Virginia Turfgrass Journal - September / October 2017

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

September/October 2017

SPEAKING ONLY

THE TRUTH: Fighting Fake News and False Information

Virginia Turfgrass Council / P.O. Box 5989 / Virginia Beach, VA 23471 / ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Evaluation of Some New Bentgrasses for Putting Greens

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | September/October 2017

9

16 9 Upcoming Event 2018 Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo

13 Upcoming Event 2017 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course

16 Cover Story

Speaking Only the Truth: Fighting Fake News and False Information

20 Feature Story Evaluation of Some New Bentgrasses for Putting Greens

4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

20 DEPARTMENTS 6 Directorʼs Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

13 VTC Membership Invitation 24 Index of Advertisers 26 Turfgrass Calendar 26 Virginia Tech Turf Team

Director’s Corner

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

M-A-T-E IS COMING

W

ow! Professors at Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland have outdone themselves by pulling together a world-class lineup of speakers and topics for the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo. Add Nick Hamner’s expertise at organizing a three-day series of classes for mechanics, and you have an unbeatable program that meets the needs of the entire industry! Details are on-line at www.turfconference.org and on page 9 of this Journal, but I want to take this space to highlight the classes for mechanics that Nick has arranged. Take a look and make plans to attend one, two or all three days. The mechanics’ classes are being offered at a special rate.

Tuesday, January 30 • Reel Cutting — A Class to Cover Reel Setup to Improve Quality of Cut • Maintenance and Preventative Maintenance of Landscape Equipment

Wednesday, January 31 • New Equipment and Light Maintenance of Stihl Equipment • Update on Tier 4 Engines • Keep It Simple Recordkeeping

Thursday, February 1 • Basic Electrical Theory and Troubleshooting • Basic Hydraulics In addition to classes for mechanics, do not forget the W.S. Connelly Graduate Student Oral Presentation Contest that will be held on Wednesday morning.

Remember, all profits from M-A-T-E support university turfgrass research.

Tuesday, February 27 Keeping Fertilizers Out of Virginia’s Waters— A Special Workshop at COME TO THE BAY Come to the Bay is a comprehensive conference held in Virginia Beach at a great location on the Chesapeake Bay. Educational classes are held for turf professionals, arborists, hardscapers, irrigation professionals, landscapers and many others. One of the day-long workshops looks at ways industry works to keep fertilizers out of Virginia’s waters. Speakers include representatives from Virginia Tech, the Environmental Protection Agency, Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, The Elizabeth River Project, the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Additionally, a scientist from George Mason University is serving as workshop moderator. This event is planned for February 27–28 — watch for details coming soon!

6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934 Vice President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 Treasurer Michael Skelton Culpeper County (540) 727-3412 Past President Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8252 VTC DIRECTORS Steve Glass Tony Montgomery Jesse Pritchard, CSFM David Smith T.J. Skirsky Rick Viancour, CGCS Jimmy Viars, CGM Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Betty Parker (757) 574-9061

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E)

Upcoming Event

January 29 – February 1, 2018 Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center • Fredericksburg, VA Pythium Diseases: Root Rots, Foliar Blights and Dysfunction of Both Warm and Cool Season Brandon Horvath

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Selecting Bermudagrass Control in Creeping Bentgrass John Brewer,Shawn Askew

Siduron Programs for Crabgrass and Goosegrass Control in Greens Shawn Askew

Lunch and Trade Show

Panel: Real-World Pros and Cons to Bermudagrass Putting Green Conversion Dan Taylor, Jordan Booth

Spring Dead Spot Management: Many Ways to Cook an Egg, Even Some That Taste Terrible David McCall

Monday, January 29 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Golf Session

USGA 2017 Year in Review Darin Bevard, Elliott Dowling Direction of Golf and the USGA Darin Bevard, Elliott Dowling Interactive Rapid Fire: Turf Disease Management Joe Roberts, Brandon Horvath, David McCall 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Understanding Turf Insecticides Tom Kuhar Practices that Enhance Turfgrass Microbiology Joe Roberts, J.R. Doherty

9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sports Field Management Making Cultivation a “Core” Part of Your Maintenance Plan Gregg Munshaw Thinking Outside the Box on Your Sports Fields Mike Skelton, Charlie Fultz, Mike Goatley Pros and Cons in Organic Sports Turf Management Jason Bowers 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lawn and Landscape Session

Mechanic’s Seminar Day One of Three (See page 10) 12:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Corn Hole Tournament and Reception

Wednesday, January 31 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Fellowship Breakfast God’s Promises When Life Is Hard Danny Allen 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

W.S. Connelly Graduate Student Oral Presentation Contest 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Innovation Corner See the latest in turf science!

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar Day Two of Three (See page 10)

Developing Your Crew Jeff McManus

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Topdressing Lawns: When It Works and When It Doesn’t Mark Carroll

A New Look at Reduced Input Lawn Care — Is There a Market?

Gregg Munshaw

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Grim Reaper: Mechanisms of Turfgrass Death Mike Goatley

Controlling Sedges and Doveweed in Turf and Landscape Plantings Jeff Derr

Limited Pesticide Recertification

Tuesday, January 30 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

General Session MTC and VTC Annual Meetings Keynote Address: Growing Weeders into Leaders Jeff McManus 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Golf Session

9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sod Production Session Programs to Optimize Spring Seeding Success of Tall Fescue Adam Nichols

Trade Show and Lunch Sod Growers’ Meeting 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

(3A, 3B & 60 only) Includes Lunch and Tradeshow

Thursday, February 1 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar Day Three of Three (See page 10)

Brown Patch Management: Options for Both Fungicide and Non-Fungicide Control Brandon Horvath

Pesticide Recertification and Certification

Weed Control and Identification Gregg Munshaw

Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification and Certification

(2, 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10 and 60)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Upcoming Event continued

During the MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO January 29 – February 1 Tuesday, January 30 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Reel Cutting Unit Optimization: A class to cover reel set up to improve quality of cut

Wednesday, January 31 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Light Maintenance, New Products and Discussion from Floor

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Basic Electrical: Schematic Review, Light Theory and Trouble Shooting

Kenneth Glass from Stihl

Cort Rash and Greg Womble

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Trade Show

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch on your own

Included with Registration

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Basic Hydraulics: Schematic Review, Components, Diagnostics

Chris Langley from Bernhard

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Trade Show Included with Registration

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Maintenance, and Preventative Maintenance on Landscape Equipment Charles Coonradt from Mortons Power

Thursday, February 1

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Update on Tier 4 Engines: Revisit the maintenance that technicians can do on these engines Cort Rash and Greg Womble

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

“KIS” — Keep It Simple — Record Keeping Nick Hamner

10 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Cort Rash and Greg Womble

Registration Details Only $95 for VTC Members $120 for Non-Members Register online at

www.turfconference.org

Upcoming Event continued

Registration Form

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E) January 29 – February 1, 2018 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center Program and lodging information: www.turfconference.org Full Name: ___________________________________________ (First name for badge): _______________________________ Company/Organization: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Preferred Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________________ State: _____________ Zip/Postal Code: __________________ Telephone:(______) ___________________________________ Fax:(______) ________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ CONFERENCE FEES 1. Registration Fees MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY One Day Two Days Three Days Mechanic’s Seminar ONLY THURSDAY

MTC OR VTC MEMBER Member Rate Non-Member Rate $115 $150 $195 $230 $275 $310 $95 $120 FREE

$85

WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s).

Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday; Mechanics Seminar (ONLY); Thursday COST:

$ _________________________

2. Attend Trade Show ONLY ($10 per Day, includes Lunch and Tuesday Reception) WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s): Tuesday or Wednesday

$ _________________________

3. JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

$ _________________________

VTC Regular Membership (January 1 – December 31) $85 MTC Regular Membership (February 1 – January 31) $50 Further membership options at http://turfconference.org/registration.html Total Enclosed

$ _________________________

PAYMENT METHOD: Check to: Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (or MATE). Registration confirmation/receipt will be mailed.

Please check appropriate box: Check AMEX VISA MasterCard Card #: ______________________________________________ Print Cardholder Name:_______________________________ Card Security Code Number: ___________________________ Expiration Date: _____________________________________ Please mail, fax, or scan and email completed registration form with payment to: M-A-T-E P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471

Phone: (757) 464-1004 FAX: (757) 282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net

For up-to-the-minute updates and to register online, visit www.turfconference.org

12 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Upcoming Event

2017 VIRGINIA TECH TURFGRASS SHORT COURSE

DECEMBER 11– 14

BELMONT GOLF COURSE REC. CENTER • HENRICO, VA

The

Short Course is an extensive overview of the principles and practices in sound turfgrass management that can be applied to any segment of the industry (golf, lawn care, sod production, sports turf, etc.). Whether you are new in the business and desire a crash course in the principles of turfgrass management, or even if you have a college degree in turfgrass management and want a refresher course on the basics and an introduction to the latest topics, this course is for you.

Intensive training will allow you to make better decisions in daily turfgrass management that will improve both the quality of turf and your job.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHERE IS THE SHORT COURSE BEING HELD?

Faculty and staff of Virginia Tech’s turfgrass management team lead all educational programs.

Belmont Golf Course Recreation Center 1600 Hilliard Rd. Henrico, VA 23228

COST

HOW TO REGISTER

$330 for VTC members (including lunch) $360 for non-members (including lunch)

Visit vaturf.org/short_course.html to register online or to download a registration form to mail in.

JOIN THE Membership Benefits For ALL members include: FREE pesticide recertification training at the one-day regional seminars.

FREE Certified Fertilizer Applicator training at the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo in January (M-A-T-E) and the Come to the Bay (February) and Come to the Valley (May) regional conferences.

FREE entry to the research tour of turfgrass studies in June at the Hampton Roads AREC. FREE subscription to our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal, offering research and industry updates.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 • Turfgrass identification, selection and adaptation • Principles in spreader and sprayer calibration • Turfgrass growth and development

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 • Fertility programing and water-quality protection • Principles in irrigation management, and improving water use efficiency • Fertilizer and lime sources for turf management • Soil science principles for turfgrass managers

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 • Cultural programs in turfgrass management • Turfgrass establishment • Weed identification tips • Principles in turfgrass entomology

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 • Principles in turfgrass pathology • Principles in turfgrass weed control and plant growth regulators

TODAY!

VTC Membership

Valuable assistance on state and local legislative and bureaucratic issues.

Do you know that every member of Virginia’s General Assembly receives our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal? Several Delegates and Senators have said how much they appreciate being on our mailing list.

Monthly email of job postings.

Discounts to every one of our activities.

Platinum Group Membership Membership fee of $1,250 includes: 11 to 20 members.

Send up to 100 of your employees to one of our Regional Pesticide Training Classes — AT NO COST. Year-round membership listing and link from VTC website.

Fertilizer Certification Training and Recertification Training (3A, 3B 60) at your site.

Join as a GROUP or as an INDIVIDUAL

Gold Group Membership Membership fee of $800 includes: 6 to 10 members

Individual Membership One Year — $85

Silver Group Membership Membership fee of $400 includes: 1 to 5 members

Individual Membership Two Years — $150

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 13

Membership Application Complete this application form and —

OR Join/Renew online at

www.vaturf.org

• Mail it to the address at the bottom of this page.

• Or fax it to 757-282-2693

Member Information First Name ___________________________________________ Last Name___________________________________________ Company or Organization___________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________ State_________ Zip___________________________________ Phone _______________________________________________ Fax _________________________________________________ E-Mail ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Payment SELECT ONE Platinum Group Membership (11 or more members + Year-round listing and link from VTC website) ..................$1,250 Gold Group Membership (6 – 10 members) ..................................................................................................................$800 Silver Group Membership (1 – 5 members) ...................................................................................................................$400 Individual for Two Years ..................................................................................................................................................$150 Individual for One Year ...................................................................................................................................................$85

Pay by Check or by Credit Card Please check appropriate box:

Check

AMEX

VISA

MasterCard

Card #: ______________________________________________ Print Cardholder Name:_______________________________ Security Code: ________________________________________ Expiration Date: _____________________________________ Dues may be deductible as a business expense but not as a charitable contribution. Based on 2013 activity, one percent (1%) of dues are not deductible in accordance with IRS Section 6033.

Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 • Phone: 757-464-1004 • Fax: 757-282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net • Web: www.vaturf.org 14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Cover Story

Speaking

Only the Truth: FIGHTING FAKE NEWS and FALSE INFORMATION

By Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D., and Terri Billeisen, Ph.D., Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University

It’s

getting increasingly difficult these days to identify legitimate news stories when so much of the information we receive is fake news, alternative facts, science denial and on and on.

Although motivation for these stories is often political, several other factors can also play a role. The 24/7 news cycle has an obligation to fill airtime with topics that will keep audiences captivated and constantly tuned in.

Additionally, the internet and socialmedia sites allow users to have instantaneous access to everything you did and did not want to know about a topic.

In reality, this information is literally a keystroke away, and when it is incorrect, it can have serious repercussions.

So, why write about this topic for a turfgrass magazine? We have one main reason: it simply affects our industry.

The prevalence of “bad” news stories in our world today can have a tremendous impact, and those stories often influence policy-making decisions in our field. If you haven’t been paying attention the past few years, the number of “news” articles and editorials related to bee kills, climate change, glyphosate use, groundwater contamination and other similar topics all are areas of concern in turfgrass management.

Recently, two separate events illustrated how much incorrect information the public consumes on a daily basis.

One, I posted a response on the “Nextdoor” neighborhood social network addressing concerns over glyphosate use in a home lawn. Several people indicated it was a dangerous approach that threatened the health of our children, contaminated groundwater and was killing “all the bees.” My response included actual facts about glyphosate, both as a product and its use, and it was immediately blasted by

dozens of people who attacked me both on a personal and professional level. It was vicious!

The second incident occurred a few months ago when, in the period of one week, I had more than a dozen requests from lawn care operators for information about the safety of glyphosate. Their clientele were concerned about the use of glyphosate in their home lawns. Most of their concerns came from information they had obtained from seemingly “reputable” sites on social media.

So, to start, I want to make two points very clear. First, you can find evidence within about two minutes on the internet to support your argument, regardless of the absurdity of the perspective you take. Don’t believe me?

Try it. There is more false information on the internet than one can imagine, and at times, the falsehoods seem to outnumber the truth. The second point is simply this: you cannot win an argument on social media. Don’t even try. It’s not professional, and it brings out the worst in people. It often becomes an ugly fight that produces no real winners or has any lasting value.

If there is one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s that there is a lot of negative information floating around on social media that hurts our industry, and to properly respond to it and minimize its impact, we need to be professional. It is important that we are courteous and knowledgeable in our response and to always find good, reliable sources of information to ensure that we know as much about the products we use as possible.

This is often going to be difficult.

All of us, somewhere deep down inside, have the desire to be “right,” or “correct,” or viewed as an authority on a subject. Sometimes this can drive us

to a point where we seek information that supports our side of the argument, regardless of its source (or validity!).

It happens to us all, and the internet makes it very easy for us to find information that supports our argument. It’s called “confirmation bias”; we actively seek information that makes us the expert. Now, there is nothing truly wrong with wanting to be an expert, but it is very important that we obtain our information from sources that are accurate and factual, not just supportive.

In our industry, our motives and ethics are often called into question by social-media blogs and sites regarding pesticide, fertilizer and water use. It is imperative that we respond with inforformation that is accurate and sciencebased because it is our responsibility as professionals. We need to take the high road and communicate good science to the concerned citizens, even if it disagrees with their viewpoint.

The public is being inundated with information that is not always accurate, and in many cases, it is misleading and used to market particular products.

There have been numerous ads for food products that indicate non-GMO, when in fact there are no GMO varieties even in commercial use for that particular food. It’s not lying, but it’s certainly misleading.

So what are some key points to focus on as we move forward?

• Get your facts from reputable sources.

• Continue to educate yourself; make sure you know what you’re talking about.

• Identify issues with which the general public is concerned, and learn as much as you can on that subject.

Do you really know if neonicotinoid insecticides are responsible for global bee declines? How dangerous is glyphosate? If a homeowner asked you,

In today’s social-media environment, there is a constant flow of information that indicates that products used in turf management are a hazard to people, pets and the environment, and there is no real system to check their validity. (Photo courtesy of M. Waldvogel.)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Concern over bee kills and the use of specific insecticide groups have become global concerns. (Photo courtesy of M. Waldvogel.)

Due in part to society’s isolation from farming, the use of pesticides and fertilizer is outside the comfort zone of many people. (Photo courtesy of B. Royals.)

18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Cover Story continued

what real facts could you give them?

• Be professional. Don’t argue — just present quality information, and leave it up to them to decide. If they don’t want to believe you, then move on.

• Be proactive. Develop your own information bulletins for your brochures, websites or blogs.

• Have some empathy for people who have concerns about pesticides, nutrients, water use, habitat destruction and other social issues. Even if they don’t have the best of information guiding their thoughts, their concerns are real and serious to them.

For our part, we are in the process of creating new online content to help improve how information we receive can be delivered to turfgrass-management professionals and the general public. By fall 2017, we will have a new turfgrass entomology webpage that addresses topics of concern and organizes all

current information in one industryspecific website. In addition to providing Fact Sheets on each individual turfgrass pest, the site will also provide a Turfgrass Entomology blog that will be updated throughout the growing season with insect reports from around the state.

These learning materials will not only help consumers identify insect pests and diagnose turf insect damage but also determine how best to treat individual issues. We hope that by providing an additional, reliable online resource, we can improve communications between everyday citizens and certified turfgrass professionals. We want to give turfgrass managers another tool with which to combat the constant flow of misinformation.

It’s not an easy task ahead of us, but I think we need to be more serious and active in addressing societal concern than we have been in the past. Social

media has changed a lot of things (including how people spend their free time), and we can’t afford to have an attitude that negative publicity and bad science are simply going to die a slow death. Scientists are starting to take a more aggressive role in providing information to end users that tell the real story. Our industry needs to do the same.

About the authors Rick Brandenburg (Facebook: ‘Turf, Bugs, and Rock n’ Roll’) is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Entomology at North Carolina State University and has addressed insect management along with social and environmental issues for more than 30 years. Terri Billeisen completed her post-doctoral work in turfgrass entomology in December 2016 and is now an Extension Associate at North Carolina State University.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story

Evaluation of

SOME NEW BENTGRASSES for Putting Greens

By Peter J. Landschoot, Ph.D., Professor of Turfgrass Science, Penn State University

W

hether you are renovating 18 putting greens or just overseeding one green that sustained damage from a disease or winterkill, choosing the right bentgrass cultivar is critical for the long-term performance of your putting surfaces.

Over the past two decades, the number of commercially available bentgrass cultivars has increased, and there are now more than 40 creeping bentgrass cultivars, up to 12 colonials and about half a dozen velvets on the seed market.

Having so many choices is a good thing, but now you have to do some homework on which bentgrass is right for your situation.

Getting reliable information on turfgrass cultivar performance is a challenge for golf turf managers. Seed company reps are usually a good source of information on their own cultivars but probably not for cultivars from competing companies. You can visit golf courses that have used the cultivar(s) of interest and see the results firsthand.

Keep in mind, however, that these

courses may not have the same conditions and resources as yours; thus, the results at your course may be different.

Be sure to talk with USGA agronomists and/or consultants who visit numerous golf courses and see a variety of grass types and management conditions.

Another source of information includes trial data from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP).

NTEP is an industry-sponsored organization that coordinates tests of turfgrass cultivars and experimental selections at universities across the U.S. Data generated from these tests provide turfgrass managers, seed industry representatives and other interested persons with information about turfgrass characteristics and performance. Although this is an intermediate step in the evaluation process (the program can’t simulate all the traffic and management conditions found on golf courses), the program does provide good comparative information on seedling vigor, quality, density, color, disease and insect tolerance, and other parameters.

20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

2008–2013 bentgrass putting green test at Penn State University In September 2008, nineteen bentgrass cultivars and selections were established at the Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center in University Park, PA, as part of a five-year NTEP test. Entries were supplied to NTEP by private seed companies and were seeded at 1.1 lbs. seed/1,000 ft2 in plots on an experimental putting green with an 80% sand: 20% peat rootzone mix. Three replicate plots of each entry were used in this test, and plots were randomized in each rep.

The test plots were mowed daily at 0.125" during the growing season and were aerated once per year, and they received between 2 to 3 lbs. nitrogen/ 1,000 ft2 per year for most of the 5-year test. All assessments of turfgrass performance were made on a visual basis by the author and are based on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 indicating best performance for a particular criterion. The following performance criteria were used to assess bentgrass cultivars and

selections: seedling vigor, quality (every month), color, disease incidence and Poa annua encroachment. Quality ratings are a measure of density, texture, uniformity and lack of disease.

Summary of results Data for evaluation ratings are presented in Tables 1 and 2. All cultivars listed in these tables are commercially available except AFM and SRP-1 BLTR3.

Turfgrass quality V-8, Barracuda, Luminary, Pure Distinction, Focus and Proclamation tended to receive the highest average quality ratings from 2009–2013 (Table 1).

These cultivars generally ranked higher than other entries primarily due to their superior density, fine texture and uniformity. Two velvet bentgrasses — Villa and SR 7200 — performed poorly over most of the five-year test period.

The 2008–2013 NTEP putting green test site at Penn State.

Seedling vigor Seedling vigor in September 2008 was greatest with Proclamation, L-93, Penncross and Declaration; however, ten other cultivars and selections showed seedling vigor that was very close to these four cultivars (Table 2).

Cultivars that were slowest to establish were V8 and Penn A-2. By the end of the growing season, most of the plots in this test showed complete turf cover and were able to tolerate daily mowing.

Turfgrass color Turfgrass color ratings show that T-1 had the darkest green color, followed

by Proclamation (Table 2). Pure Distinction and Villa exhibited the lightest shade of green. Although the genetic color of a cultivar does not influence putting performance, it can make a difference in the aesthetic appeal of the green. Whereas most people tend to favor darker green over lighter green, P. annua tends to stand out more in darker-green stands and can detract from the visual appearance of the putting surface.

Color can also be an important factor when blending two or more cultivars. Bentgrasses tend to segregate over time, and a light-green cultivar blended with a dark-green cultivar may lead to a patchy appearance of the putting green.

A plot of V-8 creeping bentgrass showing very good density, texture and uniformity.

Differences in dollar spot susceptibility among bentgrass cultivars in mid-October 2012.

Because of some background variation in the test area and in the evaluation process, all the ratings collected in NTEP trials are subjected to statistical analysis.

Numerical differences between two entries for a particular parameter, such as quality, are significantly different only if a value called the Least Significant Difference (LSD), listed at the bottom of each column in Tables 1 and 2, is exceeded by the numerical difference between two entries. For example, if cultivar A is 1.0 unit higher in quality than cultivar B, then this difference is only significant in practical terms if the LSD value is 1.0 or less. If the LSD is greater than 1.0, then the numerical difference between the two cultivars may be due to inherent variability in the test area or some other element of chance.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?

TABLE 1. Quality ratings for the 2008–2013 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Bentgrass Putting Green Test.

Data represent averages of monthly quality ratings for each year of the 5-year test. Quality is rated on a scale on 9 to 1, with 9 = highest quality.

TABLE 2.

Seedling vigor, color, dollar spot and Poa annua ratings for the 2008–2013 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Bentgrass Putting Green Test. Ratings are based on a scale on 9 to 1, with 9 = fastest establishment, darkest green color, no dollar spot present and no Poa annua encroachment.

Quality Rating Averaged Over Growing Season§

Bentgrass Species

Seedling Vigor§

Genetic Color§

Dollar Spot Tolerance§

Poa annua Encroachment§

V8

Creeping

5.3

5.9

8.4

8

Barracuda

Creeping

6.7

5.1

8.8

8

Luminary

Creeping

7

5.8

8.3

8

Creeping

7

3.4

5.4

8.7

Entry

Bentgrass Species

V8

Creeping

7.5

8.2

7.8

7

7.9

7.7

Barracuda

Creeping

7.7

7.8

7.7

7

7.6

7.6

Luminary

Creeping

7.6

7.8

7.7

6.7

7.4

7.4

Pure Distinction

Pure Distinction

Creeping

7.4

7.7

8

5.5

7.9

7.3

Focus

Creeping

7

5.7

8.6

8

Focus

Creeping

7.3

7.6

7.2

7

7.3

7.3

Proclamation

Creeping

8

5.7

7.8

8.3

Proclamation

Creeping

7

7.4

7.2

6.7

6.9

7

PinUp

Creeping

6

6.9

8.3

8

PinUp

Creeping

6.5

7

6.9

6.6

7.2

6.8

Declaration

Creeping

7.3

5.1

8.8

8

Declaration

Creeping

7.2

7.2

6.4

6.7

6.5

6.8

Authority

Creeping

6.7

5.9

7.9

7.3

Authority

Creeping

6.9

7.3

6.8

5.9

5.9

6.6

T-1

Creeping

6.7

8.9

6.7

6.7

T-1

Creeping

7.1

7.6

6.2

5.1

5.3

6.3

AFM

Creeping

6.7

4.8

8.2

7.3

AFM

Creeping

5.6

6.9

5.9

6.4

6.3

6.2

SRP-1BLTR3

Creeping

6

4.9

4.9

7.7

SRP-1BLTR3

Creeping

6.4

7

6.3

5

6.3

6.2

Alpha

Creeping

7.3

6.3

7.3

6.7

Alpha

Creeping

6.6

6.8

5.4

5.1

5.4

5.9

Penn A-1

Creeping

7.1

6.3

7.3

5.7

Penn A-1

Creeping

6.2

6.4

5.1

5.2

5.2

5.6

Penn A-2

Creeping

5.3

6.1

6.9

6.7

Penn A-2

Creeping

5.3

6.1

4.9

4.9

5.1

5.3

L-93

Creeping

7.7

5.8

7.2

5.3

L-93

Creeping

5.6

6

4.6

4.2

4.5

5

Penncross

Creeping

7.7

6

6.2

4.3

Penncross

Creeping

4.8

4.7

3.3

2.9

3.5

3.8

Villa

Velvet

7

4

9

5.3

Villa

Velvet

5.7

4.5

2

1.3

1

2.9

7

4.6

9

2.7

Velvet

4.7

3

1.1

0.6

1

2.1

SR 7200 LSDǂ

Velvet

SR 7200 LSDǂ

0.8

1

1.4

1.3

1.1

1

1.2

1

0.9

—

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

5-year Ave.

Entry

§

Quality ratings indicate the overall appearance of the turf and can incorporate several components, including: density, texture, uniformity and freedom from disease and insect damage. Quality is rated using a scale of 1 to 9, where 9 = highest quality.

ǂ

LSD = Least significant difference. Differences between two entries are statistically significant only if the LSD value, listed at the bottom of each column is exceeded by the numerical difference between two entries. For example, if cultivar A is 1.0 unit higher in quality than cultivar B, then this difference is only significant if the LSD value is 1.0 or less.

§

Numerical ratings indicate seedling vigor (estimate of percent ground cover and plant height during the early stages of seedling establishment), genetic color (9 = darkest green color, and 1 = yellow-green), tolerance to dollar spot (9 = no disease present, and 1 = extensive disease damage) and Poa annua encroachment (9 = no P. annua encroachment, and 1 = extensive contamination).

ǂ

LSD = Least significant difference. Differences between two entries are statistically significant only if the LSD value, listed at the bottom of each column is exceeded by the numerical difference between two entries.

For example, if cultivar A is 1.0 unit higher in quality than cultivar B, then this difference is only significant if the LSD value is 1.0 or less.

22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

Dollar spot susceptibility Differences in dollar spot susceptibility were noticed among entries during the test period. Both velvet bentgrasses (Villa and SR 7200) and several creeping bentgrasses showed very good tolerance to dollar spot during the test period (Table 2). Creeping bentgrass cultivars with the least amount of dollar spot included Barracuda, Declaration, Focus, V8, Luminary, PinUp, AFM, Authority and Proclamation. According to test data, the least tolerant cultivars were SRP-1BLTR3, Pure Distinction and Penncross. Alpha, Penn A-1, L-93 and Penn A-2 showed intermediate tolerance. In past NTEP trials, L-93 and Penn A-1 were among the top performing creeping bentgrasses with respect to dollar spot tolerance, but data from this latest test show improved tolerance among some of the new creeping bentgrasses.

P. annua resistance One of the most important factors in selecting a bentgrass cultivar for putting greens is its ability to compete with P. annua. Poa annua began to move into the test area in 2011, and plots of certain cultivars became more heavily infested than others. Cultivars with the least amount of P. annua included Pure Distinction, Proclamation, V-8, Barracuda, Luminary, Focus, PinUp, Declaration and SRP-1BLTR3.

The greatest amount of P. annua was found in plots of velvet bentgrass (SR 7200 and Villa), L-93 and Penncross.

The results of this test reflect cultivar performance for the management regime imposed at this site and environmental conditions in central Pennsylvania. Several popular bentgrasses used on golf courses in the Mid-Atlantic region (007, Penn A-4, Tyee, McKenzie and others) were not included in this test. These cultivars were evaluated in previous NTEP tests, and data from these tests can be found on the NTEP website (ntep.org). A new round of tests was initiated in 2014 and contains several new cultivars.

Time will tell if the trends for cultivar improvement continue.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 23

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24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org

DIGITAL Marketplace Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) 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, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright Š2017 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. 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 37068-0142, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 25

Virginia Tech Turf Team

Turfgrass Calendar

Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.

December 11–14 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course

Belmont Golf Course Recreational Center Henrico, VA

February 27–28 VTC Come to the Bay

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5807 saskew@vt.edu

Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D.

January 16–19

May 8–9

STMA Conference and Exhibition

VTC Come to the Valley

Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX

Staunton, VA

January 29 – February 1 M-A-T-E: Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo

Fredericksburg, VA

June 26 Virginia Tech Field Day

Hampton Roads AREC Virginia Beach, VA

February 3–8 Golf Industry Show

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

February 12–15

Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu

August 14

Erik H. Ervin, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 339 Smyth Hall, CSES Dept.

Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5208 ervin@vt.edu

Lawn and Landscape Field Day

Virginia Tech Campus Blacksburg, VA

TPI International Education Conference & Field Day

(Turfgrass Producers Intl.)

Westin LA Paloma Resort Tucson, AZ

Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall, CSES Dept.

Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu

David McCall, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu

WITH SUPPORT FROM: Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu 26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2017 www.vaturf.org