Last updated 6/25/98 |
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The Turfgrass Science Program at Purdue University is making tremendous progress and undergoing many changes. We’d like to take this opportunity to update you on the progress of the program in 1996 and 1997.
- Received approval and finished plans for the 25 acre turfgrass teaching and research facility in summer 1996.
- Drainage and irrigation was finished in August 1996
- Hired Don Fassnacht as facility manager in October 1996
- Two acres of Kentucky bluegrass were seeded in October 1996
- Eight additional acres were seeded in 1997
- Specialized irrigation plots were installed in July 1997 for biological control research.
- The initial research project at the Center was begun in July, 1997. All new projects will be located at the Center.
- A 1-acre USGA green was installed by October 1997 and seeded in Spring 1998
- Currently, working out the details of the education facility with ground-breaking scheduled for early Summer 1998
- Field Day 1998 will be held at the William H Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center
- Don Fassnacht was hired in October, 1996 as facilities manager for the William H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center. Don was formerly superintendent at the Purdue Golf Courses, Lafayette Elks, and Rolling Meadows in Spencer.
- Dr. Zac Reicher has accepted a new position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy as of mid-February of 1997.
- Glenn Hardebeck started on May 2, 1997 as a Research Associate with the Turf Program and he will be working closely with Zac in research and extension functions. Glenn is a graduate of Purdue and has experience at Brynwood Country Club in Milwaukee, Lafayette Country Club, and the Purdue University Grounds Department.
- Leo Schleicher has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at South Dakota State University and left Purdue in late June, 1997. Leo has worked with the Program the last five years as a Research Agronomist and graduated with his Ph.D. in August 1997.
- Dr. Rick Latin has assumed all turfgrass pathology responsibilities beginning May 1, 1997.
- Dr. Don Scott, who has served the turf industry loyally for many years, will be retiring June 30, 1998 and is devoting his time to finishing turfgrass and field crop disease publications.
- Jesse Grogan, who helped Don Scott with turf and crop pathology research has taken a new position with Mark II in Bloomington, IL.
- Over 70 students are majoring in Turfgrass Science at Purdue University. This represents about 40% of the undergraduate enrollment in the Department of Agronomy.
- Seventeen students graduated 1997-98. All earned a B.S. degree in Turfgrass Science. Placement of these students was 100%.
- Eight students majoring in Turfgrass Science earned scholarships administered by the Turf Program in 1997-98. Funds for these scholarships come from the turf industry.
- Jason Gerlach was the recipient of a scholarship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
- The Turf Alumni Newsletter is published twice each year in June and December. Dan Weisenberger is responsible for writing and mailing the Turf Alumni Newsletter.
- Catherine Taylor completed her M.S. degree in Agronomy in December 1996. The title of her M.S. thesis was ‘Fate of Fungicides in the Turfgrass Environment; Sorption and Dissipation in Grass Clippings, and Mineralization in Thatch and Soil’. Catherine was advised by Ron Turco and Clark Throssell.
- Veronica Acosta-Martinez completed her M.S. degree in December 1996. The title of her thesis was ‘Turfgrass Soil Quality: The Role of Tree Leaf Mulch and Nitrogen Fertilizer’. Veronica was advised by Zac Reicher and Ron Turco.
- Leo Schleicher completed his Ph.D. degree in August 1997 under the direction of Clark Throssell. His thesis title was ‘Influence of Postdormancy Development on Herbicide Scheduling for Control of Dandelion in Turf.’
- Von Sigler is continuing his work toward his Ph.D. degree. Von is examining the microbial ecology of turfgrass soils in response to fungicide applications and inoculation with microorganisms. Ron Turco and Clark Throssell serve as Von’s advisors.
- Glenn Hardebeck began his M.S. studies in August 1997. Glenn will be working under the direction of Zac Reicher studying the use of biologicals for disease control.
- The research projects Catherine Taylor completed and Von Sigler is finishing are part of a grant provided by the USGA to study fungicide degradation in the turfgrass canopy, thatch, and soil. The goal of these research projects are to gain a better understanding of how quickly and to what extent fungicides are broken down after application.
- In cooperation with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), we are evaluating the turf performance of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and zoysiagrass cultivars for use in Indiana. Based on the outcome of these trials we will be able to make cultivar recommendations to professional turf managers and homeowners.
- Also in cooperation with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), we are evaluating the performance of bermudagrass for golf course fairways in Evansville, IN. This study was established in June 1997 and will continue through 2002.
- Dan Weisenberger and Clark Throssell are conducting several weed control experiments. These experiments include pre- and post-emergence control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. Results of these experiments are used to make weed control recommendations for the turf industry.
- Glenn Hardebeck and Zac Reicher are continuing to conduct a number of turfgrass management studies including effect of annual leaf mulching, controlling zoysiagrass with herbicides and soil heating, fairway species conversion, and on-course use of Psuedomonas for disease control.
- Over 2500 turfgrass professionals attended on-going training programs presented by the Turfgrass Science Program in 1997. These programs included:
Midwest Turf Expo - January- Indianapolis
IN-IL Turfgrass Short Course - February - Willowbrook, IL
Midwest Regional Turf Field Day - July - West Lafayette
Turf and Ornamental Seminar - November - Lafayette
Golf Turf Workshops - December – Fort Wayne and Indianapolis- In cooperation with the Indiana Golf Foundation and Indiana Professional Golf Association, an internship program is being continued where two turfgrass science students travel to Indiana golf courses with Clark Throssell or Zac Reicher on consultation visits. This is a tremendous opportunity for the students to experience a wide range of golf courses and suggest ways of improving each course. When the students are not traveling, they are helping to develop the new Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center. The two students that were involved with the program in 1997 were Cory Troyer, a senior from the Elkhart area, and Chris Woodard, a junior from Rockville.
- Dan Weisenberger is continuing to develop and refine the World Wide Web home page for the Turfgrass Science Program at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/agronomy/turf/turf.htm. The home page continues to be extremely popular, especially the "Turf Tips" which is timely maintenance advice updated every 2 weeks during the growing season.
- A tremendous number of homeowners benefited from the turfgrass program in 1997, primarily by indirect contact through county extension educators and press releases in local newspapers, but also through direct contact through phone calls, email, Master Gardener training, and the World Wide Web page.
- Evaluation of fungicides for the control of dollar spot and brown patch continues. The use of more modern approaches to disease control also are being investigated. These include the use of biological control materials and comparison of weather-based forecasters for timing fungicide sprays
- Megan Gross has completed her research on the effects of leaf wetness and temperature on the spread of brown patch in perennial ryegrass. She graduated with her M.S. degree in plant pathology in May 1998.
- Chemical efficacy tests, financed by the chemical industry to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of new and existing insecticides for turfgrass insect pest control will continue in 1998.
- John Zenger completed his Ph.D. in entomology. His research has centered around beneficial predatory insects in the turfgrass environment. John is now with the Department of Entomology at the University of Florida
- We are beginning some work regarding the behavior of adult Japanese beetles. It is designed to provide some initial clues as to the behavior of Japanese beetle flight and dispersal as well as to the influence of local host plants.
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