THE RESEARCH PLAYBOOK

By Nick Kordsmeier , with contributions from Marya Barlow and Tobie Blanchard

Whether it ’ s a football field , golf course or home lawn , a new multi-state study offers recommendations for keeping some varieties of turfgrass greener , longer .

Researchers based in six states collaborated to identify three simple management tips to extend green color and reduce cold-weather injury in hybrid bermudagrass . Recommendations include raising the mowing height , applying nitrogen fertilizer in the fall and , most importantly , maintaining adequate soil moisture in the lead-up to a short-term freeze event , such as a springtime cold snap .

The study , “ Improving winter survival of interspecific hybrid bermudagrass in the Mid-Atlantic region through cultural practices ,” was published in the Crop , Forage & Turfgrass Management journal in August .

Wendell Hutchens , Ph . D ., co-author of the study and an assistant professor of turfgrass science with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station , noted that although the work focused on golf courses , the recommendations could apply equally in other situations .

“ The practices can be used universally ,” said Hutchens . “ Sod growers can use the same practices , as can sports field managers and homeowners for their lawns .”

Sports field managers , Hutchens added , may benefit the most from this study . Much of the work for golf courses was done on fairway-height bermudagrass , which he said is “ usually comparable to sports fields .”

“ Many of our turfgrass professionals manage hybrid bermudagrasses throughout the Mid-Atlantic ; winter injury is one of their biggest concerns ,” said David McCall , Ph . D ., co-author of the study and associate professor of turfgrass pathology and precision management in Virginia Tech ’ s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences . “ This multi-state project was designed to answer some practical questions that would benefit our industry stakeholders .”

According to the study , hybrid bermudagrass is susceptible to cold-weather damage in the transition zone , an area that includes a band from Maryland and Virginia on the East Coast to Arkansas , parts of Missouri

David McCall , Ph . D .

and Oklahoma , all the way to California on the West Coast . While the study highlights the Mid-Atlantic region , the work is relevant for anywhere in the transition zone , Hutchens added .

“ The transition zone is where cool and warm climates meet ,” said Hutchens . “ That ’ s where we can grow every species of turfgrass — warm season and cool season — but they all struggle to some degree . And that provides ample research opportunities .”

In addition to Hutchens and McCall , other coauthors of the study include Joseph Doherty , former graduate student at the University of Maryland ; Joseph Roberts , Ph . D ., associate professor with Clemson University ’ s College of Agriculture , Forestry and Life Sciences ; Eric DeBoer , assistant professor with the LSU AgCenter in Louisiana ; Jordan Booth , Ph . D ., senior director of the U . S . Golf Association ’ s course consulting service ; and Michael Battaglia , graduate student at the University of Arkansas ’ Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural , Food and Life Sciences .

RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FIELD TRIALS Hutchens said the research team set out to evaluate the effects of soil fertility , mowing height and soil moisture to avoid cold-weather injury , also known as winterkill .

22 SportsField Management | December 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com