Turfgrass research, even when not focused directly on turfgrass sod production, is very relevant to production, management and environmental protection for sod producers.

TITLE: Can frequent measurement of normalized difference vegetation index and soil nitrate guide nitrogen fertilization of Kentucky bluegrass sod?

Authors: Karl Guillard, Richard J. M. Fitzpatrick, and Holly Burdett

Journal: Crop Science, 2016.

This 2016 paper brings us back to New England and features the joint effort of the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island with the project conducted in the “sod-centric” “little Rhody” which probably has the most sod farms per square inch in America!

Te research at its heart merges new and existing technologies toward creating precision agricultural practices that provide resource efficiency. One technology used by the authors was NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), which measures reflectance of light from turf areas to provide a quantitative assessment of turf performance such as color or quality. Reflectance data has been used to monitor irrigation, drought stress, fertility, and even mowing in turfgrass systems. Used on either turf machines such as mowers, or even on drones, even large turfgrass sites can be monitored quickly and frequently providing early detection of stresses and changes due to management practices. Terefore, I found it very interesting to learn from this sod production study, the potential for using this type of information to manage sod crops. In Rhode Island, the researchers were attempting to correlate NDVI with soil nitrate-nitrogen and shear strength of sod. Te authors did discover NDVI and nitrate-nitrogen relationships that could guide N fertilization strategies for Kentucky bluegrass sod and for the relationship of soil nitrate-nitrogen sod shear strength. Future farm-scale studies are warranted to determine the utility of this information on a commercial basis.

As TPI looks forward to celebrating 50 fabulous years, there’s no better way to support this milestone than by contributing to the Farm Challenge!

The Brookings of Brookmeade Sod Farm have pledged to donate $100 for every year of their 45 year membership and they challenge other farms to do the same. Match their pledge and donate $100 for each year you have been a member. Donations of any size are welcome!

Farm Challenge donations will fund 50th Anniversary Celebration activities and TLI research, education and scholarship initiatives. Make checks payable to The Lawn Institute.

Questions may be directed to the 

52 TPI Turf News January/February 2017

Dr. John Cisar is Turf News editorial advisor for warm-season turfgrasses and International Turfgrass Society (ITS) Treasurer.

50th

Anniversary FARM CHALLENGE!