Photo by Dan Dinelli
Research grants from GCSAA are supporting eight new research projects at universities across the country.
The projects, which were selected by a committee that included two members of the GCSAA Board of Directors, superintendents, university researchers and the research director of the USGA Green Section, will receive a total of $127,500 from a block grant to GCSAA from the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), GCSAA’s philanthropic organization.
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 University
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 of 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