Turfgrass soils vary considerably in physical and chemical composition. However, regardless of their properties, most contain a vast array of living organisms, ranging from larger creatures such as earthworms and insects, to microscopic invertebrates, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, yeasts, algae and protozoa. All of these organisms affect turfgrass health in important ways. However, perhaps th...

The demand for salinity-tolerant turfgrasses is increasing due to augmented use of effluent or low-quality water (sea water) for turf irrigation and the growing turfgrass industry in coastal areas. Experimental plants, grown in plastic pots filled with a mixture of river sand and KOSAS(R) peat (9 : 1), were irrigated with sea water at different dilutions imparting salinity levels of 0, 8, 16, 2...

When a thatch layer accumulates on turfgrass it can be detrimental to the stand. A field experiment was initiated investigate aerification treatments and their influence (organic matter level), quality, color of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass that sodded within past year. Turfgrass intensely aerified had less organic content in surface inch profile compared not aerified. Color also enhanced receiving...

Superintendents know that management of putting greens is an art. Greens are often made of high-porosity sand that does not retain water or nutrients very effectively. Also, putting green grasses are cut extremely short, which does not allow a deep root system to develop and take up nutrients from deep in the soil profile. Therefore, putting greens require frequent irrigation and fertilizer app...

A well maintained turfgrass area provides many aesthetic and functional benefits. Decades of scientific research has been conducted to help managers maximize plant health and minimize environmental impact. Still, significant concern for environmental quality and human health has raised public awareness and led to increased scrutiny of management practices, especially pest management. For many y...

Surveys of irrigation water reveal important information about quality in different geographic regions and can serve as a reference to compare with individual samples submitted labs. This survey aimed establish baseline profile turfgrass from nonamended noneffluent sources Pennsylvania that be compared data other future surveys the Mid-Atlantic region, improve test report guidelines for The was...

Frequent monitoring of stress levels in turfgrass is key to maintaining healthy turfgrass stands. Current methods used to monitor turfgrass for drought and salinity stress can be time consuming and expensive. This study was conducted to determine if data obtained from digital image analysis and spectroradiometry could accurately detect drought and salinity stress in hybrid bluegrass. Furthermor...

Three to four hundred new or renovated turfgrass systems are constructed in the U.S. each year. Many of these systems (golf courses, city parks, and residential and institutional lawns) are constructed in agricultural and silvicultural environments. However, knowledge of the water quality impact in transitioning from an agricultural or silvicultural landscape to a turfgrass landscape is at best...

The disposal of manure on agricultural land has caused water quality concerns in many rural watersheds, sometimes requiring state environmental agencies to conduct total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessments of stream nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). A best management practice (BMP) has been developed in response to a TMDL that mandates a 50% reduction of annual P load to the...

Conservation and augmentation of indigenous natural enemies are promising strategies for biologically based pest management in outdoor urban environments. This research sought to determine whether the addition of wildßower plantings would enhance the occurrence, abundance and impact of beneÞcial arthropods in the landscape, and to determine the potential compatibility of pest-resistant turfgras...