Turfgrass
The annual North Central Florida Turfgrass Field Day is a two day event held in Gainesville and at the Plant Science Research & Education Unit's G.C. Horn Research Plots in Citra. Presenters provide research-based recommendations on topic areas ranging from nutrient management, pest control, and sports field management.
Please visit some of the topic areas listed below:
Videos
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Athletic Fields
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Athletic fields play an important part in Florida's recreational and competitive outdoor sports. From high school, college and professional team sports, a quality playing surface is appreciated by all participants and produces a pleasing appearance to spectators. This presentation covers some of the many aspects of turfgrass varieties and management for sports turfgrass fields.
Presenters
- Jason Kruse is an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Kruse teaches Turfgrass Culture, Golf and Sports Turf Management, and team teaches Landscape and Turfgrass Management. He also serves as facilities director of the Turfgrass Environtron and his research includes irrigation scheduling, remote sensing and the relationship between athletic surfaces and player safety.
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Chinch & Bill Bugs
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The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is currently the most difficult-to-control and damaging insect pest of St. Augustinegrass in Florida. Nymphs and adults feed on plant fluids within leaf sheaths, down in the thatch, and this feeding kills the grass plants and contributes to weed invasion.
Presenters
- Eileen Buss is an Associate Professor in the University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department. Dr. Buss’s research area encompasses insect pest management and insect behavioral ecology on turfgrass, woody ornamentals, and shade trees in the urban landscape. Research interests include studying the biology of important pests (e.g., mole crickets, chinch bugs, white grubs, tree borers, and scale insects) and determining the most environmentally responsible means for their management.
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Fertilization Nutrient Leaching
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The use of fertilizers on Florida's lawns is of important interest throughout the state. Research on the movement of fertilizer through newly planted turfgrass, conducted at three different areas around the state, is highlighted in this presentation.
Presenters
- Laurie Trenholm is an Associate Professor in the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Trenholm works with commercial lawn care industry on problems relating to lawn grass cultural management, stress physiology, and best management practices, and oversees the bmp educational program statewide.
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Grass Biotechnology
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In recent years, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station breeders have joined forces with Florida Agricultural Experiment Station molecular geneticists. Molecular genetics can make breeding programs more efficient, accelerate progress in breeding, and enable the introduction of novel traits.
This presentation showcases transgenic work being done on Argentine Bahiagrass.
Presenters
- Fredy Altpeter is an Associate Professor in the University of Florida Agronomy Department. Dr. Altpeter's research program integrates advanced genetic transformation technology and functional genomics to identify, isolate and engineer limiting factors for molecular improvement of cereals, turf and biomass/bioenergy grasses.
Publications
- Agharkar, M., Lomba, P. N., Altpeter, F., Zhang, H., Kenworthy, K. E. and Lange, T. 2007. Stable expression of AtGA2ox1 in a low-input turfgrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) reduces bioactive gibberellin levels and improves turf quality under field conditions. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 5: 791-801.
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Nematodes
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Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms. Some are beneficial but there is also a group of nematodes that feed on plants, called plant-parasitic nematodes.
These two talks present research that addresses nematode problems. The first presentation was made at the Envirotron in Gainesville, and the second during the Citra field day.
Presenters
- William "Billy" T. Crow is an Associate Professor in the University of Florida Entomology & Nematology Department. Dr. Crow’s position centers on the diagnosis and management of plant-parasitic nematodes affecting turfgrasses, ornamental plants, and residential landscapes. As an extension educator, his major role is preparation of training materials and presentation of training programs for use by county extension faculty and volunteers, and commodity group clientele. Dr. Crow also manage the University of Florida Nematode Assay Lab, which provides diagnoses of nematode disorders of plants for extension personnel and clientele.
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Rapid Turfgrass Service
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This service was designed and implemented for managers of high quality turfgrass in Florida. The biggest distinction between this and the standard services provided by the Plant Disease Clinic is the turn-around time for sample results, the direct involvement of the UF Extension Turfgrass Pathologist, and the price charged for the service.
Presenters
- Dr. Philip Harmon’s research program centers on needs identified by interactions with county faculty and commodity-specific clientele groups through extension activities. His research focuses on turfgrass, ornamental plant, and small fruit diseases - diagnosis, management, and epidemiology of fungal diseases.
Resource
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Silicon and Turfgrass
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Researchers such as Datnoff have successfully demonstrated that silicon helps plants to overcome various types of stresses and even plays a role in protecting plants from certain pests and diseases. Silicon’s beneficial effects on growth, development, yield, and disease resistance have been observed in turfgrass.
Presenters
- Lawrence Datnoff, Ph.D., Plant Pathology, has dedicated thirty years to highly productive international service and research, beginning before graduate school and continuing throughout his illustrious career.
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Smart Water Application Technology
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Irrigation has become commonplace for residential homeowners desiring high quality landscapes in Florida. Turfgrass is a key landscape component and normally the most commonly used single type of plant in the residential landscape.
The Smart Water Application Technology Research Area is highlighted in this presentation discussing soil-moisture sensors, evatranspiration controllers and rain shut-off devices.
Presenters
- Michael Dukes, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, specializes in irrigation and drainage engineering; water quantity and quality issues; crop consumptive use/evapotranspiration and Best Management Practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution.
Publications
- Climate-Based Management of Lawns
- Home Irrigation and Landscape Combinations for Water Conservation in Florida
- Operation of Residential Irrigation Controllers
- Residential Irrigation System Rainfall Shutoff Devices
- Selection and Use of Water Meters for Irrigation Water Measurement
- Summary of IFAS Turf and Landscape Irrigation Recommendations
- Using the Irrigation Controller for a Better Lawn on Less Water
- Smart Irrigation Controllers
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Turfgrass Cultivars
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There are a number of turfgrass cultivars being researched by the University of Florida/IFAS for Florida lawns, golf courses and athletic fields. The primary cultivars being researched in the breeding program is zoyzia grass and bermuda grasses.
This presentation provides an overview of the breeding and management programs at the Plant Science Research and Education Center's Turfgrass Facility.
Presenters
- Kevin Kenworthy is an Assistant Professor, Ph.D., in the University of Florida Agronomy Department. Dr. Kenworthy’s research focus is on development of turfgrasses with improved stress tolerance for use on golf courses, athletic fields, parks, home lawns, and highway right-of-ways.
Publications
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Video Presentations
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Environmental Considerations for Artificial Turfgrass Systems
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Artificial turf is finding more of a role in sports fields other than professional sports facilities.
In this video with synchronized PowerPoint presentations, Dr. Kruse discusses some of the environmental considerations for artificial turfgrass systems:
When viewing the presentation, click on the "Chapters" tab in the player to navigate between the slides.
Requirements: Pentium 4 or better PC with Windows XP, Windows Internet Explorer browser for optimal results, Windows Media Player 9 or better to view videos.
Presenters
- Jason Kruse is an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Kruse teaches Turfgrass Culture, Golf and Sports Turf Management, and team teaches Landscape and Turfgrass Management. He also serves as facilities director of the Turfgrass Environtron and his research includes irrigation scheduling, remote sensing and the relationship between athletic surfaces and player safety.
Publications
- Jason Kruse is an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Kruse teaches Turfgrass Culture, Golf and Sports Turf Management, and team teaches Landscape and Turfgrass Management. He also serves as facilities director of the Turfgrass Environtron and his research includes irrigation scheduling, remote sensing and the relationship between athletic surfaces and player safety.
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Nutrient Leaching
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Fertilizer use plays an important part in the success of growing turfgrass in Florida. Awareness of proper nutrient levels is vital.
In this video with synchronized PowerPoint presentations, Dr. Sartain discusses proper nutrient application and research-based fertilizer rates:
When viewing the presentation, click on the "Chapters" tab in the player to navigate between the slides.
Requirements: Pentium 4 or better PC with Windows XP, Windows Internet Explorer browser for optimal results, Windows Media Player 9 or better to view videos.
Presenters
- Jerry Sartain is a professor with the UF/IFAS Soil & Water Science Department. Dr. Sartain's specializes in Turfgrass Fertility and his presentation addresses a number of concerns with nutrient applications such as nitrogen leaching losses.
Publications
- Jerry Sartain is a professor with the UF/IFAS Soil & Water Science Department. Dr. Sartain's specializes in Turfgrass Fertility and his presentation addresses a number of concerns with nutrient applications such as nitrogen leaching losses.
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Turf and the Environment: Can They Co-Exist?
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There are many out there who are concerned about the ability to use chemicals to successfully grow turfgrass in the lawns of Florida. Are the chemicals safe for the environment?
In this video with synchronized PowerPoint presentations, Dr. Unruh addresses many of those concerns and sites research-based examples of how turf and the environment can truly co-exist:
When viewing the presentation, click on the "Chapters" tab in the player to navigate between the slides.
Requirements: Pentium 4 or better PC with Windows XP, Windows Internet Explorer browser for optimal results, Windows Media Player 9 or better to view videos.
Presenters
- J. Bryan Unruh is an Associate Professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Unruh is stationed at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton and teaches courses in Turfgrass Culture, Landscape and Turfgrass Management, and Golf and Sports Turf Management. Dr. Unruh frequently speaks about turfgrass management in many different venues across the country.
Publications
- J. Bryan Unruh is an Associate Professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Unruh is stationed at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton and teaches courses in Turfgrass Culture, Landscape and Turfgrass Management, and Golf and Sports Turf Management. Dr. Unruh frequently speaks about turfgrass management in many different venues across the country.
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Water Use and Conservation in Florida Turfgrass
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Water use is paramount in the success of a Florida lawn. However, with proper watering and application techniques, water conservation is possible.
Dr. Busey addresses many of those concerns and approaches in this video with synchronized PowerPoint presentations:
When viewing the presentation, click on the "Chapters" tab in the player to navigate between the slides.
Requirements: Pentium 4 or better PC with Windows XP, Windows Internet Explorer browser for optimal results, Windows Media Player 9 or better to view videos.
Presenters
- Phil Busey is an Associate Professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Busey is located at the Ft. Lauderdale Research & Education Center (FLREC) in Davie and specializes in South Florida Turfgrass. His areas of research are weed control and ecology, water conservation, and IPM.
Publications
- Phil Busey is an Associate Professor with the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Busey is located at the Ft. Lauderdale Research & Education Center (FLREC) in Davie and specializes in South Florida Turfgrass. His areas of research are weed control and ecology, water conservation, and IPM.
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