Turfgrass lawns are commonly utilized for home and commercial applications because of the aesthetic, environmental, and recreational benefits grasses provide, but many people perceive turfgrass as solely an aesthetic benefit that requires significant water inputs. It is important to identify and use turfgrass cultivars that have known drought tolerance, and also fine-tune and throughout development. A series of field experiments were conducted to determine the water requirements of turfgrass lawn systems with the following objectives: 1) investigate differences in chronic drought resistance and irrigation recommendations among cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) 2) determine the water use of Kentucky bluegrass as affected by cultivar, irrigation frequency, and soil texture; 3) and determine the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) percent replacement that maximizes bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) establishment from seed and whether Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance qualified cultivars require less water to establish from seed. From the cultivars evaluated, PST-K13-137 and NAI-13-132 Kentucky bluegrasses were the most drought tolerant and drought susceptible cultivars, respectively, and the tall fescue cultivar Thunderstruck was the most drought tolerant and Titanium 2LS was the most drought susceptible. For both species, there were no significant differences in cumulative water requirements, likely be due to the lack of inclusion of experimental controls with known drought tolerance. Lysimeters plots irrigated to replace 40% ETo and containing loamy sand resulted in less green turfgrass coverage than those grown in silt loam. Water use was significantly affected by soil texture only during late summer 2018, with lysimeters containing silt loam and loamy sand using 23.8 and 22.5 mm per week, respectively. These results imply that, under prolonged drought stress, soil texture has minimal effect on water consumption. Irrigating to replace 100% ETo is adequate to maximize bermudagrass establishment from seed. These conclusions validate the global water-saving potential when drought tolerant cultivars and precise irrigation recommendations are implemented.

Water is an increasingly valuable and limited resource, often perceived as being wasted on turfgrass. This much-anticipated second edition brings clear, current, science-based information on turfgrass management and water conservation to turf managers and researchers alike. Inside you’ll find a look at the current understanding of water use as well as new technologies being researched to reduce water use by turfgrass. Attention is paid to water quality and turfgrass as a key part of the urban environment, how integrating turfgrass with other landscape uses of water can be part of a conservation plan, and how various water qualities, including reclaimed water, can be part of a management plan. Chapters also cover •advances in drought, heat, and salinity stress tolerance •the role of water in modified root zone media and native soils •water management technologies •considerations for construction and management of urban green spaces including parks and golf courses •water depletion, pesticide and nutrient runoff A chapter summarizing the practical application of the science in each chapter rounds out the text, presenting the information in an immediately useable format. Includes 10 tables and figures, 20 color photos, a U.S. customary to metric conversion table, and an 8-page glossary.

A classic and best-selling text for sod and turfgrass courses covering lawnkeeping and athletic groundskeeping.

Achieving high water use efficiency in maintaining turf, trees and landscape areas is a core responsibility of open space managers. Water Use Efficiency for Irrigated Turf and Landscape provides a logical and scientifically sound approach to irrigation in urban areas in Australia. It is based on green space delivering defined outcomes using the principles of water sensitive urban design and irrigation efficiency. The book covers all stages of the water pathway – from the source to delivery into the plant root zone. Major topics include system planning, estimating water demand, water quality, irrigation systems, soil management and irrigation performance evaluation. Clearly presented explanations are included, as well as line drawings and worked examples, and a plant water use database covering more than 250 plant species. A Water Management Planning template is included to guide water managers and operators through a process that will deliver a sound plan to achieve sustainable turf, urban trees and landscapes. Best Management Practice Irrigation principles are outlined and their implementation in open space turf and landscape situations is explained. The benefits and limitations of the various methods of delivering water to plants are covered, together with case studies and guidelines for specific horticultural situations. Methodologies to evaluate irrigated sites are included along with recommended benchmark values. The book presents the latest irrigation technology, including developments in water application, control technology and environmental sensors such as weather stations, soil moisture sensors and rain sensors.

The biota of the earth is being altered at an unprecedented rate. We are witnessing wholesale exchanges of organisms among geographic areas that were once totally biologically isolated. We are seeing massive changes in landscape use that are creating even more abundant succes sional patches, reductions in population sizes, and in the worst cases, losses of species. There are many reasons for concern about these trends. One is that we unfortunately do not know in detail the conse quences of these massive alterations in terms of how the biosphere as a whole operates or even, for that matter, the functioning of localized ecosystems. We do know that the biosphere interacts strongly with the atmospheric composition, contributing to potential climate change. We also know that changes in vegetative cover greatly influence the hydrology and biochemistry ofa site or region. Our knowledge is weak in important details, however. How are the many services that ecosystems provide to humanity altered by modifications of ecosystem composition? Stated in another way, what is the role of individual species in ecosystem function? We are observing the selective as well as wholesale alteration in the composition of ecosystems. Do these alterations matter in respect to how ecosystems operate and provide services? This book represents the initial probing of this central ques tion. It will be followed by other volumes in this series examining in depth the functional role of biodiversity in various ecosystems of the world.

FUNDAMENTALS OF TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT THE PREMIER TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK—UPDATED AND EXPANDED Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management is the longstanding authority on all aspects of the science and practices behind world-class turfgrass care. This fully revised Fifth Edition comes enriched by two new authors who share their cutting-edge research and real-world expertise on such topics as growth, soil testing, nutrition, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Coverage throughout is refreshed with new illustrations and charts, as well as: Expanded coverage on professional lawn care programs, including cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses, establishing methods and costs, cultivation, sand topdressing, and more Enhanced material on the most up-to-date thinking and practices in weed management Brand-new chapters on the environmental, economic, and quality-of-life benefits of well-maintained turf, as well as the influence of light on turf health Whether you’re earning a degree or a paycheck, Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management, Fifth Edition remains the most complete, respected guidebook of solutions for developing and maintaining the finest-standards of turfgrass.

With the increased use of alternative irrigation water sources on turfgrass and landscape sites, their management is becoming more complex and whole ecosystems-oriented. Yet few turfgrass managers have received formal training in the intricacies of irrigation water. Turfgrass and Landscape Irrigation Water Quality: Assessment and Management provide

Water analysis by a commercial laboratory provides data on many parameters, some of which are of little significance for turfgrass irrigation. Learn which parameters are the most important for turfgrass management.

Reductions of water and nitrogen (N) inputs have long been important topics for sustainable turfgrass management. Facing rising challenges of water crises and climate change, more research is needed on such topics. With increasing city water shortages and water restrictions on turfgrasses in the U.S., it is important to research strategies to preserve C3 and C4 turfgrasses during prolonged drought. In addition, to guide the best irrigation and N-fertilization management strategies of turfgrass for the mitigation of global warming in this century, process-based models, such as DAYCENT and DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC), become important tools, which simulate nitrous oxide (N2O, an important greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting gas) and soil carbon sequestration. To find strategies for alleviating drought stress during prolonged drought with imposed water restrictions, the objectives in the first part of the dissertation were to (1) evaluate turfgrass performance during drought and recovery among irrigation levels, and (2) determine minimum water amounts for turfgrass during prolonged drought that allow for acceptable recovery. Two independent studies were conducted on C3 and C4 turfgrasses, respectively, using irrigation much lower than recommendation levels during 2 summers of drought under a rainout shelter. Results indicated that during severe drought and imposed water restrictions, minimal weekly irrigation of at least 20 to 30% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and 40 to 50% ETo could reduce turfgrass damage and conserve water in zoysiagrass (C4; Zoysia japonica Steud., hereafter referred to as zoysia) and tall fescue (C3; Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), respectively. The failure of Kentucky bluegrass (C3; Poa pratensis L.) to survive extended drought was possibly related to being first-year sod. To inform and guide irrigation and N-fertilization management of turfgrass for global warming mitigation, the objectives of the second part of this dissertation were to 1) calibrate DAYCENT and DNDC for N2O emissions from Meyer zoysia; 2) validate and test the two calibrated models and compare their prediction accuracies; and 3) predict long-term N2O emissions, C sequestration, and global warming potential (GWP) of different irrigation and N-fertilization practices. A combination of global sensitivity analysis and a Bayesian method was used to calibrate DAYCENT and DNDC. After calibration, both models were validated using field measurements from two studies of zoysia. Validation results indicated DAYCENT (R2 = 0.22 to 0.89; relative RMSE = 36 to 171%) outperformed DNDC (R2 = 0.01 to 0.38; relative RMSE = 119 to 193%) in biweekly N2O fluxes. Annual N2O emission estimates obtained from validation of DAYCENT were within -49 to +26% of annual estimates interpolated from measurements, whereas DNDC simulations generally underestimated N2O emissions by up to -86%. Results indicated DAYCENT, but not DNDC, can adequately simulate the impacts of irrigation and N-fertilization practices on N2O emissions in C4 turfgrasses such as zoysia. When assuming no further climate change, the validated DAYCENT model predicted that the typically recommended N-fertilization and irrigation practice in fairway zoysia turf would reduce net GWP by encouraging soil carbon sequestration in the first 40 years of establishment, better than no N-fertilization, after which reducing N and water inputs would be beneficial in mitigating increases of N2O emissions and net GWP. A medium global warming scenario would accelerate increases in N2O emissions and GWP, especially with higher N and water inputs.

Turfgrass Soil Fertility and Chemical Problems is the best single-source, practical management tool that will help you overcome every fertility management challenge you face! Turfgrass Soil Fertility and Chemical problems will: * Help you pinpoint the effectiveness of fertilizer programs to ensure turfgrass quality, water quality, and environmental integrity * Help you understand a multitude of turfgrass species and cultivars and their complex nutrient responses or requirements * Explains site-specific fertilization, covering issues such as establishment on poor quality soils and the use of low-quality irrigation water * Show you how fertilization is important for environmental, traffic, and stress tolerance, as well as recovery * Show you how to apply the interpretation of soil, tissue, and water-quality test information in the development of fertilization regimes