£100k of funding for US turfgrass research projects

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Research grants from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) are supporting several important research projects this year.

The projects will receive just under £100,000 from a block grant by the Environmental Institute for Golf, GCSAA’s philanthropic organisation.

The new research projects are:

• Strategies to reduce winter-related injury and spring dead spot of bermudagrass fairways and tees in marginal regions of adaptation; Joseph Roberts, Ph.D., University of Maryland. Co-funded by the Mid-Atlantic AGCS, Eastern Shore AGCS and Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association.
• Strategies to reduce winter-related injury and spring dead spot of bermudagrass fairways and tees in marginal regions of adaptation; David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech. Co-funded by the Mid-Atlantic AGCS, Virginia GCSA and Virginia Turfgrass Foundation.
• Playing surface effect of surfactants on creeping bentgrass putting greens; Joseph Young, Ph.D., Texas Tech University. Funded through the EIFG’s Mark Kizziar Research Grant, which supports work that will help produce well-conditioned golf courses while minimizing consumption of water. Co-funded by the West Texas GCSA, North Texas GCSA, Central Texas GCSA, and Lone Star GCSA.
• Risk Thresholds for Lance Nematodes on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass; William T. Crow, Ph.D., University of Florida. Funded through the EIFG’s Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan Endowment, which supports environmental research on golf courses. Co-funded by the Florida GCSA.
• Soil water content and ethylene effects on Annual bluegrass acclimation to and survival or winter; Emily Merewitz, Ph.D.., Michigan State University. Funded through the EIFG’s Aquatrol’s Robert A. Moore Endowment, which supports research for optimizing the growing environment for golf course turf, while minimizing inputs of water, fertilizer and pesticides. Co-funded by the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation.
• Zoysiagrass Seedhead Development and Suppression; Jack Fry, Ph.D., Kansas State University. Co-funded by the Heart of America GCSA and Kansas Turfgrass Foundation.
• Exploring Phosphite Fertilizer for Turfgrass:  Fungicide or Fertilizer?; Beth Guertal, Ph.D., Auburn University. Co-funded by the Alabama GCSA and Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation.
• Turfgrass Plant Water Status Influence on Herbicide Phytotoxicity and Efficacy; Ryan Goss, Ph.D.; New Mexico State University. Co-funded by the Rio Grande GCSA.