Intro to Turf Final

Monocots

Plants with one cotyledon.

Dicots

Plants with two cotyledons.

Turfgrass

A narrow-leaved grass species that forms a uniform, long-lived ground cover that can tolerate low mowing heights and traffic.

Turfgrass industry components

Facilities, manufacturing, servicing, institutional.

Challenges of turfgrass

Water use, pesticide use, pollution, land use.

Benefits of turfgrass

Absorption of pollutants, erosion control, cooling, aesthetics/recreation.

Cool-season turfgrasses

Typically requires much more water but less light and primarily use C3 photosynthesis.

Warm-season turfgrasses

Typically requires less water but more light and primarily use C4 photosynthesis.

Self-pollination

Pollination that occurs within one plant.

Cross-pollination

Pollination that occurs between different plants, allowing for genetic diversity.

Crown (in grass plants)

The part at the base where the plant exits the soil.

Stolons

Above ground shoots that spread the plant.

Rhizomes

Underground shoots used to spread the plant.

Photosynthesis

A process that takes place in chloroplasts, producing oxygen, glucose, and water.

Gas exchange and respiration

Occurs in the mitochondria, producing carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Temperature optimum for warm-season turfgrasses

80-95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature optimum for cool-season turfgrasses

60-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Photorespiration

Occurs when there is a high concentration of oxygen in the leaf, leading to decreased photosynthetic efficiency in C3 turfgrasses.

Main turfgrass environment components

Atmospheric (wind), Edaphic (soil), Biotic (other plants).

Drought resistance mechanisms

Escape (dormancy), avoidance (retention), tolerance (minimizing damage).

Waterlogging

Excessive water in the soil.

Submerging

Putting the entire plant under water.

Evaporation

The process of turning water into a gas.

Transpiration

Water evaporating from the leaves through tiny pores (stomates).

Turfgrass types based on use

Sports, lawns/residential, utility.

Objectives in breeding warm-season turfgrasses

Considerations include species selection based on use, pros, and cons.

Components of Soil

The basic components of soil include sand, silt, and clay.

Primary Nutrients

The primary nutrients essential for plant growth, specifically nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), often referred to as NPK.

Cool-Season Turfgrasses

Main groups of cool-season turfgrasses include C3 grasses such as bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, and bentgrass.

Goals of Turfgrass Breeding

Goals include tolerance/resistance to pests, seed yield, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, and salinity tolerance.

Uses of Cool-Season Turfgrass

Cool-season turfgrass species are suitable for athletic fields, home lawns, and golf course fairways and greens.

Stolon and Rhizome Production

Bentgrass and bluegrass produce stolons or rhizomes, while fescue and ryegrass do not.

Water Requirements for Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season turfgrasses require higher water amounts than warm-season grasses.

Mowing Height

The typical mowing height for cool-season turfgrasses varies between 0.125 and 3.5 inches.

Reel Mowers

A type of mower that is primarily used for its ability to maintain a clean cut on turfgrass.

Clippings Management

Pros of removing clippings include reduced thatching and disease; cons include loss of nitrogen and organic matter.

Proper Mowing Techniques

Proper techniques include adhering to the 1/3 rule for cutting grass height, maintaining mower speed, and regular equipment maintenance.

Site Preparation for Seeding

Includes irrigation, weed management, and fertilization before and after seeding/planting.

Water conservation pyramid

A framework outlining key activities to conserve water.

Evapotranspiration

The amount of water lost to the atmosphere through plant transpiration and soil evaporation.

Runoff

Occurs when the precipitation rate exceeds infiltration capacity.

Types of drainage

Includes surface (water runoff), internal (soil profile), and installed (pipe drain systems).

Crown in athletic fields

Middle elevation allowing water to drain to the sides.

Mowing heights for golf course greens

Greens: 0.125-0.35 inches; Tees: 0.5-1.0 inches; Fairways: 0.375-1.25 inches; Rough: 2.0-3.0 inches.

Suitable turfgrass species for athletic fields

Includes Bermuda, zoysia, and buffalo.

Factors affecting nutrient uptake

Plant available forms, soil moisture and oxygen, and soil pH.

Fertilizer program development

Should be based on type and amount of fertilizer, timing, species, soil type, environmental factors, and management practices.

Fertilizer analysis components

N, P, K - representing Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium.

Important macro and micronutrients for turfgrass growth

Macro: NPK; Micro: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni.

Types of Weeds

Monocots, Dicots, Annuals, Biennials, Perennials.

Agricultural practices in weed management

Mowing, irrigation, aeration, overseeding.

Chemical practices in weed management

Site of absorption, selectivity, weed developmental phase, modes of actions.

Types of Turfgrass Pests

Nematodes, weeds, insects, diseases, large animals.

Types of Turfgrass Diseases

Abiotic (nutrient deficiencies, environmental factors) and Biotic (viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi).

Disease Triangle

Depicts the interaction of the host, pathogen, and environmental condition needed for disease to occur.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Managing pests through a combination of techniques to prevent them.

Components of IPM

Species/cultivars, mechanical control/natural enemies, proper irrigation/fertilization, pesticides, mowing and other cultural practices.

Why Implement IPM?

To reduce costs, delay development of resistance, and ensure health, social, and environmental benefits.

Pesticide Use in IPM

Used only when necessary, prioritizing playing surfaces, using less harmful active ingredients, and targeted applications.

How Herbicides Work on Weeds

Target specific growth phases and types of plants, acting through various modes of action.

Types of Turfgrass Alternatives

Mixed species in lawns, ground cover, ornamental grasses, meadows, shrubs, garden borders, gravel.

Turfgrass Alternatives for Drought Conditions

Phyla nodiflora, creeping thyme, sedum.

Turfgrass Alternatives for Shade Conditions

English Ivy, Wild Ginger, Dwarf Mondo Grass.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)

Chemical messengers that regulate development and growth in plants.

Common Classes of PGRs

Used primarily for flowering regulation.

Localized Dry Spots

Areas of soil that repel water, develop during hot and dry weather in sandy soils.

Wetting Agents

Surfactants that increase the wetting capacity of water in hydrophobic soil.

Overseeding

Seeding opposite season turfgrass into an established area to maintain green year-round.