MTGF FUNDED RESEARCH REACHES $1,840,541 SINCE 2002

2023 MTGF FUNDING - $35,000 University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Research Program Support

Principal Investigators: Eric Watkins and Jon Trappe, University of Minnesota

Abstract

We are proud of the partnership between the University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Program and the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation. Since 2001 nearly $2 million dollars has been donated to the University from the MTGF. In return, we have conducted research to increase economic efficiency for turf managers and improve the ecological sustainability of turfgrass landscapes. This proposal includes $60,000 of general support to continue our research and outreach activities in the next year. MTGF funding is essential to maintain staff and land at the Turfgrass Research, Outreach and Education Center on the St. Paul campus. Ongoing projects are outlined below, and include improving turfgrass winter stress tolerance, conserving irrigation inputs, and implementing new technologies for data-based decision making.

Rationale for Research

Over the years we have leveraged support from MTGF to procure millions of dollars in support from other funding sources. The list of funding successes is extensive, ranging from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to the United States Department of Agriculture. Each funded proposal benefits the membership of the MTGF and amplifies the dollars invested. Since the beginning of 2021, we have leveraged MTGF funding to garner additional research grants, including:

● Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association. $125,000. Member-Driven Research and Long-Term Research Support. The golf course superintendents of Minnesota have been tremendous supporters of our program for many years. The pandemic brought financial challenges to our program and we were only able to remain fully intact due to the generosity of the MGCSA. We are very grateful.

● Metropolitan Council. $378,745. Reducing water use on Twin Cities lawn through assessment, research, and demonstration. This is a continuation of a long-term collaboration aiming to reduce water use on lawns in the Twin Cities. Funding from this grant will support outreach and education efforts, along with ongoing research that will improve our understanding of turfgrass species dynamics during periods of acute drought.

● USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant: $150,000. Enhancing sustainability education through managed urban landscape curricula at higher education institutions in Minnesota. This project will evaluate higher education curriculum at institutions throughout Minnesota and identify opportunities for integrating sustainable turfgrass management into undergraduate courses. We will develop and provide educational modules that can serve as the basis for sustainability curricula—in the long term, we expect increased understanding of turfgrass systems to result in more well-informed citizens, along with heightened interest in turf and landscape management classes at institutions beyond the University of Minnesota.

● USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative:

$8,000,000. WinterTurf: A holistic approach to understanding the mechanisms and mitigating the effects of winter stress on turfgrasses in northern climates. This project, led by our team, involves researchers in 7 states and Norway, and aims to increase our understanding of winter stresses of turfgrass, while providing new solutions for turfgrass managers. This is the largest federal grant ever awarded to a turfgrass research project; our success in leading this project would not be possible without the years of support from MTGF and other allied organizations.

● Minnesota Department of Transportation

$275,928. Regional optimization of roadside turfgrass seed mixtures phase 3: Assessing long-term performance and creating a web-based decision tool. This project, which builds off two earlier grants, is evaluating the longterm performance of multi-species mixtures on 14 roadside sites around the state. This project is delivering valuable information to public agencies making decisions about turfgrass seed for roadsides and helping us learn about optimized mixtures for low-input landscapes such as parks, cemeteries, and home lawns.

In addition, we have continuing projects in fine fescue breeding, perennial ryegrass breeding, fine fescue sod improvement, soil moisture sensors, roadside turfgrass mixture optimization, early spring creeping bentgrass establishment, breeding grasses for improved shade tolerance, tall fescue de-hardening, and more.

Benefits of Research to Turf and Ground Managers

We have active projects that impact all types of turf and grounds managers. Our work in seed production improvement, both through breeding and agronomics, has a major impact on the practices used by members of the Minnesota Turf Seed Council. Research on the improvement of fine

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