm-season (C4) grasses use less water, have less summer diseases and survive better during summer heat, so there is increasing interest in utilizing improved warm-season grasses on golf course putting greens. A trial was established in 2013 at eleven locations across the southern U.S. to evaluate three warm-season grass species (bermudagrass, zoysia, and seashore paspalum) for persistence, winter tolerance, disease incidence and playing surface quality. Results indicate that several bermudagrass varieties may have potential for use on golf course putting greens. The seashore paspalum entries have performed very well in the southern locations, while suffering severe winter damage in northern locations. Several of the zoysia entries have performed well but do not have the playing surface characteristics (green speeds necessary for adoption) under these management conditions. These results will be used to guide future planting of golf greens that have a lower environmental impact. 02 Grass Roots Initiative expands to further educate the public about turfgrass. Turfgrass is under scrutiny for its use of water, fertilizer and pesticides, but is not often credited with the benefits it provides to the environment, economy and society. In addition, the science of turfgrass is not well recognized by the general public. To educate and inform the public about turfgrass, the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, District of Columbia developed an initiative entitled �Grass Roots�, a 1.3 acre outdoor exhibit with associated web pages. With funding from a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Grass Roots Initiative has now expanded to include a new Grass Roots display at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland. This new Grass Roots location will educate the 650,000 users of this facility on the benefits and science of turfgrass, its use on sports fields, and its proper management.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the National Evaluation Program (NTEP) are to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and experimental selections in the United States and Canada. Approach (from AD-416): Cooperate with university and private industry personnel in establishing, maintaining and collecting data from turfgrass trials. The NTEP will be responsible for the summarization and distribution of data collected. Over the past year, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) tests were initiated, established, maintained and evaluated using standardized testing protocols. Data was collected across the United States and Canada by university researchers using standard procedures and formats. Data was submitted to NTEP, computer formatted, and statistically analyzed. Cultivars with superior disease, drought, heat, and cold tolerance have been identified as well as cultivars with improved traffic tolerance. This information will be useful to turf managers in reducing pesticide and water and fertilizer use, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining the quality desired by users. Accomplishments 01 Kentucky bluegrasses that require fewer inputs. Kentucky bluegrass is a species preferred by many homeowners, athletic field managers, park and grounds managers and golf course superintendents from the Mid- Atlantic to the Inner Mountain West. However, there are some concerns about using this species in a sustainable landscape because of its requirements for high water, fertilizer and pesticides inputs. ARS scientists at the United States National Arboretum, Washington, District of Columbia, recently held trials to address these concerns by evaluating Kentucky bluegrass cultivars with much less inputs than typically used to maintain acceptable quality on a home lawn, park or golf course. Two years of data have shown that several new Kentucky bluegrass cultivars are producing acceptable quality with very little supplemental irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides. 02 Outdoor display highlights the science of turfgrass development and management. Turfgrass is under scrutiny for its requirements for water, fertilizer and pesticides, but is not often credited with the benefits it provides to the environment, economy and society. In some communities, turfgrass use is demonized and even targeted via turfgrass removal programs. In addition, the science behind turfgrass is not well recognized by the general public. To educate and inform the public about turfgrass, ARS scientists at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, District of Columbia, developed a new initiative entitled �Grass Roots�. A 1.3 acre outdoor exhibit, the centerpiece of Grass Roots, was opened in fall 2014 at the National Arboretum. The outdoor exhibit, along with associated web pages, has been very successful to date, with tens of thousands of visitors already enjoying the exhibit and learning from the displays. The Grass Roots Initiative will help make the value turfgrass and landscapes, and the inherent scientific accomplishments, more visible to the general public, hence saving jobs and improving the environment.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the National Evaluation Program (NTEP) are to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and experimental selections in the United States and Canada. Approach (from AD-416): Cooperate with university and private industry personnel in establishing, maintaining and collecting data from turfgrass trials. The NTEP will be responsible for the summarization and distribution of data collected. This is the first progress report for this Project, which expires 9/30/ 2018. Over the past year, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) tests were initiated, established, maintained and evaluated using standardized testing protocols. Data was collected across the U.S. and Canada by university researchers using standard procedures and formats. Data was submitted to NTEP, computer formatted, and statistically analyzed. Cultivars with superior disease, drought, heat, and cold tolerance have been identified as well as cultivars with improved traffic tolerance. This information will be useful to turf managers in reducing pesticide and water and fertilizer use, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining the quality desired by users. Accomplishments 01 Fine-leaf fescue cultivars were identified with improved traffic tolerance. Fine-leaf fescue is known for its ability to perform well with less fertilizer and water and therefore, interest in using fine fescue on low input sites is increasing. However, reduced tolerance to traffic and compacted soils has limited the use of fine fescue in heavily used sites such as parks and golf courses. Damage to turf used on football fields, soccer pitches, baseball diamonds and parks is a significant problem for turf managers nationwide. As the demand for natural turf facilities increases, and the nation becomes increasingly urbanized, the need for turfgrasses that will tolerate excessive wear and tear is crucial. Three years of evaluations at two sites coordinated by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program in Beltsville, MD have identified fine-leaf fescue cultivars with improved tolerance to traffic (wear and compaction). Having consistent, dense turf cover on playing fields and areas used for informal play is important to human health and safety, as well as increasing the environmental benefits that turf contributes, namely improving water quality, reducing erosion and decreasing pollution from runoff. 02 Tall fescues for use in northern locations. Tall fescue is a species with deep roots and a high evapotransporation rate, which allows the species to draw water from deep in the soil profile and release this water through its leaves, cooling the plant under high ambient temperatures. For these reasons, tall fescue is a cool-season species that has been used for decades on lawns and parks in the warmer, more humid eastern and southeastern U.S. With the recent warmer-than-average temperatures in many areas of the U.S. and a need to reduce water used on turf areas, there is significant interest in using tall fescue in the northeastern and upper Midwestern U.S. Five years of tall fescue evaluations at ten northern U.S. sites by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program have shown that this species can perform well in states where tall fescue was not considered for use in the past. Tall fescue in these northern sites can stay green longer in summer, use less water, have less disease, and provide a good quality turf when compared to Kentucky bluegrass, the most commonly used grass in these areas. 03 Bermudagrasses with improved winter tolerance. Many central and northern U.S. locations have experienced warmer-than-average winters over the last 15 years. Bermudagrass is a warm-season species that uses less water than most other species, while providing superior traffic tolerance on golf courses and athletic fields. However, bermudagrass lacks the winter tolerance found in many of the cool- season grass species used in much of the northern U.S. states. Over the last two decades, the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program has evaluated many new bermudagrass cultivars for their use across the U.S., and in particular in locations where winter temperatures can damage bermudagrass, limiting their use. However, after the winter of 2013/ 2014 with its extremely cold conditions across much of the U.S., the National Turfgrass Evalution Program was able to gather cold tolerance data that will allow breeders to further their selections for adaptability in northern locations.
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