February/March 2019
The Sports Turf Issue How Soil Water Content Impacts Bermudagrass Athletic Fields How Crumb Rubber Particle Size and Depth Impacts Traffic Tolerance of Hybrid Bermudagrass
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Also, Highlights from the 2019 TTA Turfgrass Annual Conference & Tradeshow
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14 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
TABLE OF CONTENTS February/March 2019
The Sports Turf Issue
8 14 22 30
30
How Does Soil Water Content Impact Bermudagrass Athletic Fields How Crumb Rubber Particle Size and Depth Impacts Traffic Tolerance of Hybrid Bermudagrass
Recent Event — Highlights from the TTA Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Member Spotlight — Bill Blackburn, Recipient of the Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award
DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President
4
6
Industry News
34
The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
37
Calendar of Events
38
Index of Advertisers
38
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019
34
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From the TTA President
Jason Pooler
What a Wet and
Cold Winter! H
opefully everyone went into winter with the grass at your facility in tiptop shape because this weather has been all over the place, with December and early January having high temperatures and then freezing temperatures in
February. This has been one of the wettest winters to date; one can only think about the drought we may have ahead of us this summer. Welcome to Tennessee weather! What better place to learn than the TTA 53rd annual conference and trade
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show? If you didn’t make it to the conference, it was one of the most informational conferences I’ve been to. We had nothing but compliments from everyone about the classes that were held and the quality of the trade show. Our guest speaker at the awards ceremony, Rodney Smith Jr. of Raising Men Lawn Care Service, was absolutely incredible with his unbelievable mission. He has successfully helped people all over the United States. With all that said, I would like to give thanks to all my TTA Board, Jim Brosnan and the UT staff and last but not least, our Executive Director Melissa Martin for all the hard work that they put into the conference and trade show to make it a great success. I would also like to thank long time member and board member Joe Hill for all the services he has done and also Scott Wicker for his dedication to the board. I would like to welcome back Jeff Kuhns, Paul Webb, Cal Hill and welcome new board members Mark Stovall and Jeff Huber, we look forward to working with you guys this year. If you have ideas for next year’s event, please get with one of our board members who want to make 2020 conference even bigger and better. We have already been hard at work planning it out. Hope everyone has a productive 2019 growing season.
Jason Pooler TTA President 2018–2019
GroWers oF QuAlITY TurF sInce 1987 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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
coosA VAlleY TurF FArms llc MeMber of
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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Sports Tur f
How Does
Soil Water Content Impact Bermudagrass Athletic Fields By Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. and John C. Sorochan, Ph.D.
M
any athletic fields in the U.S. are built with native soils in contrast to constructed sand root zones such as those developed according to the United States Golf Association (USGA; USGA Green Section Staff, 2007). Native soils high in silt and clay tend to have greater soil water contents and slower water infiltration rates compared to constructed sand root zones (Pitt et al., 2008). The decreased water infiltration rates of cohesive soils (i.e., non-sand soils) are potentially problematic when precipitation occurs prior to athletic events. It has been reported that cohesive soil athletic fields with high soil water 8
content tend to lose green turfgrass cover faster than those with lower soil water content (Rogers, 1988; Carrow et al., 2001). Constructed sand root zones are used on many U.S. collegiate and professional football fields. Sand root zones are preferred because of consistent air-filled porosity, rapid drainage, and compaction resistance, which help avoid rain delays or cancellations (Bingaman and Kohnke, 1970; Bigelow and Soldat, 2013; Brockhoff et al., 2010). While multiple types of constructed sand root zones exist, the USGA specification is the most common for high-end athletic fields because it provides acceptable stability and optimal
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
drainage (Bigelow and Soldat, 2013). However, sand root zones may not be used on all athletic fields due to high construction costs (STMA, 2008). The objective of this research was to determine the impact of soil water content on the performance of hybrid bermudagrass on cohesive soil (silt loam) and non-cohesive (USGA specification) root zone when subjected to traffic. Two field studies were conducted from 2014–2015 at the University of Tennessee Center for Athletic Field Safety (Knoxville, TN) to determine soil water content impact on compaction and loss of green turfgrass cover on ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass
[Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis, Burtt-Davy]. Study I was conducted using plots established on a Sequatchie silt loam soil (fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Humic Hapludult). This soil was selected due to its common use on high school athletic fields in Knoxville, TN. Study II used plots established on a sand meeting USGA specifications (0.7% very coarse, 14.3% coarse, 61.4% medium, 18.1% fine, 5.1% very fine, and 0.4% silt and clay by weight) mixed with 20% (volume) reed sedge peat moss (United States Golf Association, 2007). Study I had four soil moisture ranges: low (6 – 13%), medium (14 – 21 %), medium-high (22 – 29%), and high (30 – 37%). Study II soil moisture ranges were: low (5 – 11%), medium (12 – 19%), and high (20 – 27%) throughout the study for both years. Differences in the amount of ranges between root zones were due to plant available water of the soil texture. Water was applied to each experimental unit as needed based on the average of seven root zone moisture measurements (3 in depth) collected daily using a handheld time domain reflectometer (TDR) probe (FieldScout 300 Probe, Spectrum Technologies, Inc. Plainfield, IL). Traffic was applied to both studies using a self-propelled core aerifier similar to the Baldree Traffic Simulator (BTS) described by Kowalewski et al. (2013). Each plot received 50 traffic events each year.
A
Silt Loam Root Zone This study’s findings indicate that increased soil water content on cohesive soils resulted in greater loss of green turfgrass cover when trafficked (Fig. 1). High soil water content ranges lost green turfgrass cover approximately four times faster than the low or medium soil water content and three times faster than medium-high soil water content treatments (Fig. 1). Surface hardness varied across traffic events due to soil water content (Fig. 2). These findings indicate surface hardness of a field can be manipulated by adjusting soil water content, suggesting
B Figure 1. Green turfgrass cover changes in response to soil water contents across traffic events applied to hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’] established on (a) silt loam soil and (b) sand meeting USGA specification root zone. Fifty traffic events were applied over 10 weeks (5 per week) across four soil water contents (low = 6 – 13%, medium = 14 – 21%, medium-high = 22 –29%, and high = 30 – 37%) for a and three water contents (low = 5 – 11%, medium = 12 – 19%, and high = 20 – 27%) for b during fall 2014 and 2015 in Knoxville, TN. Error bars represent Fisher’s LSD values at α ≤ 0.05 within each traffic event as a means statistical comparison. Black line in graph represents when 50% green turfgrass cover is achieved.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
9
Sports Tur f that high soil moisture and soil compaction have significant impacts on surface hardness values. Cohesive soils, due to the higher quantities of silt and clay, are more responsive to increases in water content (Israelachvili and Adams, 1978; Schoen et al., 1987). Regardless of soil water content, soil bulk density increased as traffic events increased. The increase in soil bulk density was due to reduction of the air-filled pore space of soil. Shear strength declined most rapidly at the high soil water content treatment (Fig. 3). The high soil water content had the greatest loss of green turfgrass cover, extremely low surface hardness values and unacceptable shear strength throughout a majority of this study. This study found plots maintained at 7 to 20% soil water content provided the optimal surface for athletic field performance for the silt loam athletic field.
A
USGA Sand Specification Root zone Soil water content treatments had little impact on the non-cohesive root zone when trafficked. The high soil water content treatment resulted in less than ideal surface hardness values, but not unstable conditions (Fig. 2). Soil bulk density increased six percent after 50 traffic events, which was accompanied by a six percent decrease in air-filled porosity (data not shown). Results suggest that shear strength values were not affected by soil water content in the sand root zone, but by the loss of green turfgrass cover due to traffic (data not shown). No optimum soil water content range was identified of those tested in this study for the sand root zones. In this study 50% was selected as the worst case for low input athletic fields (i.e., parks, recreation, etc). The authors are aware that higher green turfgrass cover levels could be the minimum acceptable limit for professional athletic fields. Also, the soil water content ranges determined as optimal are not for all root zones, these are only for the listed soils described above. Slight changes in the composition of sand, silt, and clay in addition to sand 10
B Figure 2: Surface hardness (GMAX) changes in response to soil water contents across traffic events applied to hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’] established on (a) silt loam soil and (b) sand meeting USGA specification root zone. Fifty traffic events were applied over 10 weeks (5 per week) across four soil water contents (low = 6 – 13%, medium = 14 – 21%, medium-high = 22 – 29%, and high = 30 – 37%) for a and three water contents (low = 5 – 11%, medium = 12 – 19%, and high = 20 – 27%) for b during fall 2014 and 2015 in Knoxville, TN. Letters that are similar are not significantly different at α = 0.05 according to Fisher’s LSD.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Sports Tur f particle size could greatly change the optimum ranges for those soils.
Conclusion Results from this research indicated that hybrid bermudagrass established on a silt loam soil performs best when soil water content ranges were in the low and medium range. These results of the optimal range for silt loam soils correspond to plant available water and potentially explain the superior results. The high soil water content treatment lost cover at a rate four times faster than the low and medium soil water content treatments. The high soil water content treatment decreased turfgrass stability and negatively impacted field performance because of the saturated soil conditions. Soil water content
treatments minimal impact on hybrid bermudagrass traffic green turfgrass cover loss on sand root zones with few differences detected among field performance characteristics or soil physical properties. Our results indicate that low to medium soil water content provide optimum field performance for hybrid bermudagrass on silt loam root zones. While no optimum range was identified in sand root zones.
References Bigelow, C. A., and D.J, Soldat. 2013. Turfgrass root zones: management, construction methods, amendment characterization, and use. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos (ed.) Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management, 383-423.
Bingaman, D. E., and H. Kohnke. 1970. Evaluating sands for athletic turf. Agron. J. 62:464. Brockhoff, S. R., N. E. Christians, R. H. Killorn, and D. D., Dedrick. 2010. Physical and mineral-nutrition properties of sand-based turfgrass root zones amended with biochar. Agron J. 102:1627-1631. Carrow, R. N., Duncan, R. R., Worley, and J. E., Shearman, R. C. 2001. Turfgrass traffic (soil compaction plus wear) simulator: response of Paspalum vaginatum and Cynodon spp. Int. Turf. Soc.Res. J. 9:253-258. Israelachvili, J.N. and G.E. Adams.1978. Measurement of forces between two mica surfaces in aqueous electrolyte solutions in the range 0–100 nm. J. Chem.Soc.74: 975-1001. Pitt, R., S. Chen, S. Clark, J. Swenson, and C. Ong. 2008. Compaction’s impacts on urban storm-water infiltration. J. of Irrig. and Drainage Eng. 134:652-658. Rogers, J.N. 1988. Impact absorption and traction characteristics of turf and soil surfaces. Ph.D. dissertation. Penn. State University. University Park, PA. Schoen, M., D.J. Diestler, and J.H. Cushman. 1987. Fluids in micropores. I. Structure of a simple classical fluid in a silt-pre. J. Chem. Phys. 87:5464-5476. STMA. 2008. A guide to synthetic and natural turfgrass for sports fields: Selection, construction and maintenance considerations. 2nd ed. Sports Managers Assoc., Lawrence, KS. http://kafmo.org/pdf/stma_synthetic turfguridhipg1.pdf . Accessed 10 July 2016.
Figure 3: Shear strength differences in hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’] athletic field established on a silt loam soil shear strength (N-m) across 50 traffic events (5 per week) with varying levels of soil water content (low = 6 – 13%, medium = 14 – 21%, mediumhigh = 22 – 29%, and high = 30 – 37%) during fall 2014 and 2015 in Knoxville, TN. Error bars represent Fisher’s LSD values at α < 0.05 within each traffic event. Black line represents unacceptable level of shear strength for bermudagrass as suggested by the findings in this study.
12
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
United States Golf Association. 2007. United States Golf Association recommendations for a method of putting green construction. [Online] Available at: http://www.usga.org/ turf/course_construction/green_artic les/putting_green_guidelines.html. (Accessed 16 July 2016). T
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How
Crumb Rubber
Particle Size and Depth Impacts Traffic Tolerance of Hybrid Bermudagrass
1â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 mm particles
14
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
By Kyley H. Dickson, Ph.D. and John C. Sorochan, Ph.D.
A
thletic fields can develop worn areas due to traffic. Finding methods to alleviate traffic is important to improve traffic tolerance of an athletic field. Topdressing is one method that field managers use to mitigate some of the negative impacts of traffic. Topdressing has been identified as a way to reduce undulation, increase water infiltration, aid in thatch decomposition, modify
topsoil, and improve surface firmness (Goss, 1977). Crumb rubber generated from recycled automotive tires can be used as a topdressing medium on athletic fields (Rogers et al., 1998). When subjected to traffic, Kowaleski et al. (2011) reported that topdressing with crumb rubber was more effective in increasing Kentucky bluegrass cover and shear strength than topdressing with sand. Additionally,
Kentucky bluegrass cover increased with crumb rubber topdressing rate (Rogers et al., 1998). Increased wear tolerance and decreased surface hardness and soil bulk density were observed in ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass as well as ‘Riviera’ and ‘Quickstand’ common bermudagrass when topdressed with one inch (0.04 – 0.09 in particle size range) of crumb rubber (Goddard et al.,
0.05 – 0.5 mm particles
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
15
Sports Tur f 2008). Similar results might be achieved using less crumb rubber of a smaller particle size, as they more fully envelop stoloniferous meristems of bermudagrass compared to larger particles. The goal of this study was to determine optimal crumb rubber particle size and topdressing depth combinations for use on hybrid bermudagrass athletic fields. ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass plots were established at the University of Tennessee Center for Athletic Field Safety (Knoxville, TN) on a leveled Sequatchie silt loam soil. Five crumb rubber topdressing materials were evaluated in this study: Coarse, Medium Coarse, Medium, Fine, and Very Fine. These crumb rubber materials varied in both particle size and uniformity (Table 1). Crumb rubber topdressing was applied in 0.25 in increments seven days apart until desired depths of 0.25 in, 0.50 in and 0.75 in were achieved. A non-topdressed control (0 in) was included for comparison. Plots were subjected to traffic using a Cady Traffic Simulator. The Cady Traffic Simulator used was a modified core aerifier (Jacobsen VA-24; Jacobsen, Charlotte, NC) that imparted impact forces equivalent to those generated by American football players (Henderson et al., 2005). Traffic dates coincided with the high school football season in Knoxville, TN. Traffic was applied until all plots received 25 traffic events each year. Hybrid bermudagrass percent green cover was quantified immediately after each traffic. Surface hardness was measured on all plots immediately following traffic using a Clegg Impact Soil Tester. Soil water content (%) data were collected on each date surface hardness was assessed using a time domain reflectometry probe equipped with threeinch tines (FieldScout 300 Probe. Spectrum Technologies, Inc. Plainfield, IL).
Green Cover All depths of crumb rubber topdressing maintained green cover longer than nontopdressed control plots (Figure 1). Only
16
Table 1: Particle size analysis for five crumb rubber treatments topdressed into hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’] at various depths in Knoxville, TN, fall 2011 and 2012. Crumb Rubber Topdressing† Particle size ranges
Coarse‡
Medium Coarse
mm
Medium
Fine
Very Fine
%
>2
35
3
0
0
0
2-1
58
97
50
0
0
1-0.5
7
0
50
51
34
0.5 – 0.25
0
0
0
39
57
0.25 – 0.15
0
0
0
8
7
0.15 – 0.05
0
0
0
2
2
† Coefficient of uniformity values for the coarse, medium-coarse, medium, fine, and very fine crumb rubber materials were 1.38, 1.82, 1.79, 2.28, and 1.83, respectively. ‡Names given to particle size distribution range.
Figure 1: Changes in hybrid bermudagrass [C. dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’] percent green turfgrass cover with different crumb rubber topdressing depths following 25 traffic combined from fall 2011 and 2012 in Knoxville, TN. Standard error bars are presented as a means of statistical comparison. Black lines represent where values drop below 50% green turfgrass cover.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Sports Tur f 12 traffic events reduced green cover below 50% on non-topdressed control plots compared to 20 traffic events for those receiving crumb rubber at 0.5 or 0.75 in. Applying 0.25 in of crumb rubber topdressing improved 50% green cover values compared to non-topdressed control plots but less so than applications at 0.5 or 0.75 in. On Kentucky bluegrass, Rogers et al. (1998) also reported that topdressing crumb rubber to a minimum depth of 0.25 in increased turfgrass cover in response to traffic events and suggested that this response may be a result of crumb rubber particles protecting plant crowns during traffic application (Rogers et al., 1998). The improved traffic tolerance observed herein could be due to crumb rubber protecting hybrid bermudagrass crowns by attenuating impact forces exerted during foot strike with the turf canopy. Regardless of particle size, all plots receiving crumb rubber maintained green cover longer than non-topdressed control plots (Figure 2). Non-topdressed control plots were reduced to 50% green cover after 12 traffic events while those receiving crumb rubber topdressing required 19 to 21 traffic events to be reduced to 50% green cover. However, few differences due to crumb rubber particle size were observed in our study.
Figure 2: Changes in hybrid bermudagrass (C. dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’) percent green turfgrass cover due to crumb rubber particle size following 25 traffic events combined during fall 2011 and 2012 in Knoxville, TN. Standard error bars are presented as a means of statistical comparison. Black line represents 50% green turfgrass cover.
Surface Hardness Crumb rubber topdressing depth impacted surface hardness after application of 25 traffic events (Figure 3). Surface hardness on non-topdressed control plots measured 73 Gmax compared to 52-57 Gmax for plots topdressed to a 0.5 or 0.75 in depth. A similar response was observed in our green cover data with the 0.25 in topdressing depth having a less pronounced effect on hybrid bermudagrass athletic field turf than 0.5 or 0.75 in. Regardless of crumb rubber particle size, every increase in topdressing depth resulted in a significant reduction in surface hardness, similar to responses reported by Rogers et al. (1998) on Kentucky bluegrass. Future studies are warranted to determine optimal crumb
18
Figure 3: Differences in hybrid bermudagrass (C. dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy, ‘Tifway’) surface hardness (Gmax) due to crumb rubber topdressing depth and particle size following 25 traffic events combined during fall 2011 and 2012 in Knoxville, TN. A Clegg Impact Soil Tester equipped with a 2.25 kg missile was used to collect surface hardness data. Fisher’s protected least significant difference (LSD) values are represented as letter groupings as a means statistical comparison.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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Sports Tur f rubber topdressing depth to reduce soil bulk density on Tifway hybrid bermudagrass subjected to traffic.
Conclusions All crumb rubber treatments in this study increased traffic tolerance compared to plots not receiving crumb rubber topdressing. All crumb rubber topdressing depths increased number of traffic events to 50% green cover values more than 50% compared to non-topdressed control plots and reduced surface hardness. Crumb rubber particle size did not have any practically important differences on green cover or surface hardness. Given the responses observed in the current
study, depth is a more important factor in selecting crumb rubber topdressing for hybrid bermudagrass athletic fields than particle size.
References Goddard, M. J.R., J.C. Sorochan, J.S. McElroy, D.E. Karcher and J.W. Landreth. 2008. The effects of crumb rubber topdressing on hybrid Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass athletic fields in the transition zone. Crop Sci. 48:2003-2009. Goss, R.L. 1977. Topdressing your way to better greens. Proc. IL. Turf. Conf. 18:33-37.
Henderson, J.J., J.R. Crum, T.F. Wolff, and J.N. Rogers. 2005. Effects of particle size distribution and water content at compaction on saturated hydraulic conductivity and strength of high sand content root zone materials. Soil Sci. 170:315-324. Kowalewski, A.R., J.C. Dunne, J.N, Rogers, and J.R. Crum. 2011. Heavy sand and crumb rubber topdressing improves Kentucky bluegrass wear tolerance. App. Turf. Sci. 100:60. Rogers, J.N., J.T. Vanini, and J.R. Crum. 1998. Simulated traffic on turfgrass topdressed with crumb rubber. Agron. J. 90:215-221. T
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Rec ent Event
TTA Conference and Trade Show is
Growing Our Industry H
eld January 5–7, 2019 at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, our annual conference was an event filled with excellent education, networking and certification opportunities. With courses in three main tracks (Golf Turf, Sports Turf and Sod),
as well as general business instruction and research updates from University of Tennessee researchers, all in attendance had access to a wealth of knowledge that is sure to elevate their own business and our state’s turfgrass industry as a whole.
Save the Date! Don’t miss your opportunity to attend this great event next year on
January 6 – 8, 2020 at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. We can’t wait to see you there! Continue to page 24 for highlights from the 2019 Conference and Trade Show
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Rec ent Event Congratulations to our
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Tom Samples Professional of the Year Bill Blackburn
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Public Course of the Year
Guy Hudson of Oak Ridge Country Club
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High School Field of the Year
Municipal Field of the Year
Kris Drake of Webb School of Knoxville
Joe Rodocker of RichEllen Sports Complex
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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We deliver RollMaster® Zoysiagrass anywhere and everywhere. Call us to discuss your particular Zoysiagrass delivery needs.
Visit us online to discover more of our hIGh perForMaNce zoysiagrass varieties: ShadekING® zoysiagrass, WINrock zoySIa® for Sun and ezoy™ zoysiagrass
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Rec ent Event Congratulations to our
2018 TTA Award and Scholarship Winners!
Professional Field of the Year
Environmental Stewardship Award
Eric Taylor of the Ballpark at Jackson
Jordan Clark of The Links at Kahite
Legacy Scholarship
Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship
Sam Wicker
Rhys Fielder Not Pictured:
Collegiate Field of the Year Mike Policastro, Cleveland State Baseball Head Coach
26
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 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.
CaLL (615) 384-9303 Today!
awssod@yahoo.com • aWSod.com • 5651 Fred Perry Rd. • Springfield, Tn 37172
Get ahead of the game in the cold months with FieldSaver® Winter Turf Blankets/Growth Covers. Custom sizes available. We are the manufacturer! Standard sizes ship fast, from Philadelphia!
Actual sequence in same location November: Season ended with less than 10% of turf cover.
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• Heavy 100% woven polypro fabric • Reinforced hems and grommets all edges • Stakes stay in place & won’t rip fabric
For price quotes, sizes, fabric specs and samples, visit www.CoverSports.com sales@coversports.com • 800-445-6680 We make covers for all athletic surfaces: Rain Covers, Sideline Tarps, Track Protectors
Spring: Covers have been removed. (Uncovered turf still dormant) Stakes keep covers in place in brass grommets at 5' intervals.
Rec ent Event / Sponsors This conference was a great success, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to recognize the sponsors and exhibitors that made it possible.
Diamond Partner
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
Bronze Partners
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Ex hibitors Advanced Turf Solutions Aqua Aid BASF Better Billy Bunker, Inc. Buy Sod BWI Companies Capillary Concrete Champion Turf Farm, Inc CRF TECH Crossroads Sod Farm, LLC Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply Donkey Forklift DryJect First Products Inc FMC Geoponics Corp. Golf Agronomics Sand Golf Preservations Graham Spray Equipment Grassmasters Sod Farm Grassroots, Inc. Greenville Turf and Tractor HARCO Fittings Harrell’s Humphries Farm Turf Supply Huntsville Tractor & Equipment Jackson Sand Co. Keeling Company Ladd’s Inc. McCurdy Sod Farms Mid Tenn Turf Modern Turf, Inc PBI Gordon Pioneer Athletics ProSolutions, LLC Raven Golf Construction, Inc. Redexim Turf Products Regal Chemical SAF/Turface SePro Sigma Organics Simplot SiteOne Smith Turf & Irrigation Southeast Turf Maintenance STEC Equipment Sur-Line Turf, Inc Syngenta The Andersons The Hogan Company The Turfgrass Group, Inc. TIPCO, Inc. Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc Warner’s Athletic Construction Co. Winfield Solutions Winrock Grass Farm Winstead Turf Farms
Located near Bastrop in northeast Louisiana, Bayou Bend turf Grass is a grower of certified, quality tifeagle, tifdwarf, tifGreen and MiniVerde grasses. ®
(318) 283-2279 www.BayouBendturf.com
731-692-3515 TifTuf • Tifway Bermuda • Blended Tall Fescue Meyer Z-52 Zoysia • Palisades Zoysia
•
www.mccurdysodfarms.com • mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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TTA Me mber Spo tlight on
Bill Blackburn Tom Samples Professional of the Year Recipient
Mr.
Bill Blackburn, General Manager of Tennessee Business at Smith Turf & Irrigation received the high honor of being named the recipient of the 2018 Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award. He accepted this award at the TTA Conference in Murfreesboro on January 8th. This award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding devotion of time, talent and energy to the turfgrass industry. It is named after Dr. Tom Samples, who has devoted his time and career to the turfgrass industry. Dr. Samples has been a professor at the University of Tennessee for 30-plus years, working predominantly in extension. His efforts have touched countless individuals working in golf, sports turf, sod production and lawn care in all of Tennessee’s 95 counties. We sat down with Bill to learn about his success in the industry, his background, and one unfortunate (but a little funny) incident in irrigation.
Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine: We need to know about your long and illustrious career and how you came to be honored with this award. Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little bit about how you got started in the industry. Bill Blackburn: I’ll be glad to. I guess in high school, I wanted to teach and coach
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
through my education. After an injury in high school, I gravitated a little more towards golf and enjoyed working at the little golf course at Carnton Country Club in Franklin, where I grew up. During my junior and senior year in college at Middle Tennessee State University, I had the opportunity to be the manager of a course in Murfreesboro, where Indian Hills is now, at a little course there called Fox Run Golf Course. Right after college I had the opportunity to come back to the little club in Franklin as Director of Golf and Assistant General Manager. Two or three years after that, I wanted to really broaden that and either wanted
to sell turf maintenance equipment or be involved in the golf side of it with the apparel and soft goods. An opportunity was available, but it would’ve required a move, and I just did not want to leave my roots, and I didn’t. But an opportunity in the turfgrass industry in 1985 did present itself. So I guess something like 30, 34 years ago, I began selling equipment. My territory was eastern Tennessee. I would leave on Sunday and get in the territory, the Knoxville, Kingsport, TriCities area, a little bit of Virginia. From there, I came back to Middle Tennessee and worked this area as an outside salesperson for distribution, and after about
Bill Blackburn accepts the Tom Samples Professional of the Year award at the TTA Conference.
TTA Member Spotlight three years of that I had the opportunity to work on a national level with a company that was owned by the Toro Company, it was called Olathe Manufacturing. After doing that up until about 1992, I had the opportunity with Smith Turf & Irrigation. I resigned from the Toro company, Olathe, and simultaneously accepted the role that I’m still in 26 and a half years later, here at STI. With all this, I never had to move. I had to travel a lot, but I never moved. Here we are, I’m 59 years old, I’m right here outside my hometown. TTM: In your sales career over the years, have you incorporated some of that passion for coaching that you talked about? Is a lot of it educating and training, and does that fill that role of coaching for you sometimes? BB: It IS coaching, it is promoting. Some prefer a pat on the back, some prefer that soft touch. I was one that would go through a wall for a coach if they knew that motivator. Those that did not motivate that way, I did not perform that well. You never want to break a spirit of a kid or of an employee of what they may be doing. They may be doing it totally different than what I think they should do or the way I may want them to achieve a goal, but at the end of the day if that works for them and it’s ethically correct, morally correct, and valid… then a good coach will commend that creativity and go “I think that’s probably a better idea than what I would have suggested, way to go.” So yes, you better be a good coach, you better be a good motivator, and some do require a little kick in the seat from time to time. Typically if you understand that, then they’re gonna look at you and say “I probably deserved that,” and we move on past it and we learn from it. Yes, it’s coaching. To coach, in my humble opinion, to coach and promote children, especially, it’s a sales game. You’ve gotta get down on the kid’s level and get eyeto-eye, on your knee and tell them how great they’re doing, and “Man, that’s a
32
Bill Blackburn accepts the Tom Samples Professional of the Year award at the TTA Conference.
great shot.” Sometimes a great shot means that it just gets airborne or they made a putt. Especially out at our little course, The Lightning Bug, for 15 years, I’ve seen little kids that are playing now collegiately. They’re out of school or in high school or middle school. I’ve had some out there in strollers! I actually turned the water on – hit the wrong button, and I actually had a family and one of the little children’s stroller, and it pops up the irrigation. I told you earlier how I’m dangerous! TTM: That mentality and your encouragement of others in the industry and certainly your years of service probably led to your receiving this award, the Tom Samples award. The association says that the criteria for that is “an individual who has shown an outstanding devotion of time, talent, and energy to the turfgrass industry.” And it’s obvious that you have spent that time and energy, and you’re really paying attention to everybody – from toddlers who you’ve hosed down accidentally with the irrigation system to your peers in the industry, like you talked about – those relationships that you’ve made over the years. Tell us about how the association and those relationships and collaborations within the industry have been important in your career. BB: Certainly they have. A moment to reference the Dr. Samples Professional of the Year. You know Dr. Samples came
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
to Tennessee, the University in ’85, just about the time I was starting out in the field. So by being honored by the turfgrass association, that name was changed to the Dr. Tom Samples Award three or four years ago, if I remember correctly. I mean, what an honor for me. And for the association, the members, the board of directors, those that nominated and those that agreed upon my receiving the award — that goes down as the peak of the awards that perhaps I can receive in the industry. I’ve been honored in a few other things. I’m very, very grateful for that. I became a board member – I think my first year was 1989. As I indicated, I traveled for five years, so it wasn’t like I was at all the local meetings. I never was. I may have been at a meeting in New Jersey or Hilton Head or Miami. And I went to a bunch of superintendent’s meetings and trade shows. And actually when you look back on the trade shows, the national shows and the local state associations, that’s where I kind of got involved with the TTA from the board standpoint, to kind of be the trade show chairman, and I took that seriously. From board member, I became vice president, I never went through the secretary role, then I was vice president to my dear industry friend Lynn Ray for his twoyear tenure, then moved up to my role. TTM: Could you offer any tips for maintaining your job and your industry roles, the association, and travel, and hobbies, and still also having a family?
BB: You better be blessed, lucky to have a bunch of friends, and I have that. Now, one would say you’re probably really lucky to have a handful of those that are true, personal friends. And I have that. If you’re in this industry, it is vital that your neighbor down the street at XYZ facility, that those folks are able to pick the phone up and contact you. So many times I’ll find that I have some product that I have a few extra bags, or I have a piece of equipment that I’ll be glad to let you borrow and use to help, let’s just say, aerate your turfgrass, your infield, or whatever the case may be. That’s where those that are successful have that rapport with others, and it’s garnered at events like superintendent’s meetings or sports turf managers meetings or at the TTA Conference and Trade Show and educational opportunities. One must develop a relationship with the doctors and professors and those that have “been there, done that”. They could easily hunt and peck an email or text and say “Man, I’ve got a little disease here, I’m not sure, can you offer some guidance or assistance?” And those that give and receive, that’s what is special about what we do. I’m just on a different side of it, where a man’s or woman’s piece of equipment or irrigation doesn’t perform well and it’s 95 degrees, they’re in a bind. They have X number of members or parents or school board – whatever – looking down for them to get things done correctly. And sometimes it doesn’t work so hot. I get the challenge of, I’ve GOT to help that person – some way, some form, some fashion. Sometimes we are good at it, sometimes we miss the mark, but kind of going back to learning early. You do whatever you can do as long as you don’t violate ethics or morals or character. And you do whatever you can to support those that need your help, and you look back on it –they’ll support you. And that’s kind of how it works as I see it. This article is an excerpt from Bill Blackburn’s interview with TheTurfZone. To hear the full interview, listen to the podcast at www.theturfzone.com. T
Industry Ne ws
Herbicide Resistance in Annual Bluegrass
Annual bluegrass is one of the most common weeds of turfgrass on golf courses and it has developed resistance to common herbicides, threatening the profitability of the turfgrass industry that serves golf courses, sports fields and sod farms as well as commercial and private landscapes. Photo by G. Breeden, courtesy UTIA.
By Patricia McDaniels
A
nnual bluegrass is one of the most common weeds of turfgrass on golf courses, sports fields and sod farms, not to mention residential and commercial lawns. Unfortunately this nemesis of pristine landscapes has also developed resistance to many common herbicides. Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) are participating in a national effort to address what many landscape managers call an epidemic of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass plaguing managed turf systems. As part of a $3.2 million, 15-state USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant, UTIA turfgrass researcher Jim Brosnan will lead a team of Tennessee weed scientists in sampling annual bluegrass populations across the state. The team will travel the state’s three grand divisions to take samples from golf courses, sports fields, and residential and commercial lawns, as well as sod production farms. The sampled specimens will then be propagated in a controlled laboratory setting and tested for resistance to commonly used herbicides. The goal is to quantify the scope of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass populations across Tennessee. Additionally, Brosnan’s team will also be
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developing new diagnostic assays to detect herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass, researching annual bluegrass seed persistence in soil, as well as the effects of turfgrass cultural practices on annual bluegrass infestation. “This is a landmark study bringing together weed scientists from across the United States to address the important issue of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass. It is exciting for UTIA to be involved in an effort that will provide such comprehensive and valuable information to turfgrass managers,” said Brosnan. In Tennessee, turfgrass is big business, contributing $5.8 billion to the state’s economy in 2013, the latest year for which measurements are available. In a survey of Tennessee turfgrass industry managers conducted by UTIA researchers including Brosnan, nearly all of the state’s golf, sports field, lawn care and sod production professionals indicated that weed control was an important and problematic issue influencing the profitability of their businesses. Nationally, the turf industry has been valued to exceed $62 billion, but that figure dates to the mid 2000s in an industry that is notoriously difficult to quantify. Weeds, however, are everybody’s problem.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Brosnan says the UTIA efforts will amount to $425,000 in funds from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) over the course of the next four years. The overall grant — $3.2 million spread across 15 different land-grant universities — is being coordinated by Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, a weed scientist at Texas A&M University. The UTIA studies should result in optimized annual bluegrass management plans that integrate both cultural and chemical techniques to mitigate herbicide resistance in Tennessee and beyond. “We will also be involved in extension and outreach activities to communicate findings to turfgrass managers across the United States,” said Brosnan. Details about the study can be found online at the USDA-NIFA website: https:// reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/ 1016398-research-and-extension-toaddress-herbicide-resistance-epidemicin-annual-bluegrass-in-managed-turfsystems.html Reach out to Patricia McDaniels, UTIA Marketing and Communications by phone 615-835-4570 or email pmcdaniels@ tennessee.edu. http://ag.tennessee.edu
Specimens of annual bluegrass are being collected across Tennessee and propagated in a controlled laboratory setting at the UT Institute of Agriculture to test for resistance to commonly used herbicides. The goal is to quantify the scope of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass populations across Tennessee. Photo by J. Brosnan, courtesy UTIA.
Daily Regional DeliveRy Tennessee Kentucky
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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The Turfg rass Te am at the Univ ersity of Tenness ee, Knox vill e 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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Cale ndar of Events
Adv ertiser Index A & W Southern Sod Farms................................. 27
April 29 – May 5
GCSAA Rounds4Research Auction
August 29
University of Tennessee Field Day Knoxville
www.awssod.com
Bayou Bend Turfgrass........................................... 29 www.bayoubendturfgrass.com
Buy Sod, Inc................................. Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
BWI Companies, Inc.............................................. 11 www.bwicompanies.com
July 23 – 25
TPI Summer Convention & Field Day Minneapolis
January 6 – 8, 2020 TTA Conference & Trade Show Murfreesboro
Carolina Green Corp.............................................. 38 www.cgcfields.com
Coosa Valley Turf Farms......................................... 7 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com
Covermaster, Inc................................................... 11 www.covermaster.com
CoverSports USA.................................................. 27 www.coversports.com
July 31
Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc................................. 3
TVSTMA Field Day Pigeon Forge
www.greenvilleturf.com
Leading Edge Communications............................. 21 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
McCurdy Sod Farms, LLC...................................... 29
Digital Marketplace Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
www.mccurdysodfarms.com
Mid Tenn Turf....................................................... 35 www.midtennturf.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL............................................... 13 www.stihldealers.com
North Georgia Turf Company, Inc......................... 19 www.ngturf.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............................ 37 www.progressiveturfequip.com
RD Murphy, LLC.................................................... 20 www.rdmurphy.com
Regal Chemical Company..................................... 17 www.regalchem.com
Andy Rushing arushing@cgcfields.com Phone: (704) 634-9799 Toll Free – Office: (866) 753-1707
www.cgcfields.com
Sigma Organics, Inc.............................................. 20 www.SigmaTurf.com
Simplot Partners................................................... 23 www.simplotpartners.com
Smith Seed Services............................................... 7 www.smithseed.com
Smith Turf & Irrigation............................................ 5 www.smithturf.com
Southeast Turf Maintenance................................ 20 www.southeastturf.com 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 February/March 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Sur-Line Turf, Inc................................................... 33 www.surlineturf.com
The Turfgrass Group............................... Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Tri-Turf Sod Farms.................................................. 6 www.triturfsod.com
Trimax Mowing Systems...................................... 31 www.trimaxmowers.com
Turf Mountain Sod, Inc......................................... 33 www.turfmountain.com
Turfgrass of Tennessee........................................ 29 Winrock Grass Farm Inc........................................ 25
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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