Mississippi Turfgrass - Fall 2015

Fall 2015

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

Into The Light

— Managing Sunderland’s Premier League Football Pitch

Alternative Approach to Aerification Plus, Program for the

Deep South Turf Expo, October 13–15, 2015

Fall 2015

Contents • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine Features

8 Upcoming Event —

Deep South Turf Expo, October 13–15, 2015… a New Southern Tradition

8

12 Cover Story —

Into The Light — Managing Sunderland’s Premier League Football Pitch

17 Turf Talk —

Alternative Approach to Aerification: A Research Update

19 Recent Event — YardDawg Classic, June 16, 2015

Departments

6 From the MTA President

7 MTA Membership Application

12

20 Calendar of Events

21 Index of Advertisers

22 Mississippi State Turf Team

17 4 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

President’s Message

Join Us at the Expo, Toby Thornton

I

October 13–15!

hope that everyone has slowed down and is enjoying some cooler fall weather. I also hope everyone is planning to attend our first annual Deep South Turf Expo, to be held October 13–15, in Biloxi. This event closes out a great year. It’s a chance to catch up and enjoy some social time along with valuable education. Thank you to those who helped plan our events, and thanks especially to those of you who have attended.

I am also glad to have another great football season kicked off where I can watch my Bulldogs play. It has been great to see folks at games, especially the MSU v. LSU Tailgate that Ben Nelson Golf put on. I also hope to see everyone at a Bowl game.

As another year comes to a close, I take great pleasure in how far we’ve come as an association. We are headed in the right direction, and I’m certain our association has a bright future. It has been a great pleasure for me to serve as the MTA president. I look forward to the election of our new board members and their contributions to this great association.

Toby Thornton 2015 MTA President

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com Mississippi Turfgrass Editor James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

MTA OFFICERS

President Toby Thornton Shell Landing Golf Course (601) 507-4254 Vice President Paul Welborn Lawn and Pest Solutions (662) 316-1347 Secretary/treasurer Wayne Philley Mississippi State University (662) 325-2728 Past President Josh Quinn Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions (601) 906-2591 Administrative secretary Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu

Directors

Jordan Carlisle LADD’S (601) 818-7586 Jay Coalter Patrick Farms Golf Course (601) 317-1641 Erick Coomer Greenwood Country Club (228) 860-5292 Ken Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 Jeremy Ely Sunkist Country Club (228) 669-6745 Chris Hussey Hussey Sod Farm (662) 231-3203

6 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

Adam Strehle Quality Turf Services (662) 719-8029

Membership Application Box 9555 • Mississippi State, MS 39762 • 662-325-0517 (Office) • 662-325-2705 (Fax) www.msturfassociation.org The Mississippi Turfgrass Association is a non-profit organization of individuals interested in promoting and expanding the turf and landscape industry in Mississippi and surrounding states. The objectives of the organization are to: • Promote quality turf and landscape management.

•D isseminate information and educational material on turf and landscape culture.

•S ponsor needed research, scholarships for deserving students, and conferences on timely topics.

•C ooperate with other organizations in advancing educational opportunities in turf and landscape management.

Dues Annual dues are $50 for individuals and single business representative membership * $100 for businesses requesting two to four individuals receiving newsletter * Attach names and addresses for additional newsletter mailings (business only).

Any individual interested in the advancement of turfgrass or landscape management is invited to join the organization. This includes professionals in golf course and grounds maintenance, sod and seed producers, landscape contractors, landscape architects, horticulturists, agronomists, nurserymen, educators, athletic field managers, park managers, and representatives of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of turf and landscape equipment, chemicals, and supplies.

Membership year runs January 1 – December 31.

Name:*_________________________________________________________

Work Association

Firm or Club Name:______________________________________________ Street Address:__________________________________________________

Mail to: MTA, Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762

o Golf Course

City:____________________________________________________________

o Grounds Maintenance

State:___________________________________ Zip:____________________

o City/State Park Maint.

Telephone: Work: (____)________________________________________

Cell: (____)________________________________________

o Lawn Care

Email:__________________________________________________________

o Sod

Make check payable to Mississippi Turfgrass Association (MTA)

o Product Representative

If you prefer, you may pay by credit card:

o Education

o Visa

o MasterCard

o American Express

Card Number:___________________________________________________ Expiration Date:__________________________________________________

o Athletic Fields o Other

Signature:_______________________________________________________ The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 7

UPCMOING EVENT

Deep South Turf Expo, October 13–15, 2015...

a New Southern Tradition

By Melanie Bond, Executive Director, Louisiana-Mississippi GCSA and Alabama GCSA

O

ctober 13–15 will see the launch of the Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi, Mississippi. This turf conference and trade exhibition is a collaboration of The Mississippi Turfgrass Association, Alabama Turfgrass Association, Louisiana-Mississippi Golf Course Superintendents Association, Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association and Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association. Not since the Southern Turfgrass Association disbanded has a regional effort of this magnitude come together.

The formation of the Deep South was partly at the behest of exhibitors and sponsors who felt they could get more “bang for their buck” by bringing turfgrass professionals from the southern states together, but the organizations’ ultimate focus is on providing service to their membership.

According to Tricia Roberts, executive director of the Deep South Turf Expo, “With a regional turf conference, we can bring in the top educators to provide the highest quality educational program for all turf managers. Additionally, the DSTE will offer networking opportunities that will span over a four-state region, not just one state or organization.

Members can reunite with college buddies, share success stories with peers outside their ‘competition zone’ and make

8 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

new friends and business contacts!”

The Expo has been fortunate in the leadership from a board of directors hand-picked by the founding organizations. Stephen Miles, CGCS, was elected the first president of DSTE, and he is a fitting choice as a superintendent of The Preserve Golf Course in Biloxi and former president of both the Mississippi Turfgrass Association and the Louisiana/ Mississippi GCSA. The DSTE conference will be hosted at the Beau Rivage, with a tradeshow at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center that will have enough room for greens mowers, sod harvesters, chemical sprayer trucks and forklifts. Of course, the DSTE will also feature outstanding educational sessions for every segment of the industry, as well as serve as a place where those in the turfgrass industry can network with their peers. The Preserve Golf Course will host the golf tournament for the event on October 13.

According to Stephen, “This will be an excellent opportunity for education, socializing and networking, and I am honored to be working with so many influential industry leaders in our area. We invite you to visit DeepSouthTurfExpo.org!” v

DSTE Sponsors Tuesday, October 13

Surf ‘n Turf Dinner Bayer Harrell’s, Inc.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Heavy equipment move-in

8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

Exhibitor move-in

11:00 a.m.

Golf Tournament at The Preserve

11:00 a.m.

Sporting Clay Tournament at the Coastal Rifle and Pistol Club

11:00 a.m.

Schooner Cruise

11:00 a.m.

Sports Field Tour

6:00 p.m.

Expo Grand Opening Reception

Lunch BASF Continental Breakfast Syngenta Reception Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation Past Presidents’ Breakfast Beard Equipment Company Greenville Turf & Tractor

Wednesday, October 14 7:00 a.m.

Continental breakfast available

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tradeshow open

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Concurrent educational breakout sessions (see below) Professional Development

Sporting Clay Tournament NuFarm Americas Tradeshow Bags Sod Solutions

Pesticide Usage & Safety

Soil & Water Management

Taking Your Career to the Next Level Cory Blair, CGCS, Stoval Fine-tune your networking and communication skills to improve your job today and prepare for your next position or promotion.

Pesticide Regulations, Storage and Protection Kim Pope, Louisiana State University Discuss the rules and regulations governing pesticides, understand labels and learn about the proper storage of pesticides and pesticide applications for user safety.

First and Foremost – Be an Agronomist Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech All turf managers are in the business of producing as many leaves, stems and roots as possible, while doing this under a myriad of stresses from environment, management and traffic. This session will review how to coordinate the science with the art of turfgrass management when it comes to producing the healthiest, best playing surface possible.

9:20 a.m.

Raps about Apps: Using New Technologies for Turf Management Barry Stewart, Ph.D., Mississippi State University Review and actually use the newest and top-rated applications and technology available for turfgrass managers. Emphasis will be placed on free and inexpensive applications for everything from measuring land surface to calibration to soil surveying.

Developing Diversified WeedManagement Strategies Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Mississippi State University Learn everything from fraise mowing to combatting weeds with innovative tank mixtures and application timings. This session will lead turfgrass managers to a new understanding of how to produce better turf using fewer inputs.

Weed Control in Ponds and Waterways Stephen Enloe, Ph.D., University of Florida Learn about the fundamentals of aquatic weed management in ponds and waterways. This strongly interactive presentation will use Turning Point Clicker Technology. Come prepared to engage with the speaker and have some fun!

10:40 a.m.

You Are the Commodity: Marketing & Developing Yourself Bill Brown, Turf Republic Develop an understanding of basic branding and marketing principles with digital media. Gain an understanding of how brands can be affected, both positively and negatively. Discuss the top socialmedia platforms used by the turfgrass industry and how to successfully use them to build your brand.

Controlling Annual Grasses in Golf Putting Greens Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Auburn University Hear about new herbicides and differing herbicide strategies for controlling the most problematic weeds in putting greens, specifically control of smooth crabgrass, goosegrass and annual bluegrass.

Navigating the Regulatory Waterways: The ABCs of BMPs Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida Water quality is a big deal, and green-industry management practices are regularly implicated in its demise. Review the Best Management Practices from their development through their implementation.

12:00 p.m.

Luncheon & Keynote Presentation Habits and Virtues of the Successful • Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Defining success in turfgrass management is often a moving target because priorities change as jobs and lives mature. Dr. Goatley will apply his 27 years of experience and observation in turfgrass science while presenting his list of what he feels are the keys to professional and personal success in the turfgrass industry.

2:00 p.m.

MTA & ATA Annual Business Meetings

2:30 p.m.

LMGCSA & ATRF Annual Business Meetings

8:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

GCGCSA & AGCSA Annual Business Meetings

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tradeshow Talks (in various exhibitor booths)

5:00 p.m.

Silent Auction closes • ATRF Grand Prize Drawing

6:00 p.m.

Surf n’ Turf Dinner at the Beau Rivage The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 9

Cover Story • Continued

Thursday, October 15 7:00 a.m.

Continental breakfast available

7:00 a.m.

Past Presidents' Breakfast (Invitation only)

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Exhibitor breakdown

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Concurrent educational breakout sessions (see below) Golf Turf

Sports Turf

Lawn & Landscape

The Diverse World of Plant Growth Regulator Usage Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Auburn University This session will discuss lower PGR use rates and variable application timings, utilizing growing degree days as a means of properly timing trinexapac-ethyl applications. Other PGRs, such as paclobutrazol, will be discussed.

The Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of Bermudagrass Cultivars Beth Guertal, Ph.D., Auburn University Learn the basics of bermudagrass cultivar selection, what’s new on the market and the uses and latest research of the various cultivars.

Reducing Costs & Inputs with Sound Agronomy for the Landscape Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University Learn how to maintain high-quality turf without excess inputs of water, fertilizer and chemicals.

Points will include determining nutrient requirements for southern lawn grasses, identifying and dealing with pest problems before they become severe and expensive, and educating clients to irrigate effectively.

9:00 a.m.

Management of Spring Dead Spot, Mini-Ring & Other Patch Diseases Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Ph.D., Mississippi State University This session will cover current options for fungicide control, how to avoid disease on golf course greens and fungicide application strategies, along with an introduction to a new foliar disease.

Managing Skinned Areas and Turf-Skin Interfaces Ray Sayre, Pensacola Blue Wahoos Discuss the management practices of infield playing surfaces, field alignment and the transition to turf areas from the skinned areas.

Developing Weed Management Strategies for the Landscape Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Mississippi State University, and Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Auburn University This session will discuss preemergence and postemergence herbicides, along with bed maintenance and design that enhances aesthetics while limiting the need for chemical weed control.

10:00 a.m.

Novel Organic-Matter Management Strategies Christian Baldwin, Ph.D., Mississippi State University Discuss how to keep turf at optimal playing conditions throughout the year without comprising the soil physical properties with a modified traditional aerification program.

Developing Efficient Strategies for Managing High-Use Sports Fields Ken Edwards, CSFM, City of Gulfport Explore the process of developing a comprehensive maintenance plan to deal with issues relating to the management of multiple fields that are often overused due to excessive demand.

Watch Out for the Tawny Crazy Ants Fudd Graham, Ph.D., Auburn University There’s a new ant in town, and he’s cray-cray. Learn about the new Crazy Ant, its threat to our landscapes and how to manage infestations.

Life Lessons from the Golf Course Ken Magnum, CGCS, Retired With a lifetime of experience on a golf course, Ken has witnessed and lived many adventures. Hear about the most influential lessons he learned as a superintendent that helped him and will help you.

Weed Control on Turfgrass Establishment, Grow-in and Recovery Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Mississippi State University All turf requires special management considerations when in a weakened state. Weeds take advantage of weak turf, but the wrong herbicide selection can be just as detrimental. Gain insight into herbicide selection and timings that are safe and effective.

Weed Management for Centipede, St. Augustine and Seashore Paspalum Ron Strahan, Ph.D., Louisiana State University Identify and discuss the management of the most troublesome weeds infesting St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass and seashore paspalum.

8:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

CEU sign-ups and conference adjournment

DSTE exhibitors (to date) Agri-AFC, LLC Alternative Turf Specialists Aquatrols BASF BWI Companies, Inc. Davison Fuels First Products FMC Graham Spray Equipment Greenleaf Technologies 10 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

Growth Products GT AirInject, Inc. Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation John Deere Landscapes Keeling Company Moose River Media Net Connection, LLC Nufarm Americas Par Aide Products

Pennington Seed Performance Tire & Wheel Residex SePRO Sod Solutions Southern Aggregates, LLC Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. Southern Specialty Equipment, Inc. Southern States Coop Turf Division Specialty Turf Supply, Inc.

Sports Turf Services Standard Golf Company Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. Sur-Line Turf Syngenta The Turfgrass Group Tebro Manufacturing Trimax Mowing Service Turf Fuel – Residex Watermark Golf

Cover Story

Into The

Light

Managing Sunderland’s Premier League Football Pitch

By Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University

On

recent travels to visit my wife’s family, I got an inside look at one of England’s Premier League football pitches — Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. Head groundsman, Adrian Partridge, and I discussed compaction, surface quality and managing to Premier League standards at the home of Sunderland Association Football Club.

The Stadium of Light opened in 1997 on the former site of Wearmouth Colliery, one of the most important coalmines in northeast England. In fact, if you’ve ever heard the idiom “It’s like taking coals to Newcastle,” you’ll appreciate the fact that Newcastle and Sunderland, less than 15 miles to its south, were once heaving with coal pits, 12 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

as well as the rail and ship-building industries responsible for transporting their bounties throughout England and around the world. Football clubs like Sunderland’s were once comprised of local, blue-collar talent, recruited from the local mines, shipyards, police forces and teachers’ unions. Thus, a sense of community is one of the most charming aspects of Premier League football, as long as you’re not a visiting fan.

American field managers would find the 100% perennial ryegrass pitch to be strangely welcoming. The grounds are not unlike most college and professional fields. There are locker rooms for changing, showers and physio rooms for players recovering from the match.

There’s even an interview room with

sponsor logos spread methodically so that no matter the camera angle, or size of the player’s ego, each can be seen by viewers at home or in the pub.

There are also considerable differences between America’s NFL stadiums and those of the English Premier League (EPL). American football fans would be surprised that attendees must stay seated during the match. This was a recommendation stemming from findings after the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died as a result of being crushed by overcrowding during the 1989 FA cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest. Because of this, there is no open standing area to congregate at the tops of stairs, thus influencing the structural

Light is the greatest limiting factor for most Premier League pitches. Sunderland’s Stadium of Light uses a supplemental light system by Stadium Grow Lights, a Dutch company, to ensure grass health.

Each span of lights has sixty 600-watt sodium halide bulbs. New LED technologies are soon to revolutionize supplemental lighting; however, LEDs produce less growth-promoting heat.

design of most stadiums in a way that actually seems to limit the vertical height of multi-tiered seating.

Along those same lines, England’s stadiums are generally smaller.

Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, which seats 49,000, is large by comparison to many EPL stadiums. EPL’s largest stadium, Old Trafford (Manchester United) seats right at 75,600, and its smallest, Loftus Road (Queens Park Rangers, as well as Fulham), seats only 18,400. In comparison, the NFL’s largest stadium, MetLife Stadium (Giants and Jets), seats around 82,500, and its smallest, TCF Bank Stadium (Vikings), seats around 52,500. These smaller English venues usually have more covered seating compared to

typical outdoor NFL stadiums.

The Stadium of Light is the secondmost-northern Premier League venue in England, which ironically limits the necessary light for natural turfgrass.

Only St. James’ Park, Newcastle United’s home grounds, is further north, but only by about 15 miles. To give you some idea, Sunderland’s latitude is just shy of Alaska’s southernmost reaches, on par with Edmonton, Canada.

Cloudy, cool and rainy weather are also common characteristics of the region.

It is this geography and climate that necessitates one of the most interesting facets of pitch management at the Stadium of Light and at many other large clubs in Europe — the use of supplemental lighting systems.

Muddy, ravaged, torn turf was once normal for EPL matches. These days, field and facility managers get paid a bonus if they avoid rain-delayed or cancelled events (a scenario that has, on several occasions, led to matches being played on likely unsafe conditions). Nonetheless, EPL officials and general managers have ultimate say about whether a game is played.

To avoid delayed play, EPL fields take advantage of the latest technologies to benefit player safety and playability. Like most fields in the league, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light has a set of supplemental lights that are moved every other day, if not daily, in order to provide adequate light and temperature for grass growth and recovery.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 13

Cover Story • Continued

Sunderland’s head groundsman, Adrian Partridge, and his assistant, Eddie, discussing compaction, surface quality and managing to Premier League standards at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Goalmouth recovery is complicated by the need of goalkeepers to take practice shots prior to match day.

Partridge uses his two units most in the light-limited goalmouths and penalty boxes. On the day that I was there, both 60-foot spans were being pulled off the field in order to prepare for the Boxing Day match with Hull. Each span of lights contains 60 600-watt, sodiumhalide bulbs. At around $20 a bulb, plus the energy to run them, this isn’t a cheap endeavor, but it’s effective. These bulbs, 14 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

as opposed to the newer LED technology, provide more heat, which costs more to generate but, of course, benefits grass health in this cold environment.

Team managers, such as Sunderland’s Gus Poyet, have a great deal to do with how the pitch plays on any given match day. For a speedy competitor like Arsenal, a manager might consider slowing play down by asking for a

slightly drier (albeit, not too dry) and firmer surface; the harder the surface, the higher the ball bounces, and the more slowly a team proceeds to pass the ball. Rather than skipping the ball with a low bounce, players must time their passes more precisely.

Moisture management is key, especially in a location with frequent rains.

Irrigation is often administered right

Continued

before play begins. This strategy might disadvantage a slower team.

Clegg hammer tests are performed by the field staff in order to track firmness. There’s varying opinion about what is too firm or too soft, but typical numbers for an EPL pitch fall between 70 to 120, with the latter being slightly too firm.

Surface firmness is highly dependent on mowing height and soil moisture.

Mowing height is actually limited to less than 30 mm (about 1-1/5 inches) by league regulations. I’m told that officials have access to a prism device with which they routinely measure mowing height (however, even the savviest turf professional will tell you that these instruments are prone to variation).

The soil mixture at the Stadium of Light is an 80% sand / 20% peat mixture amended with small fibers of polypropylene and elastane that help stabilize the soil. According to several sources, Sunderland players liked playing on this Fibrelastic® mix so much at rival Newcastle’s St. James’ Park that they asked for it at their own home grounds.

Of course, there are numerous “hybrid” systems coming on to the market that go one step further with a marriage of synthetic and natural grass, but that’s not been the trend at most EPL pitches.

This may have less to do with the capabilities of the hybrid system and more to do with the ease of renovation after concert season.

Like most American stadiums, EPL pitches are multi-use venues, hosting everything from concerts to weddings. A hybrid system might limit the amount of renovation that can take place between concert and competition season. Sunderland’s concert season lasts until roughly the end of June. This past season, Partridge and his team had less than eight weeks until their home opener against Manchester United. Partridge’s typical program would be to fraze mow dead and compacted material prior to or after a major concert, and then soil is simply renovated and reseeded.

Partridge also manages miles of plastic water lines and drainage tile beneath the pitch. Heated water can be

circulated in order to promote growth, prevent frost or even thaw snow. He does admit, however, that the heated field has its drawbacks, tending to soften the soil, which is less player friendly.

And this is just one of many fields making the impossible happen. During January, I had the pleasure of attending the Sports Turf Managers Association meeting in Denver. It is exciting to think that sports field managers around the globe have access to information we’ve yet to even hear of. These meetings and events, whether it’s the upcoming Deep South Turfgrass Expo or next year’s Turfgrass Field Day, are crucial to our growth as professionals in sport. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming new folks into our fold by inviting local high school coaches and athletic directors to get involved with all of the great events offered by MTA and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. v

•

Cover Story

Sunderland’s Fibrelastic® pitch, developed by Mansfield Sand, is an 80% sand, 20% peat root zone reinforced with both polypropylene and elastane fibers. It’s covered with a perennial ryegrass blend.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 15

Turf talk

Alternative Approach to

Aerification

A Research Update

By Jordan Craft and Christian Baldwin, Ph.D.

T

urfgrass managers are challenged with determining the right combination of aerification practices throughout the growing season. The name of the game is maintaining soil physical properties, while minimizing surface disruption. Traditional aerification programs cause substantial damage to putting greens and sports surfaces, which results in prolonged recovery. This can lead to lost revenue due to fewer rounds of golf or fewer sporting events being held. The question then arises, how does a turf manager keep turf in optimal playing condition throughout the year without comprising the soil physical properties?

Soil physical properties are the foundation for a healthy stand of turf.

The right balance of air and water is provided by optimal macro and micro pore space in the soil. Macropores are larger and retain a greater proportion of soil air than micropores. Roots grow into macropores and provide the plant with water, oxygen and nutrients. Macropores are usually maintained using different combinations of cultural practices, such as solid- and hollow-tine aerification, verticutting, topdressing and brushing. When done correctly, these practices help dilute micropores and the buildup of excess organic matter. If these practices are neglected, problems arise, such as organic-layer accumulation, reduced infiltration, increased compaction, decreased root length, localized dry-spot, turf stand loss and even algal build-up.

Soil physical properties change over time. Causes include routine traffic and organic-matter accumulation from roots and clippings, as well as natural soil aging. Without a doubt, though, the best indication of poor soil properties is the dreaded “organic layer.” Soil concentrations as low as 4% to 5% organic matter will decrease water infiltration and air movement into the root zone, resulting in conditions of excess moisture when the soil is wet, and exaggerated desiccation when it’s dry.

If organic matter in sand-based putting greens reaches 3% to 4% by weight, Left: MSU practice putting green following June 2014 DryJect treatments.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 17

Turf Talk • Continued Top photo: The Toro Procore 648 at the MSU practice football field following July 2014 treatments.

removal and dilution of organic matter with reduced physical surface disruption.

Middle photo: This is the putting greens surface seconds after a DryJect treatment had been applied.

The DryJect 4800 is being used in this picture.

Our research

Bottom photo: The practice field surface seconds after a DryJect treatment, July 2014.

the percentage of soil macropores begins to decrease, thus decreasing rooting and nutritional uptake. The two most effective ways to combat an increase in organic matter are aerification and sand topdressing.

Aerification

In many instances, aerification may be the most important cultural practice other than mowing. The goal of aerification is to break up or fracture the soil, improve infiltration, relieve compaction and ensure the long-term health of the turf, while causing minimal disturbance to the turfgrass plants and playing surface. Aerification with widediameter tines followed by topdressing is the most important step to increase soil water infiltration rates and soil aeration porosity. An aerification tine should be long enough to completely penetrate and remove cores from the thatch layer. The deeper the hole created, the deeper roots will grow.

Soil physical properties, like air and water infiltration, can be improved only if turfgrass managers are willing to compromise temporary turf-quality reduction. Research by Jeff Atkinson at Clemson University demonstrated that reduced aerification frequency decreased surface disturbance and aesthetics but did not yield better subsurface soil physical properties. The issue is that traditional hollow-tine aeration can become time consuming and require several steps to return turf to a playable surface. Solid tining or “venting” is another proposed method of improving soil characteristic, yet research results are mixed as to whether it improves long-term soil properties or just temporarily mitigates the symptoms of an underlying problem. Ideally, turf professionals would like to combine the benefits of both techniques — aggressive 18 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

Ongoing research at Mississippi State University seeks to minimize disruption due to traditional aerification technologies using patented high-pressure, water-based injection that simultaneously fills holes with kiln-dried sand (DryJect®). This process happens within a fraction of a second, and the soil is aerated and amended in one pass with advertised minimal disruption.

Our objectives are to evaluate this technology against more traditional aerification techniques. One such benefit may be reduced hole size and quicker healing time. Research seeks to optimize the combination of the new technology with a modified traditional aerification program to achieve minimal surface disruption without compromising soil physical properties and playability.

Research is conducted at the MSU Institute of Golf practice putting green and at the MSU practice football field.

Treatments compare effects of different combinations of 0.50" and 0.25" diameter tine size of hollow-tine aerification to DryJect from June to August. At the golf course, the DryJect treatments are performed with a DryJect 4800, with nozzles spaced at 3" and at a 5" depth. At the practice football field, the DryJect treatments are performed with a DryJect 4800 Maximus, with nozzle spacing at 6" x 5" and at depths of 5" and 10". Hollow-tine aerification treatments (0.50" and 0.25") at the golf course and practice football field are applied one time during the month of July with 1” spacing at a 2" depth. Data being collected includes surface firmness, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, chlorophyll index, normalized difference vegetative index, thatch depth, volumetric soil water content (1.5" and 4.8") and percent recovery.

This technology is also capable of injecting dry, flowable materials such as kiln-dried sand, soil amendments, seed, insecticides, wetting agents, fertilizers and bio stimulants. Therefore, future research may evaluate numerous other possible utilizations and benefits.

Stay tuned for research updates. v

2015

RECENT EVENT

YardDawg Classic

June 16 at The Refuge Golf Course

1st Place team — Harrell’s (left to right):

Jenny Box, Wayne Box, Steve Kuyrkendall, Brian DeWeese and Brice McLendon

By Linda Wells,MTA Administrative Secretary

2nd Place team — BWI Companies (left to right): Herbie Rabalais, Ronnie Britt, Trey McClellan and Billy Key

3rd Place team — GreenPoint Ag (left to right): Bill Whatley, Jay Coalter, Rob Webb and Nathan Crace

We

had a successful Yard Dawg Classic Tournament at The Refuge Golf Course in Flowood on June 16, with 11 teams participating. The weather was beautiful but hot! Bill Whatley had the course in great shape. Thanks again to Nathan Crace and Bill for hosting the 2015 Yard Dawg Classic.

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Agri-AFC Ben Nelson Golf & Utility Vehicles BWI Companies, Inc. FMC Professional Solutions GreenPoint Ag Harrell’s Humphries Farm Turf Supply Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation John Deere Golf Ladds Mississippi 811 O2YS Corporation Syngenta WinField Solutions The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 19

Calendar of events

October 13–15

Deep South Turf Expo

Where the Grass is always Greener. www.OasisSod.com • 1-877-GROW SOD (476-9763) • (662) 621-2040

Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Conference Center Biloxi, MS

October 21–23

PLANET Green Industry Conference Louisville, KY

October 22–24

GIE+Expo — Green Industry Equipment Expo and School of Grounds Management Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

January 19–22, 2016 STMA Conference and Exhibition San Diego, CA

February 6–11, 2016

Golf Industry Show San Diego Convention Ctr. San Diego, CA

February 10, 2016

MTA Hospitality Night at the Golf Industry Show Yard House Restaurant San Diego, CA

February 22–25, 2016

TPI International Education Conference & Field Day (Turfgrass Producers Intl.)

Hyatt Regency Houston Houston, Texas 20 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2015

Index of Advertisers

Agra Turf Inc................................................. 21 www.agrainc.com

Harrell’s LLC.................................................... 5 www.harrells.com

RD Murphy, LLC............................................. 19 www.rdmurphy.com

Agri-AFC,LLC................................................... 3 www.agri-afc.com

Humphries Turf Supply.................................. 22 www.humphriesturf.com

Riebeling Farms, Inc..................................... 20

Bayou Bend Turfgrass................................... 21 www.bayoubendturf.com

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation......................... Inside Front Cover www.jerrypate.com

Boshancee Nursery Inc................................ 20 www.boshanceensy.com Carroll Sod Farm........................................... 19 CoverSports USA........................................... 15 www.coversports.com Greenleaf Technologies..................Back Cover www.greenleaftech.com

Leading Edge Communications.................... 16 www.leadingedgecommunications.com O2YS Corporation............................................ 6 www.o2yscorp.com Oasis Sod Farm............................................. 20 www.oasissod.com

Smith Seed Services..................................... 21 www.smithseed.com Southern Athletic Fields............................... 21 www.mulemix.com Sur-Line Turf, Inc.......................................... 21 www.surlineturf.com Syngenta Turf................................................ 11 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Winstead Turf Farms.............Inside Back Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com

Digital Marketplace Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about this company.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 21

Mississippi State Turf Team Gary Bachman, Ph.D. Associate Extension/ Research Professor Specialty: Ornamental Hort.

Coastal Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (228) 546-1009 gbachman@ext.msstate.edu Clarissa Balbalian, M.S. Diagnostics Lab Manager Specialty: Plant Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2146 cbalbali@ext.msstate.edu Christian Baldwin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-8280 cmb907@msstate.edu Donna Beliech Area Extension Agent IV Rankin Co. Extension Service Phone: (601) 825-1462 donnab@ext.msstate.edu John Byrd, Ph.D. Professor Specialty: Invasive Weed Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-4537 jbyrd@pss.msstate.edu Keith Crouse, Ph.D. Associate Extension Professor Specialty: Soils Phone: (662) 325-3313 keithc@ext.msstate.edu Geoff Denny, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Specialty: Commercial Ornamental Horticulture Phone: (662) 325-1682 gcd42@msstate.edu Alan Henn, Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Ext. Plant Pathologist Phone: (662) 325-4535 ahenn@ext.msstate.edu Lelia Kelly, Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Consumer Horticulture North MS Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (662) 566-2201 leliak@ext.msstate.edu Blake Layton, Jr., Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Ext. Plant Entomologist Phone: (662) 325-2085 blayton@entomology.msstate.edu

22 • Mississippi Turfgrass • fall 2015

James McCurdy, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Extension Specialist and Weed Scientist Phone: (662) 325-2331 jmccurdy@pss.msstate.edu Wayne Philley, M.S. Senior Research Associate Specialty: Turfgrass Breeding and Evaluation Phone: (662) 325-2728 wphilley@pss.msstate.edu Mike Phillips, Ph.D. Department Head and Professor Dept.: Plant and Soil Sciences Phone: (662) 325-2311 jmp657@msstate.edu Wayne Porter, Ph.D. SE Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Horticulture Phone: (601) 482-9764 wporter@ext.msstate.edu Michael Richard Extension Associate Specialty: Sports Turf Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-2311 mpr160@msstate.edu Jason Ruffin Research Associate Specialty: Turfgrass Mgmt., Turf Research Facility Manager Phone: (662) 325-2640 Barry Stewart, Ph.D. Associate Professor Specialty: Sports Turf Science Phone: (662) 325-2725 bastewar@pss.msstate.edu Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2593 mariat@pss.msstate.edu Jeff Wilson, Ph.D. Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Ornamentals, Landscape, Turfgrass, Fruits and Vegetables North MS Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (662) 566-8019 jwilson@ext.msstate.edu

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright ©2015 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association.

Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTA. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.