January/February 2020
A Publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina
COMPOST USE IN NORTH CAROLINA SOILS
For Turf Establishment and Maintenance
BERMUDAGRASSES: AN UPDATE
UPGRADE TO FIRST CLASS 38% Less Water Greater Fall Color Retention
Earlier Spring Transition Increased Wear Tolerance
Reduced Fertility Requirement Extremely Rapid Grow-In
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20 24 table of contents January/February 2020
20 Cover Story
10 Feature Story
Compost Use in
Bermudagrasses:
North Carolina Soils For Turf Establishment and Maintenance
An Update
24 Feature Story
TifTuf at the Swamp: Laying the Foundation For Excellence
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January/February 2020
From the President TCNC Deluxe Members Calendar of Events Welcome, New Members Index of Advertisers NC State Turf Team
6 8 9 9 19 19
©2020 STIHL MA20TURF01-12-143741-1
From the President
WELCOME TO
2020 W
elcome to the New Year 2020. Another year has come and gone and every year seems to go by faster than the last.
I hope everyone has plans in place to have a successful year. I also hope those plans include some type of continuing education. It seems that best practices in the care and treatment of turfgrass are changing as the environment. New products and the types of grasses we deal with are also changing. I wanted to offer some suggestions as to where one can keep up with changes and continue to increase one’s knowledge in the turfgrass industry. N.C. State University is one of the best resources through their yearly seminars, Turf Research Field Day and on the web through TurfFiles. Many vendors that supply products for the turf industry will also put on very informative seminars, so ask your vendors. One of the best educational opportunities is TCNC Certified Turfgrass Professonal (NCCTP) program. I urge you to take a look at this program. I hope 2020 is a successful year for everyone and again thanks to all turfgrass professionals for making the world a better place.
Best Regards,
North Carolina Turfgrass is the official publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina 110 Horizon Drive Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27615 919-459-2070 Fax 919-459-2075 www.ncturfgrass.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marcy Cottle IMI Association Executives info@ncturfgrass.org 919-459-2070 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 Fax 615-794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
TCNC OFFICERS PRESIDENT
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Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP Green Resource Dunn, NC Wilson Sutton Falling Creek Golf Club Kinston, NC Andrew Wampler Southern Ag Hendersonville, NC
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January/February 2020
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The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2020 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. 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, Franklin, TN 37064, 615-790-3718, Fax 615-794-4524.
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Feature Story
Bermudagrasses AN UPDATE By Tom Samples and John Sorochan, University of Tennessee, Department of Plant Sciences
B
ermudagrass, an aggressive sod-forming and warm-season turfgrass, most likely originated in Africa and south and southeastern Asia. It is believed that the species was introduced into the U.S. in the mid- 1700’s from seed in hay used as bedding on ships sailing from Africa to America. Some turf-type bermudagrasses in today’s marketplace are non-seed bearing hybrids of two Cynodon species, C. dactylon
(Common) and C. transvaalensis (African), and must be vegetatively established. Others are improved varieties of ‘Common’ bermudagrass and are prolific seed producers often referred to as ‘seeded-types’. Plants spread by both above- and belowground stems referred to as stolons and rhizomes, respectively.
Bermudagrass grows best in open areas receiving full sun and although a limited number of varieties have improved shade
Auricles – Absent
Collar – Continuous
Ligule – Short membrane with hairs
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tolerance, the species is generally not well adapted in moderately to heavily shaded areas. Leaves and stems become strawbrown as plants enter dormancy each fall. A healthy, actively growing bermudagrass turf is dense, uniform, resistant to weed invasion and capable of quickly recovering from wear injury. Under ideal growing conditions, and in nutrient-rich soils, newly planted sprigs of several varieties may grow at the rate of ¾-inch or more per day.
Leaf Tip – Sharply pointed
Leaf Blade – Flat with visible midvein
Sheath – Compressed to round, loose, split,
TABLE 1: Year of Introduction of Several Vegetative/Clonal Bermudagrasses, the Agency, Institution or Company, the Accession, Registration and/or Patent Numbers, and Variety Development Information. Variety, Accession (AN), Registration (RN) & Patent Protection (PP) #s
Year of Introduction or Patent, Agency, Institution or Company
Astro Not a Protected Variety
2017, Oklahoma State University
Celebration (Known in Australia as Riley’s Super Sport) PP011181
2000, Sod Solutions, Inc.
Mutant of the unpatented Cynodon dactylon variety ‘Greenlees Park’ selected by the late Rod Riley, Guilford, New South Wales in 1988 and vegetatively propagated through four generations.
GN-1 US6841P (CT-2 in Australia, AU1601988 A)
1989, H&T Whiting Turfgrass Development
Released after seven years of breeding in CA and three generations of crosses of 6 bermudagrasses from Africa, Australia and the U. S.
Latitude 36 (OKC1119) PP24271
2012, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University
Midlawn PP08162P
1991, Kansas State Research Foundation/ Kansas (KSU) AES and Oklahoma AES
C. dactylon (collected from Michigan State Univ. campus) x C. transvaalensis (1 of several plants growing in a polycross nursery in Ft. Hayes, KS).
Northbridge (OKC1134) PP24116
2012, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University
C. dactylon var. dactylon (accession 3200E 4-1) × C. transvaalensis (OSU selection ‘2747’).
Patriot (OKC18-4) PP16801P2
2002, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University
Cross of Cynodon dactylon (‘Tifton 10’) by C. transvaalensis (field nursery identity 4200 TN 26-8).
Quickstand
1992, USDA-Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA-ARS and University of Kentucky AES
Tahoma 31 (OKC1131) Plant Patent applied for, patent pending
2018, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University
Tifdwarf (Reg. No. 8)
1965, Georgia Coastal Plain ES and Plant Science Research Division, ARS
Believed to be a natural occurring dwarf mutant of Tifgreen. Found growing on Tifgreen golf greens at Country Clubs in Florence, SC, and Sea Isle and Thomasville, GA.
TifGrand (97-4, 00-07, Tift No. 4, ST-5) PP21017
2010, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and USDA- ARS
C. transvaalensis x C. dactylon. Selected from a field population produced in Tifton, GA in 1992 by crossing six C. transvaalensis breeding lines (T572, T573, T574, T575, T576 & T577) selected for persistence under low management w/ four C. dactylon parents: T90 and T110 (selected for persistence under close mowing), and Quickstand and Vamont (selected for cold tolerance).
Tifgreen (Tifton 328)
1956, Georgia AES and USDA- ARS/CRD
C. dactylon (selection from Green #4, Charlotte C. C., Charlotte, NC) x C. transvaalensis.
Tifton 10
1988, USDA-ARS and Georgia Coastal Plain AES
Tifsport/ Tift 94 (MI40) PP10079
1995, USDA-ARS & University of Georgia Coastal Plain ES
One of 66 single plant mutant selections resulting from the irradiation of dormant stolons of ‘Midiron’ (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) bermudagrass.
TifTuf (DT-1) PP027392
2016, USDA-ARS & University of Georgia Coastal Plain ES
C. transvaalensis x C. dactylon hybrid systematically evaluated since 2002 in three drought trials and two normal input trials in Tifton, GA. Additionally tested in FL, GA, OK and TX and in drought stress, irrigated/non-stress and traffic-stress trials.
Tifway (Tifton 419)
1960, USDA, GA Coastal Plain Expt. Sta. and U. S. and South. Golf Associations
Chance hybrid between C. transvaalensis and C. dactylon found in a seed lot of African bermudagrasses from Johannesburg, South Africa in 1954.
Tifway II
1971, USDA ARS/ Southeast Area and GA Coastal Plain ES
Vamont (VPI C-1)
1980, Virginia AES
Comments Chance find in Tifway bermudagrass in Astrodome in Houston, TX in the late 1960s.
C. dactylon (accession A 12198) × C. transvaalensis (OSU selection ‘2747’ from OK State internal holdings).
Increased from a single C. dactylon accession found at the Quicksand, Kentucky Plant Materials Center.
Information not released at this time
C. dactylon (collected in 1974 from a lawn in Shanghai, China).
Mutant resulting from irradiated, dormant sprigs of Tifway. Collected after being observed in 1972 growing on a golf course fairway near North Wilkesboro, VA.
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Feature Story | continued
TABLE 2: Characteristics of Several Vegetative/Clonal Bermudagrass Varieties. Variety
Characteristics
Astro
Excellent overall turf quality, dense, medium-textured, fast recovery, and good wear resistance. Improved winter hardiness compared to non-improved common bermudagrasses such as U-3. Similar in overall quality and leaf texture to ‘Celebration’ and Patriot. Lighter green color than several other vegetative-type bermudagrasses. Density similar to that of Patriot.
Celebration
Dark blue-green color, low growing, adaptable in light to medium shade, improved drought tolerance, high node density with a medium stolon internode length of 13.6 mm, medium lateral extension rate and excellent durability. Mean leaf length of 8 mm, leaf width of 1.7 mm and leaf length to width ratio of 5/1. Minimal seedhead production. Good low-temperature tolerance and excellent frost tolerance. Adapted in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6b to 11.
GN-1
Latitude 36
Dark green color, medium-fine textured, good low-temperature hardiness, excellent wear tolerance, upright leaves and improved nematode resistance. Triploid interspecific hybrid propagated vegetatively. Excellent overall turf quality, fine texture, improved cold hardiness, high sod density, and very good sod tensile strength, wear tolerance and recuperation rate. Narrower leaves and shorter internodes than Tifway. Level of freeze tolerance similar to ‘Midlawn’ and superior to Tifway. Color resembles that of Tifway and is lighter green than ‘Patriot’. Stem diameter equivalent to that of Tifway. May transition from winter dormancy quicker than several other varieties.
Midlawn
Slow-growing, dark-green, improved cold tolerance (to -20 ºF) with good sod density and drought tolerance. Leaf blades are about 1½ – 2½ mm wide. Similar to Tifway in overall turf quality when maintained at a medium-high level of management intensity. Resistant to spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella herpotricha).
Northbridge
Excellent overall turf quality, fine texture, improved cold hardiness, early spring green-up, high sod density, and very high sod tensile strength; Similar leaf blade length and leaf blade width to Tifway with a larger internode diameter than Tifway. Color is lighter green than that of Patriot and similar to Tifway; Sod density is slightly higher or equal to Tifway. Salinity tolerance better than or equal to Tifway; Slightly better winter hardiness than Latitude 36.
Patriot
High aerial shoot density, relatively short internodes and medium texture. Good cold hardiness and excellent aerial shoot survival during winter. Leaf texture finer than that of Tifton-10 and color nearly the same dark blue-green. Slender rhizomes and stolons < 1 mm in diameter. Less susceptible to spring dead spot than Tifway.
Quickstand
Medium-green, coarse-textured with thinner leaves than Vamont. Good cold tolerance (as low as -22 ºF with snow cover) and wear resistance. Establishes rapidly from sprigs. High light requirement. Demonstrates a low incidence of spring dead spot.
Tahoma 31
Excellent overall turf quality, fine texture, exceptional cold hardiness, early spring green-up and improved drought resistance through lower water use rate. Similar in overall quality to Tifway. Fine leaf texture superior to Tifway. Slightly lighter in color than Tifway and Patriot and darker than Latitude 36. More dense than Patriot. Exceptional cold hardiness, often experiencing less winter injury than Latitude 36, Tifway and Patriot. Very good spring green-up, often earlier than Latitude 36, Tifway and Patriot.
Tifdwarf
Darker green dwarf-type, with smaller stems and leaves, and shorter internodes than Tifgreen. More tolerant of close mowing than Tifgreen. Plants often turn purple when exposed to near-freezing temperatures.
Tifgreen
Fine-textured dwarf-type, dense, forest green in color, rapidly spreading and disease-resistant w/ soft leaves. Less tolerant of low temperatures than Tifway. May at times produce a few yellowish-green seed heads with no viable seeds.
TifGrand
Dwarf, dark green and fine textured with improved shade tolerance. Greater stand density than Tifdwarf or Tifgreen. Overall quality as good as or better than Tifway and Tifsport. Good cold and drought tolerance. High level of traffic tolerance and recuperative ability. Accumulates very little morning dew. May produce more seed heads than several other vegetative, clonal bermudagrasses.
Tifsport
Selected in part for its ability to withstand close mowing, narrow leaves, density, improved color, resistance to southern mole cricket and sod webworm, and both wear tolerance and recovery. Leaves are narrower and internodes are shorter than those of Tifway.
Tifton 10
Coarse textured with bluish-green color. Establishes rapidly. Sheds pollen yet produces very few viable seeds. Transitions from winter dormancy relatively early in spring and has good cold hardiness. Improved ring nematode (Criconemella ornata) tolerance. Produces less thatch than several other varieties.
TifTuf
Excellent drought, wear and traffic tolerance. Good cold hardiness and color retention. Leaf characteristics and stand density similar to Tifway with improved recuperative ability. Color similar to or lighter green than Tifway depending on soil fertility level. Produces more and smaller seed heads than Tifway.
Tifway
Medium textured, dark-green, dense and disease resistant with good wear tolerance and recovery. Leaves upright and not nearly as soft as those of Tifgreen. More resistant to sod webworm than Tifgreen. Good frost resistance and fall color retention.
Tifway II
Has many of the same desirable characteristics of Tifway with greater frost tolerance and nematode resistance. Texture slightly coarser than and may transition from winter dormancy slightly before Tifway.
Vamont
Medium green color, stand density and leaf texture. Produces very few, if any seed heads. Coarse, rapidly growing stolons. Good low-temperature hardiness, and traffic and wear tolerance.
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The species tolerates sandy to clayey soils, however both hybrid and common bermudagrasses grow poorly in infertile soils that remain wet for an extended period. Depending on management intensity level, the nitrogen (N) fertility requirement of bermudagrass usually ranges from ½ to 1½ lbs. of N per 1,000 sq. ft. per growing month. Bermudagrass turfs are often routinely dethatched and are susceptible to several patch diseases including pink snow mold (Microdochium nivale), large patch (Rhizoctonia solani) and spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella spp.). Common insect pests include armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and white grubs (larvae of several species of Scarab. beetles). Winter annual weeds such as annual bluegrass (Poa annua), common chickweed (Stellaria media), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and purple dead-nettle (Lamium pupureum) may appear in bermudagrass turfs during winter dormancy. Several perennial weeds with energy-rich, below-ground bulbs or tubers such as yellow nutsedge (Cyperus
esculentus), green (Kyllinga brevifolia) and false-green (Kyllinga gracillima) kyllinga, wild garlic (Allium vineale) and wild violet (Viola spp.) can become problematic as they compete with bermudagrass plants for water, nutrients, light and space. Identification. Both the upper and underside of leaves of bermudagrass may be smooth or hairy. The midvein appears as a slight fold in the center of the leaf and runs parallel to the edges. The leaf tip is sharply pointed and the ligule is a fringe of hairs. The collar is continuous and hairs are visible on the collar region at the junction of the leaf blade and sheath. Plants have no auricles (small outgrowths from the base of the leaf blade at the collar). The seedhead has from three to six or more spikes atop a flowering stem and resembles a bird’s foot. Vegetative/Clonal Types. The first recorded release of an improved, turf-type bermudagrass variety occurred in 1947 with the release of ‘U-3’ by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This variety
was found growing in Savannah, GA in 1938. In 1956, the soft, low-growing sterile hybrid variety ‘Tifgreen’ was jointly released by the Georgia Agriculture Experiment Station (AES) and the USDA- Agricultural Research Service Crops Research Division (ARS/CRD). ‘Tifway’, another sterile hybrid variety selected and cooperatively tested by the USDA, the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station (ES), and the U.S. and Southern Golf Associations was released for production to sod growers in 1960. The USDA and the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station jointly released ‘Tifdwarf’, a dwarf mutant of Tifgreen, in 1965. It has a darker green color and shorter leaves, stems and internodes than Tifgreen. Tifdwarf also establishes slower than Tifgreen when sprigged at the same planting rate. For many years, these three varieties with the prefix ‘Tif’, two recommended for use on golf greens and intensely managed lawns, the other for golf course fairways, sports fields and lawns, have served as standards to which new bermudagrasses are compared.
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TABLE 3: Experimental Designation, Patent Number, Release or Patent Date of Several Ultra-Dwarf Bermudagrass Varieties and Their Characteristics. Variety (Experimental Designation) Patent Number, Date
Agency, Institution or Company
Champion PP09888, May 1997
Coastal Turf, Inc.
A vegetative selection from Tifdwarf collected in TX. Very dense. Narrow leaf width. High rate of development of lateral stems. Thatch accumulation comparable to TifEagle. Relatively low N fertility requirement. Often produces a greater root mass than TifEagle.
MiniVerde (P18) PP12084, September 2001
Modern Turf, Inc.
A vegetative selection from what is believed to be a mutant of Tifdwarf. Primarily selected based on improved stand density, very fine leaves, uniform green color and rapid lateral growth rate. Shorter root structure than Tifdwarf.
MS Supreme (MSB40) PP11781, February 2001
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry ES
Discovered growing in a Tifgreen (C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis) green on the Gulf Shores Country Club, Gulf Shores, AL. Forest green in color during summer with a short leaf blade (4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 mm) and very fine width (0.4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 mm), excellent aerial shoot density and a highly prostrate growth habit. Maintains uniform color under cloudy conditions and in the fall. Identified as Cynodon x magennisii.
Sunday (referred to as C-1 after initial selection)
Sod Solutions, Inc.
TifEagle PP11163, December 1999
USDA and Georgia AES
Latitude 36
Characteristics
Selected in 2007 from a green on Cotton Creek Golf Club, Golf Shores, AL originally established from sprigs in 1987. Selection criteria included genetic stability, canopy density, lighter green color and limited seedhead production. Contributors to the selection include R. C. Craft, Robert Craft, John Chapman and Burr Johnson. John Chapman, primary developer. A vegetative selection from what is believed to be a mutant of Tifdwarf. Primarily selected based on improved stand density, very fine leaves, uniform green color and rapid lateral growth rate. Shorter root structure than Tifdwarf.
Tifway
Northbridge TifTuf
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Tifway
TifTuf
Vegetatively established varieties marketed throughout Tennessee vary in overall quality, and in traits including leaf texture, color, stand density, vertical and lateral growth rate, water use rate, low-temperature hardiness, and disease and insect resistance (Tables 1 and 2). Vegetative, Ultra-dwarf Clonal Types. Ultra-dwarf varieties such as ‘Champion,’ ‘Mini-Verde’ and ‘TifEagle’ have replaced both Tifgreen and Tifdwarf as varieties of choice for newly constructed or renovated greens in Tennessee (Table 3). They generally have shorter internodes, higher shoot densities, better overall turf quality and the ability to withstand lower cutting heights. Along with the improved overall putting surface of the ultra-dwarf bermudagrasses comes the need for a change in ‘conventional’ bermudagrass greens management practices. Research demonstrates that the ultra-dwarf bermudagrasses may be shallowly rooted and quickly produce excess thatch. Due to their very high aerial shoot densities, they may also prove challenging to topdress with sand meeting USGA specifications for putting green construction. Routine vertical mowing and applications of an appropriate wetting agent and plant growth regulator may be required. At times, two layers of winter protective blankets may be necessary to prevent severe low-temperature injury and desiccation in winter. Seeded Types. Historically, much of the bermudagrass seed marketed in Tennessee is harvested and processed in Arizona and New Mexico where two harvests may be possible annually. Common, also referred to as ‘Arizona Common’ bermudagrass, continues to be planted to establish lawns, sports fields, utility turfs and erosionresistant groundcovers throughout the south. However, Common bermudagrass is generally lighter in color, less dense, coarse textured, has a limited root mass and is more prone to low temperature and frost injury than many improved common types and vegetatively established hybrids. As a result, seed sales of the newer, improved turf-type common bermudagrasses continues to rise. The varieties ‘Yukon’ and ‘Riviera’ released by Oklahoma State University in 2000 and 2001, respectively, have better quality, low-temperature tolerance, rooting and spring dead spot resistance than ‘Arizona Common’. Other improved common bermudagrasses marketed in
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Feature Story | continued
Tennessee at this time include ‘Gold Glove’, ‘Mirage 2,’ ‘Monaco’, ‘North Shore SLT’, ‘NuMex-Sahara’, ‘Pyramid 2’ and ‘Royal Bengal’. Two or more varieties may be blended and sold in an effort to take advantage of the improved traits of each and provide buyers varieties that will establish and persist in several different microenvironments. Turfgrass breeders continue to develop and evaluate new bermudagrasses. The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) “is designed to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and promising selections in the United States and Canada. Test results can be used by national companies and plant breeders to determine the broad picture of the adaptation of a cultivar. Results can also be used to determine if a cultivar is well adapted to a local area or level of turf maintenance”. In addition to the sterile, vegetatively established bermudagrasses, green industry professionals may recognize many of the seeded types entered in the six NTEP
National Bermudagrass Tests. Twenty-one vegetatively established and seven seeded varieties including ‘NuMex-Sahara’ and ‘Sonesta’ were entered in the first National Bermudagrass Test (NBT) in 1986. There were 10 vegetatively established and 16 seeded entries including ‘Cheyenne’, ‘Jackpot’, ‘Mirage’, ‘Primavera’ and ‘Sundevil’ in the 1992 NBT. Of the entries in the 1997 NBT, 18 were seeded types including ‘Blackjack’, ‘Blue-Muda’, ‘Majestic’, ‘Princess’, ‘Pyramid’, ‘Riviera’, ‘Savannah’, ‘Shangri La’, ‘Southern Star’, ‘Sundevil II’, ‘Sydney’ and ‘Transcontinental’, and 10 were vegetatively established. Twenty-nine of the 42 entries in the 2002 NBT were seeded types including ‘Contessa’, ‘LaPaloma’, ‘Mohawk’, ‘Panama’, ‘Southern Star’, ‘Sovereign’, ‘Sunbird’ and ‘Yukon’. Twenty-six of the 31 entries in the 2007 NBT were seeded types including ‘Gold Glove’, ‘Hollywood’, ‘Princess 77’, ‘Pyramid 2’, ‘Royal Bengal’, ‘Sunsport’ and ‘Veracruz’. The most recent NBT planted in 2013 contained 13 vegetatively established and 29 seeded
types including ‘Monaco’ and ‘North Shore SLT’. A number of entries designated by letter and or number in this test will most likely be marketed as named varieties in the future. For more information regarding the disease and insect resistance, cold tolerance and overall performance of individual bermudagrass varieties, please visit the NTEP Website, http://www.ntep.org.
REFERENCES Alderson, J. and W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass Cultivars in the United States. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Lewis Publishers, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, formerly Agriculture Handbook No. 170, Revised Nov.1994, S.C.S., U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Anon. 2016. Bermudagrass named ‘DT-1’. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/ PP27392.html.
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January/February 2020
Big Roll TuRf TuBes Anon. 2011. Latitude 36 Turf Bermuda grass. https://patents.justia.com/ patent/20120304349. Anon. 2011. Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass. https://patents.justia. com/patent/20120304350.
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Anon. 2008. ‘ST-5’ Bermudagrass. https://patents.justia.com/patent/ 20100050306 Anon. 2004. Patriot Turf Bermudagrass. July. https://patents.justia.com/patent/ PP16801. Anon. 2001. Bermudagrass ‘P18’. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/ PP12084.html. Anon. 2001. Bermudagrass Plant Named ‘MS-Supreme’. http://www.free patentsonline.com/PP11781.html. Anon. 2000. Cynodon dactylon plant named ‘Riley’s Super Sport’. PP11181. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/ PP11181.html Anon. 1999. Bermudagrass Named TifEagle. http://www.freepatents online.com/PP11163.pdf. Anon. 1997. Champion Dwarf Hybrid Bermudagrass. http://www.free patentsonline.com/PP09888.html. Anon. 1997. `Tift 94` Bermudagrass. https://patents.google.com/patent/ USPP10079P/en.
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Andy Rushing arushing@cgcfields.com Phone: (704) 634-9799 Toll Free – Office: (866) 753-1707
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Anon. 1991. Midlawn Bermudagrass. https://patents.google.com/patent/ USPP8162P/en. Anon. 1989. Cynodon dactylon grass plant CT-2. http://europepmc.org/ patents/PAT/US6841P. Burton, G. W. 1991. A history of turf research at Tifton. USGA Green Section Record. May/June, Pp. 12–14.
A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 17
Feature Story | continued
REFERENCES (continued) Busey, P. 1989. Progress and benefits to humanity from breeding warm-season grasses for turf. Pp. 49–70 In D. A. Sleper, K. H. Asay and J. F. Pedersen (editors). Contributions from breeding forage and turf grasses. C.S.S.A. Spec. Publ. 15, Crop Science Society of America, Madison, WI.
Han, H. R. 2009. Development of Improved Turf-type Bermudagrasses. M.S. Thesis Hanna, W.W., G.W. Burton, and A.W. Johnson. 1990. Registration of ‘Tifton 10’ turf bermudagrass. Crop Sci. 30:1355–1356.
Dudeck, A. E. 1996. New Bermudagrass Cultivars for Florida? University of Florida, Gainesville, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, http:// turfpath.ifas.ufl.edu/turfgrass/ research/newberms.htm.
Hanna, W.W., S.K. Braman and B.M. Schwartz. 2010. ‘ST-5’, a shadetolerant turf bermudagrass. HortScience 45(1): 132-134. http://hortsci.ashs publications.org/content/45/1/132.full
Ferguson, M. H. and F. V. Grau. 1951. U-3 Bermudagrass. USGA and Turf Management. April. Pp. 31–32. http://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/ticpdf. py?file=/1950s/1951/510431.pdf.
Hanson, A. A. 1972. Grass Cultivars in the United States, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A., Agriculture Handbook Number 170, Washington, D. C.
Hollingsworth, B. S., E. A Guertal and R. H. Walker. 2005. Cultural Management and Nitrogen Source Effects on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Cultivars. C.S.S.A., Madison, WI., Crop Science: 45: 486-493. Hollingsworth, B. S., R. H. Walker and E. A. Guertal. 2000. Management and overseeding of ultradwarf bermudagrasses for putting greens. p. 159 In Annual meetings abstracts, A.S.A., C.S.S.A. and S.S.S.A., Madison, WI. McCarty, L. B. 1995. Bermudagrass for Florida Lawns In Florida Lawn Handbook, SP 45, Dept. Environ. Hort., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Sifers, S. I., and J. B. Beard. 1999. Morphological comparisons of winter overseeding methodologies for highdensity dwarf hybrid bermudagrass. p. 122. In Annual meetings abstracts, A.S.A., C.S.S.A. and S.S.S.A., Madison, WI. Taliaferro, C. M., D. L. Martin, J. A. Anderson, M. P. Anderson, G. E. Bell, and A. C. Guenzi. 2003. Registration of ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass. Crop Sci. 43:1131-1132. Wu, Y., D. L. Martin, J. A. Anderson, G.E. Bell, M. P. Anderson, N. R. Walker and J. Q. Moss. 2009. Recent Progress in Turf BermudagrassBreeding Research at Oklahoma State University Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (http://usgatero.msu.edu/v08/ n16.pdf). USGA. Volume 8, Number 16, August
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January/February 2020
Index of Advertisers
NC State Turf Team
Buy Sod, Inc........................ Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com Carolina Green Corp.....................................17 www.cgcfields.com Carolina Turf Farms, Inc...............................15 carolinaturffarms.com Divots, Inc.....................................................17 www.divotssand.com Green Resource............................. Back Cover www.green-resource.com Kesmac..........................................................23 www.kesmac.com Leading Edge Communications....................16 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL..........................................5 www.stihldealers.com Modern Turf, Inc.............................................7 www.modernturf.com Morgan Sand Company................................18 Progressive Turf Equipment Inc...................13 www.progressiveturfequip.com RD Murphy, LLC............................................17 www.rdmurphy.com Smith Seed Services........................................6 www.smithseed.com Steve Nichols / Soil Technologies Corp. / Armorex Nematicide....................................21 www.soiltechcorp.com Southern Seeds, Inc........................................9 southernseedsinc.com Southern Specialty Equipment.....................15 www.ssequip.net Super-Sod........................................................3 www.supersod.com The Turfgrass Group.......... Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com TMI Truck & Equipment.................................9 www.tmitruck.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc.................................17 www.turfmountain.com Vandemark Farms...........................................7 www.vandemarkfarms.com
To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications:
615-790-3718 888-707-7141
CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES Dr. Dan Bowman Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-2805 dan_bowman@ncsu.edu
Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Associate Professor, Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics (919) 515-3196 susana_milla-lewis@ ncsu.edu
Dr. Rich Cooper Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-7600 rich_cooper@ncsu.edu
Dr. Grady Miller Professor (919) 515-5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu
Emily Erickson Crop Science Lecturer (919) 513-2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu
Dr. Charles Peacock Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist (919) 515-7615 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu
Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor (919) 515-2647 (Office) travis_gannon@ncsu.edu Matt Martin Extension Associate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Turfgrass, NCSU Crop Science Dept (910) 675-2314 (Office) matthew_martin@ncsu.edu
Dr. Wei Shi Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-2647 (Office) wei_shi@ncsu.edu Dr. Fred Yelverton Extension Specialist (Turfgrass / Forage Crop Weed Mgt) (919) 515-5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu
Dr. Robert Richardson Professor and Extension Specialist (919) 515-5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu
ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate (919) 515-7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Dr. Garry Grabow Extension Specialist and Professor (919) 513-7348 garry_grabow@ncsu.edu
Dr. Rick Brandenburg Extension Specialist (Peanuts & Turf) & Department Extension Leader (919) 515-8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu Lee Butler Extension Coordinator (919) 513-3878 elbutler@ncsu.edu
Dr. Tom Rufty Professor (919) 515-3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu
HORTICULTURE SCIENCE Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, SIPMC & NC IPM Coordinator (919) 513-8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu
Dr. Jim Kerns Associate Professor and Extension Specialist (Turfgrass Pathology) (919) 515-2730 (Office) jpkerns@ncsu.edu
(Toll Free) or
sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 19
Cover Story By Ron Alexander R. Alexander Associates, Inc. www.alexassoc.net • Apex, NC (919) 367-8350 • Ron@alexassoc.net
Killing sparse grass with non-selective herbicide
COMPOST USE IN NORTH CAROLINA SOILS
For Turf Establishment and Maintenance
Incorporation of compost
After sod was laid
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anaging North Carolina soils in order to grow healthy turf can be difficult. In the eastern part of the state, we have sandy, droughty soils, which are low in organic matter, nutrients and nutrient holding capacity (cation exchange capacity). In most of the rest of the state, we have to contend with fine textured soils, high in clay and silt content. While these soils can hold water and plant nutrients, they are also easy to compact and poor in water acceptance and percolation. Further, when they are dry, they can become extremely hard.
Of course, there is an inexpensive tool that turf managers and landscape contractors can use to improve soil quality, thereby assisting them in establishing, renovating and maintaining high quality and utility turf areas. At the same time, this tool is economical to use and extremely functional. The tool (product) is called compost. Aside from being readily available and consistent in quality, compost use in turf applications has been well researched, proving it to be a highly effective product for improving turf growth and soil health. By improving ‘soil health’ through the addition of stabilized organic matter, we can not only improve plant growth, but also improve the sustainability of landscapes. Compost provides many benefits to the soil, the plants, the environment and to the pocketbook of the end user. It is readily available in most parts of North Carolina and its use should be considered for all of your projects. Excellent compost products are produced by both the City of Raleigh (919-625-3175) and Mecklenburg County (704-621-7372). Compost is manufactured through the controlled aerobic, biological decomposition of biodegradable materials. The product has undergone mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures, which significantly reduces the viability of pathogens and weed seeds and stabilizes the carbon such that it is beneficial to plant growth. Compost is typically used as a soil amendment but may also contribute plant nutrients.
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Armorex® T&O is used to control pathogenic nematodes in golf course turf. Armorex is O.M.R.I. listed for use in organics. Armorex is an effective blend of essential plant oils. 2019 research trials showed significantly reduced counts of damaging nematodes and rapid recovery of damaged turf areas. Armorex treatments reduced lance nematodes by as much at 90%.
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Cover Story | continued
Compost Benefits As previously mentioned, the use of compost can provide many soil benefits which in turn enhance plant growth. It can improve the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil in which it is blended. To illustrate the various benefits of compost, the most commonly identified ones are outlined below. It should be noted that all of these benefits are well documented through university research.
A rule of thumb when using compost is to apply a 2" layer, then incorporate it into 6" to 8" of site soil. This 20–30% inclusion rate will increase the organic matter content of the soil by 3–5%, greatly enhancing the characteristics of the soil. This application rate has proven to be effective in almost any type of soil, from the densest clays to beach sand, by almost 40 years of compost field experience, as well as through extensive university research.
Compost Use on Turf – By the Numbers
1
Improves soil structure and porosity — creating a better plant root environment
2
Increases moisture infiltration and permeability, and reduces bulk density of heavy soils — improving moisture infiltration rates and reducing erosion and runoff
3
Improves the moisture holding capacity of light soils — reducing water loss and nutrient leaching, and improving moisture retention
4
Provides plant nutrients
5
Improves the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils — improving their ability to retain nutrients for plant use
6
Supplies organic matter
7
Supplies beneficial microorganisms to soils and assists in their proliferation
8 9
Turf Establishment or Renovation
1
Break up existing soil with a shovel, rototiller or similar implement.
2
Apply a 2" layer of compost evenly over the soil surface.
3
Thoroughly incorporate the compost into 6" of the subsoil creating a 7–8" layer of “manufactured” topsoil.
4
Water well after planting or seeding.
Topdressing
1
For best results: Core aerate the lawn, making at least 5 passes over the area where the compost has been spread.
May encourage biological disease suppression
2
Apply about ¼" to ½" of compost to the surface of your lawn.
Encourages vigorous root growth
3
Rake the compost into the lawn, onto the soil surface and into the aeration holes.
10
Allows plants to more effectively utilize nutrients, while reducing nutrient loss by leaching
4
Seed and water well.
11
Enables soils to retain nutrients longer
12
Contains humus (humic substances) — assisting in soil aggregation and making nutrients more available for plant uptake
Turf Applications The classic landscape construction project usually starts with an area of land that has been stripped of true (native) topsoil. Frequently, the general contractor sells off or improperly stores the topsoil from the construction site, rendering it unavailable or of questionable quality. The classic remedy for this situation has been to specify the importation of topsoil removed from a farm, another construction project, or from who knows where! However, unlike certified compost producers who participate in the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program, topsoil suppliers are not required to test their product before they are sold. (For additional information on the STA Program, or to locate STA participants in North Carolina, log on to the USCC’s website www.compostingcouncil.org.)
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Compost can provide turf managers and landscape contractors with a sustainable product that is both cost effective and efficacious. Further, both a national certification program for compost and standardized specifications for the use of compost in turf management, exist. This makes high quality compost easy to identify and use. Start using compost now, in place of traditional, non-renewable resources and begin to realize the many benefits that compost has to offer. Remember, fixing the soil at the beginning of a project can help to solve longer soil related problems, while reducing input costs over a several year period.
Mr. Alexander is a horticulturalist who has been involved in compost specification end use for over 35 years. As a consultant, he has authored various end use tools (such as “The Field Guide to Compost Use” and “Landscape Architecture Specifications for the Utilization of Compost”) and has developed compost specifications for a variety of applications; including turf. Mr. Alexander also managed the national compost testing program; the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance Program.
January/February 2020
Feature Story
TIFTUF
AT THE
SWAMP
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE By Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com
Steve Spurrier-Florida Field Dressed for Game Day
THE SWAMP. Just the name evokes a visceral reaction from every college football fan in the south. Florida Gators beam with pride at the mention of their legendary stadium. Other SEC teams’ fans may respond with less enthusiasm, but no one can question the fact that Steve Spurrier-Florida Field is an iconic place to play college football. The statistics don’t lie – three national titles, eight conference titles, three Heisman trophies and many winning seasons attest to the Florida Gators’ dominant football program.
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And for every football team that plays on such a big stage, there’s always an unsung hero, a hero that endures the elements and injury, is pushed to its limits, yet expected to perform week after week, year after year – the turf. Most fans never give it a second thought. Even players and coaches seldom notice this integral part of the game unless it isn’t performing. But turfgrass managers recognize the field as the very foundation of a top-tier NCAA football program. It is this recognition of the importance of playing surface that drives sports turf managers across the country and beyond to seek the most functional and attractive turfgrass available for their sports fields.
January/February 2020
1 May 8 – Flooring is removed after being down for 25 days to accommodate a concert and graduation. June 10 – Sodding Begins
4
2
3
Material is taken out. The top 2” were taken out to remove all organics. Another 7–8” were removed to get to clean sand.
Rootzone Mix comes in (90% USGA sand / 10% Comand)
June 16 – One week post sod installation
Day 5 Rooting
5
July 16 – Pre-topdressing
August 9 – Recovered from the July 26th youth camp, ready for the Gators to scrimmage and practice on.
July 17 – Post-topdressing
6
7 A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 25
Feature Story | continued
A SURPRISING FIND In November of 2018, when Jason Smith, Director of Sports Turf at University of Florida, saw the events calendar for Spring of 2019 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka The Swamp), he knew it was time to start planning a field renovation. To accommodate a concert and graduation, flooring would be covering the turf for nearly a month beginning in April. With field renovation on such a large scale looming, he began his research. After researching and narrowing the field to three varieties that might uphold the standard expected of a high-level SEC stadium, Smith made a visit to the university turfgrass program’s research site. Dr. Jason Kruse, University of Florida Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Specialist, showed Smith research plots. Nematodes are a major challenge for turfgrass managers in Florida, so when Smith saw that TifTuf had such a low incidence of nematode growth, his interest was piqued. “The one that really caught my eye was the nematode resistance plot that I saw. It looked like nematodes hadn’t even touched it,” said Smith. “It looked like a control plot. That’s what really caught my attention.” Upon learning of other features of TifTuf — staying green later in the season than other Bermuda grasses, excellent wear tolerance, increased drought tolerance — Smith was certain he’d found the right fit.
THE ROAD TO EXCELLENCE It is easy to recognize what makes a turfgrass variety a great choice for certain uses, but we rarely get a peek into how that specific variety came to be. As new cultivars are introduced with increasing regularity, it is important to understand what goes into the making of that brand, especially when the stakes are this high. TifTuf’s recent explosion onto the warm-season turfgrass scene is unprecedented, and while it may seem like an overnight sensation, many years of evaluation and development went into establishing this variety as a top performer. Developed by the experts in Tifton, Georgia, TifTuf was 20-plus years in the making. “It’s important that we studied this in Georgia, but we had bigger plans for TifTuf,” says Dr. Brian Schwartz, associate professor at the University of Georgia and TifTuf breeder (alongside Dr. Wayne Hanna). “It’s very important to do a lot of testing to make sure you don’t release a product that gets out to the public and fails.” After a painstaking breeding and development process, it was clear that this turf would be a great success if it was brought to market properly. Enter The Turfgrass Group, a licensing and marketing company made up of turf professionals. The team at The Turfgrass Group recognized TifTuf as the superior product it is and began implementing their unique strategy to ensure that this variety would provide the exceptional performance it had shown in trials. For the high quality that is demanded at The Swamp, it is essential that the variety chosen perform consistently and predictably under intensive management strategies. That’s where single-sourcing and meticulous crop inspection come in. With its initial release, all TifTuf plant material was sent directly from Georgia Foundation fields to licensed and
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Certified sod farms, ensuring unprecedented consistency in sod production. A second source was later added in California, a first for any UGA variety. This source continues to follow the rigorous standard set in the eastern U.S., while allowing wider-spread distribution in the western part of the country. Every one of the 60 U.S. sod farms and 42 Australian farms that produce TifTuf get it from one of those two sources, guaranteeing purity in over 6,000 acres of TifTuf grown in the U.S., plus hundreds more in Australia. Prior to planting, a state inspector sees every field and must approve it before TifTuf is planted. The history of the field is reviewed, and if it meets standards, approval to plant is granted. But this is just the beginning of the quality assurance process. Once planted and growing, every square foot is visually inspected by The Turfgrass Group three times per year. “With our continuous inspection of TifTuf, we’re ensuring genetic purity,” says Bill Carraway, VP of Sales and Marketing at The Turfgrass Group. “We’re going to spot anything that’s not TifTuf, but our focus is on off-type Bermuda grasses. At times, it’s like looking for a needle in a stack of needles.” It is this rigorous process that has led TifTuf to success never before seen. It has been licensed to more farms in less time than any licensed proprietary cultivar in history, and in its first three years in the marketplace has earned recognition in two sports field of the year awards.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND SUPERIOR PRODUCT Choosing the right turf is only the first step of many in field renovation. After the sod was removed at The Swamp, material had to be removed to correct the field profile and drainage and to create the best possible foundation for the Gators’ new field. Smith hired Laser Turf to complete the field construction and worked with Pike Creek Turf Farm to get the sod. The looming deadline for having a usable field was the annual youth football camp hosted at The Swamp in late July. Smith and the Laser Turf team worked quickly to ensure the field was bulldozed, leveled, and sodded in plenty of time for rooting to begin and for the field to be ready for action ahead of the 2019 football schedule. Smith has been quite pleased with the performance of the new field. After hosting four home games in five weeks, recovery was excellent and Smith did not plan to rye overseed at the end of the season. “TifTuf has helped with the stadium because of the way that it’s holding up,” says Smith. “After the game, repair is minimal compared to what we were doing. I wanted something that, when you got into the fourth quarter, it didn’t even look like you’d played four quarters.” Smith continued, “I’m just super excited to have this much Bermuda grass this late as a base going into the off season. Where we’re going to be at next season — I’m very excited.” The Gators have confirmed their status as a leader in the fiercely competitive SEC, and every element of the team’s performance is under close scrutiny for the top caliber performance that is expected at this level. While the collective efforts of over 80,000 fans may be called the 12th man on game day, a solid foundation of an exceptional playing surface may just be the ultimate champion.
January/February 2020
Give water a break tiftuf bermudagrass is the new drought-tolerance superstar. The newest edition in the “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermudagrasses to originate from the renowned University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program, TifTuf promises to be a true game-changer in stellar yet environmentally friendly performance. Providing unbeatable drought tolerance, it uses 38% less water than Tifway 419, and it is significantly more drought resistant than all other bermudagrasses. In addition to its incredible drought tolerance, TifTuf is more aggressive than Tifway and provides superior wear and traffic tolerance (even better than Celebration), excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up and excellent fall color retention. In the 2015 NTEP trials, TifTuf was the highest-ranked cultivar in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, and across all 17 locations overall, it was the highest-ranked, commercially available cultivar. TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create more-sustainable athletic fields for the future. In fact, it will soon become the ultimate must-have grass for sports turf managers who want to take a break from water use.
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