DECREASING WATER AND PESTICIDE INPUTS ON GOLF, SPORTS, AND LAWN TURN IN TRANSITION ZONE ENVIRONMENT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1007986
• Project Start Date: Oct 6, 2015
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2020
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
The development and production of turfgrass cultivars with improved tolerance to limited or low-quality water remains one of the most important research objectives facing the turfgrass industry, especially as turf irrigation practices become more restrictive across the United States. Plants endure or survive water deficits with a variety of escape, avoidance, and tolerance mechanisms, all of which serve to improve the efficiency of water uptake, water use, or water loss. Drought escape is a rather narrow classification and usually refers to plants which exploit rapid phenological development when water is available, followed by dormancy during severe stress (Kramer, 1980). Although some turfgrasses can utilize drought escape by going into dormancy during prolonged drought periods, sod producers need to maintain a green and actively growing turf to produce harvestable sod. In addition, many sod consumers (turf managers and homeowners) desire to maintain a green surface during drought periods for aesthetics or turf playability. Therefore, drought escape is only considered a viable alternative for turfgrasses in those areas where irrigation is not available and survival of the turfgrass following drought is the primary objective. Drought tolerance mechanisms are more readily adapted to maintained turfgrass systems, as these processes allow the turfgrass to maintain turgor and avoid dormancy.Recently, techniques have been described to screen turfgrass germplasm for enhanced rooting characteristics by germinating seedlings in a polyethylene glycol solution and subsequently selecting plants in a controlled environment having a high root-shoot ratio (Bonos et al., 2004). Bonos and co-workers were able to achieve up to 81 and 130% gains in root-shoot ratios following two generations of selection of turf type tall fescue and perennial ryegrass varieties, respectively. These gains in root:shoot ratios translated to increases in field drought tolerance demonstrated by delay in drought stress symptoms of 7 to 16 days (when green turf coverage fell below 25%) (Karcher et al., 2008).Much research has demonstrated interspecies variation in drought resistance and it is generally accepted that warm-season grasses are more drought tolerant than cool-season grasses (Beard, 1989). Bermudagrass, buffalograss, zoysiagrass and seashore paspalum are considered the most drought tolerant warm-season turfgrass species (Beard, 1989; Kim, 1987); whereas tall fescue is generally accepted as the most drought tolerant of the cool-season turfgrass species (Beard, 1989; Minner and Butler, 1985). The past several decades have seen the development of many new cultivars for most of the major turfgrass species, introducing significant phenotypic variation within species. Recent research has demonstrated significant variation in the field drought tolerance among cultivars of tall fescue (Karcher et al., 2008) Kentucky bluegrass (Richardson et al., 2008) and creeping bentgrass (McCann and Huang, 2008).Recent advancements have been made in field evaluations of turfgrass drought tolerance through the implementation of digital image analysis and non-linear regression (Karcher et al., 2008; Richardson et al., 2008). Digital image analysis involves the use of imaging software to determine precisely the percent green turf coverage or average turf color of images, which are regularly collected on plots as they progress from well-watered to suffering extreme drought stress (Richardson et al., 2001; Karcher et al., 2003). Non-linear regression effectively models the Sigmoidal nature of changes in green turf coverage after irrigation is withheld and predicts parameters (with confidence intervals) such as the number of days until a turf cultivar fall below 50% green turf coverage in the absence of irrigation and rainfall (Motulsky and Christopoulos, 2003). These technologies provide precise and objective measures of turfgrass drought tolerance and result in meaningful statistical inferences, which can be used to separate cultivars based on significant differences in their response to drought stress.Many homeowners with automatic irrigation systems are unaware of how much water they actually apply during each irrigation cycle and could be over applying, thus wasting water resources. Bremer et al. (2012) observed that homeowners with in-ground watering systems watered more frequently than those having no in-ground watering systems; and 67 to 90 % of in-ground system homeowners watered two to three times per week while only 19 to 31 % of those without in-ground systems watered at that same frequency. Their study also reported that 16 to 24 % of homeowners with in-ground system never adjusted their sprinkler timers, expressing the common "set and forget" behavior towards their irrigation system. These results led the researchers to recommend the implementation of "smart controllers" which schedule irrigation based on soil-moisture sensors or rain sensors to increase irrigation efficiency and water conservation (Bremer et al., 2012).The screening and selection of locally-adapted turfgrass cultivars is critical to the long-term performance of a golf, sports, and lawn turf. From 1960 to the mid 1990s, over 90% of all bentgrass putting greens in the United States were planted to either the cultivar 'Penncross' or a slight derivative of that variety. However, interest in creeping bentgrass breeding has been renewed in recent decades and industry and academic breeding programs have resulted in many new cultivars and selections in the past 10 years (Morris, 2003). Much of this germplasm is distinct and improved from the original 'Penncross' materials and it is unclear how newer bentgrass germplasm will perform in the difficult environment of central and north Arkansas. Similarly, breeding efforts have improved the drought and pest tolerance of other turfgrass species that are adapted to Arkansas (Morris, 2013).Previous research on wetting agent efficacy (when applied to sand-based putting greens) has focused primarily on evaluating water-drop penetration times or visual LDS symptoms (Leinauer et al., 2007; Throssell and Super, 2005). This research has demonstrated that most commercially available wetting agents are effective in reducing soil hydrophobicity and decreasing LDS symptoms. However, many golf course superintendents are also concerned about how wetting agent application affects soil moisture distribution throughout the putting green rootzone. It is often stated that some wetting agents move water rapidly through the rootzone while other products retain considerable moisture near the surface; but there are little data to substantiate such claims. Furthermore, there is variation in how irrigation practices are adjusted following wetting agent application, complicating the underlying cause of undesirable wetting agent effects. Some superintendents may not alter their irrigation practices, despite adding a wetting agent to their putting green management program. This may explain some of the anecdotal evidence that suggests wetting agent application contributes to excessive surface moisture and exacerbates summer bentgrass decline.

Animal Health Component

75%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

75%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	1621	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
1621 - Cool season perennial grasses;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

turf

water

irrigation

technology

cultivars

wetting agent

Goals / Objectives
Determine the minimum water requirements of commercial and residential lawns through the utilization of drought tolerant cultivars and smart irrigation technology. 2) Identify cultivars of the commonly used turfgrass species (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, bermudagrass, and zoysiagrass) that are adapted to transition zone environments. 3) Improve summer stress and summer disease tolerance by indentifying management practices to improve moisture distribution in sand-based putting greens through wetting agent application.

Project Methods
1) Determining minimum watering requirements. Three separate trials will be conducted under this objective. A field study will be conducted on a common bermudagrass lawn with various irrigation treatments: 1) watered with a standard controller (1 inch per week) 2) water with standard controller at 1 inch per week unless irrigation event cancelled by rainfall sensor, and 3) water with standard controller at 1 inch per week unless irrigation event cancelled by soil moisture sensor. Common, commercially available controllers and sensors will be used and the amount of water applied to all plots will be monitored throughout the growing season. Turf quality will also be evaluated throughout the growing season. This work will identify the potential water savings of each sensor. A second field study will compare drought tolerant and common cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue when maintained under typical lawn conditions. Irrigation will be applied to the four cultivars either at 100%, 80%, or %50 of open-pan evapotranspiration. This study will identify cultivar and irrigation amount combinations that minimize water inputs while producing acceptable turf quality. A third study will investigate the water required to establish turfgrasses that have been identified as drought tolerant when mature. Greenhouse trials will compare drought tolerant and drought sensitive varieties of Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass when established using various amounts of irrigation. Results from this trial will substantiate whether cultivars identified as drought tolerant at maturity are also relatively drought tolerant during establishment.2) Identification of adapted cultivars: Evaluations of 20 cultivars (Morris, 2014) will be conducted at the Fayetteville research station. The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program is responsible for funding replicated cultivar trials around the country and has awarded the University of Arkansas a trial for 2015-2019 evaluations. Tests will be conducted on USGA-specified putting greens and native soil fairways and maintained for a period of 5 years. Quality data will be collected monthly and disease, insect, and abiotic stress responses will be monitored when appropriate. Data will be compiled annually and a recommended varieties list provided to local industry. Also, these plots will be showed regularly to golf course management personnel at field day events. Similar trials have been established to evaluate cultivars of seashore paspalum, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass when maintained as putting green turf, zoysiagrass when under traffic stress and inoculated with Rhizoctonia solani (large patch disease pathogen), and bermudagrass when maintained under golf course fairway conditions. Cultivars from these trials are evaluated monthly throughout the growing season for overall turf quality as well as winter survival, abiotic stress tolerance, and resistance to active diseases.3) Wetting agents are commonly used in putting green management programs to treat hydrophobic rootzones that are manifested as localized dry spot (LDS). Previous research on wetting agent efficacy (when applied to sand-based putting greens) has focused primarily on evaluating water drop penetration times (WDPT) or visual LDS symptoms. This research has demonstrated that most commercially available wetting agents are effective in reducing soil hydrophobicity and decreasing LDS symptoms. However, many golf course superintendents are also concerned about how wetting agent application affects soil moisture distribution throughout the putting green rootzone. It is often stated that some wetting agents move water rapidly through the rootzone while other products retain considerable moisture near the surface; but there is little data to substantiate such claims. Furthermore, there is variation in how irrigation practices are adjusted following wetting agent application, complicating the underlying cause of undesirable wetting agent effects. Some superintendents may not alter their irrigation practices, despite adding a wetting agent to their putting green management program. This may explain some of the anecdotal evidence that suggests wetting agent application contributes to excessive surface moisture and exacerbates summer bentgrass decline. Studies will be conducted to determine how commonly used wetting agents affect rootzone moisture distribution when applied to a sand-based putting green under wet, moderate, and dry irrigation regimes. In addition, the effects of application rate and frequency, spray volume, and irrigation timing on putting green surface characteristics will be evaluated. These trials will be funded by the United States Golf Association and also by commercial manufacturers of wetting agent products.

Progress 10/06/15 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Golf course superintendents, Landscape Company Operators, Sports Field Managers, Master Gardeners, Home Owners,and all others associated with the Turfgrass Industry. 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? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New translational knowledge communciated to end users through journal publications and conference presentations.

Publications

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Golf course superintendents, Landscape Company Operators, Sports Field Managers, Master Gardeners, Home Owners, and all others associated with the Turfgrass Industry. 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? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New translational knowledge communciated to end users through journal publications and conference presentations.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Nikolai, T.A., Karcher, D.E., Hathaway, A.D., O'Brien, D. 2021. Impact of putting green management on visible wear damage caused by foot traffic. Agronomy Journal. 2021;1?7. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20530
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: DeBoer, E.J., Karcher, D.E., McCalla, J.H., Richardson, M.D. 2020. Effect of late?fall wetting agent application on winter survival of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt. 2020; 6:e20035. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20035
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Russell, T.R., Karcher, D.E., Richardson, M.D. 2020. Daily light integral requirements of warm?season turfgrasses for golf course fairways and investigating in situ evaluation methodology. Crop Science. 2020; 60: 3301 3313. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20234

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Golf course superintendents, Landscape Company Operators, Sports Field Managers, Master Gardeners, Home Owners, and all others associated with the Turfgrass Industry. 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? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Several publications and presentations have resulted from the knowldege generated from this project. We have reached scientific, industrial, and residential audiences in sharing pertinient information for maintaining quality turf while minimizing water inputs.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Boyle, P. E., M. D. Richardson, M. C. Savin, D. E. Karcher, and D. A. Potter. 2019. Ecology and management of earthworm casting on sports turf. Pest Management Science. 75(8):p. 2071-2078. DeBoer, E. J., M. D. Richardson, J. H. McCalla, and D. E. Karcher. 2019. Reducing Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Green Winter Injury with Covers and Wetting Agents. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management 5:190019. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.03.0019 Richardson, M. D., G. Mattina, M. Sarno, J. H. McCalla, and D. E. Karcher. 2019. Shade Effects on Overseeded Bermudagrass Athletic Fields: I. Turfgrass Coverage and Growth Rate. Crop Sci. 59:2845-2855. doi:10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0310 Richardson, M. D., G. Mattina, M. Sarno, J. H. McCalla, D. E. Karcher, A. W. Thoms, K. H. Dickson, and J. C. Sorochan. 2019. Shade Effects on Overseeded Bermudagrass Athletic Fields: II. Rooting, Species Composition, and Traction. Crop Sci. 59:2856-2865. doi:10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0311 Russell, T. R., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2019. Daily Light Integral Requirement of a Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green as Affected by Shade, Trinexapac-ethyl, and a Plant Colorant. Crop Sci. 59:1768-1778. doi:10.2135/cropsci2018.08.0501 Sandor, D., D. Karcher, M. Richardson, D. Hignight, and K. Hignight. 2019. Kentucky Bluegrass Performance Under Chronic Drought Stress. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management 5:180089. doi:10.2134/cftm2018.10.0089 Wisdom, M. M., M. D. Richardson, D. E. Karcher, D. C. Steinkraus, and G. V. McDonald. 2019. Flowering persistence and pollinator attraction of early-spring bulbs in warm-season lawns. HortScience. 54(10):p. 1853-1859.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Carr, T., D. E. Karcher, M. D. Richardson, and D. P. O'Brien. 2019. Kentucky bluegrass water requirements under deficit irrigation. Golf Course Manage. 87(5):p. 73. DeBoer, E., M. Richardson, and D. Karcher. 2019. Winter injury on Arkansas turf. Arkansas Turfgrass. p. 8-10. Karcher, D., M. Richardson, and D. O'Brien. 2019. Use moisture meters for greater efficiency and healthier turf: The initial expense of purchasing a moisture meter may seem high, but many superintendents find that the savings from reduced water use and healthier turfgrass leads them to buy an additional meter - or meters. Golf Course Manage. 87(7):p. 40, 42, 44, 46. Nikolai, T. A., and D. Karcher. 2019. Effects of golf shoe designs on putting surfaces. N. Z. Turf Manage. J. 36(2):p. 22-23. O'Brien, D., D. Karcher, and M. Richardson. 2019. What putting green firmness measurements actually tell us. Golfdom. 75(6):p. 43. O'Brien, D. P., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2019. Measuring putting green firmness. Golf Course Manage. 87(1):p. 119. Richardson, M., D. Karcher, and D. O'Brien. 2019. I think I have a shade problem!: Both turf and trees need light to survive, but how much is enough, and how do you measure it?. Golf Course Manage. 87(10):p. 54-56.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Golf course superintendents, Landscape Company Operators, Sports Field Mangers, Master Gardeners, Home Owners, and all others associated with the Turfgrass Industry. 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? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Another full growing season of data were collected, analyzed, and summarized on dozens of trials investigating how turf quality is impacted by drought stress, irrigation technology, cultivar, and soil surfactants.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2019 Citation: Russell, T. R., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2018. Daily light integral requirement of a creeping bentgrass putting green as affected by shade, trinexapac-ethyl, and a plant colorant. Crop Sci.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Carr, T., D. E. Karcher, M. D. Richardson, and D. P. O'Brien. 2018. Determining the water requirements of two Kentucky bluegrass cultivars under deficit irrigation. Agron. Abr. p. 112332.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: DeBoer, E., M. D. Richardson, D. E. Karcher, and J. H. McCalla. 2018. Effect of irrigation with oxygenated water on summer performance and stress tolerance of creeping bentgrass. Agron. Abr. p. 111935.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: O'Brien, D. P., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2018. Evaluating putting green firmness in terms of moisture, maintenance, and playability. Agron. Abr. p. 113516.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Stier, J. C., J. H. Baird, A. Chandra, M. T. Elmore, J. Henderson, D. E. Karcher, et al. 2018. Documenting water use for turfgrasses in the United States. Agron. Abr. p. 111481.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wisdom, M., M. D. Richardson, D. E. Karcher, and G. V. McDonald. 2018. Planting methods for flowering bulbs in bermudagrass. Agron. Abr. p. 111975.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The tagete audeineces reached by our efforts during this current reporting period include: golf course superintedents, athletic field managers, lawn care operators, homeowners, sod growers, horticultural salespersons, turfgrass industry researchers 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?Conference presentations, thesis publications, joural articles, trade publications,twitter updates What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue research projects above and continue to report findings to stakeholders.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Lystimeter system constructed at AAREC in Fayetteville and established with various fescue and Kentucky bluegrass varieties with either sandy or loam soil. Trials initiated in August to measure water use as affected by species, cultivar, soil texture, irrgation volume, and irrigation frequency.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: O'Brien, Daniel Patrick, "New Technologies for Evaluating Putting Green Surface Characteristics" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 2614. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2614
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher., and M.D. Richardson. 2017. Irrigation sensors for lawns. Golf Course Management, March Issue.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sandor, D., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2017. Irrigation requirements for establishing tall fescue cultivars. Agron. Abr. p. 106512.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Russell, T. R., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2017. Daily light integral requirement of creeping bentgrass putting greens determined by shade intensity and timing. Agron. Abr. p. 106937.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: O'Brien, D. P., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2017. Comparing surface firmness measurements on sand-based putting greens. Agron. Abr. p. 108681.

Progress 10/06/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Golf course superintendents, Landscape Company Operators, Sports Field Mangers, Master Gardeners, Home Owners, and all other associated with the Turfgrass Industry. 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?Several presentations made at industry conferences and scientific meetings to communicate current work and findings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Multiple trials under way with another season of data collected towards publication. Several presentations made at industry conferences and scientific meetings to communicate current work and findings.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Russell, T. R., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2016. Effect of shade timing and intensity on creeping bentgrass influenced by trinexapac-ethyl and plant protectant. Agron. Abr. p. 99746.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sandor, D., D. E. Karcher, and M. D. Richardson. 2016. Evaluation of irrigation sensors for lawn turf and potential water savings. Agron. Abr. p. 100093.
• Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Karcher, D. E., M. Richardson, and E. DeBoer. 2016. Late-fall wetting agent application to enhance winter survival of ultradwarf greens. Golf Course Manage. 84(11):p. 82.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Karcher, D.E. and M.D. Richardson. 2016 Large patch and spring dead spot on sand-capped fairways as affected by establishment method and cultural practices. Int. Turfgrass Society Research J. (submitted).