Source: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV submitted to
SUSTAINABLE MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS: RESEARCHING PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS TO REDUCE INPUTS AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0228364
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
NC02393
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 1, 2012
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Seth Carley, DA, GI.
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
Performing Department
Crop Science
Non Technical Summary
As we enter the new time of sustainability, education must extend into a broad range of academic areas. Systems interact with each other and the environment around them. So, any attempt to understand sustainability must involve background knowledge of several, often complex disciplines. Americans want safe, high quality recreational areas. Nearly everyone would agree that these green spaces provide beauty to our landscape, reduce erosion, release oxygen, and filter pollutants from water. These areas also provide a necessary place for children to play - a more and more important factor in helping to reduce childhood obesity, one of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's highest priorities. Traditionally however, these turfgrass sites i.e. beautiful lawns, manicured golfcourses, etc. have been criticized for being a point of environment pollution. The current economic times, concern over environmental pollution, and climate change are collectively making everyone reassess past practices. There is a national move to develop more sustainable, and environmentally-friendly, agriculture and turfgrass systems. As part of the national movement toward sustainable managed ecosystems, North Carolina State has built a golf course that represents this evolution in golf course architecture; a golf course that fits into and protects the natural environment. The frame work for the project is based in ecological studies of managed turfgrass systems and the interface with native or unmanaged ecological systems. The program uses the open areas and native areas of the N.C. State Golf Course to educate students about the environmental attributes of golf courses and turfgrass systems, including natural resource inventories, management inputs, and environmental stewardship practices. The four-part interdisciplinary program is aimed to meet the goals of sustainability research in managed ecosystems, as well as needs of K-12 public school students, undergraduate students in the two- and four- year turf programs, the College of Design, and Biological and Agricultural Engineering, as well as provide teaching opportunities for graduate students interested in working with this program. In addition to N.C. State faculty, active collaborations currently in place include an active program with the Centennial Campus Middle School.
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
1110210102015%
1120210106020%
1360530107025%
2160850107020%
1340530107020%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity; 134 - Outdoor Recreation; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0210 - Water resources; 0530 - Parks and urban green space;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Determine the effect of heat stress on bentgrass growth and stress susceptibility under controlled environmental conditions. Objective 2: Evaluate water use by bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and fescue. Objective 3: Determine levels of organic matter and carbon below ground in bermudagrass systems and their relationship with age in order to develop a prediction model for organic matter accumulation (and carbon sequestration) under turfgrasses in eastern region of North and South Carolina. Objective 4: Define the ecology and effectiveness of natural riparian buffer areas surrounding managed turfgrass areas. Objective 5: Identify and evaluate appropriate vegetation for constructed floating and terrestrial wetlands.
Project Methods
Objective 1: In growth chambers, bentgrass/soil cores taken from established greens in the field will be exposed to a range of temperatures under ideal light and moisture conditions. This will allow development of a growth model for bentgrass response to increasing temperature as a single variable. In addition, in some experiments moisture will be a treatment variable to model heat, moisture, and Nitrogen interactions, which can be compared with those occurring in the field. Using a hydroponics system, it will be possible to directly examine bentgrass response to high root temperatures. Nitrogen treatments will be present in all experiments to determine the influence of nitrogen fertility and growth rate on bentgrass sensitivity to heat. 15N-nitrate exposures will be used to quantify changes in root function. Objective 2: We will directly measure water uptake and release by the different species in controlled growth chamber experiments. This will be done under defined atmospheric conditions, and with plants growing under optimal and sub-optimal nutrition. We will also determine the minimum water requirements of the turfgrass species and the extent that the species can acclimate to wet and dry cycles. Objective 3: Soil samples will be taken from at least 100 different sites in the Carolinas in years 1 and 2. Data collected from this first data set will allow for a model to be developed. This will allow for comparison of carbon sequestration rates and amounts with those being predicted in other climatic areas in the U.S. and Europe. Objective 4: Riparian buffer areas not only play a major role in providing necessary wildlife habitat, but also nutrient cycling and pollution mitigation. Buffer studies allow students to study vegetative buffer ecology, riparian habitat, and the interface of turfgrass with these natural ecosystems. Laboratories and lessons include the understanding of the importance of wildlife habitats, the role of naturally vegetated buffers and stream management, researching ecological and water quality principles, watersheds, groundwater, and water rights, and the use and ecology of native, adapted, and invasive plant species, including habitat restoration and invasive species mapping. Objective 5: Floating islands containing visually appealing native, and adapted non-invasive vegetation, such as rushes and pickerelweed, will be established in two irrigation ponds. Water quality parameters will continue to be monitored after island establishment. Students will assist researchers in data collection and monitoring of sites monthly. Research addressed in this section of the program include the selection of appropriate vegetation for constructed wetlands and bioretenntion sites, active research utilizing constructed floating wetlands and researching environmental inputs (specifically nutrients) and their effects on water quality through intense water sampling and testing.

Progress 03/01/12 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:homeowners landscapers students industry partners extension agents Changes/Problems:Continuous funding is always a challenge. While I am able to fund my research and extension work through grants, opportunities are not as frequesnt as one would prefer. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension activities include working with Extension faculty, county extension agents, participating as invited speaker for regional and statewide workshops, development of publications and training materials for green industry professionals and agents, educational advisor and liaison with relevant commodity and state government organizations, and conference planning and implementation. I have shared the information at field days, conferences, and at individual presentations (to Master Gardener's, Bee Keepers, etc.) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Researched : 1. drought tolerance/water-stress in turfgrass systems, 2. Drought tolerance/water-stress in ornamental and nursery cropping systems, and 3. Increasing pollinator habitat in urban environments. The overall goal of these projects is to quantify and improve the ecosystem services provide while minimizing inputs and negative outputs.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Stalling, K. D., D. Seth Carley, and R. Richardson. 2015. Management of aquatic vegetation in the Southeastern United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6: 1-5
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Riar, M. D. S. Carley, C. Zhang, M. S. Schroeder-Moreno, D. L. Jordan, T. M. Webster, and T. W. Rufty. 2016. Environmental influences on growth and reproduction of invasive Commelina benghalensis. International Journal of Agronomy, vol. 2016, Article ID 5679249, 9 pages, 2016. doi:10.1155/2016/5679249. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ija/2016/5679249/
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Seth Carley, D. and S. Klein. 2016. Got Pollinators? Get the buzz on establishing pollinator habitat on your golf course, in your yard, or almost anywhere! May/June North Carolina Turfgrass Magazine.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Seth Carley, D. 2016. Pollinator habitat for the bees, birds, and butterflies. North Carolina Field and Family Spring issue.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Burgner, G., and Seth Carley, D. 2015. Alternative Turfgrass for Out of Play Areas on Golf Courses September/October North Carolina Turfgrass Magazine.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:golf course superintendents, turfgrass managers, students interested in turfgrass, extension agents, parkland managers, master gardeners, any on einterested in sustainable turfgrass managment Changes/Problems:Funding is always an issue. There is never enough funding. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?we have shared through presentations, abstracts, poster presentations, Field Days, and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We were better able to understand the sustainability elements of the different objectives.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Riar, M.K., D.S. Carley, C. Zhang, M.S. Schroeder-Moreno, D. Jordon, T. Webster, T.W. Rufty. 2015. Environmental influences on growth and reproduction of invasive Commelina benghalensis, Planta.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Seth Carley, D. 2015. How to keep cockroaches out of your home using IPM. Southern IPM Center blog post. http://ipmsouth.com/2015/01/07/how-to-keep-cockroaches-out-of-your-home/
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Seth Carley, D. and Stallings, K. 2014. Natives in, Turfgrass Out  Recovering from back-to-back US Opens November/December North Carolina Turfgrass Magazine.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience:Golfcourse superintendents, homeowners, nursery growers, farmers intersted in IPM, extension agents, and Students of agriculture Changes/Problems:Funding is ALWAYS a problem. I am self-funded through "soft money" and there is never enough funding to do all the work necessary. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have written extension articles, and posters at conferences, as well as given presentations to share our findings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will determine which objectives need more work and continue to work on acheiving scientific evidence to support or refute our hypothesis.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We researched the objectives, and shared the information with our stakeholders.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: K. Bass, M. Burchell, R. Evans, W. Hunt, D. Line, and D. Seth Carley. Stormwater Wetlands for Golf Courses. 2013. North Carolina Extension Publication AG-765.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Green Industry Green n Growin Conference  Benefits of Turgrass in a Managed Urban Landscape. Greensboro, NC, January, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: NC State Turfgrass Regional Conference. Helping to Define Sustainability in the Golf Industry (Fletcher, NC, March, 2014.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Urban Design Center The City of the Future: Importance of Sustainable Managed Landscapes (Raleigh, N.C. April, 2014)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: South Eastern Golf Course Superintendents Association. Balls in the Rough at Pinehurst No. 2: Bermudagrass OUT and Native Plants IN. (Pinehurst, NC, April, 2014)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bayer Crop Science Green Tour -Plant Health as a Piece in Sustainable Turfgrass Systems (Raleigh, NC, September, 2014)


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience:Industry stakeholders such as golf course superintendents, homeowners, landscapers, landscape managers, students in horticulture and related disciplines, etc. 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? We shared our research outcomes and reccommendations with the following groups: Syngenta Turf and Landscape Professionals Tour - "Sustainable Turfgrass Systems" (Raleigh, NC, July, 2012) Bayer Crop Science Green Tour -"Plant Health as a Piece in Sustainable Turfgrass Systems" (Raleigh, NC, June, 2012) Special presentation for the Chancellor. "Increasing Food Security through New Food Initiatives" (Raleigh, NC, November, 2012) NC Farm Bureau. "The Importance of the Green Industry: Hidden Benefits and Future Challenges" (Raleigh, NC, December, 2012)

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Dell, E., D. Seth Carley, T. Rufty, and W. Shi. 2012. Heat stress and N fertilization affect soil microbial and enzyme activities in the creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) rhizosphere. Applied Soil Ecology 56:19-26.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Seth-Carley, D. and Hamon, L. 2012. Golf Courses as Good Environmental Stewards. January/February issue North Carolina Turfgrass Magazine.


Progress 03/01/12 to 09/30/12

Outputs
Target Audience: Golf course superintendents Master Gardeners Landscape and turf professionals undergraduate and graduate students Changes/Problems: Major changes are in-process. I have moved from Crop Sceince with a heavy turfgrass focus, to Horticultural Sciences department where my focus is now more "landscape" oriented. Original goals are no longer in the forefront of my research focus. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We have hosted over 50 superintendents at our site, as well as given talks at over 8 different locations (the audience was populated mainly by superintendents and turf-care professionals). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We are writing popular press articles (have published 3 already) and sharing informtion on the new IPM web portal What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives 4 and 5: The golf course has been established as an important demonstration site for NC State students; Dr. Carley has hosted both two- and four- year turfgrass student laboratory groups (such as CS121 and CS200) at the Lonnie Poole GC, and students from the four-year Horticultural undergraduate program (HS 471). Dr. Carley continued to act as an "EnvironMentor" for two Environmental Science (ES) undergraduate students - this is her third year acting as a mentor in this program. This unique mentorship program allows undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience working with NC State scientists. Projects completed by these students in the past include installation and maintenance of two-floating islands in the larger irrigation pond, development and maintenance of vegetated buffers and stream management, and on-going water quality testing at 15 locations on and around the golf course. A new student internship has just been initiated (March 2014) that is completing a full-scale wild-life biodiversity inventory on the course. The last 6 weeks of work has allowed us to add a number of new species to our "species sighted" lists including coyote (Canis latrans), brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). As part of this student project, we have added five nuthouse boxes to the course, with plans to add more. In the first location (the irrigation pond on #15 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course) CCMMS students assisted in gathering vegetation, planting, and launching two islands in the first and second years (Figure 3). This location continues to serve as an outreach and education site where the CCMMS students assist researchers in data collection and monitoring of sites monthly. In year four we plan to expand this program to include additional floating islands and increase the number of monitoring sites. Additionally, one student from the special topics class has chosen to 'update' the current Lonnie Poole floating islands.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Seth Carley, D. 2015. How to keep cockroaches out of your home using IPM. Southern IPM Center http://ipmsouth.com/2015/01/07/how-to-keep-cockroaches-out-of-your-home/