EUROPEAN TURFGRASS SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 02/2020 Via dell’Ambrogiana, 5 - 57127 Livorno (Italy) - CF: 95094240249 www.turfgrasssociety.eu etsoffice@turfgrasssociety.eu
IN THIS 02/2020 NUMBER: 7th ETS Conference 2020 abstracts ETS elections for Board renewal NIBIO IPM project 2020-23 STERF yearbook 2019 Introducing RUBISCO SMART What COVID-19 can teach us about plant disease epidemics - Yellow Jacket Water Manager: Less stress, more survivors! - Lockdown Trial opens up a new avenue for turf research - Jobs and other news - Info on ETS -
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7th ETS CONFERENCE 2020
Extended abstracts published on the European Journal of Turfgrass Science
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“Turf Solutions for the Future� Submitted topics of the 7th ETS conference, June 2020 in Amsterdam in European Journal of Turfgrass Science The journal RASEN, European Journal of Turfgrass Science, had already published a complete special issue on the lecture topics and poster presentations at the 4 th ETS Conference 2014 in Osnabrueck under the title "Balancing turfgrass performance and sustainability". Also in 2018, the topics of the "Two-Page-Papers" were compiled in a compendium of European Journal of Turfgrass Science. With the cancellation of the 7th ETS Conference at the end of June 2020 due to the corona pandemic, the ETS Board was looking for a way to make the submitted and reviewed 2-page-paper to offer conference contributions to a larger readership. With the good experiences from the past events, the ETS Board and Koellen Druck + Verlag, with the support of the German Turfgrass Society (DRG), have agreed to print a block-like publication of the provided manuscripts in the coming issues of the magazine RASEN (2-, 3-, 42020). For issue No. 2, eight topics became the main focus: "Drought, Irrigation and Water Consumption" selected. In Issue No. 3, ten papers then become the core area: "Disease and Plague Management + Biostimulants" will appear. For issue No. 4 there are nine more contributions on the subject: "Maintenance and Nutrition + Impact on the Environment" on the schedule. The German Turfgrass Society wishes the readers interesting suggestions from international turfgrass research and a gain of knowledge for their own turfgrass practice. Author Dr. Klaus Mueller-Beck Honorary Member of German Turfgrass Society, DRG
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ETS elections for Board renewal: call for candidatures After 4 years (2016-2020) the ETS Board is now required to renew, with elections, a new board. The tenure lasts four years and the existing members can be re-elected however several are now stepping down leaving some positions vacant. ETS would have completed nominations and elections during the General Assembly of the conference in Amsterdam, cancelled due to Covid-19. Therefore, the elections will be held online, using a certified system for voting. The ETS board consists of 9 members elected among eligible ETS members, including the President. Therefore, we invite interested applicants to submit by 30/07/2020 their candidature for one position on the ETS board by email to: etsoffice@turfgrasssociety.eu Elections will be held then in the first week of September 2020. The internal ETS Regulation has dedicated 1 position of the board to an US Academic, to assure a connection with American research. Thus there will be 1 place available for the US candidate and 8 for the European. To be a candidate, you must be a member of ETS and you are required to attend Field Days and Conferences. Board members serve on a voluntary basis and no remuneration is made for any expenses incurred.
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Integrated management of important turfgrass diseases and insect pests on European golf courses – the IPM project 2020-23 By Karin Juul Hesselsøe and Tatsiana Espevig, NIBIO
An introduction: From spring 2020 and the following three and a half year NIBIO Turfgrass Research Group will implement a project on IPM with focus on important turfgrass diseases and insect pests. This project is funded by STERF and The R&A, but also Netherlands Golf Federation, German Golf Association, Botaniska Analysgruppen in Sweden and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency are co-funding. The project has a broad European perspective comprising researchers from the UK, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. The research project investigates cultural practices and new technologies to manage important diseases namely microdochium patch and dollar spot with no or strongly reduced pesticide inputs. The control of insect pests namely chafer grubs and leatherjackets will also be investigated in the project. In spite of the Covid-19 crisis all the field trials in Denmark, the UK, Germany and Norway have been started up and are on track. Microdochium patch and dollar spot To prevent these two most important turfgrass diseases on golf courses the IPM-project investigates the effect of cultural approaches such as rolling, UV-C radiation and alternative products against microdochium patch and dollar spot. Rolling has been shown to reduce dollar spot significantly, and newly published research has shown that rolling may reduce microdochium patch on annual bluegrass greens. The IPM-project will investigate the use of rolling on fescue/bent greens at Copenhagen Golf Club in Denmark, where course manager Martin Nilsson set up the trial in the beginning of June (Photo 1). UV-radiation is a new technology to prevent diseases. It has been documented to have germicidal effects by causing damage to DNA in cell nuclei, thus available data show a strong effect of UV-C on the mycelial growth of turf diseases. The IPM-project will investigate the use of artificial produced UV-radiation to prevent
Photo 1: Set up of trial with rolling against microdochium patch at Copenhagen Golf Club, June 20. Photo: Martin Nilsson.
both dollar spot and microdochium patch at Osnabrück Golf Club in Germany (Photo 2). In collaboration with the suppliers the project will investigate the effect of alternative products to prevent microdochium patch and dollar spot at field trials on the research premises of NIBIO Landvik in Norway (Photo 3) and of STRI in Bingley, UK (Photo 4).
Photo 2: UVC unit to prevent turfgras diseases. Photo: Wolfgang Prãmãssing
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As dollar spot is still a new disease in the Nordic countries the IPM-project will also focus on causal species for dollar spot and tests of seeds as a source for dollar spot distribution in Europe.
Photo 3: Start up of testing alternative products to prevent microdochium patch at Landvik, June 2020: Photo: Tatsiana Espevig
Photo 4. Layout of microdochium patch trial at STRI, May 2020. Photo: Christian Spring.
In collaboration with researchers and companies from Russia and Finland the IPM-project investigates immunoassay for rapid identification of the fungi that causes microdochium patch and dollar spot in plant tissue.
Chafer grubs and leather jacktes As most registered pesticides against these insect pests have been banned in the EU, the need for alternatives to prevent attacks of june beetles and crane flies are growing. The IPM-project comprises a literature review of the management and potential innovation options of monitoring, warning and control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets on golf courses.
Collaborators and match funding This project is a concerted effort by researchers, greenkeepers and suppliers representing alternative products and technology in the Nordic countries, Germany, Netherlands and UK. Partners: -
NIBIO – Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research STRI – Sport Turf Research Institute, Bingley, UK The Turf Disease Center, UK HS Osnabrück, Germany University of Algarve, Portugal University of Eastern Finland Copenhagen Golf Club, Denmark Osnabrück Golf Club, Germany VIZR – Russian Inst of Plant Protection Asbjorn Nyholt Aps, Denmark Botaniska Analysgruppen, Sweden Xema, Finland
Dissemination of results The project will be disseminated through articles in national and international greenkeepers magazines and videos on STERF webpage and other media channels. New IPM-fact sheets will be produced to provide greenkeepers and golf course managers with new knowledge for sustainable decision making. The results will also be presented on ETSC 2022 and annual BTMEs.
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Plan for a new start not a restart STERF yearbook 2019 By Maria Strandberg, STERF, Sweden There are many indications that we will not have a restart after the COVID-19 crisis, instead we must expect and plan for a new start. All aspects of sustainability, environmental, economic, and social, will have higher priority after the COVID-19 crisis than ever before. Therefore, new knowledge built on research and science is crucial for supporting the turfgrass industry to meet new important challenges. These include the pressures from government demands for greater environmental regulation, the increasing pressure on natural resources (notably water, energy and land), the emerging role of turf management in supporting ecosystem services and enhancing biodiversity, the continued need to promote integrated pest management, and the looming challenges posed by a changing climate, and urgent need to adapt. New knowledge is also necessary for the industry to contribute to the fulfilment of the 17 United Nations´ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in Agenda 2030. In 2019 STERF had 13 ongoing projects focusing on sustainable development within the following strategically important areas: integrated pest management, sustainable water management, winter stress management, and multifunctional golf facilities and ecosystem services. Other important STERF activities were: the international seminar on sustainable use of pesticides in Oslo, the collaboration with The R&A on OnCourse 2030 Scandinavia, six new projects were started, and a number of handbooks, fact sheets, scientific and popular scientific articles were published. The yearbook and more information about STERF´s programmes, projects and activities can be found on www.sterf.org Please let us know if you have any questions or comments related to the yearbook. Your feedback on STERF’s ongoing projects and activities would be very valuable for us. Ideas of potential collaboration, new programmes and projects would also be interesting and inspiring.
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Introducing RUBISCO SMART to TURFGRASS SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY
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By Andrea Patussi, Herbatech Herbatech since 1994 offers to its clients the best possible products in order to produce excellent grass surfaces no matter what the problem, the utilization or the environmental situation is. For this reason, it has always concentrated its research on developing products that make turf resilient to mayor environmental adversities. In particular, starting from 2017, Herbatech focused its attention to the development of true foliar formulas in order to help the turfgrass world to solve heat and drought stresses. This was possible thanks to the collaboration with the University of Bologna and with its most talented researcher Mattia Accorsi PhD. One of the first products developed by this research project has been the osmo-thermal protector Rubisco Smart a liquid fertilizer with specific amino acids, seaweeds, micronutrients and far infra-red light reflecting pigments that, if sprayed regularly through the summer months, helps relieving the typical summer stresses of the period and provides the following advantages: -
Osmo-protectant, helping the plant to regulate stomata closure and plant’s cooling process. This is extremely important especially with high temperatures because it actually helps the plant to regulates its inner temperature and maintaining it at almost optimal levels.
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Photo-protector reflecting far-infrared rays and thus protecting from heat and light damages, so dangerous and delicate during summer months.
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Aesthetic quality improver; thanks to its content of pigments, turf has a better visual appearance hiding any little presence of weeds and any yellowing.
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Root enhancer; thanks to its seaweeds+ nutrients content, it promotes a deeper and more extent root system, extremely important in order for the plant to optimize water and nutrients roots absorption
How is everything possible? Rubisco Smart, whose name come from one of most important enzyme (Rubisco) for plant life has been specifically thought and developed to optimize the use of this molecule so important for the plant. Rubisco is an enzyme involved in the first major step of carbon fixation, a process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is converted by turf to energy rich molecules such as glucose. Both biotic and abiotic stresses can have a negative effect on proper Rubisco function. Rubisco’s heat liable nature affects overall photosynthesis and greatly constrains turf productivity under elevated temperatures. For this reasons it is so important trying to preserve its integrity and quantity at optimum level inside the plant. Keeping this in mind, Herbatech found with Rubisco Smart the perfect cocktail in order to preserve and increase the levels of Rubisco inside the plant, leaving it as stress-free as possible. Rubisco Smart is the perfect product to be sprayed (8L/ha) through the summer months. In fact, by adjusting the temperature of the leaf, protects against the denaturation of the photosynthetic enzymes, limiting damages caused by photorespiration. Rubisco Smart, blending nutrients with antioxidants, osmo-protective amino acids and specific reflective pigments, defends turf from excessive infrared solar radiations, preventing leaf yellowing caused by summer stress. Results will be a healthier stress-free plant with a much faster rooting ability to recover from bad injuries and with an increased probability to survive to the heat of the summer months. Rubisco Smart will guarantee you better results and a greener turf. With Rubisco Smart, Herbatech vision: “Science-Solutions-Results”, once again has been respected.
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DLF news What COVID-19 can teach us about plant disease epidemics First half of 2020 became the year where everyone (!) was forced to learn at least some basic processes of epidemiology of viruses. A field of academic study previously reserved to a limited population of pathology experts. So that is one productive take way from this strange year that is not wasted. The behavior of inoculum, droplet dispersal, the importance of hygiene and the effect of distancing hosts in time and space is now common knowledge even for pre-school children. Even how the small virus take advantage of our cell RNA and DNA replication structures to multiply itself. In plants virus attacks often look like nutrition deficiency symptoms at first – often with a mosaic look on the tissue. Although primarily caused by fungi, plant diseases and plant epidemiology are not so different from those found in humans. We see outbreaks of disease strains that devastate crops. We see that some varieties respond better, with fewer symptoms, than others. Being susceptible, or not, to disease attack is complex, when we consider plants. Susceptibility is known to be linked to the genetic profile mainly. But age, the nutritional status, and general stress levels of the individual plant and the plant sward are also important for the extent of the outbreak in the area. Plant breeders can approach disease management by supplying the market with improved genetics, offering a preventive solution to disease management by identifying tolerant or even resistant individuals in the breeding population. If we find a susceptible host plant in the breeding program, we can choose to discard it. In humans there are ethics to navigate that make such selection unreasonable, and preventative measures are preferred. For example vaccination. Curative measures such as fungicides for turf or antibiotics for bacterial diseases are harder to find for viruses because they mimic our own RNA and DNA. Besides the genetic profile of a plants in the field the turf manager can make some decisions that affect the degree of disease spread. These are factors he or she can play with when optimizing and tweaking management: One is to spread the host and pathogen in space and time. E.g. establish new sowing in the fall, instead of the spring, so the plants are mature when spring inoculum hits. Yup, same reason why distance is effective to break disease chains of COVID19 between humans.
Figure 1 Fine fescue lawn with red thread fungus.
Another example is the fungal disease causing Red thread, as the picture below shows, is linked to low levels of nitrogen. But we know that a good practice is to remove the clippings of red thread infected turf and not leave them on the lawn: and that leads us to hygiene, another thing that we now know works to keep epidemics down. True for human pathology, true for plant pathology.
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You may wonder; plants do not share fluids by kissing, coughing and touching like we know COVID19 and other human virus does. How does virus spread in plant populations? Well there are two ways that virus spread in plant populations. One is linked to clonal propagation of plant material. Potatoes, bananas and many other important crops, plus a lot of ornamental plants, are multiplied by using plant material, seed potato tubers and side shoots that are clones of the original plant, and not true seeds. True seeds are not usually transferring viruses, but the generations from seed are not as true to cultivar or as fast as to take fresh plant parts. This material, if infected, will give raise to sub optimal crop.
Figure 2 Potato plant infected with potato virus y. note the mosaic symptoms.
The other way is spread is via a vector – an insect often. Happily flying from plant to plant tasting the plant sap. A non-colonizing aphid like this is the vector of Potato Virus Y. Spreading the virus in this tuber propagated crop; a most unfortunate combination. Had it only been a colonizing aphis the damage would be limited. Again, we can draw a parallel: if the infected individuals would just basically stay in one place, that is the key to control.
Stay safe
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Barenbrug news Yellow Jacket Water Manager: Less stress, more survivors! Change in climate leads to more extremes in the weather. Periods with a lot of precipitation alternated with periods with drought and heat. This is not only stress for the plant, but also for the sod producers. The less stress during establishment of the young vulnerable plants, the more surviving plants, the healthier sward. What is the key for germination and establishment and for less stress so more surviving plants? Water. Barenbrug will introduce a revolutionary technology for the best drought and heat tolerant sod mixtures available in the market. This seed enhancement will take care of optimal water management for germinating and establishing grass seeds. by Olaf Bos MSc, agronomist Water is the key Water is the very first thing a seed needs for germination, the very first thing a young plant needs for photosynthesis. If water is not available, seeds won’t germinate and plants won’t grow. Barenbrug launched Yellow Jacket Water Manager seed enhancement as the ’insurance’ for germinating and establishing new grass. Yellow Jacket Water Manager provides the key to germination and establishment by managing the water availability and water balance in the soil, in all, also extreme, conditions. The feedback from the first users confirms what the many scientific studies already showed: water management is stress management. What is Yellow Jacket Water Manager? Yellow Jacket Water Manager is the world's first Seed Enhancement Technology that provides the grass seeds and young plants a good moisture balance for optimal germination and establishment. Yellow Jacket Water Manager was developed by Aquatrols, in collaboration with Barenbrug. It makes water available for the seeds and plants, distributes in the soil when watering and adheres to the sand grains.
Thus forms a so-called 'Plant Survival Zone'. This is a zone around the young plant in the ground, where by water management the seed can germinate and the young plant can settle and survive without stress. Growth conditions are optimized, which enables the grass plant to develop rapidly and vigorously.
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For a successful germination Due to the rapidly changing moisture conditions, the success of germination can be strongly influenced. The speed of germination is genetically determined and it cannot be influenced by any seed coating in the market, however it is often suggested. However, the success of germination can be influenced: this is mainly determined by the availability of water. By ensuring the water availability is optimal, the chance that seeds will germinate will dramatically increase. Water management crucial for survival Water management is crucial for avoiding abiotic during the establishment phase of grass. The Plant Survival Zone that is created, does not only hold water in the ground, but also regulates the moisture around the seed. The water can reach the seed and the water that reaches the seed is available to the young plant. Because the water is available to the plant, the first step in photosynthesis can take place, the plant can absorb nutrition for growth and the plant can cool itself. Yellow Jacket Water Manager thus takes care of total water management and contributes to, among other things, successful germination, insured establishment, more surviving and healthy plants and greater survival opportunities in all circumstances. What happens in extreme conditions? Yellow Jacket Water Manager has proven its value. High temperatures and drought, but also winter desiccation, often lead to (local) water repellency. In these hydrophobic soils water does not reach the seed and the young plant. If there is no water available, there is no food available for the plant and it will also experience additional heat stress because the plant cannot cool. For many young plants this combination is lethal. The Yellow Jacket Water Manager treated plants clearly do not show this stress. The soil continues to absorb water when it is irrigated or if there is rain and the plants can therefore continue to grow vitally, both above and below the ground. An improved root system increases the survival rate in dry periods.
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Even after a long period of time without water, Yellow Jacket Water Manager plants recover as the untreated plants get lost! If it is raining, the quantity of rain in short period is becoming bigger and bigger. Too much water in the soil also causes stress to the plant and to soil life. If the soil holds the water too long, this will influence the exchange of the O2 and CO2 of the soil. Pores in the soil are filled with water instead of air and this disturbs the gas exchange. Yellow Jacket Water Manager ensures that water is rapidly distributed into the ground and that abundant water is drained leaving space for air in the pores. Grass plant insured with Yellow Jacket Water Manager Yellow Jacket Water Manager takes care of an optimal moisture content, resulting in ensured seed germination and plant growth without stress, even in extreme conditions like the drought and heat.
Yellow Jacket Water Manager and sod mixture From autumn 2020 Barenbrug will make the revolutionary technology of Yellow Jacket Water Manager available for sod mixtures that will focus on the best drought and heat tolerant genetics. Contact your local Barenbrug distributor for tailormade solutions for your site.
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Lockdown Trial opens up a new avenue for turf research By Marcela Munoz MSc, Technical Manager EAME, Syngenta When Europe and the UK was plunged into lockdown, to tackle covid-19, greenkeepers faced an unprecedented situation for managing turf, with little or no specific research to support decisions for imposed low intensity regimes, reports Syngenta EAME Turf Technical Manager, Marcela Muñoz. The objectives for greenkeepers switched overnight, from providing the best possible playing surfaces, to simply maintaining healthy plants, with a skeleton labour force and stringent restrictions on working practices, in accordance with evolving government regulations and R&A Guidelines.
Marcela Muñoz MSc, Syngenta EAME Turf Technical Manager
Recognising the absence of relevant information and the need for greenkeepers to quickly make big decisions, Syngenta, in collaboration with ICL and research partners at STRI, set in motion the process to develop a trial to provide some practical guidance and important answers. Setting up a full-scale turf trial in just days, and presenting the challenge to report results in real-time as the trial progressed, posed a whole new set of questions for managing research and gathering the data. It was clear from the outset that for the research to have relevance, it had to provide information and advice for actions with almost immediate effect. Originally instigated as a low intensity turf management research project, it quickly adopted the mantle of ‘The Lockdown Trial’, to fully engage with greenkeepers and their immediate issues. The Syngenta team were also mindful that greenkeepers across Europe at that time were under similar constraints and conditions, so wanted to ensure the study would be relevant for them too. Furthermore, with Europe one of the first regions to go under an intensive lockdown scenario, it was apparent that Dr Christian Spring, STRI this pioneering initiative could have implications globally, as other regions followed the practice.
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It was a real challenge for STRI researchers, led by Dr Christian Spring, to deliver up to the minute results of the effects on turf quality, along with suggested actions to help maintain playing surfaces for when normal service could resume. With so many potential factors to look at with the trial, it was necessary to focus firstly on results that would enable greenkeepers to make more effective decisions, and secondly limit the parameters to data that could be quickly gathered, assimilated and interpreted in the tight timeframe to communicate messages. Whilst it would have been good to look at aspects of increased rooting, leaf chlorophyll content and ball roll with Primo Maxx II, for example, the complexities of gathering that data was considered too timeconsuming and take too long to process to be valuable for the trial. For a scientific community used to writing and reviewing reports over a period of months, the new aim was to get results out to greenkeeprs within hours. The process of publishing lengthy reports means little for a communication route driven by social media, the 120 character tweet, visual graphics, video feed and instant-access advisory blog. It was absolutely crucial to have the scientific data accurately recorded to back up the findings, but the presentation of real-time results as the research progressed was a radical change. Even in setting up the trial protocols, the team had to work within and replicate the constraints of the R&A Guidelines to ensure results could be used in practice. We also had to prioritise treatments that we considered would offer greenkeepers the best potential savings for time - with labour availability one of the biggest challenges – as well as the chance to maintain turf health and vigour, ready to return to play when conditions allowed.
The trial treatment list arrived at was: Primo Maxx II treatment
Mowing regime per week Once
No Primo Maxx II
Three x Five x
Primo Maxx II @ 0.4 l/ha every seven days
Primo Maxx II @ 0.4 l/ha at 50 GDD
Primo Maxx II @ 0.4 l/ha at 100 GDD
Once Three x Five x Once Three x Five x Once Three x Five x
Bent grass/poa golf green sward; Qualibra + ICL Greenmaster liquid feed @ fortnightly interval; irrigation once per week. Greenkeepers had already taken to Twitter to announce that they would be putting on the maximum permitted amounts of Primo Maxx II to supress growth and reduce mowing requirement, but with the question as to what would be the effect at two or four times the rate they would typically use, earlier in the season, and with far less maintenance. That was an obvious starting point, with the trial set out to evaluate effects of application at the full UK label rate for fine cool-season grasses (0.4 l/ha) and to assess the growth suppression at cutting regimes of once, three times and five times a week. Furthermore, having recently introduced a Growing Degree Day model and calculator for greenkeepers on the Syngenta UK GreenCast website, it was decided to assess impact of an application every seven days, every 50 GDD and every 100 GDD, compared to no Primo Maxx II. In addition to clipping yield, the plots of bentgrass/poa at STRI Bingley site were assessed for colour, visual quality, consistency of cut and NDVI measured plant health.
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STRI trials site at Bingley in Yorkshire set out for the Lockdown Trial
Weekly drone imagery and photos gave an evolving picture of results’ progress Overview looking from SW to NE (once a week plots in foreground)
STRI trial aerial image of mowing intensity effects
Overall the plots also received a base ICL nutrition programme and a monthly application of Qualibra wetting agent. That was included since, with just one irrigation application per week, the potential for turf damage from drought over the summer was too high a risk. At the outset the project did not know how long the trial, or the lockdown situation, would continue. And, as it transpired, with the sunniest May on record and a prolonged dry period, the Qualibra paid huge dividends in maintaining turf quality with minimal low intensity water input. What the trial has demonstrated is that, even at the highest permissible application rate and short intervals, there were no adverse effects from Prim Maxx II on turf. In fact, as the trial progressed, improvements in the colour and turf health were all recorded with the successive treatments. Not unsurprisingly, turf health in the early weeks was visibly better with the low intensity once weekly cutting regime, compared to the stress associated with the three and five times per week cutting.
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However, as the trial progressed through the fourth and fifth week of assessments, it was the three times per week cutting that showed the best compromise. Results of surface quality assessments, measured by prism gauge across all the treatments, showed that all the Primo Maxx II treatments gave more consistent results under all the cutting regimes. Surface quality was continually reported as being unsatisfactory for playability under the one cut per week regime. It has indicated the results for three times per week mowing, in relation to turf health and vigour balanced against surface quality, could warrant further investigation, particularly for the early spring season when growing conditions may be slow. Clipping yield results showed that increasing the amount of Primo Maxx II applied, with the seven-day weekly interval, did suppress growth most effectively, by up to 55% compared to untreated. Over the first weeks of the trial, clipping yield growth reduction averaged 36% for the seven day application; 28% from 50 GDD application and 21% from 100 GDD treatment. The cumulative result of frequent application confirmed US Primo Maxx research, where a layering effect from reapplication before maximum suppression was reached was observed.
Clipping yield results show cumulative reduction in growth from repeated PGR applications
Turf under a lower intensity management regime recovers and grows faster between cuts
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One further factor of note from the trial’s results, is just how quickly the advantages in the evenness of cut from the more frequently cut regimes were lost as soon as mowing was interrupted for just a few days, compared to lower intensity mowing. It has shown how investment in regular maintenance is absolutely key to high quality putting surfaces. Another new element to a research project was the need to adapt the protocol as the trial progressed, to reflect the changing situation that greenkeepers faced. For example, whilst the trial was managed at a low intensity 5 mm cutting height for most of the duration, as soon as lockdown was lifted and play resumed, we had to test how quickly surface quality could be restored. Unlike the normal practice of gradually reducing cutting, we could take the same decision being faced by course managers to drop cutting height by a dramatic 20% in one hit, from 5 mm to 4 mm, and evaluate the effects. And then a further reduction to 3.5 mm the following week. The results have shown that turf that was healthy under the low intensity management was remarkably resilient. The plots under the five and three times week mowing regimes recovered well at the lower cutting heights with little or no loss in playing surface consistency or health indicators, however the once a week mowing regime did start to suffer losses in quality, colour and consistency at the lower cutting height. Over the course of the trial, turf cut once per week had better colour scores when cut at a height of 5 mm, but that began to drop off at 4 mm cutting height and was the lowest when surfaces were cut back to 3.5 mm.
Cuting regime turf colour graphic
The influence of Primo Maxx II on turf colour became ever more pronounced as the cut height reduced and returned to typical day-today playing height, with more frequent application showing greater results. With GDD, the trials practical learnings showed the need to be flexible with application timing to fit with when the interval is reached – which could fall on a weekend or when weather conditions were too wet or windy to spray. The results have demonstrated that GDD could prove a useful tool to aid decision making on Primo Maxx II interval timing, particularly during periods of differential of growth. However, more work is required to find the optimum timing point in the suppression curve for UK conditions and specific situations or course demands.
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Primo turf colour graphic
Huge credit has to go to STRI for instigating the whole trial under lockdown conditions, including trials manager, Mark Ferguson and Dr Christian Spring for providing a weekly video of results and commentary throughout the trial. Their ability to record and turnaround results within hours, enabled a communications package involving website, YouTube, Twitter and e-newsletter reports to reach thousands of greenkeepers around the world each week. Twitter posts around the Lockdown Trial have generated 400% greater interest, compared to typical turf management topics. Posts have almost instantly reached up to 8300 people. Videos attached to Twitter posts Mark Ferguson’s weekly STRI trials reports have each been viewed up to 2400 times. Weekly emails to 2600 turf managers and agronomists received up to 40% open rate and 20% seeking more information – reflecting the genuine and ongoing interest in the results. It has also been a fascinating lesson in communicating scientific research of immediate application to the end user. Social media and digital communications gives us, the scientific community, the opportunity to better engage with the end user and get feedback to make our work more relevant and the science more friendly. Whilst this type of trial cannot replace hypothesis led fundamental turf research, it is a model for a way to provide science-led real-time solutions, which has shown the opportunity to engage with and answer greenkeepers ongoing seasonal issues. All of the trial’s weekly updates, reports and videos can be viewed on the GreenCast website here, along with practical interpretation and advice on the GreenCast Advisory Blog. Now, with the launch of new ‘Unlock and play’ initiative at STRI in the same style, investigating the impacts of integrated turf management techniques on summer stress under simulated traffic, you can follow the results in real time @syngentaturfuk Marcela Muñoz is Syngenta EAME Technical Manager for Turf & Landscape
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JOBS, JOBS, JOBS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Associate Product Development Manager will lead a small multi-functional technical team responsible for selecting R&D projects for consumer Lawns. Direct reports include biologists and formulators, project leadership extends to packaging engineers, regulators and marketers. The APDM is the primary commercialization liaison between R&D and the larger cross functional team. The APDM will be responsible for setting expectations, timelines, budgets, mentoring, resource management and project management. This role reports to the Director of Lawns R&D. Full description and application link: https://scottsmiraclegro.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/SMGExternal/job/Marysville-OH/TechnicalDevelopment-Manager_R3461
ETS member Lumbricus news Recently the first scientific paper as a result of a PhD work from our member Maurice Evers has been published. Abstract Carbon sequestered by turfgrasses may contribute to reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, to improved soil health, and to increased turfgrass quality. The objective of this study is to compare the amount of soil C accumulated by nine cool season turfgrass monocultures and 12 mixtures of turfgrass species during the first 3 yr of establishment. Thatch, mat, and other soil layers were sampled and thickness of these layers was quantified in a field study conducted in the Netherlands. From these samples, dry matter, C and N concentrations, and C/N ratio were measured. Festuca rubra spp. and Poa pratensis had a thicker thatch layer than Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca ovina , and Agrostis stolonifera. Lolium perenne had a thicker mat than Festuca rubra spp. Mixtures of turfgrass species and subspecies seemed to vary more in thatch and mat thickness, as well in the total thickness of both layers combined, than did monocultures. Thatch thickness but not mat thickness correlated to C accumulation in the soil, and this accumulation in the top soil till 20�cm deep was species dependent. The highest amount of C accumulated in Festuca rubra spp. monocultures, whereas the smallest amount was found in soils with Lolium perenne . Thatch of Festuca rubra spp. showed high C accumulation with high C and N concentrations, whereas in Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis monocultures low C accumulation was related to low C and N concentrations. Only for Festuca rubra spp. and Poa pratensis , C/N ratios partly explained variation of C accumulation with soil depth. Here is the link to the paper in the Agronomy Journal: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20231
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Š European Turfgrass Society 2019 Edited by Claudia de Bertoldi PhD, etsoffice@turfgrasssociety.eu Deadline for submission of material for 03/2020 edition: September 20th
The EUROPEAN TURFGRASS SOCIETY The objectives of the ETS include the spread of innovative applications and encouragement of a holistic view of turf, particularly with respect to its influence on urban and environmental quality. This approach is significant as the founding members are representatives of a large industry that has global importance. We aim to: a) Provide a forum for scientists, consultants, companies and practitioners to discuss technical issues related to the provision of turf surfaces. b) Spread innovative applications for the benefit of the turfgrass industry, national and local government, and the European public. Encourage a systemsbased approach to the study of turfgrass through multi-disciplinary groups working at different levels. c) ETS considers turfgrass knowledge in the broadest sense, including its use in sport and leisure, its role in improving urban quality and its importance in the mitigation of environmental effects such as soil erosion. d) Develop a strong ethos to promote sustainable, low input systems and solutions based on the conscious use of non-renewable resources.
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Current ETS Board of Directors
Stewart Brown Myerscough College (GBR) ETS President I have been working in the sports turf and amenity horticulture industry for over 30 years’ and during this have managed many sports turf and landscape areas and facilities for several local authorities and government agencies. Since entering education I have taught hundreds of students in a range of sports turf and management subjects. I am currently, Senior Lecturer in Sports turf Agronomy at Myerscough College, an associate college of the University of Central Lancashire. I am the Course Leader for the BSc Sports turf Science & Management and the MA Sustainable Golf Course Management ONLINE degrees. I am a member of BIGGA, the GCSAA, and a Fellow of the IOG. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As an author I have published two books on sports turf subjects and numerous articles for professional and trade literature. My main areas of interest include golf course design and management, sustainability and resource management. I have Masters qualifications in both Horticulture and Parks & Green space Management. I am just completing a Professional Doctorate (DProf) with Anglia Ruskin University researching the efficacy of resource management and its impact on sustainability for golf greens.
Bernd Leinauer New Mexico State University (USA) ETS Board Member Dr. Bernd Leinauer is a Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist in the Extension Plant Sciences Department at New Mexico State University. He received his degrees (Master and Ph.D.) in Crop and Soil Science from Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. Before joining the faculty at New Mexico State University in 2000, he worked as a Research Associate in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. His extension and research program at New Mexico State University focuses on developing water management strategies for turf areas aimed at reducing the amount of (potable) water used for irrigation. These strategies include the screening for low water use, cold and salt tolerant turf species and cultivars, irrigation with recycled and/or high saline water, modification of turfgrass root zones, mitigation of water repellency in root zones, and subsurface irrigation. The program has led to a successful international research collaboration with University of Padova, Italy that includes projects in both turfgrass and forage. Dr. Leinauer has authored and co-authored a book, a book chapter, nearly 70 scientific peer reviewed research papers, and almost 200 reports and abstracts. He was part of a group of NMSU researchers that received the United States Department of Agriculture’s Outstanding Integrated Program Water Resources Team Award. In 2012, Dr. Leinauer received the College’s Distinguished Research Award and in 2013 he was awarded New Mexico State University’s Distinguished Career Award.
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Claudia de Bertoldi Turf Europe Srl (ITA) ETS Secretary and Treasurer I received my BA in 2003, after an internship at North Carolina State University (USA) and I have completed my M.Sc (Progettazione e Pianificazione delle Aree Verdi e del Paesaggio) at University of Pisa (Italy) in 2006. My PhD (Allelopathic interferences of plants) was from S. Anna School of Advanced Studies/Université de Fribourg (CH) in 2007-2010. I have been working as consultant at Pacini Company (Pisa – IT) for turfgrass production made in Tunisia during 2010-2012. Since 2013 I am employed by Turf Europe (Livorno – IT). I am actively engaged in landscaping and realization of gardens and turfgrasses for ornamental and sport use. Management of high-quality sport fields also through precision agriculture. Consultant for turf seeding in difficult zones (dumps and caves). Botanical censuses and visual tree assessment. Participation in R&D projects financed at European level. More than 15 publications, posters and presentations on conferences and meetings on turfgrass.
Tatsiana Espevig Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NOR) ETS Board Member Born in 1976. Moved to Norway from Belarus in 2005. MSc from Byelorussian State Pedagogical Maxim Tank University, Minsk, Belarus in 1999. PhD from National Academy of Sciences of Belarusin 2004 (resistance to downy mildew in cucumber) and Norwegian University of Life Sciencesin 2011 (winter hardiness and management of velvet bentgrass). Internship at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA in 2009. Since 2006 employed by Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO, former Bioforsk). Her research focuses on turfgrass pest management, winter stress and cultural practices. She also runs Disease diagnostic laboratory. Lecturer on several meetings and courses held by the national golf unions and greenkeeper assosiations in the Nordic countries. Supervisor for two MSc students. More than 100 reports, scientific and popular publications, posters and presentations on conferences and meetings on turf grass science.
Alessandro De Luca Italian Golf Federation (ITA) ETS Board Member Degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Bologna (Italy). Diploma in Turfgrass Science at the Texas A & M University (USA). Head of the Green Section of the Italian Golf Federation, for which he also directs experimental activity and environmental projects. Teaching activity for Technical Centre of Italian Golf Federation, for CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) and for some Universities (Catania, Viterbo, Turin, Rome). Consultant for private companies on planning, construction and maintenance of golf courses and sport fields. Author of books on turfgrass construction and management. Collaboration with several turf and golf magazines. related to the environment. Fritz Lord COMPO Expert (GER) ETS Board Member Study of horticultural science at Rhein University Geisenheim, M.sc. in soil science/entomology. Study of Agricultural Science at Humboldt University Berlin; M.Sc. in crop science, plant diseases; Ph.D at Humboldt University Berlin in phytopathology, antagonistic rhizobacteria (PGPR), soil borne pathogens (Fusarium). Since 2008 working for one of Europe`s leading fertilizer manufacturer COMPO Expert in Münster, Germany. Responsible for the segment turf and public green, vegetation-technical consultation, research and development, product management and education. Specialties/ experiences: soil-plant-microorganism interactions, bio stimulants, microbial fertilizer, turf nutrition and maintenance. Various publications regarding turf fertilization and maintenance (e.g. European Journal of Turfgrass Science, New Landscape). Teaching turf seminars for greenkeepers and groundsmen in Germany and abroad. ETS member since 2008, board member of the International Turf Grass Society (ITS) since 2014. Further memberships: German Turfgrass Society (DRG), Greenkeeper Association of Germany (GVD) , Austrian Greenkeeper Association (AGA), Förderkreis Landschafts- und Sportplatzbauliche Forschung (FLSF), Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsbau e.V. (FLL).
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Wolfgang Praemassing DEULA (GER) ETS Board Member Study of Agricultural Biology (University Diploma) at University of Hohenheim, 1991 Doctoral Dissertation (PhD) Promotion with Prof. Dr. H. Franken, University of Bonn, subject: Soil physical Effects of Aeration on Turfgrass Soils, 2008. Occupation and activities: Professor for Sustainable Turfgrass Management at University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck, Agronomist and lecturer in Greenkeeper Education and Training for golf and sport sites at DEULA Rheinland GmbH, Education Center, Kempen. Member of editorial staff of "European Journal of Turfgrass Science". Member of Turf expert committee of German Soccer League (DFL). Member of working group "Water" at German Golf Federation. Member of examination boards of Chamber of Agriculture Nordrhein-Westfalen Golf Course Greenkeeper and HeadGreenkeeper, Greekeeper/Groundsmen Sport Sites, Competence of Pesticide application.
Carlos Guerrero University of Algarve (POR) ETS Board Member Carlos Guerrero is graduated in Horticulture Engineering at the University of Algarve (Portugal). Has a M.Sc. in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition at the Agronomy Superior Institute, of the Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal) and a PhD in Environmental Agronomy at the University of Algarve (Portugal). Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve(Faculty of Sciences and Technology), is actually the Director of the Degree Program in Agronomy and was the Director of the Master Program in Management and Maintenance of Golf Courses between 2008-2010. Teaches Soil Science in Landscape Architecture and Soil Science and Agriculture Machinery in the Agronomy. Is also specialized in groundwater and soil nitrate pollution and has experience on organic and compost uses in agriculture and turfgrass. Actually is working on remote sensing for turfgrass maintenance purposes with unmanned aerial vehicles and multispectral sensors.
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