Mississippi Turfgrass - Summer 2023

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SUMMER 2023 Ecologically Beneficial Turf — A Changing Landscape Deep South Turf Expo Speakers Announced
The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine
The Right Grass for Your Home Turf! Doug Estes 901-268-8803 PRESIDENT Bobby Winstead 901-867-8116 Whit Davis 615-405-3705 Chance Meredith 901-430-5620 While serving the entire Mid-South for the past 45 years, our goal continues to provide the highest quality, innovative turfgrass on the market today while providing the best customer service. winsteadturffarms.com Middle / East TN • Winstead Turf Farms, Inc. • 296 Bill and John Ln. • Hurricane Mills, TN 37078 • 615-405-3705 winstead-turf-farms-inc winsteadturffarm @winsteadturf winsteadturf COMING SOON West TN • Winstead Turf Farms, Inc. • 22860 Highway 196 • Arlington, TN 38002 • 901-867-8116 GOLF • ATHLETIC FIELDS • LANDSCAPES • HOME LAWN

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SUMMER 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

8 MSU Field Day

10 Deep South Turf Expo COVER STORY

14 Ecologically Beneficial Turf –A Changing Landscape FEATURE

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine DEPARTMENTS

6 From the MTA President 7 Calendar of Events

13 Index of Advertisers

14

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM

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 © 2023 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. 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, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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20 Maximizing the Benefits of Wetting Agents New Research at the University of Arkansas 10 4 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
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SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING!

Hopefully the season started out well for everyone after what appeared to be a prolonged spring with some cool mornings through much of April. I preach and teach the 150-degree rule (the combined temperature in Fahrenheit plus humidity equal to 150 is good for warm-season grass growth) to students and golfers as a point when grass truly starts growing. As is typical, that time always appears to be in the first couple weeks of May, depending on your location within the state. However, this season seemed to flirt with that before temps would again dive into the mid-40’s. Reports from around the state in late spring indicated some areas north of Hwy 82 still had areas of greens in recovery mode from covers blowing off in the subzero temps at Christmas. Hopefully everyone has fully recovered.

The 21st annual Yard Dawg Classic at the MSU Golf Course was a huge success. Jimmy and Jake had the new TifEagle greens in super shape, and it was great to see the modifications made by Nathan Crace during their 2022 work. A huge thanks to Tim and his golf staff for helping get us lined up and for providing all they did onsite. It is always fun to be back HOME. So, thanks to everyone involved. Our attendance and margins always seem to be greater when at MSU.

Please mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day

Deep South Turf Expo

• September 21 in Starkville

• October 16 – 19 in Biloxi

Also, I am happy to report that the MSU Turf Team has added Dr. Marta Pudzianowska recently. She comes to MSU from UC Riverside and will serve as Turf Breeder starting this October. It is exciting to see this role filled. I was fortunate enough to share dinner with her while she was on campus. I think you will find her to be very approachable, knowledgeable, and fun to be around. Please try to introduce yourself when the opportunity arises. She will be a huge help carrying on the work Mr. Wayne Philley and Dr. Dong were doing with bermudagrass. She also has some excellent ideas on other work to be done.

Hang tough as we enter the “100 Days of Hell.” It is always a challenge to maintain some sense of sanity, but we have fun counting down the days until football season and the weather breaking. I fear many of us will find the challenge more difficult, or at least have to modify our schedules from the past, as many high school kids will now return to school in late July. As if we needed another thing to balance during the summer. That reminds me, be mindful of the Turfgrass Management curriculum that is now available at all public schools in the state of Mississippi.

Please feel free to reach out to any board member or myself with comments, questions, or concerns.

Chris Hussey / Sod Hussey Sod Farm (662) 231-3203

Scott Hampton / Golf Greenwood Country Club (601) 467-2718

Todd McCullough / Grounds / Lawn Maintenance (601) 416-3292

Evan Berry / Central Mississippi Braves (228) 304-1234

Elvin Ulmer / South City of Laurel (601) 319-6170

EMCC’s Lion Hills Golf Course

6 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023 FROM THE MTA PRESIDENT
Will Arnett
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
TURFGRASS EDITOR Dr. Jay McCurdy MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Will Arnett EMCC – Lion Hills (662) 418-1939
/ PRESIDENT ELECT Levi Jumper Tupelo National Golf Club (662) 213-6804
Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University Office: (662)
PAST PRESIDENT Allan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course
MISSISSIPPI
VICE-PRESIDENT
SECRETARY-TREASURER
325-2725 IMMEDIATE
(228) 860-8740
Mississippi
Box
MS
Office:
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells
State University
9555
State. MS 39762
(662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu DIRECTORS
Seth King / Industry Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796 EX-OFFICIO Dr. Jay McCurdy / Faculty Advisor Mississippi State University (662) 325-2331
THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 7 MINOR ELEMENTS, MAJOR RESULTS. Healthy turf starts with Greene County Fert. Keep the lawns green, dark green, and your soil and lawns healthy this year with Greene County’s N-Ext lineup and find some stability and predictability. GROW YOUR BUSINESS, WE’LL GROW YOUR TURF. GreeneCountyFert.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 MSU TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY Starkville, Mississippi OCTOBER 16 – 19, 2023 DEEP SOUTH TURF EXPO Biloxi, Mississippi Save These Dates !
UPCOMING EVENT 8 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
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Welcome to the Deep South Turf Expo’s

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS IN 2023

Plans for the 2023 Deep South Turf Expo are percolating! Once again, our education committee has provided a thoughtful incentive to attend the Expo in the form of a great speaker line-up. Wednesday, October 18th’s keynote speakers include Becky Bowling, Ph.D. University of Tennessee, David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, and Travis Gannon, Ph.D., North Carolina State University.

Dr. Becky Grubbs Bowling is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) specializing in Turfgrass Science and Management. She completed her B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture at Texas Tech University in 2010 and 2013 respectively before completing her Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia in 2017. In her role, Bowling works in partnership with other faculty/scientists, professional organizations, county extension agents, and others to conduct applied research and provide resources and programmatic support to the Tennessee turfgrass industry and beyond. Dr. Bowling’s program focuses on environmental turfgrass science with an emphasis on optimizing resource-use efficiency to promote environmentally and economically sustainable management practices for the turfgrass industry.

Dr. Grubbs presentation, “How has the Resist Poa project improved Poa annua control and management?” will focus on key project findings and implications from the “Resist Poa” project. In 2018, a team of 16 university scientists spanning 15 institutions embarked on a $5.6 million project (‘ResistPoa’) to limit the impact of annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in athletic, golf, lawn, and sod farm turf. The team’s multifaceted approach, funded by USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI), had several objectives, including characterizing the nationwide distribution of herbicide-resistant P. annua populations. Potential weaknesses in the weed’s biology and growth characteristics are identified in order develop non-chemical control strategies. The study also identifies socio-economic constraints that may affect control strategies and stewardship of herbicide technologies and developing as well as delivering best management practices (BMPs).

UPCOMING EVENT 10 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
DEEPSOUTHTURFEXPO.ORG
Information about the 2023 education line-up that serves as the centerpiece of the Expo is available on the website
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David McCall, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at Virginia Tech in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. His primary responsibilities as Turfgrass Pathologist are applied research (50%) and Extension (45%), with a 5% appointment in teaching. Dr. McCall’s research program currently focuses on the following:

a) remote sensing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) to monitor disease epidemics and water inefficiencies across turfgrass systems,

b) field radiometry and thermal imagery for improving biological and environmental stress detection of turfgrass systems and specialty crops,

c) novel strategies to reduce pesticide inputs through targeted applications,

d) fungicide performance, efficacy, and ancillary benefits. Dr. McCall also has Extension responsibilities.

Dr. McCall says that his “applied research program is designed to aid my role in Extension, by providing practical disease management solutions to turfgrass professionals. I guest lecture for undergraduate and graduate courses in basic and advanced turfgrass management, plant pathology, and proper pesticide usage. Dr. McCall will speak on The Future of Drones and Precision Application Technology for Pest Management.

Travis Gannon, Ph.D., Professor, North Carolina State University, received his Ph.D. in Crop Science in 2011 from North Carolina State. He has worked at North Carolina State in several capacities since July 1999 and is currently a professor that institution. Dr. Gannon will speak on “Contemporary issues around pesticide use.”

According to Dr. Gannon, herbicides are commonly and effectively used to manage weeds in various agronomic systems including turfgrass systems. However, devising and implementing comprehensive weed management programs is a very intricate process and is complicated by many agronomic and other issues. This seminar will highlight many of the contemporary issues around pesticide use in turfgrass systems today including what’s involved in pesticide registration, off-target movement, and resistance.

The three presentations noted above are just a sampling of what is on the agenda! Please stay tuned for the complete schedule or check the DeepSouthTurfExpo.org website. The Expo will be held October 17th through the 19th this year.

The Expo continues to change and adapt to further meet our attendee and vendor needs. The Scramble Golf Tournament at The Preserve is extremely popular, and the “Tailgate” session that follows has proven to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable events. The Trade Show will highlight the latest in technology from our Sponsors. Thanks so much to our sponsors for supporting this event! •

UPCOMING EVENTS • Continued 12 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
David McCall, Ph.D. Photo Credit: https://spes.vt.edu
THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 13 PO Box 9168 Searcy, AR 72145 www.agrainc.com Cell: 662-545-5664 Fax: 501 268-0606 Email: butchpugh@gmail.com Specialty Distribution Butch Pugh INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Agra Turf, Inc. ...................................... 13 www.agrainc.com Bayou Bend Turfgrass ........................... 19 www.bayoubendturfgrass.com Beard Equipment .................................... 5 www.beardequipment.com/locations/mobile Greene County Fertilizer Co. .................. 7 www.greenecountyfert.com Harrell’s LLC ........................... Back Cover www.harrells.com Jackson Sand .......................................... 7 www.jacksonsand.com Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation Inside Back Cover www.jerrypate.com Progressive Turf Equipment Inc. 11 www.progressiveturfequip.com Regal Chemical Company 3 www.regalchem.com Riebeling Farms, Inc. 19 riebelingfarmsinc@gmail.com Smith Seed Services 19 www.smithseed.com Sod Solutions 17 www.sodsolutions.com STEC Equipment 9 www.stecequipment.com Sur-Line Turf, Inc. 13 www.surlineturf.com The Turf Zone 11 www.theturfzone.com Weed Man 19 www.weedmanfranchise.com Winstead Turf Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com

ECOLOGICALLY BENEFICIAL TURF

A Changing Landscape

Movements such as “Save the Bees”, “No Mow May”, and “Let it Bloom June” are recently trending critiques of monoculture lawns. They highlight the lack of plant and insect diversity in single grass species or cultivar lawns. In recent years, programs like Operation Pollinator have moved the golf industries toward stakeholder interests by supporting research and outreach efforts to improve the ecological function of turf on their facilities. Similarly, the turfgrass industry must prepare to do the same for lawns. While replacing grass lawns with flower gardens, white clover fields, or meadows may be beneficial for pollinators and people in some areas, it ignores the documented want and need for lawns in modern society.

Monoculture lawns, typically a green frame around residential and commercial buildings, accumulate pests and consume a

significant sum of inputs. Monoculture lawn alternatives, such as diversified, pollinator friendly, or flower lawns have been discussed; however, a warm-season alternative lawn with known beneficial impact and best management practices (BMPs) has not solidified in science or common practice. Understanding BMPs, and the benefits of these lawns, are crucial goals for the future of the turfgrass industry. The United States Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) has funded the Refuge Lawn project to help highlight these goals.

The Refuge Lawn project consists of interdisciplinary researchers from Mississippi State University (MSU), Auburn University (AU), and the University of Georgia (UGA). The team set out to identify low-growing, flowering plants that would be

COVER STORY 14 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
Graduate Research Assistant, Auburn University Julie Wang, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Georgia Nikolay Minaev, Graduate Research Assistant, Mississippi State University A grass lawn with spring beauty at a park in West Point, MS. Photo provided by Nikolay Minaev.

easily established and managed in grass lawns, as well as provide the resources necessary to promote an abundant and diverse pollinator community. As some of the graduate students work on different aspects of the project, we would like to share some of our on-going research.

PICKING THE RIGHT PLANTS

At Mississippi State University, Nikolay Minaev, working with Dr. Jay McCurdy, has been looking for flowering plants that could be easily established and propagated within turfgrasses commonly found in southeastern lawns. After evaluating various species based on their blooming properties and

appearances in lawns, it was determined that spring beauty ( Claytonia virginica ) shows high potential for inclusion in warm-season lawns. Spring beauty is a perennial wildflower that is native to rich forests and low woodlands. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and light shade to part sun. It grows from a small corm or seeds. The growing season lasts from January through April in the temperate climate of the southeast, after which the plant senesces and lies dormant before emerging from corms the next year. The flowers are showy, pinkish white with deep pink veins, and open in clusters at the apex of the plant, adding a burst of color to the lawn during the early spring period. Additionally, it is a resource for pollinators such as the rare spring beauty bee, a small mining bee native to eastern North America.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 15
A hoverfly drinking nectar from a spring beauty flower at Town Creek Cemetery, Auburn, AL. Photo by Casey O’Neal.

The current understanding of spring beauty propagation is limited, hence we aim to address this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive study. The primary objective is to phenotype different populations of spring beauty and identify those with the most abundant and long-lasting bloom period, accompanied by high seed production and germination rates. This will allow for the selection of the most promising population for inclusion in lawns. In addition to identifying the optimal population, we are also exploring the most convenient method of propagation, with a particular focus on seeding. To achieve this, we are conducting experiments to find the optimal conditions for spring beauty germination, including testing various temperatures and probable treatments for quicker establishment.

Another project investigates the tolerance of spring beauty to commonly used pre-emergence herbicides in lawns. Our objective is to develop management practices that are safe for both turfgrass and spring beauty. By combining these different aspects of our research, we hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of spring beauty propagation and its integration into turfgrass lawns, while also promoting safe and sustainable management practices.

CARING FOR A REFUGE LAWN

Julie Wang and Dr. Gerald Henry at the University of Georgia are investigating the BMPs for cultural management of a refuge lawn. Mowing height is one of the most well documented cultural factors affecting weed populations in turfgrass. Nearly all lawns are regularly mown for functionality and aesthetics. While mowing is relatively well understood in terms of

eliminating weeds, it can be similarly applied to encourage flower production and growth of refuge lawn. As part of the Refuge Lawn project, we are studying the effect of mowing height on flowering plants commonly found in turfgrass that have potential to be pollinator resources. We are currently measuring the survival, growth, and reproduction of white clover (Trifolium repens), Virginia buttonweed (Diodia virginiana), and common lespedeza (Kummerowia striata) in response to different mowing heights. The results may explain the persistence of flowering plants in turfgrass as well as their potential as floral resources for pollinators.

Fertilization, another common cultural practice in lawns, affects species competition and plant diversity. A high nitrogen (N) content increases turfgrass productivity and competitiveness with flowering plants adapted to limited N availability. This is especially relevant as fertility practices vary by turfgrass species. For instance, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is adapted to lower maintenance regimes in contrast with hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) that requires regular fertilization during peak growth. We are evaluating the competition between common flowering plants and turfgrasses under different fertility treatments, focusing on white clover, Virginia buttonweed, centipedegrass and hybrid bermudagrass. Preliminary results suggest that low fertility inputs hinder hybrid bermudagrass growth, leading to an open canopy, which encourages flowering plant growth. On the other hand, exorbitant amounts of fertility on centipedegrass only enhances flowering plant competition and further plant growth. The understanding of flowering plant and turfgrass dynamics will help create BMPs for both homeowners and the turfgrass industry.

COVER STORY • Continued
A sweat bee collecting pollen from yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta) at the AU Turf Unit.
16 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
Photo by Casey O’Neal.

WHAT DO THE BUGS THINK?

At Auburn University, Casey O’Neal and Dr. David Held want to know what insects benefit from integrating flowering plants into warm-season grasses. Beginning in fall 2021, we established plots of seven potential flowering plant species in lawns at the AU Turf Unit, Town Creek Cemetery, and Kiesel Park in Auburn. These sites consist of established turfgrass lawns that host a range of common warm-season turfgrasses including bermudagrass and centipedegrass. The flowering species include spring beauty, white clover, and Virginia buttonweed, allowing us to connect our research with the teams at MSU and UGA. In 2022, the flowering sites were monitored for visitation by insect pollinators, and the insects were collected and identified. Due to the drought in 2022, data collection at these sites will continue in 2023. From these collections, we can establish a pollinator network. This network will show which flowering plants provide resources for the largest number of pollinators, and which plants provide resources for rare or threatened pollinators. While the exact number is unknown, it is expected that there are more species of bees in Alabama than any other southeastern state, and currently over 500 species have been identified in Georgia alone. With such a high diversity of insect pollinators,

it is important to include flowering plants that serve as many of the native pollinators in the southeastern US as possible.

By combining the knowledge gained from our respective studies, we can establish a model refuge lawn with known BMPs and beneficial impacts on pollinators. To keep up with us and the rest of Refuge Lawn project’s work, or to contact any of the researchers involved, please visit our website at www.refugelawn.com . •

COVER STORY • Continued
A pure green sweat bee (Augochlora pura) visiting white clover at Kiesel Park, Auburn, AL. Photo by Casey O’Neal. Virginia buttonweed in a lawn on AU campus. Photo by Casey O’Neal.
18 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
This work is supported by Agricultural and Food Research Initiative grant no. 2021-67013-34145 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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MAXIMIZING THE BENEFITS OF WETTING AGENTS

New Research at the University of Arkansas

Atthe risk of stating the obvious, water matters. In an increasingly crowded world, with increasingly strained resources, this is true for all walks of life and turfgrass is no exception. Decisions about how we use, and just as importantly, how we conserve water are major issues for turfgrass professionals, which is why such decisions are also at the heart of our Turfgrass Research Program here at the University of Arkansas. Exploring new ways to maximize this most vital resource has been, and continues to be, a top priority in the work we do.

When it comes to managing water, one of the best resources available to turfgrass professionals are wetting agents, also known as soil surfactants. Yet, as powerful and versatile as these products are, the truth is that in many ways, turfgrass research is just scratching the surface in our understanding of them and how they work. While wetting agents are by no means a “silver bullet” for solving all the water issues facing the future of turfgrass, they do hold tremendous potential for a range of moisture related issues, such as: preventing localized dry spot, improving moisture uniformity, increasing water infiltration, prolonging rootzone moisture retention, reducing winter injury, and enhancing the efficacy of fertilizers and pesticides (Abagandura et al., 2021; DeBoer et al., 2020; Hutchens et al., 2020; Jacobs & Barden, 2018).

Building on that existing body of research, we are thrilled that a recent proposal of ours was selected by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Foundation as a recipient of the 2023–2024 Dr. Michael Hurdzan Research Grant Endowment. The Hurdzan Endowment is dedicated to, “funding applied environmental research on golf courses, with the specific goal of reducing requirements for water, fertilizer, pesticides, or fossil fuels in golf course maintenance.” Above all, it is important to us that our research is both novel and practical, offering meaningful benefits to turfgrass professionals. In this case, those turfgrass professionals are golf course superintendents, and the potential benefits include savings, both in terms of water and money.

OVERALL GOALS

Essentially, this research boils down to the simple question, How do you get the most out of a wetting agent application? At the University of Arkansas, we have been studying wetting agents

for over 20 years, but we will be the first to tell you, there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to these extremely important products. Because wetting agents are not subject to the same registration process or labeling requirements as pesticides, companies do not have to disclose precise active ingredients or extensive amounts of research data in order to begin selling a product. While all of that is beyond a superintendent’s control, what is very much within their control is: which wetting agent to use, how much product to put in the tank, and how often to apply. The overall goal of this research is to investigate wetting agents at the place where superintendents can exercise the most control over product performance. To do that, our original question can be broken down into comparisons on three distinct levels:

1) comparisons among wetting agents,

2) comparison among application rates/timings, and 3) comparisons among technology for evaluating wetting agent performance and longevity.

FEATURE 20 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
IMAGE 1. New wetting agent research at the University of Arkansas will compare different wetting agent products, application rates & timings, as well as different technologies for assessing wetting agent performance in sand-based putting greens. Individual plots can be clearly seen from drone images (A) immediately after application, and even more so (B) during post-application irrigation (0.2").

RESEARCH DESIGN & TREATMENT DETAILS

Starting with comparisons among wetting agent products, we opted to work with six different wetting agents, each from a different manufacturer (Table 1). Admittedly, there are many options available, but in research you seldom have space/time to test everything at once. Our criteria were based largely on conversations with superintendents about wetting agents they were using, along with a desire to include products marketed both for monthly reapplications, as well as those for “long-term” or “season-long” effectiveness from a single application.

Second, comparisons among application rates/timings were based on the fact that when it comes to wetting agent labels, it’s common to see multiple options for application amounts and intervals. While flexibility is inherently a good thing, it does not mean that all options perform the same. When looking at each wetting agent individually, we wanted to evaluate which application rate/ interval produced the best turfgrass quality above ground, with the greatest volumetric water content (VWC) in the rootzone.

We applied each of our six wetting agents six different ways (including a nontreated control). To maintain the ability to compare different products, it was important that the six different “application strategies” shared some common features (Table 2). Generally, it can be said that two of the application strategies were season-long applications, two were monthly reapplications, one was a reapplication every two months, and one was zero product applied (nontreated control).

For each individual wetting agent, the specific rates/timings started with what was listed on the product label and when necessary, additional rates were calculated to ensure that each product met the general guidelines for each of the six application strategies. Specifically, the questions we were interested in: with season-long applications, does more product lead to increased performance and/or longevity? And for repeat applications, can we create cost-savings and still achieve the same level of performance with reduced rates or extended intervals between applications?

Finally, the third comparison was not about wetting agents themselves as much as it was the technology/methods used to evaluate how well they are working. Our research program continues to use portable moisture meters such as the TDR 350 (Spectrum Technologies Inc.) extensively for studying wetting agents. We have also begun incorporating installed wireless moisture sensors such as Turf Guard (The Toro Company) for continuously monitoring VWC (as well as soil temperature and electrical conductivity). Along with both of these devices, we also use an onsite weather station to calculate potential evapotranspiration (ETo) and growing degree days (GDD). Bringing all of these technologies together allows us to ask the underlying question, what is the best way to track wetting agent performance and determine when reapplication is necessary? Ultimately, understanding when and why wetting agents stop working can lead to more informed decision-making about how often (and how much) to apply.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 21
Product Manufacturer Active Ingredient Brilliance J.R. Simplot Company (Lathrop, CA) 99% Alkoxylated Polyols Tricure AD Mitchell Products (Millville, NJ) 100% Oxirane 2-methyl polymer with oxirane PBS 150 Aqua Aid Solutions (Rocky Mount, NC) 100% Polyoxyalkylene polymers Revolution Aquatrols Corporation (Paulsboro, NJ) 100% Modified Alkylated Polyol Distance Target Specialty Products (Santa Fe Springs, CA) 100% Alkoxylated Polyols Cascade Plus Precision Labs (Kenosha, WI) 10% Alcohol Ethoxylates; 90% Polyethylene-
Application Strategy Description Long-term 1 Season-long application at a standard label rate Long-term 2 Season-long application at an increased / high rate Monthly 1 Reapplications every 4 weeks at a standard, label rate Monthly 2 Reapplications every 4 weeks at half the monthly rate Bi-monthly Reapplications every 8 weeks at a standard, monthly rate Nontreated control No wetting agent applied TABLE 2
1
polypropylene Glycol Block Copolymer
TABLE
IMAGE 2. Within each plot (3' x 3') volumetric water content will be measured weekly using portable moisture meters at 1.5" and 3.0" (nine measurements per plot at each depth), and continuously using wireless sensors at 1.0" and 6.0" (one sensor per plot in selected plots).

CURRENT STATUS OF THE RESEARCH

The experimental area is located on a block of ‘Tyee’ creeping bentgrass, within a USGA sand-based research putting green in Fayetteville, AR. Initial treatment applications were made on May 10th, 2023, will continue throughout the summer months, with final applications scheduled for Aug. 30th. Data collection which includes TDR measurements (1.5” and 3.0” depths), drone images, firmness measurements, and visual assessments of turfgrass quality and percent localized dry spot, began six days after initial application and will continue weekly through Sept. 7th. Turf Guard wireless sensors were installed to measure VWC at 1” and 6” below the putting surface. So, while it is still early in the 2023 research season, preliminary work conducted in 2022 has shown promising results for separating different application strategies both within and across wetting agents.

If you’re still reading, hopefully that is because something about this research appeals to you. If you are interested in learning more about it, we want everyone to know that the University of Arkansas Turfgrass Field Day will take place Tuesday, August 1st, 2023, at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, AR. You are all invited, and this research will be featured prominently.

In the meantime, if you would like to talk wetting agents or anything else turfgrass related, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And please remember that this work is made possible by the generous support of the GCSAA Foundation and multiple GCSA Chapters in and around the state of Arkansas. •

This research is made possible by financial support from:

• Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Foundation Dr. Michael Hurdzan Endowment

• The Arkansas Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

• The Mississippi Valley Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

• The North Texas Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

• The Ozark Turf Association Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Special thanks to our research cooperators:

• AQUA-AID Solutions

• Aquatrols Corporation of America

• J.R. Simplot Company

• Mitchell Products

• Precision Laboratories

• Target Specialty Products

Additional thanks to:

Wireless sensors can be installed relatively easily to continuously monitor volumetric water content and help identify the point when wetting agent applications are no longer effective.

IMAGE

IMAGE 4. Previous research at the University of Arkansas has observed notable differences in wetting agent performance among various products, as well as among different rates and timings of the same product. The current research will build on previous work with the goal of helping superintendents identify effective combinations of application rate/timing for individual wetting agents. 3 August 2022

• The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

• Professional Turf Products

Daniel O’Brien is a PhD candidate in the Turfgrass Science Program at the University of Arkansas working under Dr. Mike Richardson • dpo001@ uark.edu

Wendel Hutchens PhD. is an Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science in the Horticulture Department at the University of Arkansas • wendellh@uark.edu

Mike Richardson PhD. is a Professor of Turfgrass Science in the Horticulture Department at the University of Arkansas mricha@uark.edu

REFERENCES

Abagandura, G. O., Park, D., Bridges Jr, W. C., & Brown, K. (2021). Soil surfactants applied with 15N labeled urea increases bermudagrass uptake of nitrogen and reduces nitrogen leaching. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 184(3), 378-387.

DeBoer, E.J., Karcher, D.E., McCalla, J.H., Richardson, M. D. (2020). Effect of late-fall wetting agent application on winter survival of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management, 6(1), 1-7.

Hutchens, W. J., Gannon, T. W., Shew, H. D., Ahmed, K. A., Kerns, J. P. (2020). Journal of Environmental Quality, 49(2), 450-459.

Jacobs, P., & Barden, A. (2018). Factors to consider when developing a wetting agent program: A onesize-fits-all approach to developing a wetting agent program is not possible. USGA Green Section Record, 56(9), 1-6.

FEATURE • Continued 22 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2023
This article was originally published in Arkansas Turfgrass, Summer 2023. It is reprinted with permission.
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