As Collaboration: the Glue that Holds our Industry Together
Phil Bailey, CGCS VTC President
you and your company collaborate with your clients and suppliers to ensure a successful business, similarly, the Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) collaborates with groups to protect and ensure your ability to successfully develop and expand your business.
The VTC and the Virginia Turfgrass Environmental Institute (VTC-EI) continue to collaborate for you and the entire Green Industry. Working with Legislators, Governmental Agencies, and concerned customers and citizens, we once again have the great opportunity to collaborate with the Virginia Tech Turf Team and the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). This collaboration will develop a “Traveling Road Show” that will bring important Virginia Tech Turf updates to your area and allow you the opportunity to update your certifications in pesticides and fertilizers. Articles will be included in The Virginia Turfgrass Journal which include times and dates around the State of Virginia for these Traveling Road Shows. Please plan to attend these events that will allow you a great opportunity to network with your colleagues and highlight the concerns relevant to your geographical location.
I hope all our friends, members, and colleagues had a wonderful Fourth of July. Our Founding Fathers wanted to ensure our ability to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am proud of these rights we have and I’m happy that the VTC can continue to appreciate these rights as we work for you and your businesses in the future. Please contemplate a donation to the VTC-EI to allow us to continue representing your concerns.
Best Wishes!
Phil Bailey, CGCS
VTC President
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, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718
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VTC OFFICERS
President
Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981
Vice President
Wes Bray Lawns & Gardens Plus (757) 422-2117
Secretary / Treasurer
Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779
VTC DIRECTORS
Sam Burris
Ray Funkhouser
Tony Montgomery
Bruce Sheppard
T.J. Skirsky
Harris Wheeler, CTP
Craig Zeigler
VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair)
Shawn Askew, Ph.D.
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D.
David McCall Ph.D.
Dan Sandor, Ph.D.
Cynthia Smith, Ph.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004
VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION
Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
Virginia Tech Turf Team
W New Partnerships Around Every Corner
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
ith all the recent focus on the collaboration of the PGA and LIV Golf at the super-elite level, I want to devote a few words to another group using the links: Special Olympic Athletes. These athletes are persons with intellectual disabilities who compete. They find success, joy, and friendship by participating in various sports, including golf, softball and soccer.
Years ago, I taught at a vocational school. That experience exposed me to Special Olympics, but I was unaware of their golf competition until I met Jim (not his real name) at a local Panera’s.
Jim sported a Special Olympics windbreaker and appeared to be about 45 years old. Logically, I assumed he was one of the administrators but a brief conversation revealed the unexpected: he was one of the athletes. “Special Olympic Athlete Leader” was his official title.
“I encourage the younger ones,” he said. “One of my main jobs is teaching younger athletes to shift focus from being number one to focusing on giving it their all – whether in practice or in competition. And most importantly, I teach them to make friends. Sports come and go but friendships last a lifetime.” “But my age is getting to me. I ache after each basketball practice, and now I have to strain different muscles helping the athletes prepare for golf.”
My ears caught that familiar word. “Golf?” I asked.
“Yeah, we’ll be training every week in preparation for the tournaments. My sore muscles complain but it is all good. I help the young athletes, encouraging them and setting an example.”
Golf was established at Special Olympics in 1995. Grouping participants by age, gender, and ability gives everyone a reasonable chance to win. Jim’s work pushes each athlete to strive for their best.
I have focused on various individuals in previous columns. Each highlighted person is unique and makes a unique contribution to our great industry. I now proudly add Jim to that list.
Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
VTC Executive Director
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807
askew@vt.edu
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900
adelpozo@vt.edu
Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3912 jderr@vt.edu
Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall 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
Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775
dsandor@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
Home
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 13th Annual Hampton Roads AREC Turfgrass Field Day
Our team had nothing but GREAT things to say and especially enjoyed lunch. They all commented on how much more they liked going to the facility vs a conference room at a hotel somewhere. Many kudos to the team’s effort for putting on a wonderful recertification.
I enjoyed the Field Day as well as the recertification portion of the program – looking forward to the next event!
The 13th Annual Turfgrass Field Day was held at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center on Thursday, June 22. Dr. Jeff Derr’s welcome letter, comments from attendees (two are posted above), and event photos say it all!
Iwould like to thank the following for their financial support of our turf and ornamental research program here at the station:
BASF
The IR-4 Project National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP)
Nufarm Syngenta
Tidewater Turfgrass Association
Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA)
Virginia Turfgrass Council
Virginia Turfgrass Foundation
I would also like to thank all of the companies that donated chemicals or supplies for the trials at the station. Special thanks to Rob Holtz and Greyson Dockiewicz, HRAREC staff, for their assistance with these trials and to the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station for the support of our research station.
Thank you for participating in the 13th annual turfgrass field day at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. I appreciate the strong support from the turf industry, the VTC, and the VTF for our turf program here at the station.
Dr. Derr presents latest research. Credit: Tom Tracy.
Pollinator taking advantage of the research
Credit: Dan Sandor
Dr. Del Pozo discusses pollinator research
Credit: Wes Bray
Sincerely, Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Professor
and Director
Virginia Tech/Hampton Roads AREC
TURFGRASS CALENDAR
For event updates throughout the year, visit
VATURF.ORG
NOVEMBER 8, 2023 Road Show
Chatham, VA
NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Road Show
Abingdon, VA
DECEMBER 5 – 7, 2023
Landscape / Lawn Short Course
Belmont Recreation Center Henrico, VA
JANUARY 22 – 25, 2024
Come to the Bay
Hampton Roads AREC
Virginia Beach, VA
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 Road Show
Harrisonburg, VA
FEBRUARY 21, 2024 Road Show
Fredericksburg, VA
UPDATES FROM
DATES AND LOCATIONS
NOVEMBER 8 – Chatham, VA
NOVEMBER 9 – Abingdon, VA
FEBRUARY 20 – Harrisonburg, VA
FEBRUARY 21 – Fredericksburg, VA
COST – INCLUDES LUNCH
Free for VTC Members – $50 for others DETAILS AND
https://vaturf.org/road-shows
VT TURF TEAM
• Latest Turfgrass Updates for Your Business
• Research Updates
• Sustainable Turfgrass Management
• Earn Pesticide Recertification for VA, MD, NC, TN, and WV
• Earn Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification in VA
ROAD SHOWS
Virginia Tech
Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Turfgrass Council
PESTICIDE CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED
Virginia: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, 60 offered in each of the Road Shows
North Carolina: offered November 8 and 9 only
Tennessee: offered November 8 and 9 only
Maryland: offered February 20 and 21 only
West Virginia: offered February 20 and 21 only
DATE (check one or more)
November 8th Chatham November 9th Abingdon
February 20th Harrisonburg February 21st Fredericksburg
PRICE (check one)
NO CHARGE for VTC Members
$50.00 for NonVTC Members
$85.00 Attend and Join the VTC
Make checks payable to Virginia Turfgrass Council and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471
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Grady Miller NC State
David McCall
Shawn Askew
Dan Sandor
Becky Grubbs Bowling University of Tennessee
Mike Goatley
Alejandro Del-Pozo
Jeff Derr
COME TO THE BAY
January 22 – 25, 2024
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Come to the Bay continues to expand to meet industry needs. What started a few years ago as a two-day conference with a vision to uniquely serve the industry has expanded to four full days. In addition to a service project, industry certifications and recertifications, classes on buffers and other pertinent topics, the modified Turf and Landscape Short Course will return. That two-day Short Course, introduced last year, was tremendously popular. Look for it on the last two days of Come to the Bay.
Another first! Virginia Tech persons at the Hampton Roads AREC asked us to move the event to their location and “We have tremendous resources for hands-on training,” they said. We didn’t hesitate to accommodate their request. And thanks to SiteOne and WeedMan, we will have a large tent available to handle the expected crowd. Lawns and Gardens Plus is providing one of the lunches and Agronomic Lawn Management is once again a Primary Sponsor.
Other sponsorships are still available. For details, go to www.vaturf.org/come-to-the-bay
SCHEDULE
MONDAY, JANUARY 22
Service Project
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
Industry Specific Classes
Pesticide Certification and Exam
Fertilizer Certification and Exam
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
Pesticide Recertification
Fertilizer Recertification
Modified Turf and Landscape Short Course (Day 1 of 2)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
Modified Turf and Landscape Short Course (Day 2 of 2)
Years ago, LSU decided to move to Celebration® Bermudagrass across its sports facilities. Over the years, the athletic grounds staff has installed Celebration on the soccer, softball, baseball, practice fields and the crown jewel, football’s Tiger Stadium. Across the maintenance spectrum for Celebration, the LSU grounds staff have been innovators. They continue to produce a championship product year in and year out.
“For us at LSU, all the athletic fields that we compete on are all Celebration. So the (football) stadium, softball, soccer, our practice facilities, Alex Box, our baseball stadium, they’re all Celebration as well. Celebration for us just works and it’s a good fit.”
– Trevor Austin – LSU Sports Turf Manager
On-Line Recertifications for VTC Members
developed the on-line recertification program for Certified Fertilizer Applicators months ago. Several of you have logged in, taken the class, and renewed your fertilizer certification. The course is totally on-line, available 24 hours a day, meets state requirements, is free, and is only available to VTC Members.
To register for the fertilizer course, email your request to virginiaturf@gmail.com . Use the words “Fertilizer Course” in the subject line. You will be sent a passcode within two working days. The course consists of four lessons, each taking at least 30 minutes to complete. Quizzes and a final exam are also part of the course.
The success of the on-line fertilizer recertification program has prompted us to develop a similar course for pesticide recertification. We will begin with Categories 3A, 3B, and 60. As with fertilizer, the program will be 100% on-line, free, and will only be available to VTC Members. Look for the on-line program this November.
Free Recertification is just one more reason to belong to the VTC.
2023 Landscape / Lawn Short Course
DECEMBER 5 – 7 (Tuesday – Thursday)
Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road, Henrico VA 23228 DETAILS ONLINE AT
SIGN-UP FORM
The cost: $360 for members of the VTC $390 for non-members of the VTC Join the VTC for $85 (membership good thru December 31, 2024)
VTC Member Rate
VTC Non-Member Rate
VTC Membership
You may also register and pay online at https://vaturf.org
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, December 5
8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
8:30 Intro
8:45 Industry Overview
9:30 Transition Zone Challenges: Stephanie Romelczyk, VCE
10:30 Landscaping Mistakes and Challenges: Stephanie Romelczyk, VCE
11:30 Weeds in the Landscape (Part One): Jeff Derr, VT
12:30 Lunch (Provided)
1:15 Weeds in the Landscape (Part Two): Jeff Derr, VT
2:00 Break
2:15 Insects in the Landscape: Alejandro Del-Pozo, VT
3:30 End
Wednesday, December 6
8:15 AM – 5:00 PM
8:15 Legislative Issues Across the Nation: Bob Mann, NALP
9:00 Tree Botany and Maintenance: Joel Koci, VSU
11:00 Tree Installation and Maintenance: Joel Koci, VSU
12:00 Lunch (Provided)
12:45 Natives in the Landscape; DCR’s Nutrient Management Program: Anita Tuttle, DCR
2:00 Keep it Legal: Rules for Fertilizer, Pesticides, etc.: Gonzalo Ortiz, VT
3:00 Turfgrass Basics and Soil Basics: Mike Goatley, VT
5:00 End
Thursday, December 7
8:15 AM – 4:00 PM
8:15 Working with Environmental Groups: Tom Tracy, VTC
9:00 Horticulture Basics: TBD
10:00 Botany 101: Guy Mussey, VCE retired
VIRGINIA TURFGRASS COUNCIL
P.O. Box 5989 • Virginia Beach, VA 23471
Phone: (757)464-1004 • FAX: (757)282-2693
Email: virginiaturf@gmail.com
12:00 Lunch (Provided)
12:45 Botany 101 (Continued): Guy Mussey, VCE retired
2:45 Pruning, Planting, and Mulching: Guy Mussey, VCE retired
4:00 End
History of the Turfgrass Program at Virginia Tech
By Richard “Dick” Schmidt, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Professor andExtension Turfgrass Specialist
Inpreparation for the 50th anniversary of Field Days at the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Center on August 28–29, 2023, we present a brief synopsis of the history of the VT Turfgrass program in two parts. Part one covers the founding of the VT Turfgrass program in the 1950s through the early 2000s.
The Early Days of VT Turfgrass Programs
Both Professor John Shoulders and Dr. Roy Blaser were forage specialists in the Department of Agronomy at Virginia Tech in the mid 1950’s who had foresight concerning the value of a turfgrass research and teaching program at Virginia Tech. Dr. Blaser obtained grants for graduate students supporting turfgrass research with the Department of Highways in Virginia and West Virginia, and Professor John Shoulders “boot-legged” extension information to the professional turf growers in Virginia. They were instrumental in building a nine-hole golf course at Virginia Tech with different varieties of bentgrass cultivars on greens and tees for students to observe. Yes, tees - that was deemed revolutionary at the time.
Dr. Roy Blaser was an internationally acclaimed forage agronomist who developed many of the vegetation establishment and maintenance strategies still in use today on mid-Atlantic highway rights-of-way.
Professor John Shoulders, the patriarch of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass program.
Professor Shoulders essentially ‘recruited’ Dick Schmidt to Virginia Tech while John was meeting with Dr. Burt Musser on a visit to Penn State. A grant was obtained from DuPont Corporation to sponsor a doctoral graduate student position which was offered to Richard Schmidt, who had recently obtained his master’s degree at Penn State. He fulfilled the faculty position that mainly comprised of leading the turfgrass physiology graduate studies and conducting research (it wasn’t a bad investment in personnel: Schmidt spent his entire academic career at Virginia Tech and was awarded Professor Emeritus status after forty years of service!) Within a year of Schmidt’s hiring at Virginia Tech, a Turfgrass Ecology course was developed, and John Shoulders became the first Virginia turfgrass extension specialist. A state Turfgrass Council was formed in 1960, and for the first time, there were coordinated university and industry efforts with support from leading turfgrass industry members and firms, including the United States Golf Association.
More on Early VT Turfgrass Team Members
Dr. Houston Couch, renowned over the years for his expertise in turfgrass pathology and as a popular and entertaining speaker on the turf industry circuit, arrived from Penn State. Couch replaced Dr. Al Williams and became one of the country’s first full-time pathologists hired to conduct turfgrass disease research, and in particular to update the professional golf course management industry on new fungicides arriving on the market. Houston made quite a name for himself both nationally and internationally with the publication of one of the industry’s standard textbooks in turfgrass pathology called “Diseases of Turfgrasses”. Houston’s list of achievements was long and extensive, including the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s Col. John Morley Award in 2002 and the United States Golf Association’s Green Section Award in 2003.
Dr. Houston Couch led a nationally acclaimed turfgrass pathology program.
Dr. Dick Schmidt (standing) is alongside Masters student Dwight Barkley as they assess soil temperatures as influenced by turfgrass cover.
Weed scientist Dr. Bill Chappell initiated the evaluation of the first preemergent crabgrass herbicides in the late 1950s and in 1961, Wayne Bingham came to Virginia Tech where he worked for the next 35 years. Wayne’s program addressed weed control in fine turf, and made advancements in highway rights of way weed management and the first generation of plant growth regulators. He expanded the turfgrass weed control research program in all areas for the turfgrass industry. Bingham was succeeded by Dr. Shawn Askew who arrived in the early 2000s to continue the growth of both applied and basic research programs in turfgrass weed science that span fine turf management to highway rights of way turf.
A.J. Powell, Jr. was known throughout the turfgrass industry of the United States for his tenure leading the development and expansion of the University of Kentucky’s turfgrass management program for over 30 years. However, A.J. received his PhD at Virginia Tech and got his start in academia as an extension specialist at Virginia Tech before moving to Lexington.
Dr. John (‘Jack’) Hall III came to Virginia Tech in 1976 from the University of Maryland to fill a Virginia Tech Turfgrass Extension Specialist position. Jack was an extension specialist until 1993, and from 1993-2001 he served as the Head of the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences. Jack worked with all segments of the industry in his role, but in particular Jack partnered with Virginia’s sod producers in his research and extension programs. Jack conducted variety trials on sod farms all over the state of Virginia.
Dr. David Chalmers was a former MS graduate student at Virginia Tech and subsequent Extension Turfgrass Specialist from 1981 thru 2002. Dave installed variety trials all over the state of Virginia, including the earliest NTEP trials at the Hampton Roads AREC. It was during Dr. Chalmers’s tenure that the NTEP trials became a focus of the data gathered by both VT and the University of Maryland and the use of those data in developing the annual turfgrass variety recommendation lists. Other research of note by David and graduate students reported on the value of returning clippings during mowing in order to recycle valuable nutrients to the soil and ultimately feeding the turf, while also reducing impact upon landfills from those that were still bagging the clippings. David also was active in the undergraduate teaching program and advised the graduate students working for Athletics. During David’s tenure the VT Turfgrass Club was formed in the mid-1990s for the undergraduate students.
Dr. David Chalmers served as an Extension Turfgrass Specialist from 1981 through 2002.
Dr. John R. “Jack” Hall
Dr. Wayne Bingham led the VT Turfgrass Weed Management program from 1961 through 1996.
Dr. Lincoln “Linc” Taylor worked in the area of turfgrass breeding later in his career at Virginia Tech. A primary focus of Linc’s efforts was in the development of one of the first improved cold tolerant seed propagated varieties called “Mohawk”. This variety continues to generate funds to support VT Turfgrass research to this day.
No agriculture research program may fulfill its mission without the dedication of office personnel and technicians. Significant research technicians who devoted their skills (and for many of them, most of their professional careers) to obtaining the data to enhance turfgrass knowledge were: Tommy Davis, a former golf course superintendent, who organized the schedules of the research at the Turfgrass Center, Dickie Shepherd whose unique fabrication skills were used very often to construct specialized equipment needed to accomplish research objectives, and Charlie McCoy who became the first turfgrass technician to utilize the early generation of computers for data entry and analysis. Some other very important names mentioned by Drs. Chalmers, Hall, and Schmidt were technicians David McKissack, George Stanger, Jodi Daniels, and Liz Rucker. Dick Shaver served as technician for Dr. Bingham for many years and Phil Keating in a similar role for Dr. Couch. While behind the scenes, these are the people that ultimately make a research program successful. They also tended to be the ones tasked with the daily management (as best that could be accomplished!) of the dozens of graduate and undergraduate students that worked at the Turfgrass Research Center over the years.
Charlie McCoy and Dickie Shepherd were long-time research technicians at the Turfgrass Research Center.
Dr. Linc Taylor developed and released the cold-tolerant seeded bermudagrass variety called “Mohawk”.
Early VT Turfgrass Facilities and Program Impacts
The earliest VT Turfgrass Research was performed on the edge of Virginia Tech’s campus golf course, and in the roughs of other local golf courses. The VT Dean of Agriculture funded the development of a field turfgrass research laboratory (the current VT Turfgrass Research Center) in the early 70’s. Prior to this use, the site was used by the Dairy Science program for haying and silage production, and a portion of the top section of the TRC also served as an airport runway (and has been a great site for doing research on low quality, compacted soils for years!). The turf industry came to the aid of the fledgling program in full force to supply the needed equipment. In particular, Tollie Quinn from Richmond Power Equipment provided considerable amounts of equipment for the research program, and to this day the Virginia Turfgrass Council’s most prestigious Award is known as the “Tollie Quinn Award” in recognition of his importance and dedication to the industry. The Agronomy department, the Plant Physiology, Pathology, and Weed Science department, and colleagues from the entomology department were engaged in research then and the collaborations continue to present day between the new School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Entomology.
Although the Virginia Tech Turfgrass program was in its relative infancy in the early 1970s, an invitation during the first International Turfgrass Society Conference in Harrogate, England, was extended for Virginia Tech to host the second International conference in 1973 at Blacksburg, Virginia. There were 248 turfgrass scientists from 15 countries that came to Virginia Polytechnic and State University for the first ITS Conference in the United States. This meeting produced 71 peer-reviewed publications. Professor John Shoulders escorted the attendees in touring ongoing turf research trials from New Jersey, down the east coast and through Williamsburg, and finally ending up in Blacksburg for the formal presentation of papers. (And John’s wife Ruth served as hostess for all those that accompanied the scientists!) All Virginia Tech faculty associated with turf research participated in the program that included tours of the research field activities. The Virginia Turfgrass Council and the state turfgrass industry assisted greatly with financial and moral support. This format, under John Shoulder’s extensive extension leadership, has been followed in subsequent ITS conferences.
In the early 1970s one of the most significant problems on golf courses in eastern Virginia was predictable and consistent
performance of common bermudagrass greens (that’s right –common bermudagrass!) that were overseeded for winter turf with a hundred pounds of annual ryegrass seed per 1,000 sq feet in early September. Hot weather in the spring obviously decimated the annual ryegrass, and similar to the challenges that remain with overseeding bermudagrass today, the ryegrass competition and putting green quality of the bermudagrass were greatly compromised during the transition from winter dormancy. An improved bermudagrass (‘328’ as it was commonly referred to, also known by its cultivar name ‘Tifgreen’) became available for use on putting green turf. Research was conducted in southeastern Virginia, mainly at The Country Club of Virginia (Richmond), James River Country Club, (Newport News) and the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Williamsburg) to evaluate this new bermudagrass and all the factors related to overseed species, time of overseeding, seedbed preparation, thatch control, and spring transition. Results showed that fine fescue, perennial ryegrass and even bentgrass seeded at lower amounts in early October provided a superior putting surface during the winter and spring transition period as compared to the traditional use of annual ryegrass overseeded in early September.
Another research area of importance in the late 1960’s and early 70’s was a somewhat controversial topic within and between academia and golf industry personnel regarding soil mixtures for golf putting greens. Soil for most greens at this time still consisted mostly of pushed-up topsoil, such as the initial first nine holes at Virginia Tech, and other greens were being constructed with pure sand. An experimental green was established to evaluate different soil compositions based on samples taken from the best green at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond. This experimental green included the expanded shale manufactured by the Weblite Corporation, whose CEO, B.K. Powers, an early advocate of turfgrass research, sponsored this study. The expanded shale’s ability to retain capillary moisture was highly advantageous over straight sand in this era, and was definitely an improvement over the native soil push-up greens.
A consortium with the University of Maryland turfgrass faculty was initiated to evaluate data obtained from the various ecological regions on the performance of the multitude of turfgrass cultivars being evaluated in the mid-Atlantic. This program eventually expanded into a nation-wide variety evaluation program called the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. The researchers from both universities still gather annually each spring to evaluate the previous year’s replicated field variety trial data and publish their annual turfgrass variety recommendation lists. Virginia Tech hosted the 2nd International Turfgrass Society Conference on campus in 1973.
In the late 70’s an unusually cold winter injured most of the bermudagrass varieties in the test plots in Blacksburg. One selection that tolerated the low temperatures was obtained by Dr. A.J. Powell, Jr., a Virginia Tech turfgrass extension specialist (who later went on to a very distinguished career in the same role at the University of Kentucky) from a mountain golf course in North Carolina. It was released as a vegetative propagated variety named “Vamont”. Sod grower Jack Kidwell used Vamont quite successfully for many years in improving athletic fields and golf fairway turf in southeast Virginia.
Virginia’s transition zone climate has always provided the VT Turfgrass Team plenty of topics to work on! As improved fungicides and herbicides became available, bentgrass replaced the bermudagrass greens and tees across Virginia. But as happens over the decades, changes in the climate, genetics, and management tools and turfgrass manager skills provides the opportunities for new approaches in turfgrass management. Grassing options will always be in flux in Virginia in the transition zone and VT researchers will always have new genetics in both cool- and warm-season grasses to evaluate.
In the earliest days of turfgrass science research, many management principles and philosophies that we now take for granted had yet to be discovered. An excellent example of one of Virginia Tech’s major contributions to turfgrass science was the observance that excellent bentgrass color could be obtained all winter long when urea encapsulated in wax was applied in the fall. The aforementioned A.J. Powell, Jr. a doctoral student at the time who eventually filled a turfgrass extension specialist position at Virginia Tech, was tasked with determining if this extended color and growth response from the fall N fertilization application was good or bad for the turf. Textbooks at the time indicated nitrogen fertilization to cool season grass after August was not recommended. Contrarily to this scientific opinion, Dr. Powell obtained data showing how important appropriate levels of plant available nitrogen were during the fall and early winter months for root development, carbohydrate storage, and enhanced turfgrass performance in the subsequent spring and summer. This work initiated what is now the standard practice of responsible (and beneficial) fall and early winter nitrogen fertilization for cool-season grasses in particular.
A few Graduate Research Projects of Particular Note at Virginia Tech
Bentgrass was severely injured on several of the Virginia Tech fertilizer test plots during an extremely dry February in the 1970s. However, it was observed that plots with fertilizers containing iron had the least injury. Graduate student Vince Snyder was able to repeat this observation by putting bentgrass fertilized with and without iron under a rainout shelter the following winter. Iron fertilized bentgrass had stimulated root development, enabling the grass to tolerate drought. Building upon the value of iron applications to turf, sod producers started using late fall iron fertilization to enhance the maturation of sod thus enabling earlier harvest the following year.
Creeping bentgrass plugs receiving supplemental iron applications displayed better drought tolerance and better color retention in this early 1970s research project from Virginia Tech.
The work with iron stimulated additional studies on the influence of exogenous nutrient applications on the metabolism of grasses. Tom Watschke (Tom went on to a very distinguished career on the faculty of Penn State) showed that the northern ecotype Kentucky bluegrasses utilized nitrogen more rapidly than southern ecotypes. This is one explanation why northern ecotypes of Kentucky bluegrass do poorly during hot weather. It was noted in the literature that supplemental applications of a synthetic cytokinin called benzyladenine influenced the metabolism of plants. In the mid-1980s, graduate student Richard White (who went on to serve on the faculty of Texas A&M) reported that benzyladenine-treated bermudagrass initiated photosynthesis earlier than non-treated during warming periods as the grass was transitioning from winter dormancy. White also observed that iron-fertilized bermudagrass maintained aesthetic quality and photosynthetic recovery of cold sensitive and cold tolerant cultivars after chilling. Mike Goatley (current Virginia Tech Extension Turfgrass Specialist) conducted studies that reported anti-senescence activities were obtained in turfgrasses treated with seaweed extracts, humic acid, and some triazole compounds. Later, these products were labeled as biostimulants, products defined by the Virginia Tech turfgrass program as organic substances that when applied in small amounts, may enhance plant growth and metabolism.
Building upon White and Goatley’s early research, Schmidt’s research program continued to explore the possibilities of biostimulants with his graduate students. Students such as JiYu Yan, Daryoosh Nabati, Wang Juan Luo, and H. Sun all provided
significant expansion in the scientific literature regarding how supplemental applications of biostimulants improved turfgrass tolerance to both environmental and pest stressors. A current faculty member that trained under Dick Schmidt and carries on Schmidt’s groundbreaking research in biostimulants is Dr. Xunzhong Zhang, whose doctoral work led to the knowledge that small amounts of exogenous biostimulants influenced turfgrasses to develop endogenous antioxidants that help turfgrasses better survive adverse environmental conditions..
Some other graduate students that were advised by the first generation of VT Turfgrass Researchers whose studies impacted the knowledge of turfgrass ecology in very significant ways were Dr. Jamie Brueninger, Dr. Dean Mosdell, Dr. Dwight Barkley, Dr. Mark Flannagan, Dr. Gary Custis, Dr. Cale Bigelow, Dr. Jeff Beasley, Dr. Gregg Munshaw, and Mr. Sam Doak. These individuals continued their contributions in industry or institutions of higher learning in a variety of ways. Of course, there are literally hundreds more undergraduate and graduate students that have come through our research and teaching programs that have made major impacts in turfgrass management in industry and academia in Virginia and beyond.
In the future, look for part two of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Program history that will pick up in the early 2000s and cover the people and programs of Virginia Tech Turfgrass through the present time. We hope you will join us in Blacksburg August 28-29, 2023 for our 50th Anniversary of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Center to see the latest research being conducted by the VT Turfgrass Team, but of equal importance, to renew acquaintances with old friends and make connections with new friends in this amazing industry. Our purpose remains the same as it did for the inaugural Field Day in 1972.
MINOR ELEMENTS, MAJOR RESULTS.
Healthy turf starts with Greene County Fert.
The first field day at the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Center occurred in 1972 and the only interruption in an annual research Field Day event since that time was due to Covid-19 in 2020.
Evaluating Effects of a Wetting Agent for Improving Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green Quality and Root Growth during Summer
By Xunzhong Zhang, Ph.D., Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Rose Harvey, and Ben Goddard School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Wetting agents are a primary management strategy utilized by most golf courses in putting green water management. Adding wetting agents can reduce the surface tension of water and overall soil water repellency, thus allowing water to better infiltrate and percolate through potentially hydrophobic soils. However, due to the variation in soil and turf, especially thatch layers so commonly encountered on intensively managed putting green turf, soil moisture status may vary across different areas of the putting greens, resulting in dry spots and decline in turf quality and uniformity, especially during summer stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of the wetting agent Fleet100 on turf quality, physiological fitness, and root growth in creeping bentgrass putting greens during summer stress.
Fig. 1. Turf quality of Fleet100 treated (top) and the control (bottom) of creeping bentgrass putting greens (photo by Zhang, July 21, 2021)
Fig. 2. Creeping bentgrass root growth of Fleet100-treated turf and the untreated control under putting green management conditions (photo by Zhang, August 23, 2022)
We carried out this study at the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Center in Blacksburg, VA, during 2021–2022 on a creeping bentgrass putting green managed as a standard golf putting green turf with regard to mowing, fertility, and surface irrigation. There were two treatments: HydroMAX surfactant Fleet 100 (Harrell’s, Lakeland, FL) and an untreated control and each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized block design. Fleet100 was applied at 5 fl oz/1000 ft2 monthly and both treatments received identical fertilization at 0.15 lb N/1000 ft2 biweekly. Irrigation was provided in the range of 0.125" and up to 0.25" water following application. The trials lasted for 12 weeks from June 8 through August 31 and included a total of three treatment applications. The grass was exposed to two dry-down cycles during mid-June and mid-July by withholding supplemental irrigation. Turf quality rating and physiology-based phenotyping methods were used to evaluate turfgrass response to the wetting agent treatments every other week. At the end of this trial, root biomass and viability were measured.
We found monthly application of Fleet100 at 5 fl oz/1000 ft2 significantly improved turf quality, leaf color ratings, leaf proline content, and chlorophyll content when compared to the control in creeping bentgrass putting greens, especially during drought stress periods. In addition, the creeping bentgrass treated with Fleet100 had greater root biomass (Fig. 2) and viability relative to control. The Fleet100 treatment also improved soil moisture content at 6-inch depth during drought stress period. The results of this study suggest monthly application of the wetting agent Fleet100 could improve soil moisture status, physiological fitness and visual quality of creeping bentgrass putting greens in Virginia and other regions with similar climate.
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