Featured Research Projects

Natural Turf Use Levels

Authors - William M. Dest, Associate Extension Professor emeritus, University of Connecticut Storrs and J. S. Ebdon, Associate Professor of Turfgrass Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Featured in - SportsTurf magazine, May 2011

Few athletic field studies have been conducted to relate actual field conditions as well as maintenance practices to reported injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the level of use that an athletic field will sustain before field conditions begin to affect the playability and safety of the field.

Refer to the following research summary:

Study: Natural turf use levels

Saving Water: Bentgrasses & Drought Tolerance Study

One of the key missions of the UMass Extension Turf Program is to promote natural resource protection through responsible turf management. The following featured videos profile current UMass research for which the primary focus is the conservation and protection of one of our most precious natural resources: water.

Video 1 of 3

Presenter - Dr. Michelle Dacosta, Turf Physiologist

One of the most important challenges facing the golf-turf industry is dealing with drought stress. At the same time, water conservation is more important than ever before. Because fairways comprise a majority of irrigated turfgrass on golf courses, the ability to maintain quality fairways with minimal irrigation is crucial. However, more information is required to develop cultural practices that may reduce irrigation requirements and improve turf quality of fairway grasses under reduced irrigation. Research at UMass hopes to address some of these questions in the coming years with the help of a new rain-exclusion system.

Refer to the following research summary:

The Effects of Wetting Agents on Drought Resistance and Recovery of Cool-Season Fairway Grasses

Protecting Water: Vegetative Filter Strips Study

Video 2 of 3

Presenter - Barbara DeFlorio, Environmental Toxicology Graduate Student

Best Management Practices are commonly implemented on golf courses to minimize the movement of pesticides and nutrients. One such practice is the use of vegetative filter strips (VFS) to intercept runoff and help protect the quality of groundwater and adjacent surface water. Research at UMass is ongoing to identify the best-suited plant material and most appropriate planting techniques to ensure effective vegetative filter strips.

Refer to the following research summary:

Optimization of Vegetative Filter Strips for Mitigation of Runoff from Golf Course Turf

Saving Water: ET & Crop Coefficient Study

Video 3 of 3

Presenter - Dr. Scott Ebdon, Turf Agronomist

Lawn and recreational turf can require significant amounts of irrigation to maintain turf function and use. Practices that lower water requirements are especially important as water restrictions and demand for water increase. Scheduling irrigation according to actual turfgrass water use rates (ET) reduces waste by replacing only the amount of water lost from the rootzone to turfgrass use. Reference ET values obtained from weather stations must be adjusted using crop coefficients (Kc values) to achieve a more accurate estimate of actual turf ET. This research seeks to address the current lack of ET data and Kc values specific for climatic conditions and management of recreational turf typical of New England.

Refer to the following research summary:

Efficient Irrigation for Recreational Turf: Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficients