Thatch management study includes vertical mowing treatment.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Advisory Reports
OMAFRA Turfgrass Management Report
OMAFRA Nursery & Landscape Report
From the Editor
The season is in full swing at the GTI with samples flowing into the Turf Diagnostic Lab and the building and research plots suddenly filled with enthusiastic summer students. The next few issues of the GTI Advisor will focus on bringing you up to date on what is happening at the research facility this summer.
Off the top, we feature projects being undertaken by the turfgrass management research group headed by Drs. Katerina Jordan and Eric Lyons. Weed management specialist Dr. Francois Tardif is overseeing the alternative weed management project.
Watch for updates on these projects in future issues of trade journals, industry meetings as well as in reports published on the GTI website.
NTEP 2005 Kentucky bluegrass cultivar trial
The objective of this research project is to evaluate commercial and experimental cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass in various locations across North America. The 2005 Kentucky bluegrass trial at the GTI is a medium maintenance trial, with mowing height at 50 mm, N rate at 1.5 kg 100 m-2, irrigation to prevent dormancy, and pesticide (fungicide, insecticide and herbicide) only to prevent stand loss.
Optimizing management for velvet bentgrass in Ontario
Kentucky bluegrass mowing trial
Objective: To determine how various dwarf KBG varieties perform under varying mowing heights and under wear and divot stress
Thatch study
Objective: To determine what practices or combination of practices are most effective for reducing thatch levels on mixed putting height turf.
Poa-bent competition and foliar fertility
Effects of phosphorus rate and prill size on establishing Kentucky bluegrass turf
Photosynthesis rate and cytokinin levels of three turfgrass species in response to low phosphorus and drought
Carbon and nitrogen allocation during cold acclimation of perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass
Efficacy of experimental plant growth regulator on biomass growth reduction and crop tolerance in creeping bentgrass fairway type turf
Efficacy of experimental plant growth regulator on biomass growth reduction and crop tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass sod mixtures.
Field evaluation of wetting agent efficacy against localized dry spot, soil moisture, and root system growth on creeping bentgrass putting green turf
Reduction of phosphorus inputs into the Lake Simcoe Watershed from nursery sod production through better phosphorus management
Irrigation Protocols and Overseeding Rates and Methods for Pesticide-Free Soccer Fields
Effects of various fertility programs on dollar spot development
Reclaimed water use
To determine effect of irrigation with various reclaimed water sources on a) turfgrass quality, b) soil chemical properties and c) soil microbiological diversity
Alternative weed management
Objectives include: 1) Determine effect of overseeding PRG and KBG on weed populations, 2) Evaluate various alternative weed control methods on weed populations, 3) determine best establishment methods and seedbed preparation for new/renovated turfgrass sites, 4) determine effectivessn of interseeding fescue into established KBG for drought tolerance, reduced N management and weed prevention.
Summer patch identification and management
This project has four objectives: 1) determine presence of Magnaporthe poae on annual bluegrass turf in Ontario, 2) collect annual bluegrass ecotypes and Magnaporthe poae isolates and detrmine pathogenicity across Ontario and presence of resistance, 3) determine best cultural/chemical practices for management of disease and 4) develop ELISA-based diagnostic assay for detection
If you have had issues with summer patch on your golf course and would like to volunteer to allow researchers to come and collect samples, please contact:
Melissa Bassoriello
Katerina Jordan (519-824-4120 ext. 56615)
Evaluation of low-maintenance turfgrass mixtures established from seed
The objective of this research project is to evaluate the performance of a two new low maintenance seed mixtures compared to a standard Kentucky bluegrass/fine fescue/perennial ryegrass seed mixture established from seed and maintained under low maintenance conditions.
Industry Calendar
Coming Events:
June 17 - GLAGS June Meeting - Maple Ridge GC
June 23 - OGSA Presidents Day - Bigwin Island GC
June 23 - WOGSA June Meeting - Brookfield GC
June 24 - Parks & Open Space Alliance Summer Operational Forum
Check out the calendar link above for more details on these events.