Project Report - 2008

Sustainable Turf Management

Project Leader: Mary Owen

Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Bess Dicklow
• Jason Lanier
• Randy Prostak

Collaborating Faculty:

• Prasanta Bhowmik, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Scott Ebdon, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Michelle DaCosta, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Geunhwa Jung, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Patricia Vittum, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Robert Wick, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
• Thomas Griffin, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences

This project addressed the following UMass Extension Critical Issues:

• Natural Resource-based Economic Development
• Water Resource Protection

Description

In the highly populated northeastern United States, turf-covered surfaces collectively comprise an integral part of our communities. Turf management practices have broad implications for water resources, property values, the safety of youth and adult sports participants and the economic viability of businesses and communities. In addition, turf management materials present potential risks from human and non-target exposure. Professional turf managers in all segments of the turf industry are challenged to meet shifting customer demands while meeting safety and quality expectations and protecting the environment. The development, communication and adoption of best management practices are critical for maintaining the quantity and quality of open space and can positively impact ecosystem integrity in Massachusetts.

The UMass Extension Sustainable Turf Management Project helps turf managers and other interested individuals, organizations and communities meet these challenges by providing research based information disseminated through a comprehensive array of workshops, courses, newsletters, websites, educational presentations, field days, and site consultations.  These activities serve to convene state and regional partners to focus on building the skills and knowledge that are needed for maintaining and enhancing turf landscapes, while protecting human health and conserving water and other natural resources.

Activity Summary

The UMass Extension Sustainable Turf Management Project helps turf managers and other interested individuals, organizations and communities meet business and environmental challenges by providing research-based information disseminated through a comprehensive array of workshops, courses, information streams, websites, educational presentations, field days, and site consultations.  These activities serve to convene state and regional partners to focus on building the skills and knowledge that are needed for maintaining and enhancing turf landscapes, while protecting human health and conserving water and other natural resources. While the emphasis of the Sustainable Turf Management Project is on environmental and economic sustainability, program evaluations, direct discussions with the UMass Turf Program Advisory Board, close contact with industry professional organizations and community groups serve to inform the choice of specific program topics and delivery methods.

Results Summary

Information on impacts and results of the Sustainable Turf Management Project  was gathered through program evaluations and direct client feedback. Over 1550 turf and associated industry professionals attended programs conducted or taught directly by the UMass Sustainable Turf Management Project. Program participants reported that as a result of participating in programs they were better prepared to:

• Implement water conservation measures
• Irrigate turf more efficiently
• Select specific turfgrass species and cultivars for pest resistance and stress tolerance.
• Identify and select turfgrasses based on grass characteristics most suited to site and use

Participants also indicated they were able to make better choices related to the cultural and integrated management of turfgrass diseases and use more effective management techniques with an emphasis on preventing fungicide resistance.
Specially, participants gained knowledge and skills for:

• implementing cultural practices such as proper fertilizing and correct mowing that can reduce the potential for specific diseases.
• recognizing and preparing for weather conditions and environmental factors that can lead to a disease outbreak.
• recognizing and identifying red thread and other lawn diseases.
• evaluating and selecting new materials for the control of white grubs.
• Implementing effective options for management of weeds
• Identifying and managing turf damage from crane flies, a serious turfgrass pest poised to invade New England landscapes
• avoiding negative impacts to beneficial and non-target organisms from turf pest management materials
• selecting and using the most effective biological management materials
• understanding how biostimulants impact plant growth and their effective use in a turf management program

Program evaluations were completed at the Winter Lawn Care Conference Technical Track. One hundred eighty participants identified themselves as being responsible for making turf pest management decisions, and 137 identified themselves as being responsible for making purchasing decisions.  These participants indicated that, as a result of what they had learned at the conference, they were better prepared to:

• make more intelligent purchasing decisions
• make better use of turf management materials with the least impact on the environment, including impact on beneficial insects
• make better decisions about pest management.        
• make better decisions about purchase and use of biological management materials
  

Planned outcomes and observed or measured progress

• 100 Growers increased their knowledge of best management practices that protected the environment.
• 367 Natural resource-based businesses and their employees learned about turf best management practices related to water, soil, air and integrated pest management
• 179 Participants learned practices that resulted in cost savings without loss of quality, i.e. economic viability
• 500 Submitters of diagnostic specimens read, understood, and implemented recommendations contained in Diagnostic Reports.
• 1108 Natural resource-based businesses and land managers learned about economically feasible turf best management practices that protect water resources and environmental quality
• 396 Participants learned effective IPM techniques and environmental best management practices related to turf

Activities, delivery mode and participants reached

Invited Presentations
11 completed, 1325 adult participants

Dollar spot resistance field trials and oriental beetle discussion
1 completed, 26 adult participants

Liaison, Leadership and Networking for Professional Turf Industry
6 completed, 2690 adult participants

Site visits and consultation
11 completed, 27 adult participants

Turfgrass identification and selection workshop
1 completed, 33 adult participants

University of Massachusetts Turf Research Field Day
1 completed, 172 adult participants

Environmentally sustainable turf management classes for Master Gardeners
2 completed, 90 adult participants

Client consultations and requests
206 completed, 206 adult participants

Convene and lead UMass Turf Program Advisory Board
1 completed, 15 adult participants

Deliver educational programs to professional turfgrass managers
1 completed, 200 adult participants

Featured expertise in public media regarding turf management
2 completed, 500,000 adult participants

Integrated Management of School Athletic Fields and Turf Areas
2 completed, 309 adult participants

Lecture for Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences Turfgrass Physiology course:
1 completed, 32 adult participants

Maintain UMass Turf Program Website: (http://www.umassturf.org)
1 completed, 62617 adult participants

Snow mold field days
1 completed, 19 adult participants

Technical Publication: Protocols for IPM on School and Sports Turf
1 completed

Turf IPM Walkabout, a field and discussion workshop
2 completed, 16 adult participants

TurfTalk, an electronic message sent as needed through the seasons
47 completed, 1544 adult participants

UMass Amherst Turf Open House, South Deerfield
1 completed, 20 adult participants

UMass Winter School for Turf Managers: Principles of Turf Management
12 completed, 52 adult participants

The Northeast Winter Injury Initiative
1 completed, 2152 adult participants

Winter Lawn Care Conference
1 completed, 204 adult participants

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program