April/May 2019
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Weed Control Lessons Learned in 2018
Bermudagrasses: An Update Remembering Dr. Lloyd Callahan
Turfgrasses for the 21st Century
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12 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
TABLE OF CONTENTS April/May 2019
12 24 28 30 32
Feature Story – Bermudagrasses – An Update
24
Cover Story — Weed Control Lessons Learned in 2018
In Memoriam — Remembering Dr. Lloyd Callahan Member Spotlight – A & W Southern Sod Farms Andy Mason, Clay Head, William Head Feature Story – Nanobubble Aeration: A Technological Break-Through in Sustainable Lake and Pond Management
DEPARTMENTS
4
From the TTA President
6
From the TVSTMA President
8
From the MAGCSA President
9
From the MTGCSA
10
From the ETGCSA President
11
The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
23
Industry News
36
Calendar of Events
38
Index of Advertisers
38
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019
32
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From the TTA President
Jason Pooler The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Our Success
Begins With You G
etting ready for a great kick off to Spring 2019 started with going to a lot of conferences. While attending these conferences I learned new and improved ways to accomplish that top of the line turf on your sod farms, golf courses and athletic fields. Although we might be done with all these classes, we never need to stop learning or teaching what we took in this winter. With that said, I would like to challenge you all this upcoming year. Let us each resolve to do one extra thing this year to further our cause in the turf industry. Here are a few examples: • Encourage your peers to join Tennessee Turfgrass Association • Make a presentation at your place of work, to your local high school, FFA or college about possible turf careers available
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• Attend a local city council meeting when ordinances are on the agenda such as real grass versus synthetic • Donate to the Tennessee Turfgrass Endowment Fund • Spend one hour per week learning about new issues that we have to pursue. Swap on hour of video games or TV to invest in your career • Speak up at a local gardening class or maybe a HOA meeting and let your neighbors see that you as a TTA member are a good thing for the environment. The future of turfgrass all begins with you, so get out there and talk about grass and get people motivated about it.
Jason Pooler TTA President
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 928-7001 info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Vice President Doug Ward Belle Meade C.C. (615) 292-6752 Secretary/Treasurer Chris Sykes Tellico Village (865) 458-5408 Past President Theo Lankford Kormac, LLC (615) 519-2701 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn. (615) 928-7001 TTA 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Bart Cash Cal Hill Joe Hill Jeff Kuhns Timothy Long Bill Marbet Jason Sanderson Darren Seybold Ryan Storey Paul Webb Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten
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From the T VSTMA President
Ben Hutton
Spring Time and Sunshine L
eave it to good ole Tennessee weather to throw us a curve ball and give us the wettest February most of us have ever experienced, just in time for spring sports to begin. Nevertheless, as we try to dry out and move into spring, the work keeps coming with finishing up spring maintenance along with the busy spring sports schedules. I hope that everyone found enough breaks in the weather to get their early spring preemerge applications out and are set to have a successful 2019 growing season.
Daily Regional DeliveRy
As the spring showers clear and the warm temps and sunshine roll in, let us be mindful of the upcoming TVSTMA events. Our next event is the annual field day on July 31st. This year’s field day will be at Wears Farm City Park in Pigeon Forge, TN. This is a great opportunity to see and demo all the latest equipment the sports turf industry has to offer. This includes mowers, aerifiers, fraze mowers, painters and more. Basically, anything you could imagine, so be sure to put it on your calendar and attend.
Last, I want to thank everyone who attended the spring meeting at Jim Warren Park in Franklin on March 6th. Also want to give a special thanks to Paige Cruise, John Wagnon, and the rest of the staff at the City of Franklin for hosting. It was a fantastic meeting packed full of great speakers and a wealth of knowledge.
Ben Hutton 2019 TVSTMA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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From the MAGC SA President
David L. Johnson
Looking Forward L
ooking forward is something that we all do. It has been said that it is always better to look forward rather than look behind. That is especially true when it comes to this past winter. Although it hasn’t been the bitter cold temperatures that we have gotten in the past winters in the Memphis area, I’m sure that everyone would agree that it has been one of the wettest winters that we have had to deal with. For that reason, a warm dry spring is something that I surely am looking forward to. I am also looking forward to another
great year of events within the Memphis area association. We have scheduled a combination of speakers that I believe will enhance our knowledge in the turfgrass industry. We also have social events planned that are always a time for good food and fellowship among our peers. These events are always a good opportunity for you to introduce yourself and meet any new members that have joined for the first time. It is also a time to reach out to anyone that you haven’t seen in a while and invite them
to a meeting. We are all in this together so making more contacts will help someday down the road. We are also working on a volunteer opportunity this year for the WGC Tournament so that our association can show our support for the great event that is coming to our area. Let’s leave this cold and wet weather behind us and look forward to another great year.
David Johnson MAGCSA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
9
From the MTGCSA President
Tyler Ingram
A
Great Start I
hope the first quarter of 2019 is off to a great start for you and your team. The MTGCSA board and I are excited for the upcoming year. It is our goal this year to provide you with opportunities to learn, network and grow within your chapter. We have several meetings geared toward assistants, spray techs, and mechanics, along with our regular MTGCSA meetings. Don’t forget the end of the year the top 16 participants in meetings and golf will have to opportunity to play in the MTGCSA Cup.
April 16th
Westhaven Country Club Dr. Shaddox, University of Kentucky Pat Jones Allison Brown
May 14th
Stones River Country Club Dr. Doug Karcher, University of Arkansas Bill Maynard Dr. Scott McElroy, Auburn University
September 16th
Old Hickory Country Club Round Table: Overseed vs. Paint Ken Mangum
November 5th
Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club Dr. Bruce Martin Steve Kammerer, USGA Renovation Roundtable
October 2019
Shop Talk with Hector Velazquez
Date TBD
Scholarship and Research Tournament We have a great list of speakers for each date and we look forward to seeing you all there! Look for added meetings throughout the year for assistants and mechanics, as well as socials!
Board Members Tyler Ingram – President Brad Marcy – Past President Thurston Farrar – Vice President Jed Vinson – Secretary Justin Browning – Treasurer Walker Bryant Jim Thomas Craig Ketelson Jeff Wyatt Phil Terhune – Assistant Representative
Tyler Ingram MTGCSA President 10
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
From the ETGCSA President
DJ Lerchen
Hit the Ground
Running As
the newly elected President of the East Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is DJ Lerchen, and I have been the Golf Course Superintendent at The Sevierville Golf Club for the last 10 years. As your representative for ETGCSA, I would like to first start by thanking the past President, Pat Rose, and congratulating him on a job well done. He has served on the ETGCSA for many years supporting its vision for the growth and development of golf course superintendents. I am pleased to announce that we have hit the ground running. The Board of Directors for ETGSA and myself have already been busy planning events and speakers for this upcoming year. We worked diligently to put together an exciting array of host sites and speakers for the 2019 season. The names of the board members are listed below as are the meeting locations for the year. I want to personally thank all the clubs who have willingly chosen to host our monthly meetings this year. I want to challenge everyone to attend our meetings this season to support the vision and growth of the ETGCSA. This is a great time to share your experiences and collaborate with others in your field. Also, I want to encourage superintendents to bring their assistant superintendents and equipment managers so they can be a part of our learning opportunities and networking opportunities.
2019 ETGCSA Board of Directors
President – DJ Lerchen Vice President – Travis Hopkins Treasurer – Jordan Clark Directors – Jeff Rumph, Tim Long, Joe Hill, Roger Frazier Advisory Member – Michael Crawford
2019 ETGCSA Meeting Sites April 16
Windstone Golf Club Wes Gilbert, GCS
May 21
Willow Creek Golf Club Paul Hood, CGCS
June 11
The Country Club of Morristown Chris Lloyd, GCS
July 8
Gettysvue Country Club Jeff Dudych, GCS
August 6
Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain Tim Brock, GCS
August 29
University of Tennessee Field Day
September 24
Scholarship and Research Tournament Cattails at Meadowview Roger Frazier-GCS
The ETGCSA hosts the ETGCSA Scholarship and Research Tournament at the end of the season each year. For those who have participated in the past, we all know the golf courses we get to play are the best of the best! The purpose of these tournaments is to raise money to allow us to help fund research at The University of Tennessee. We also have the great opportunity and responsibility to award scholarships to future leaders in our industry. This year we were able to award two ETGCSA scholarships. The first scholarship went to Brinkley Mull, a University of Tennessee student and aspiring golf course superintendent. The second scholarship was awarded to Chris Kleinschmidt, a University of Tennessee student who also strives to become a golf course superintendent. I want to congratulate our scholarship winners and encourage these students in their career path in the turfgrass industry. I believe I can speak for everyone and say that ETGCSA members are all here to help encourage young men and women to succeed in this industry. The ETGCSA is very thankful for the continued support of The University of Tennessee and the vendors for their commitment to our industry. On behalf of the board, I want to thank them for their support, and I want to encourage all of our members to attend the meetings this year and take advantage of all the information that will be shared.
DJ Lerchen 2019 ETGCSA President
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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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 sodforming 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 below-ground 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 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.
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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 deadnettle (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.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Auricles – Absent Collar – Continuous
Ligule – Short membrane with hairs
Leaf Tip – Sharply pointed Leaf Blade – Flat with visible midvein
Sheath – Compressed to round, loose, split, smooth, sparsely hairy, with a tuft of hairs
Feature Story 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 Midlawn PP08162P Northbridge (OKC1134) PP24116 Patriot (OKC18-4) PP16801P2
Quickstand Tahoma 31 (OKC1131) Plant Patent applied for, patent pending Tifdwarf (Reg. No. 8)
14
2012, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University 1991, Kansas State Research Foundation/ Kansas (KSU) AES and Oklahoma AES 2012, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University 2002, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University 1992, USDA-Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA-ARS and University of Kentucky AES 2018, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University 1965, Georgia Coastal Plain ES and Plant Science Research Division, ARS
TifGrand (97-4, 00-07, Tift No. 4, ST-5) PP21017
2010, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and USDA- ARS
Tifgreen (Tifton 328)
1956, Georgia AES and USDA- ARS/CRD
Tifton 10
1988, USDA-ARS and Georgia Coastal Plain AES
Tifsport/ Tift 94 (MI40) PP10079
1995, USDA-ARS & University of Georgia Coastal Plain ES
TifTuf (DT-1) PP027392
2016, USDA-ARS & University of Georgia Coastal Plain ES
Tifway (Tifton 419)
1960, USDA, GA Coastal Plain Expt. Sta. and U. S. and South. Golf Associations
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). C. dactylon (collected from Michigan State Univ. campus) x C. transvaalensis (1 of several plants growing in a polycross nursery in Ft. Hayes, KS). C. dactylon var. dactylon (accession 3200E 4-1) × C. transvaalensis (OSU selection ‘2747’). Cross of Cynodon dactylon (‘Tifton 10’) by C. transvaalensis (field nursery identity 4200 TN 26-8). Increased from a single C. dactylon accession found at the Quicksand, Kentucky Plant Materials Center.
Information not released at this time 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. 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). C. dactylon (selection from Green #4, Charlotte C. C., Charlotte, NC) x C. transvaalensis. C. dactylon (collected in 1974 from a lawn in Shanghai, China). One of 66 single plant mutant selections resulting from the irradiation of dormant stolons of ‘Midiron’ (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) bermudagrass. 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. Chance hybrid between C. transvaalensis and C. dactylon found in a seed lot of African bermudagrasses from Johannesburg, South Africa in 1954. Mutant resulting from irradiated, dormant sprigs of Tifway. Collected after being observed in 1972 growing on a golf course fairway near North Wilkesboro, VA.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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. 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).
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Feature Story Table 2 Variety Astro
Celebration
GN-1
Characteristics of Several Vegetative/Clonal Bermudagrass Varieties. Characteristics 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. 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. 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 Latitude 36 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. Slow-growing, dark-green, improved cold tolerance (to -20 ºF) with good sod density and drought tolerance. Leaf blades Midlawn 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). 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. Northbridge 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. High aerial shoot density, relatively short internodes and medium texture. Good cold hardiness and excellent aerial shoot Patriot 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
Tifsport
Tifton 10
TifTuf
Tifway
16
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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, pg 18). 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 Tennessee at this time include ‘Gold Glove’, ‘Mirage 2,’ ‘Monaco’, ‘North
Feature Story
Latitude 36
Tifway
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
Table 3
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Northbridge
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
TifTuf
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
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.
MiniVerde (P18) PP12084, September 2001
Modern Turf, Inc.
MS Supreme (MSB40) PP11781, February 2001
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry ES
Sunday (referred to as C-1 after initial selection)
Sod Solutions, Inc.
TifEagle PP11163, December 1999
USDA and Georgia AES
Characteristics 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. 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. 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 - 8 mm) and very fine width (0.4 – 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. 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 cobalt-induced (gamma-irradiation) mutant of Tifway II. Fine-textured, medium green, more dense with narrower and shorter leaves than Tifdwarf. Grows well and displays very little purple discoloration in cool weather. Improved tawny mole cricket persistence. Can be maintained at a cutting height of 6 mm or less.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Feature Story
TifTuf
‘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. 20
Tifway
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. Anon. 2011. Latitude 36 Turf Bermudagrass. https://patents.justia. com/patent/20120304349. Anon. 2011. Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass. https://patents.justia. com/patent/20120304350. 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.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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. 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. 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.
call Frank Whitbeck, president
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NeW from Frank Whitbeck and the Greenhouses of Winrock Grass Farm, Inc.
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Feature Story 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. 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. 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. 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
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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.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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 Bermudagrass- Breeding Research at Oklahoma State University Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (http://usgatero.msu.edu/v08/ n16.pdf). USGA. Volume 8, Number 16, August T
The Turf grass Team at the U niversity o f Tennessee, Knoxv ille José Javier Vargas Almodóvar Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTweedwhisperer
Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTturfweeds
Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp
Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @tnturfman
John Stier, Ph.D. Associate Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Drjohnstier
Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @gbreeden1
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 kdickso1@utk.edu Twitter: @DicksonTurf
Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. 2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @UTturfpath
John Sorochan, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @sorochan
Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ Twitter: @UTPlantDoc
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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Cover Story
Weed Control
Lessons Learned in 2018
By Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., Greg Breeden, and José J. Vargas, University of Tennessee
E
ach year the turfgrass weed science program at the University of Tennessee conducts hundreds of research trials in the field, greenhouse, and laboratory. Despite having an array of different objectives, all of these trials have a singular focus: to help turfgrass managers with weed management issues. The article below outlines key lessons learned in our program last year that will hopefully be of use to turfgrass managers in the coming season.
Lesson #1 – Explore Weather Data Mother nature certainly threw turfgrass managers across Tennessee many curveballs in 2018. The year began with air temperatures measuring much higher than historical averages leading to spring emergence of warm-season turfgrasses
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(and weeds) occurring earlier than normal. Air temperatures fell in April, measuring nearly 10 degrees cooler (on average) than April 2017. Warming in 2018 (as measured by growing degree day accumulation) was higher than the previous two seasons and this period of warming continued into the fall. A detailed breakdown of erratic weather across Tennessee in 2018 is available at: https://medium.com/@UTTurf Weeds/several-curveballs-from-mothernature-in-2018-d487c9b2015d. Irregular weather patterns will not only affect the severity of weed infestations in warm- and cool-season turfgrasses but the efficacy of several herbicide treatments as well. That said, University of Tennessee Extension is here to help. Should turfgrass managers encounter oddities during the 2019 season, they are highly encouraged to contact the University of Tennessee for
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
a breakdown of climatic conditions that may help explain the situation.
Lesson #2 – Know Your Poa One of the biggest lessons learned last year is that Poa annua populations across the state of Tennessee are very different from one another. Thanks to support from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and Tennessee GCSAA, our team is currently conducting a survey of Poa annua across the state. Efforts have allowed us to study 72 different populations randomly selected during spring 2018 from golf courses in East, Middle and West Tennessee that had either bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) or zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) as a primary turfgrass species. Things we’ve learned studying these populations include:
• Poa annua from West Tennessee takes longer to germinate from seed than that found in Middle or East Tennessee. Moreover, populations from West Tennessee grow less vigorously from seed as well. • Over 64% of the Poa annua collected in this survey has some level of resistance to glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) • Over 58% of the Poa annua collected in this survey has some level of resistance to prodiamine (e.g., Barricade) While we are still continuing to study these populations, implications of this research to turfgrass managers across Tennessee are significant, particularly in regards to herbicide selection. The current recommendation from University of Tennessee Extension is to target Poa annua infestations of warm-season turfgrass with a mixture of pre- and postemergence herbicides in October. This approach is an optimal resistance management strategy in that it facilitates using multiple modes of action for control. Additionally, delaying treatment until October increases the likelihood of turf remaining devoid of Poa annua throughout spring, compared to making a single application of a preemergence herbicide in late August or early September.
Lesson #3 – Soil Moisture Affects Goosegrass Control Postemergence goosegrass (Eleusine indica) control is a challenge every season. In 2018, we learned that the growing environment in which goosegrass is commonly found could be a reason why herbicide applications often struggle. We evaluated several different herbicides for postemergence goosegrass control in the greenhouse including Speedzone, Acclaim Extra, Tribute Total, Pylex, and Revolver. These treatments were applied to multitiller goosegrass maintained in soils varying in volumetric moisture content (VMC) from <12% to >20%. When applied at maximum labeled rates to plants growing in soils measuring <12% VMC,
Lesson
2
Lesson
3
Cover Story
Lesson
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none of the herbicides tested controlled goosegrass greater than 25%. When soil moisture increased, goosegrass control increased dramatically as well. For example, Tribute Total only controlled goosegrass 20% when applied to plants growing in soil measuring <12% VMC compared to 93% when applied to plants growing in soil measuring >20% VMC. To that end, we are recommending that turfgrass managers measure soil moisture content before making postemergence herbicides for goosegrass control in 2019. Use of a moisture meter can aid in determining if adequate soil moisture is present prior to treatment. It is important to remember that goosegrass needs time to acclimate to changes in soil moisture; simply applying irrigation prior to herbicide treatment likely will not improve efficacy.
Lesson #4 – Perennial Weeds of High Soil Moisture Continue to be an Issue
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Another takeaway from last year was that perennial weeds that prefer moist soils continue to be problematic. Weeds such as kyllinga (Kyllinga spp.), yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), Virginia buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) and doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) continue to infest warm- and cool-season turfgrasses across Tennessee and beyond. As a result, many of the newest herbicides entering the turfgrass marketplace have been developed with these weeds in mind including (but not limited to) Aethon, Celero, Dismiss NXT, GameOn, Relzar, SwitchBlade, and SurePower. Regardless of product, controlling these perennial weeds will likely require sequential applications in addition to improving the growing environment to favor turfgrass growth in lieu of weeds.
Lesson #5 – Programmatic Thinking Works •
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www.mccurdysodfarms.com • mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
For the past several years our team has encouraged turfgrass managers to implement weed control programs at their facilities, similar to what is done when
managing turfgrass diseases. What is a weed control program? It is simply a well thought out strategy to maintain turfgrass as weed-free as possible from January through December. Weed control programs can incorporate different herbicide applications along with timely cultural practices to deliver an integrated approach to weed control. This proactive strategy is very different from the reactionary approach many take to controlling turfgrass weeds — i.e, seeing an infestation and spraying the most readily available herbicide. The 2018 season served as yet another reminder that weed control programs work very well and that there are many different ways to customize a program for a given facility. The proactive process of developing a weed control program offers key advantages including: • Weeds are exposed to different herbicidal modes of action, either in rotation or mixtures with one another; doing so will therefore reduce selection pressure for resistant biotypes.
For more information on turfgrass weed control, visit the University of Tennessee’s turfgrass weed science website, tnturfgrassweeds.org. Additionally, practitioners are encouraged to visit mobileweedmanual.com, a tool developed by University of Tennessee Extension professionals to assist green industry professionals in selecting herbicides for use in turf and ornamentals.
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• Programs allow turfgrass managers to always improve their effectiveness in controlling weeds. The best turfgrass managers in our industry take notes throughout the season about weed management strategies that were (or were not) effective and can build programs based on this information. This process is very different than simply approaching the problem “the way it’s always been done” or making choices about weed management based on what herbicide is the most discounted in an early order program. • Programs can be tailored to a specific location. For example, on golf courses different programs can be implemented on different holes to account for variations in growing environment. In lawn care, programs can be designed to be property specific — which makes a great deal of sense considering that no two lawns are the same. T
TIFWAY 419
Fescue
www.coosaValleyTurfFarms.com (256) 927-4228 • (256) 927-4758 FAX • cvtf@tds.net 900 county road 492 • centre, Al 35960
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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In Memoriam
Remembering
Dr. Lloyd Callahan It
is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Lloyd Callahan on February 13, 2019. Dr. Callahan was influential in the establishment of the TTA and a great advocate for the turf industry in Tennessee. He joined the University of Tennessee faculty in 1984 and retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus. His contributions to our association and the industry as a whole are an incomparable legacy. We strive to honor those contributions by continuing his commitment to growing the industry through research, education advocacy and partnership. T
In 2016, TTA honored Dr. Callahan with a plaque “in recognition of his lifetime of service to the Turfgrass Industry of Tennessee.”
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Dr. Callahan’s note of thanks to TTA upon receiving his plaque.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
RoLLing ouT The gReen!
Located in Springfield, Tennessee we provide top quality turfgrass in Kentucky and Tennessee. We strive to maintain the highest quality turfgrass possible, offering Turf Type Tall Fescue and Tifway 419 Bermuda. Turfgrass can be picked up on the farm, delivered or installed at your desired location.
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TTA Member S potlight on
A&W Sod Farm A
ndy Mason, William Head and Clay Head are more than just brothers-in-law, they are farmers and business partners operating a thriving sod farm in Springfield, Tennessee. In their operation as a true family farm, each has a specific role that is integral to the company’s success. William, Clay and Andy say they have all been farming “since before we could walk”, although not just sod. Prior to their beginnings in sod in 2000, they were farming tobacco, corn, wheat, and soybeans, as well as having 180,000 chickens (which produced approximately 9000 dozen eggs per day) and feeder pigs. These brothers have a wide range of farming experience between them, and that knowledge and work ethic translate well in the turfgrass industry. William Head serves as the chief manager of the business, maintaining the bookkeeping and HR duties. Along with his son-in-law, Barrett Brown, William handles sales and customer orders which includes delivery and installation scheduling and communicating with the staff about how much to harvest for incoming orders. Andy Mason, as a vice president, oversees production, deciding where and when to seed on the 400-plus acre farm. He also handles fertilization (whether commercial or organic) and plans and administers the spraying program. Clay Head, also vice president, handles the day-to-day maintenance of the company’s trucks and equipment. He also prepares the ground for seeding and oversees the company’s cow/calf operation, which all three partners are involved in. A&W Southern Sod Farms produces Tifway 419 Bermuda and Blended Fescue on 100% irrigated fields. They focus on providing high quality product with excellent customer service. Their sod is always harvested and delivered within 24 hours, minimizing pallet damage. A&W works primarily with landscapers, builders and suppliers. They deliver and install sod in middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. While they have ventured out of those regions, the current building boom in Nashville and the surrounding counties has been their focus.
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The biggest challenge William, Andy and Clay face is the weather, as most sod producers and turfgrass managers can certainly identify with. With short periods of extremely hot and extremely cold temperatures always a possibility, maintaining turf health is a challenge, not to mention years such as 2019, with heavy rainfall and flooding in the early part of the year. A&W works to provide a high quality product using the best varieties of seed available, not just the cheapest. A&W Southern Sod Farms has 10 full-time employees along with a six-person full-time contract install crew and another parttime contract installation team. “Our employees are absolutely vital to the success of our operation,” William says of the staff. Along with the knowledgeable and hard-working employees of the farm, A&W works with qualified and well-respected contractors and landscapers to deliver the best results with a quality product. Participating in organizations such as TTA, they say, is a great benefit to their business. “We have gained a lot of good friends by being involved in the TTA, TPI and MSTC. We enjoy going to meetings to not only participate in the educational and vendor meetings, but to just sit down and talk with other farms. We have gained friends from all over the country as well as some on the other side of the county we live in,” says William. Outside of the business, all three partners spend their free time serving in their churches and enjoying time with their families. Andy and his wife Denise have three daughters, two of which are married, and one grandson. William and his wife Julie have a son and a daughter, who is married, and one grandson. Clay and his wife Lori have two daughters, one of which is married. He also has two grandsons and one granddaughter. T
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
TTA would like to thank Andy, William and Clay for their support and involvement in the association.
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Feature Story
Nanobubble Aeration: A Technological Break-Through in Sustainable Lake & Pond Management By Bo Burns, Biologist & Market Development Manager at SOLitude Lake Management
A
lgae: it comes in many forms and colors. It’s slimy, stinky and can ruin the beauty and function of your golf course lakes and irrigation systems. It’s also one of the oldest known organisms on this planet, which might explain its knack for survival, even under the toughest conditions. Over time, golf courses and property management companies have learned to pick sides when it comes to the safe eradication of stubborn and harmful algal blooms — some in favor of natural management techniques; others in support of applying EPA-registered algaecides to ensure the job gets done. But this year, a new game-changing technology will make the management of stubborn algae blooms a no-brainer with more long-lasting results that are beneficial for the environment. Nanobubble aeration is a premium innovative technology designed to exceed the capabilities of traditional lake
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and pond aeration systems by providing up to 79,000x more oxygen! Put simply, nanobubbles are like traditional aeration systems on steroids. Produced by compact on-shore generators, these ultrafine bubbles are completely invisible to the eye and about 1 million times smaller than ordinary bubbles. As a result of their tiny size, nanobubbles have no natural buoyancy and do not rise to the surface of the water and burst like you might expect. Amazingly, they remain within the water column for up to 2–3 months, providing unparalleled oxygenation to struggling lakes and ponds at your property. The benefits of a continuously oxygenated lake or pond are enormous. First, oxygen is a key player in the battle against undesirable nutrients by facilitating the conversion of phosphorus to forms that do not sustain algae development. Excess nutrients can easily enter golf course lakes and ponds in the form of grass clippings,
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
lawn fertilizers, trash, and droppings from geese and other wildlife. The presence of oxygen also helps to balance pH and other related water quality parameters that encourage the growth of fish, native organisms and beneficial phytoplankton — rather than detrimental bacteria like E. Coli, and cyanobacteria species that can be toxic to humans and wildlife and are believed to contribute to degenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Another amazing benefit of nanobubbles? In addition to engulfing an entire aquatic ecosystem in concentrated oxygen, nanobubbles are negatively charged and, therefore, attracted to positively charged organic matter in the water column. When they connect with positively charged metals and pollutants, including dangerous cyanobacteria toxins, nanobubbles cause them to implode(!), holistically cleansing the waterbody from the inside out.
Feature Story This innovative water quality solution did not just appear overnight. Nanobubbles have been used in the medical field, the oil and gas business, food preparation areas, and even the beauty industry for purification purposes. However,
SOLitude Lake Management is the first environmental firm to advance this technology for large-scale freshwater management applications through continuous research and development with select manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
Through many promising tests and trials, we’ve learned some exciting things: Golf course superintendents and property managers who utilize nanobubbles can expect to significantly reduce and even eliminate reliance on traditional algaecides.
Within a few days—even hours—nanobubble aeration can help restore balance to poor water quality. This “after” photo was taken just 72 hours after nanobubbles were introduced to the waterbody.
Before
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
After
Nanobubbles have no negative impacts on turfgrass or ornamental vegetation when monitoring and managing dissolved oxygen levels. Nanobubbles help strengthen the health and longevity of the entire food chain, providing unparalleled aesthetic and ecological balance. Nanobubble aeration isn’t just a quick fix or band-aid; it’s a custom, data-driven solution rooted in years of scientific study and first-hand monitoring experience. The technology doesn’t necessarily replace regular proactive management strategies, but it is truly one of the missing pieces to the puzzle of sustainable freshwater management. Used in conjunction with traditional tools like floating fountains, buffer management, mechanical hydroraking and regular lake and pond inspections, nanobubbles can help keep your water resources healthier and prettier for much longer periods of time, while eliminating nuisance algae and dangerous cyanotoxins before they begin causing problems. Nanobubble aeration is poised to transform the entire way we approach the management of lakes and ponds and will be an invaluable tool as urban development and undesirable nutrient loading continue to increase. We’re excited to shepherd this new technology in to the freshwater management realm and look forward to further enhancing water quality on your property and throughout the world. T
Bo Burns is a Market Development Manager at SOLitude Lake Management, an industry-leading environmental firm. He specializes in the research and development of new technologies using more than 30 years of industry experience along with a Master of Environmental Management degree in Resource and Wetland Ecology from Duke University. This article is the first in a series featuring new break-through technologies that will revolutionize the management of lakes, stormwater ponds, wetlands and fisheries in 2019. Learn more at www.solitudelakemanagement.com/ knowledge
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Industry N ew s
Tennessee’s Paul L. Carter
elected to board of directors for Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
P
aul L. Carter, certified golf course superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tennessee, and director of agronomy for the Tennessee Golf Trail, a division of Tennessee State Parks, was elected to the board of directors for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association’s annual meeting, February 7, 2019, in San Diego. GCSAA is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas, the association provides education, information and representation to more
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than 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The board sets the strategic direction for the association as it strives to serve its members, advance the profession and enhance the growth, enjoyment and vitality of the game of golf. A 26-year GCSAA member, Carter is a member of the Tennessee GCSA and a member and past president of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, and was awarded the Dr. Tom Samples TTA Professional of the Year award in 2015. He has served on several GCSAA committees and as a chapter and voting delegate. Carter and his staff are well-known for the environmental programs at Bear Trace, including its popular “eagle cam” promoting the environmental stewardship of
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
golf courses and providing viewers an upclose glimpse of life in a bald eagle nest. (www.HarrisonBayEagleCam.org). His golf course is certified by Audubon International as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, by the Groundwater Foundation as a Groundwater Guardian Green Site and is one of only 12 golf courses in America to be GEO Certified by the Golf Environment Organization in Europe. He was the overall winner in the 2013 GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards and in 2015 was honored with GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship. He graduated from Auburn University in 1993 with a degree in agriculture sciences. He lives in Apison, Tennessee, with his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Hannah. T
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Calendar of Events May 14th
MTGCSA Meeting Stones River Country Club
May 21
ETGCSA Meeting Willow Creek Golf Club
May 21
MAGCSA Meeting Windyke Country Club
June 11
ETGCSA Meeting The Country Club of Morristown
June 17
MAGCSA Meeting Colonial Country Club
July 8
ETGCSA Meeting Gettysvue Country Club
Adv ertiser Index
July 23 – 25
TPI Summer Convention & Field Day Minneapolis
July 31
TVSTMA Field Day Pigeon Forge
August 6
ETGCSA Meeting Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain
August 29
University of Tennessee Field Day Knoxville
September 16
MAGCSA Bushwood Classic Memphis Country Club
September 17
MTGCSA Meeting Old Hickory Country Club
September 24
A & W Southern Sod Farms................................. 29
ETGCSA Scholarship and Research Tournament Cattails at Meadowview
www.awssod.com
September 27
www.bwicompanies.com
Buy Sod, Inc................................. Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
BWI Companies, Inc.............................................. 31
MTGCSA 1st Annual Skeet Shoot Nashville Gun Club
Carolina Green Corp.............................................. 38
October 8
Covermaster, Inc................................................... 22
www.cgcfields.com
Coosa Valley Turf Farms....................................... 27 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com
Equipment Managers Meeting Smyrna Event Center
www.covermaster.com
November 5th
www.greenvilleturf.com
CoverSports USA.................................................. 29 www.coversports.com
Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc................................. 3
MTGCSA Meeting Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club
Leading Edge Communications............................. 17
January 6 – 8, 2020
Mid Tenn Turf......................................................... 8
TTA Conference & Trade Show Murfreesboro
www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
McCurdy Sod Farms, LLC...................................... 26 www.mccurdysodfarms.com www.midtennturf.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL................................................. 7 www.stihldealers.com
NewLife Turf, Inc.................................................. 31 www.newlifeturf.com
North Georgia Turf Company, Inc......................... 37 www.ngturf.com
Digital Marketplace Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............................ 23 www.progressiveturfequip.com
RD Murphy, LLC.................................................... 35 www.rdmurphy.com
Regal Chemical Company..................................... 33 www.regalchem.com
Sigma Organics, Inc................................................ 9 www.SigmaTurf.com
Smith Seed Services............................................... 6 www.smithseed.com
Smith Turf & Irrigation............................................ 5 www.smithturf.com
Andy Rushing
Southeast Turf Maintenance................................ 26
arushing@cgcfields.com Phone: (704) 634-9799 Toll Free – Office: (866) 753-1707
Sur-Line Turf, Inc................................................... 35
www.cgcfields.com
www.southeastturf.com www.surlineturf.com
Syngenta Turf........................................................ 15 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com
The Turfgrass Group............................... Back Cover The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 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, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2019 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. 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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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Tri-Turf Sod Farms.................................................. 9 www.triturfsod.com
Trimax Mowing Systems...................................... 19 www.trimaxmowers.com
Turf Mountain Sod, Inc......................................... 15 www.turfmountain.com
Turfgrass of Tennessee........................................ 10 Winrock Grass Farm Inc........................................ 21
www.winrockgrassfarm.com
Winstead Turf..............................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com
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 provides excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up, excellent fall color retention and superior wear and traffic tolerance. 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 highestranked, commercially available cultivar. TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create eco-gentle lawns for the future. An astounding breakthrough in sustainability, it will soon become the ultimate musthave grass for home and property owners who want to take a break from water use.
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Buy Sod VarietieS: Golf Putting Greens: Bentgrass and Champion Dwarf bermudagrass
Bermudagrass: TifTuf, TifGrand, Celebration, Patriot, TifSport, Tifway and T10 St. Augustine: Raleigh • Zoysiagrass: Zeon and El Toro • Paspalum: SeaStar Centipedegrass: TifBlair and Common • Bluegrass: Tournament • Fescue/Bluegrass Mixtures
A BreAkThrouGh In SuSTAInABIlITy
“ While researching TifTuf TM, i was impressed by the cultivar’s tolerance to adverse conditions, particu- larly drought, low fertility, traffic and cool weather. in the trial work i conducted, TifTuf TM was the first cultivar to green up in the spring, the last to go dormant during drought conditions and the most tolerant to traffic. Other notable characteristics of TifTuf TM include fine leaf texture and high turf density, as well as aggressive growth and establish- ment rates.” Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., Oregon State University
As water restrictions tighten in many drought-stricken areas of the U.S., golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, property owners and sod producers increasingly value drought-tolerant turfgrass. Selected for its superior drought and wear tolerance, TiFTUF™ has been rigorously developed and tested for more than two decades by a team of researchers led by Dr. Wayne Hanna and Dr. Brian Schwartz at UGA’s Tifton Campus. TiFTUF™ was bred in 1992, as one of 27,700 experimental bermudagrass genotypes. in 1999, ninety of the most promising genotypes were planted under a rainout shelter and evaluated through 2001 under deficit irrigation. Under this drought stress, TiFTUF™ (tested as experimental name DT-1) maintained its quality and green color the longest. in 2011 continuing drought study testing established that TiFTUF™ requires 38% less water than Tifway. Since then, TiFTUF™ has been further tested in 19 drought-stress trials, 2 sports field wear tolerance trials and 4 irrigated, non-stress trials at The University of Georgia, The University of Florida, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University as part of the Federal Specialty Crop research initiative (SCri) grant. it has now been determined that TiFTUF™ will become the University research standard by which all drought tolerance will be determined. in 2013, TiFTUF™ was entered into the National Turfgrass evaluation Program (NTeP) bermudagrass trials where it is being evaluated in 20 locations across the United States until 2017. NTeP results from 2014 reveal that TiFTUF™ scored the highest quality ratings in the following test locations: North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and California. TiFTUF™ also ranked in the highest statistical group for quality in Alabama, Georgia, indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Fine textured and dense, TiFTUF™ exhibits several additional stellar qualities, including superior wear tolerance, early spring greenup, excellent fall color retention and extremely rapid grow-in. if you’re seeking a truly superior turfgrass for performance, aesthetics and sustainability, you’ve just found it.
“ With its combination of drought tolerance, aggressive growth and superior fall color, it has a great place in the industry.” Grady Miller, Ph.D., North Carolina State University “ it also survives winters in Kansas. With 94% survival, it is no different than Latitude 36 TM, Yukon, Patriot TM and Riviera.” Jared Hoyle, Ph.D., Kansas State University “ TifTuf TM performed very well on our large-scale Linear Gradient irrigation System at the university of florida. it maintained good quality with signif- icantly less water compared to the other commer- cially produced cultivars.” J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida “ We found evidence that TifTuf TM used less water than Tifway 419 and TifSport. it’s just a very tough and drought-tolerant grass. As soon as it quits raining, TifTuf TM is still performing well, unlike others that can start to fail.” Brian Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Georgia “ With today’s extreme environmental conditions, there has never been a greater need for a superior drought- and wear-tolerant grass like TifTuf TM. its aggressive grow-in under cold and drought conditions makes TifTuf TM the environmentally and financially successful turfgrass choice. This rigorously tested grass that maintains its color and quality will create the most sustainable, environmentally friendly lawns, sports fields and golf courses around the world.” Ken Morrow, Co-Founder of The Turfgrass Group
USDA drought-tolerance trial (left to right): TiFTUF™, Latitude 36™ and Celebration™. Engineering Better Turfgrass One Blade At A Time
For more information on licensing opportunities, please contact: The Turfgrass Group, Inc. (770) 207-1500 or (770) 710-8139 www.THeTUrFGrASSGrOUP.com
