Dr. Kevin Frank, Turfgrass Extension

2009 MTF Turfgrass Research Update

Irrigation and Nutritional Effects on Creeping Bentgrass and Poa annua Putting Green Performance
Project Duration: 2008-2012 
Green construction funded in part by MAES and Project GREEEN. 
Collaborators: Steinke, Nikolai, Crum

A set of eighteen, 36 ft. by 36 ft., putting greens was constructed in 2008 according to the USGA specifications for putting green construction.  Nine of the putting greens were planted to creeping bentgrass, A-4, and nine were planted to Penncross at ½ the normal seeding rate.  The Penncross greens were topdressed with clippings and seedheads from surrounding Poa annua putting greens at the turf center in the autumn of 2008, and the spring and fall of 2009 in order to facilitate conversion to Poa annua.  In 2010, irrigation and fertilizer treatments will be initiated.

Long Term Nutrient Fate
Project Duration: 1998-as long as possible 
Funded in part by grants from the USGA since 1998. 

Since the summer of 1998 leachate samples have been collected from the lysimeters and analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen.  As of 2009, the turfgrass area has now been under continual fertilization practices for 19 years with leachate collection for the last eleven years consecutively.  Our research will continue to monitor nitrate-nitrogen leaching from the lysimeters and determine the impact of fertilizer applications to a mature turfgrass on nutrient leaching for as long as the lysimeters and chambers are functional.  We are currently cooperating with Dr. David Gardner from Ohio State University on a USGA funded research project “Correlation and Calibration of the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test for Use as a Nitrogen Fertility Management Tool” by supplying soil samples from the lysimeter area to determine if nitrate leaching events can be correlated to changes in the amino nitrogen level in the soil.

Fertilizer carrier/rate/ putting green root zone study
Project Duration: 2009-2013 
Funded in part by Grigg Brothers 
Collaborator: Nikolai

The study utilizes several differ nitrogen carriers, several different nitrogen rates, and different P and K rates on three putting green root zone mixes.  Data collection includes biweekly green speed measurements, color ratings, disease counts, soil chemical tests, percentage nutrient content in the leaf tissue, water infiltration, and percent organic matter.  This study will run through 2013 and it’s currently the master’s study for Miyuan Xiao (Nancy). 

Functional Qualities of Turf in an Urban Environment
Project Duration: 2009-2011
Funded in part by Scotts Company 
Collaborators: Nikolai, Steinke, Gasteyer (Sociology). 

Dr. Nikolai has been the lead in organizing and securing funding from Scotts Co. for this project in the last year.  This project will quantify the environmental, economic, and social qualities of managing turfgrass on abandoned properties in Flint.  In addition to funding the project for three years, Scotts Co. is providing all the fertilizer and pesticides for applications and John Deere has agreed to donate mowers for the project.

The effect of preventative dollar spot management programs on creeping bentgrass cultivars maintained at putting green and fairway height
Project Duration 2008-2011
Collaborator: Calhoun

This research is part of a regional research project being conducted by the NCERA-192 (Regional Turfgrass Research Group, includes 11 universities).  Plots were seeded in the fall of 2008 to assess the effects of two different dollar spot programs on different creeping bentgrass cultivars.  Twenty five different cultivars are being evaluated.  

Research Reports