Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Soil & Crop Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Precision turfgrass management (PTM) is a relatively new, data-driven strategy for site-specific management of inputs and cultural operations only where, when, and in the amount needed. Technological advances have been made over the last decade with maintenance equipment, data acquisition devices, and decision support system software for PTM implementation. These technologies include, but are not limited to, GPS-guided sprayers, improved irrigation control systems, numerous sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and dashboards to view, analyze, and interpret data on a computer or mobile device. Precision turfgrass management offers an opportunity for the turfgrass industry to make significant strides in management input reductions (e.g. water, pesticides, fertility), all while maintaining the same desirable end product. Unfortunately, adoption of new technologies for PTM implementation has been slow amongst turfgrass managers. Driving forces and barriers to adoption of PTM are assumed to be like those in precision agriculture, which is a parallel concept to PTM. While similarities do likely exist, turfgrass poses other challenges for implementation that agriculture does not; primarily social elements involving turfgrass aesthetics, playability, and safety, in addition to management time constraints due to human use. Research is needed to provide turfgrass managers effective, science-based procedures for PTM implementation. Furthermore, the environmental, economic, and social benefits of PTM need to be identified in order to justify the management strategy and increase adoption of newer technologies.Therefore, the objectives of this project are to 1) develop PTM strategies related to turfgrass cultural practices, 2) determine environmental and social impacts, return on investment, and effect on turfgrass aesthetics, playability, and safety of various PTM strategies, and 3) collaborate to develop new technologies that simplify data collection and analysis processes for PTM implementation. Results from this project will be used to justify the concept of PTM and increase its adoption in the turfgrass industry.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
Goals and objectives of this project include:Developing precision turfgrass management strategies related to turfgrass cultural practices; specifically, irrigation, aerification, and fertilization.Determining enviornmental and social impacts, return on investment, and effects on turfgrass aesthetics, playability, and safety of various precision turfgrass management strategies.Developing new technologies/procedures that that simplify data collection and analysis processes to encourage adoption of precision turfgrass management.
Project Methods
This project will involve applied and basic research utilizing field and laboratory resources available to the Texas A&M University turfgrass science program. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Center for Lawn and Garden Research in College Station, TX is equipped with several acres of research field plots consisting of multiple warm-season turfgrasses that represent lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. It also has additional land that is currently unestablished and can be used for constructing large-scale research field plots (e.g. a golf course fairway, athletic field, etc.). Large-scale research projects will be a unique aspect to the overallproject, relative to traditional turfgrass research methodologies. Other locations on campus, such as the Texas A&M Golf Course and Penberthy Rec Sports Complex, can be utilized for on-site research under real-world scenarios. Furthermore, the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences has multiple greenhouse and growth chamber facilities available that will allow investigation into more basic research questions in more controlled environments.Efforts to disiminate science-based knowlegeinclude formal classroom andlaboratory instruction to undergraduate students, developement of protocols and decision support systems, internships, experiential learning opportunities, and extension and outreach activities. Quantified outputs will be related turfgrass management input reduction (e.g. decreasein water,energy,fertilizer, pesticide use), enviornmental impacts (e.g. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions), economic impacts (e.g. cost reductions), and social impacts (e.g. athletic field safety and performance). The success of these outputs will be evaluated based on publications, presentations, and adoption among turfgrass professionals.