Tuesday, September 20, 2016

University of California Riverside hosts annual Turfgrass and Landscape Research Field Day

More than 150 golf and landscape professionals on hand to learn about research activities in California

The University of California Riverside (UCR) Turfgrass and Landscape Program held their 2016 Research Field Day in Riverside, CA. on Sept. 15. More than 150 golf and landscape professionals attended the event including superintendents from the Hi-Lo Desert, Northern California, San Diego and Southern California GCSA chapters.


Steve Ries discussing Zoysiagrass

Headed by Dr. Jim Baird, CE Specialist at UCR; the day provided an overview of UCR's research efforts and featured numerous field tours through areas designed to study water and salinity management issues on turf and landscape. The UCR program, funded in part by the California Turfgrass and Landscape Foundation (CTLF), provides the only university-based turf research in the state of California.

Highlights of the day included the improvement of bermudagrass, kikuyugrass and zoysiagrass for winter color retention and drought tolerance, postemergence control of crabgrass in tall fescue, evaluation of products for salinity alleviation, evaluation of turfgrass species and cultivars under deficit irrigation, evaluation of groundcovers, growth regulators for bermudagrass, kikuyugrass and seashore paspalum management and a trade show featuring numerous industry vendors.

Field plots at the UCR Turfgrass Research Facility

Of special interest this year were field trials on Indemnify, a next-generation nematicide that controls key nematodes and has been effective against the Pacific Shoot-Gall Nematode Anguina Pacificae. Anguina Pacificae can have a devastating effect on putting surfaces, particularly on courses located in the Monterey Peninsula area. Bayer announced the federal registration of the product in June and hopes are that it will be registered in California for use in the summer of 2017.

On behalf of the California GCSA Chapters, thanks to Dr. Baird and his team for a research program that meets the interest and continuing needs of the golf industry.  To learn more about the field day or to view the yearly reports, visit the University of California Riverside's turfgrass page or donate to the program by visiting the California Turfgrass and Landscape Foundation website.

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