Orlando, FL (August 10, 2006): The Florida Turfgrass Association, in cooperation with several allied turf and golf industry associations, announces the allocation of funding for research grants in excess of $150,000 over the next two years.
Cooperating associations include: Florida Turfgrass Association, (FTGA); Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, (FGCSA); Florida Sod Growers Cooperative, (FSGC); Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, (GCSAA); and the Club Managers Association of America, (CMAA).
The grants will advance research in the turfgrass industry, covering subject matter as diverse as: irrigation water use, insect control, turfgrass breeding and best management practices for a culturally diverse workforce. Funding recipients are Florida-based researchers at the University of Florida and at Lake City Community College. Projects funded are as follows:
â?¢ Rapid Turfgrass Disease Diagnosis Assistantship: a one-year funding grant to hire a research assistant in order to enable rapid turnaround of disease diagnostic processing at the UF-IFAS Florida Extension Plant Disease Clinic (FEPDC) in Gainesville. The facility allows turfgrass professionals to send samples for evaluation. This $23,961 grant was funded by the FTGA and FGCSA.
â?¢ Best Management Practices for a Culturally Diverse Workforce: a one-year project to be conducted by Bruce Witt at Lake City Community College in Lake City, Florida. The objective of the study is to create a Best Management Practices manual for golf course superintendents and other turfgrass managers who work mainly with foreign-born or English-as-a-second-language crews. This $13,805 study was funded by the FTGA, FGCSA, and the CMAA.
â?¢ Breeding Turfgrass for Improved Performance & Reduced Maintenance: a one-year project to be spearheaded by Dr. Kevin Kenworthy at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the project is to build and advance the turfgrass breeding program at the University in order to produce new grasses for use on golf courses and home lawns. This $40,000 study was funded by the FTGA, FSGC, FGCSA and the Palm Beach Chapter of the FGCSA.
â?¢ Evaluation of Soil Moisture & Evapotranspiration Irrigation Control to Reduce Turfgrass Irrigation Water Use: a 2-year study to be conducted by Dr. Michael D. Dukes at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the research is to quantify irrigation water savings via commercially available irrigation control systems. This $11,500 project was funded in its entirety by the FGCSA.
â?¢ Effect of Nitrogen on the Southern Chinch Bug: a one-year study to be conducted by Dr. Laurie Trenholm and Dr. Eileen Buss at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the study is to determine if fertilizer rates for St. Augustinegrass lawns should be modified to decrease susceptibility or increase tolerance to chinch bug infestations. This $6,346 study was funded in its entirety by the FTGA.
â?¢ Field Evaluation of Bioherbicidal Control of Tropical Signalgrass: a 2-year study to be conducted by Dr. Carol Stiles and Dr. Raghavan Charudattan at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the research is to assess effective methods of herbicide on tropical signalgrass, an invasive weed. This $23,094 study was funded by the FTGA, FGCSA and the GCSAA.
â?¢ The Billbug Species Complex, Seasonality and Management in Florida: a 1-year study to be conducted by Dr. Eileen Buss at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the research is to better understand the billbug, a major pest on Florida golf courses, in an attempt to reduce unnecessary insecticide use in controlling the insect. This $13,895 project was funded by the FTGA, FGCSA and GCSAA.
â?¢ Root-Knot Nematodes on Turf in Florida: a 2-year study to be conducted by Dr. William T. Crow at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The objective of the research is to be better able to diagnose root-knot nematode problems on golf course and lawn grasses and provide management recommendations. This $18,883 project was funded by the FTGA and FGCSA.
The Florida Turfgrass Association is a volunteer based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the value of turf through education and research, thus preserving the natural resources of our state and the enhancement of the quality of life of its residents. For more information on the FTGA visit: www.ftga.org .
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