S Service Matters
ervice Projects, coordinated by the VTC Environmental Institute, are an integral part of this and previous issues of the Journal. Just like our distribution of Flowering Pollinator Seeds, these projects are letting politicians and other key decision makers know about our industry’s concern for the environment. From working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to the County of Manassas, from Henrico County to Virginia Beach, these projects are generating goodwill and allowing us opportunities to correct misconceptions about our industry. Here are six important points about our Service Projects:
One, these projects work because others believe they are important. We are now being contacted by school divisions and environmental groups to work with them on projects. Remember, many of the persons and associations reaching out to us used to loathe (not too strong of a word) our industry. Now, they view us as valuable partners.
Two, many of those entities contacting us are willing to make meaningful contributions – providing labor, tools, materials, and sponsorships.
Three, it is not redundant to state the obvious: Past landscaping projects have attracted interest and visibility for the industry’s willingness to address environmental issues.
Four, many of these projects include installing plants other than turfgrass. Diversifying into the realm of perennials, natives, and other non-turfgrass plants is natural because many of our members own businesses that include both turf care and landscape maintenance.
Five, we have made many new friends of the industry utilizing the VTC-EI outreach and interactions. Many of these same groups would almost spit when VTC or turfgrass were mentioned when I joined three decades ago, now they solicit our help.
Six, we are often chosen for these projects because the VTC and our members are seen as industry experts.
As these Service Projects become more and more popular, more requests will follow. We would love to do some projects that involve other industry groups, perhaps renovating a Little League field, a neglected cemetery, or something similar. The goal of such projects would need to emphasize safe playing surface for players or lower maintenance for Parks and Recreation departments. We would love to have other green industry associations work with the VTC Environmental Institute. Our entire industry benefits from the positive public relations they generate.
Wes Bray
VTC President
Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989
Virginia Beach, VA 23471
Office: (757) 464-1004
Fax: (757) 282-2693
vaturf@verizon.net
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Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718
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VTC OFFICERS
President Wes Bray Lawns & Gardens Plus (757) 422-2117
Vice President Harris Wheeler, CTP Richmond Public Schools (retired) (804) 475-4561
Secretary / Treasurer Ray Funkhouser PBI Gordon (retired)
Past President Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981
VTC DIRECTORS
Sam Burris
Jack Findling Richard Linsday
Bruce Sheppard
T.J. Skirsky Craig Zeigler
VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair)
Shawn Askew, Ph.D.
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D.
David McCall Ph.D.
Dan Sandor, Ph.D.
Cynthia Smith, Ph.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004
VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION
Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
The
VTC Environmental Institute serves a great industry, composed of persons who design, install, and maintain landscapes, lawns, sports fields, sod farms, and golf courses. The industry is thriving, employing hundreds of thousands of persons and adding hundreds of millions to our economy. Industry professionals have many interests, such as finding, training, and keeping employees but one main interest is ensuring properties are properly cared for – according to agronomically and environmentally sound principles.
A few years ago, we realized the need to focus on developing partnerships with three groups:
1. Environmentalists and Environmental Groups
a. Partnering with these groups began when a person employed by the Elizabeth River Project approached our display at Environment Virginia and said: People in our area have lawns and landscapes. We want your help to ensure they do not harm the Elizabeth River.
b. We now have great partnerships with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Plant NoVa Natives, the Elizabeth River Project and many others.
2. Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
a. Very few persons of color are enrolled in collegiate programs leading to leadership positions in our industry. Recognizing the importance of HBCU’s in reversing this fact, we worked with Virginia State University on several Petersburg projects. We are looking at ways to expand that partnership and to develop relationships with other HBCUs to find ways to expand enrollment in their environmental studies majors.
3. Legislators and Other Decision Makers
a. Caring for the environment is one of the few areas that unites Democrats/ Republicans; Liberals/Conservatives; Christians/Muslims; and so forth.
b. We all want to leave a clean, unpolluted world to our children and grandchildren. Our work with legislators began when Senator Dave Marsden was a newly elected delegate. We worked with him to implement a certification program for industry persons who apply fertilizer.
This work has created meaningful relationships and progress to build and protect our industry and the professionals within it. We are grateful for your support and involvement in these initiatives!
Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
VTC Executive Director
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900 adelpozo@vt.edu
Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3912 jderr@vt.edu
Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-2951 goatley@vt.edu
David McCall, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu
Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775 dsandor@vt.edu
WITH SUPPORT FROM: Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu
Better Built. Quality Results. Period.
The Senator Russet Perry Named Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute Outstanding Legislator
Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute awarded Senator Russet Perry with its Outstanding Legislator Award during a service project at Manassas Central Library in Prince William County. The award recognizes legislators who go above and beyond learning about challenges faced by the thousands of turfgrass, lawn and landscape professionals in the Commonwealth.
“We’re thrilled to recognize Senator Perry in this way. Ever since she was elected, she has taken the time to understand our industry and other small businesses like ours,” said VTC’s Beck Stanley. “Her dedication to the turfgrass, lawn and landscaping industry is admirable, and we are grateful.”
After the award presentation, Senator Perry joined VTC staff and board members for a tour of the service project at Manassas Central Library. The project included installation of pollinator areas, shade trees and stormwater beds. Through the use of these landscaping features, the area is now a beautiful, sustainable addition to the library.
2 – 4, 2025
Belmont Recreation Center
Henrico, VA
Once again, persons in the lawn and landscape industry will have a great in-person opportunity to learn from the experts.
The 3-day Lawn/Landscape Short Course will be held in Henrico at the Belmont Recreation Center from December 2 – 4 (Tuesday –Thursday).
Details are appearing on-line and will be in the July / August Journal
Dr. Cindy Smith, VTC Advisor, speaking with Senator Perry about the Prince William County Service Project.
Beck Stanley, VTC Legislative Consultant, presenting the award to Senator Perry.
Virginia Turfgrass Council – Environmental Institute is a 501(c)(3) Corporation focused on building a bridge between the Green Industry and Environmental groups.
With YOUR support, VTC-EI can continue in its work in service projects, legislative advocacy and building goodwill.
To learn more about VTC-EI and to get involved, please contact us at virginiaturf@gmail.com
PRINCE WILLIAM SERVICE PROJECT
Thanks to Dr. Cindy Smith and Richard Linsday, we held our first ever Service Project in northern Virginia. That, at Manasses’ Central Library, captured storm water and provided desperately needed shade for patrons.
In addition to Dr. Smith and Mr. Linsday, the following companies facilitated the library project:
TruGreen
Mow Cow Lawn and Landscaping
Bartlett Tree
Casey Trees
PLEASURE HOUSE POINT
On May 29, Horticulture students with the City of Virginia Beach City Public Schools planted over 200 American Beach Grass containers at Pleasure House Point, adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environment Center. These same students helped with our January Service Project. They took some of the American Beachgrass plants left over from January, grew them in the greenhouses at Virginia Beach’s Career and Technical Education Center, and planted them on erosion prone spots at Pleasure House Point. That area is adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center. After the planting, Christopher Gorri, Brock Environmental Center General Manager, sent this message to Laurie Parks, the Horticulture Instructor, and Tom Tracy:
Christopher Gorri, Brock Environmental Center General Manager, wrote: What an awesome day today. You worked on an area that needed restoration. I can’t wait to see it all grow. On behalf of CBF and the City – thank you so much for helping us restore Pleasure House Point.
Laurie Parks, Horticulture Instructor wrote a great summary about the project: Our Landscape Design and Horticulture Science classes are designed to teach students about the many aspects of the Horticulture industry. Students learn about the proper care and maintenance of ornamental plants and turf, the safe operation of common tools and equipment used in the industry, indoor hydroponic systems, and plant production in a greenhouse environment. The plants we grow in the greenhouse are sold during our 3 annual plant sales, all of which are open to the public. All proceeds from our sales go to funding our program and the FFA student leadership organization. Students also have the opportunity to obtain industry credentials, participate in internships, and complete hands-on projects that give them realworld experience.
We enjoy doing projects like this one, as we love to give back to the community that shows us so much support during our plant sales!
Service Project Part 3
TUCKER HIGH SCHOOL
Our work is getting noticed by elected officials and other critical decision makers!
Henrico County Public Schools recently contacted us. They want us to partner with them on pollinator garden projects they are establishing at schools throughout the county! They made the call because Eric Snelsire of Landscape Supply praised the VTC Environmental Institute during the March pesticide recertification and graduate student contest webinar.
Last year, the school system worked with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and others to design and establish a garden at Tucker High School that will be the model for future projects.
Heather Veneziano, Horticulture Instructor with Henrico County Public Schools, and her students are already heavily involved with the Tucker project and the idea is to include other disciplines, such as ecology, environmental sciences, and biology.
Henrico County Public Schools objectives for the existing and future pollinator gardens will draw heavily on lessons learned at Richmond’s Bellmeade Park, the endeavor Harris Wheeler, VTC Vice President, helped develop about 15 years ago. That 70-acre project was intentionally sited adjacent to an elementary and a middle school in an economically challenged side of Richmond. Instructors at those two schools regularly bring classes to the park.
Jeffrey Grow, Maintenance Control Supervisor, describes the project: I received approval to convert the parcel at Tucker into a Pollinator Habitat in the fall of 2023. We planted our first seeds in April of 2024 followed by over 2,000 plugs. The area is tough at best considering hard compacted soil in major areas, post construction quality soil in other and wet areas that are difficult to plant much less mow or maintain properly.
The project quickly bloomed into ideas of student participation. We have had students from our Workforce & Career Development / Career and Technical Education programs create the digital images for the signs. Our students have also printed the signs in their print shop; the carpentry students built and installed the billboards for the signs. Our horticultural students installed stormwater and erosion control measures as well as planting the seeds that are growing today.
We are currently creating curriculum for our science, biology, and other related classes to use the space for educational enhancement. Our maintenance staff will be using the site for training purposes to become registered technicians.
We I AM 4 THE SOIL
are grateful to the Virginia Turfgrass Council Environment Institute for inviting us (The Virginia Soil Health Coalition) to speak at three events in December and January. If you were at one of those events there’s a good chance that you received a sticker that says “I am 4 The Soil”.
What’s this all about and what does it mean?
Why the 4? Soil is more than the dirt under our feet and the ground we stand on. It’s a living ecosystem and it impacts our world in more ways than we might think. We can all be for the soil so let’s take care of it. 4 the Soil is a campaign by the Virginia Soil Health Coalition to raise awareness of soil as a vital natural resource. By caring for the soil, we can build healthier communities, stronger economies, and a more resilient landscape.
Why does the logo have the number 4?
While soils are complex, taking care of them can be simple. We follow four core principles of soil health:
1. Keep soil covered
2. Minimize disturbance
3. Maximize living roots
4. Energize with diversity
Each principle builds on the other. We can start with one and implement each as we grow.
Building healthy soils might seem like a massive undertaking. Every day it faces, erosion, compaction, nutrient imbalance, acidification, pollution and decreased water retention. But we can help!
So where on Earth do we start?
Start where your feet are and where you live, work, and play. All of us directly and indirectly impact the soil, whether we maintain numerous golf courses, care for many lawns, or just do our own thing in our backyard or garden. Notice how you interact with soil in your daily life and think about how you can implement the 4 core principles of soil health.
We invite you to learn more at 4thesoil.org
The VDACS Announces and REGISTRATION PESTICIDE NEW, LOWER LICENSE FEES
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announces lower certification and license fees for pesticide applicators and pesticide businesses operating within the Commonwealth. The fee change is a result of regulatory action taken by the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services after a review of the pesticide fee structure to align current pesticide fees with VDACS’ costs to administer the pesticide program and the Virginia Pesticide Control Act. The lowering of fees will reduce the costs to pesticide applicators and pesticide businesses while allowing VDACS to continue protecting public health and the environment.
The fee structure change reduces the commercial applicator certification initial fee from $100 to $25, the registered technician certification initial fee from $50 to $25, and the annual pesticide business license fee from $150 to $75. In addition, it lowers the commercial applicator certification reexamination fees from $100 to $25, and the fee to add a commercial applicator category or subcategory from $35 to $25. The pesticide product registration fee of $225 remains unchanged. There continues to be no charge for private pesticide applicators obtaining initial and renewal certifications. The new fee structure became effective on Jan. 2, 2025. VDACS provides an online application service for applicators and businesses, where these fees are automatically calculated.
Pesticide Fee Structure
VDACS pesticide program activities include the certification of approximately 21,000 pesticide applicators, the licensing of approximately 2,200 pesticide businesses, the registration of approximately 15,000 pesticide products, and conducting routine inspections and investigations.
Questions regarding applicator certification, pesticide business licensing or pesticide product registration, should be directed to VDACS Office of Pesticide Services at opsclrt.vdacs@vdacs.virginia. gov or (804) 786-3798.
MICROWAVE RADIOMETRY
A New Tool for on Golf Courses PRECISION IRRIGATION
As
By Madan Sapkota, Chase M. Straw, Weston W. Floyd, and Elia Scudiero
global demand for freshwater intensifies and the environmental impact of water use becomes more apparent, golf course superintendents face increasing pressure to manage water resources more efficiently. Conventional irrigation scheduling methods may result in overwatering or underwatering, leading to water waste and negatively affecting turfgrass health and playability. Precision irrigation has emerged as an advanced approach that applies water precisely where and when it is needed, using technologies that monitor soil moisture and optimize irrigation practices.
Accurate soil moisture data are crucial for precision irrigation, as they provide real-time information necessary for refining irrigation schedules, minimizing water waste, and maintaining healthy turfgrass. However, current sensor technologies face challenges in covering large areas like golf course fairways. While traditional methods, such as gravimetric techniques, are accurate, they are also labor-intensive and impractical for large-scale use. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors, commonly used by superintendents in the United States, provide real-time data with less labor but are limited to point-specific measurements, making them less efficient for extensive areas. To overcome these limitations, new solutions are needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of soil moisture measurements over large areas, ultimately enhancing water conservation and promoting healthier turfgrass.
Introducing Microwave Radiometry
To address the limitations of current soil moisture sensing technologies, microwave sensing emerges as a promising solution for large-scale, accurate soil moisture measurement on golf courses. Microwave sensing can be categorized into active and passive methods. Active microwave sensing, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), involves emitting microwave signals to the ground and measuring the reflected signals. This method is effective for mapping surface features but can be complex and resourceintensive. In contrast, passive microwave sensing, or microwave radiometry, measures the natural microwave emissions from the surface. This passive approach is particularly effective for assessing soil moisture content, as it directly responds to the water present in the soil.
Microwave Radiometry in Golf Course Management
Microwave radiometry is emerging as a promising technology for soil moisture measurement, with significant potential for large-scale applications in golf course management. An example of this technology is the Portable L-Band Radiometer (PoLRa), commercially known as turfRad (TerraRad Tech AG, Zurich, Switzerland). Although PoLRa represents a new tool for golf course superintendents, the principles of microwave radiometry could transform how soil moisture is monitored and how highresolution soil moisture maps are created.
Figure 1. a) Portable L-band Radiometer (PoLRa, i.e., turfRad) sensor mounted on a fairway mower at the golf course.
b) Time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements (ground truth data) from the data collection conducted on August 14, 2023.
Microwave radiometry detects natural microwave emissions from the surface, allowing for soil moisture measurement up to four inches below the surface. This non-invasive method enables rapid data collection over large areas, making it ideal for managing extensive golf course fairways, where traditional soil moisture-sensing methods are often labor-intensive or limited. The radiometer sensor can be mounted on a mower or strapped to the bed of a utility vehicle, measuring soil moisture about 14 times per second while traveling up to 10 mph. Sensors can also be arranged in an array for broader coverage.
Although microwave radiometry is still relatively new and has not undergone extensive testing in golf course management, it has already been implemented at several golf courses in the United States. Technologies like PoLRa show promise but are still in the early stages of exploration. For precision irrigation, any geospatial sensor technology, including PoLRa, must be rigorously evaluated by assessing soil moisture measurement accuracy and improving soil moisture mapping.
The preliminary research discussed in the next section focuses on the first step: enhancing measurement accuracy through calibration techniques. Calibration involves adjusting the sensor readings to match those from reliable reference measurements, such as those obtained from TDR sensors, to ensure the data collected are accurate and reliable. Factors influencing accuracy include soil moisture content, leaf water levels, brightness temperature (how much microwave radiation is reflected back to the sensor),
temperature fluctuations, and surface roughness (how smooth or uneven the surface is, affecting the scattering of microwave signals). Different turfgrass species may also affect readings due to variations in leaf water content and surface characteristics. Therefore, site-specific calibrations are essential for ensuring reliable measurements. Significant effort is needed to develop and apply effective calibration techniques to achieve precise and dependable results.
Preliminary Research at Champions Golf Club, Houston, Texas
On August 14, 2023, Texas A&M University researchers conducted a study at Champions Golf Club (Jackrabbit Course) in Houston, Texas, focusing on fairways 2, 6, and 13, which feature ‘Tifway 419’ hybrid bermudagrass in sandy loam soil. Two methods to measure soil moisture were used: the PoLRa (turfRad) microwave radiometer and handheld TDR 350 sensors (FieldScout TDR 350 Soil Moisture Meter, Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Plainfield, IL, USA). The PoLRa was mounted on a fairway mower about one meter above the ground (Figure 1a) and driven at speeds of 3.5-4.5 mph. The mower made three passes per fairway—two near the edges and one down the center—while data were collected at twelve randomly chosen points per fairway. After each pass, the points were flagged and exact times were recorded using the ‘Unix Time’ app.
Previous research has shown strong correlations between TDR and gravimetric soil moisture measurements, especially in coarse, non-conductive soils. Since TDR is practical for golf course superintendents, it provides reliable data for calibrating the PoLRa sensor. After using PoLRa to take measurements, soil moisture readings were collected at marked points using handheld TDR sensors at depths of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.8 inches (Figure 1b). The PoLRa data were then matched with the TDR readings based on the recorded times to ensure accurate comparisons.
For calibration, we used ANCOVA regression, a statistical method that helps understand the relationship between different variables while controlling for other factors. In this method, TDR readings were treated as the dependent variable (the outcome we are measuring), and the brightness temperature from PoLRa’s vertical polarization was the independent variable (the factor we are testing to see its effect). This method enabled more accurate estimation of soil moisture levels. We
assessed the model’s performance using metrics such as R², which indicates how well the model explains the variation in soil moisture, and mean absolute error (MAE), which shows the average size of the prediction errors.
Our initial calibration using PoLRa’s off-the-shelf (i.e., factory) settings showed an R² value of 0.60 (P < 0.01) and MAE of 0.06 (Figure 2a), indicating that 60% of the variability in soil moisture readings could be explained by PoLRa data. While promising, these results highlighted the need for further refinement to improve accuracy. Using an advanced ANCOVA calibration approach that incorporated additional factors such as brightness temperature, the model’s performance significantly improved. The R² value increased to 0.78 (P < 0.01) (Figure 2b), explaining 78% of the variability in soil moisture, and the MAE was reduced to 0.03. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced calibration techniques in enhancing the accuracy of PoLRa’s soil moisture measurements.
Figure 2. a) The relationship between off-the-shelf PoLRa (turfRad) volumetric water content (VWC) and ground truth time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements from three golf course fairways during a survey at Champions Golf Club (Jackrabbit Course) in Houston, Texas. b) A comparison of observed vs. estimated VWC using the ANCOVA regression approach.
linkedin.com/company/theturfzone
x.com/theturfzone
Figure 3. a) Soil moisture maps generated by integrating PoLRa (turfRad) data with digital job board (ASB taskTracker) for fairway 2 and 6 (a and b, respectively) at Champions Golf Club (Jackrabbit Course) in Houston, Texas, during a survey on August 14, 2023.
Future Direction for Accuracy and Reliability
The improved soil moisture measurement accuracy from using ANCOVA to calibrate microwave radiometry technology highlights its potential to improve golf course irrigation. While effective, ANCOVA requires further refinement. Future research should explore additional factors, such as different soil types, turfgrass species and varieties, management practices, and various climatic environments. Considering temporal factors, including seasonal variations, will also help enhance the model’s year-round accuracy.
Fine-Tuning Microwave Radiometry and Improving Soil Moisture Mapping
After improving soil moisture measurement accuracy, the next step in optimizing precision irrigation is enhancing soil moisture mapping across large areas like fairways. These maps help visualize soil moisture variability, as shown in Figure 3, and hold great potential for precision irrigation. By integrating PoLRa, which utilizes both microwave radiometry and GPS for georeferencing soil moisture data, with digital job board technology, real-time georeferencing of soil moisture readings can be achieved as a PoLRa moves across fairways. The resulting maps can reveal patterns of soil moisture variability, which can be more effectively addressed once the soil moisture calibrations are fully applied (Figure 3a and 3b).
Conclusions
Microwave radiometry holds potential to transform precision irrigation on golf courses. Its ability to provide accurate, large-scale soil moisture measurements could revolutionize water management for superintendents. By overcoming the limitations
of current sensors and offering a non-invasive, efficient method for real-time data collection, microwave radiometry could become essential in modern golf course management. Although further research is needed to improve accuracy and reliability, the final step to ease the implementation of precision irrigation is integrating this technology with irrigation systems. This integration could reduce the need for manual adjustments of irrigation schedules by allowing the system to recommend adjustments based on soil moisture and possibly other turfgrass or soil data. Superintendents would then be able to simply approve or adjust these recommendations as needed. This approach could ultimately lead to more sustainable water use, improved turfgrass health, and enhanced overall golf course quality.
M. Sapkota, C.M. Straw, and W.W. Floyd,
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Texas A&M University 3100 F and B Rd College Station, TX 77845
E. Scudiero
University of California Riverside West Big Spring Rd Riverside, CA 92507
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge Chris Ortmeier, Director of Agronomy at Champions Golf Club, and Cliff Morris, Superintendent of the Jackrabbit Course, for providing space for our research. We are also thankful to the United States Golf Association and the South Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association for their financial support. Special thanks to Dr. Derek Houtz, Founder and CEO of TerraRad Tech AG, for his technical support with the PoLRa sensor.
