Hopefully, this makes the data more useful to growers within their geographical region or under their specific management level. NTEP recommends that growers first review data collected in their state or region, also under the management regime most suited to their needs. To find data for a specific state, go to
www.ntep.org/states/states.htm.
NTEP Implemented Improved Data
Reporting Procedure NTEP is committed to improving its data collection,
analysis, and reporting. To that end, NTEP spent ten years researching new statistical methods and has implemented a new reporting procedure, the ’Location Performance Index’ or ‘LPI,’ on its trials. Te LPI is based on ‘AMMI,’ a more complete, accurate statistical analysis program for predicting cultivar performance across many locations. Te LPI is only used on turfgrass quality data,
but in reading the turfgrass quality tables, you will notice that locations may not be grouped by any apparent geographical orientation. For instance, in the 2012 data from our 2011 Kentucky bluegrass trial, ‘LPI Group 1' included Amherst, MA, W. Lafayette, IN, Urbana, IL, St. Paul, MN, Manhattan, KS, and Pullman, WA. It seems that these locations have nothing in common, geographically or climatically. However, what they do have in common is a very important similar ‘interaction pattern,’ i.e., the varieties performed in a similar manner, relative to each other, at each of these locations in that year. For that reason and most appropriately, the LPI groups them together for analysis. And that ‘interaction pattern’ can, and very often will, vary from year to year. Terefore, investigate the LPI Group data containing locations that are closest to you, or your market. Te LPI is used on new trials as they initiated. Go
to the NTEP website,
www.ntep.org, to read more about the LPI and the reasons for utilizing this new procedure.
Focus On Specific Traits NTEP is designing its trial programs such that
more data on specific traits are collected. For instance, standard trial locations, conducted at university sites using prescribed management schemes, collect traditional data, such as turfgrass quality, color, density, any diseases present, etc. NTEP also sponsors ancillary trial locations that collect data on specific traits, such as shade tolerance, traffic tolerance, and sod strength. Tese ancillary trials must often be conducted in unique locations (i.e., under shade trees) or using specialized equipment (i.e., a traffic simulator). Because ancillary trials are applying unique stress to the entries, the data from these locations are often summarized and reported in separate tables. NTEP will continue sponsoring ancillary trials in
the future and is in fact, co-sponsoring with USGA, trials evaluating cool-season and warm-season grasses for drought resistance and water use. Te cool-season water use trial was established in fall 2016 and completed in 2020 with a new
TPI Turf News July/August 2022
cool-season trial planned for establishment in 2022. Te warm-season version of this trial was established in summer 2018, with second-year data from warm-season grasses being included in this report. In addition, NTEP sponsored a low input trial for cool-season grasses and mixtures in fall 2015, while also establishing a warm-season low input trial in summer 2018. It is our hope that this type of data will provide much needed information to consumers on these important traits.
Update On Cultivars With Covid-19 restrictions subsiding in most
locations, NTEP data collection was back to a normal level in 2021. Te following is an overview of the latest information on commercially available and experimental cultivars.
COOL-SEASON
Kentucky Bluegrass Our latest trial of Kentucky bluegrass was
established in 2017, with this article reporting on fourth year data (2021). Typically, first year data strongly reflects rate of establishment, as well as the performance without significant thatch development. Second-year data is the first indication of longer-term performance. Year three data and beyond, particularly from Kentucky bluegrass often contains responses to stresses such as disease, shade, and/or drought. In addition, significant thatch may have developed in Kentucky bluegrass by year four, which can affect drought tolerance, encourage disease development, and contribute to other problems. In this summary, we look at locations in the different regions and identify top performers. It was surprising that 2021 data yielded small or no
statistical significance among entries at sites such as Knoxville, TN, Ames, IA, Stillwater, OK, and Logan, UT. Sites that did produce good statistical differences and separation among entries can be divided into Midwest/North Central U.S. or Mid-Atlantic/Transition Zone regions. Midwest/North Central locations West Lafayette,
IN, and Mead, NE, had Barserati as the top entry, while it also finished as a top five entry at East Lansing, MI. Bombay was the top entry at East Lansing while also finishing in the top statistical group at West Lafayette, Mead, and St. Paul, MN. Other entries finishing in the top statistical group at three or four of these sites include Electric, Skye, Cloud, and Syrah. Locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Transition
Zone with excellent statistical separation include College Park, MD, Blacksburg, VA, North Brunswick, NJ, Adelphia, NJ, and Raleigh, NC. Te only entries finishing in the top statistical group at all five locations
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