Dr. John N. Rogers III, Golf Turf Coordinator
Dr. John "Trey" Rogers III
Golf Turf Coordinator
Crop and Soil Sciences 517.355.0271 ext. 1136
Dr. John N. Rogers, III is a Professor of Turfgrass Management in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University. He has been on the faculty there since 1988. He is a native of Arkansas and grew up working at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He received a B.S. in Agronomy at the University of Arkansas in 1982 and then returned to be an Assistant Superintendent at Hardscrabble Country Club 1982‑1983. He returned to the University of Arkansas and earned M.S. in Agronomy in 1985 and received his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Penn State University in 1988 where his research centered on athletic fields.
Dr. Rogers is also the Coordinator of the 2‑year Golf Turfgrass Management program at Michigan State University. His turfgrass research interests at MSU include athletic field management and reduced light conditions; specifically wear tolerance, soil modification, and field hardness and traction. He served as the lead scientist for the indoor turf project at the Pontiac Silverdome for the 1994 World Cup Soccer matches and the project leader of the Spartan Stadium turfgrass conversion in 2001-02. His National and International lectures and presentations total over 170 with over 110 publications and one book. He was a turf consultant and project leader for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2008 UEFA Cup. He is the senior author of two U.S. Patents and one book. His consultations on athletic field and turfgrass matters are extensive throughout United States as well as China, Greece, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, England, and Spain. National organizations include the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. Honors include the Institute of Agriculture Technology Outstanding Faculty Member at Michigan State University and William H. Daniel award, the highest honor given by the Sports Turf Managers Association.
Lightweight rolling and sand topdress programs to decrease pesticide inputs and enhance turfgrass quality
Thomas O. Green, Dr. John N. Rogers, III, Dr. James R. Crum, Dr. Thomas A. Nikolai, and Dr. Joseph M. Vargas, Jr
The research objective for 2012 was to evaluate the effects of lightweight rolling frequency on dollar spot incidence and turfgrass quality grown on sand topdressed and native soil. Also, evaluate the effects of different initiation timings for lightweight rolling regimes on dollar spot incidence and turfgrass quality. In addition, evaluate the effect lightweight rolling frequency has upon increasing pesticide application interaction to disease and turf quality.
Specific methods and procedures: Experimental plots were established in July 2011 at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. The fairway turf stand is composed of Poa annua (annual bluegrass) and Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) maintained at 0.5 inch height of cut. The area encompassed 34,628 ft2 divided into three replications and each replication subdivided into sand topdressed and native soil plots; these plots were 54 ft x 86 ft. The following three experiments were established. The first objective was initiated on July 7, 2011. Preliminary research was conducted in order to find the most effective rolling frequency rate conductive toward fungal pathogen suppression. Additionally, sand topdressing (0.5 in) affect on pathogen reduction was investigated. The research plots were 12 ft x 16 ft arranged in a complete randomized split-block with three replications and two factors for each rolling treatment. The weekly rolling frequency treatments were 1, 3, and 5 with a control. The experiment will be repeated in spring of 2013 and 2014. No fungicides were applied to the plots and will remain constant throughout the experiment. The second objective began in spring 2012 on 5.25 ft x 10 ft research plots arranged in a randomized split-block design with three replications and two factors. Several initiation timing dates will constitute the four treatments: April 15, May 15, June 15, and finally July 15. Each treatment will be subjected to rolling frequencies composing 3 times and 5 times per week. No fungicides were applied and will remain constant in all the test plots. The third objective started in spring of 2012. The research plots were 4 ft x 6 ft arranged in a randomized split-block design with three replications and two rolling treatments: three times per week and a control. In addition, the experimental design consisted of four treatments: full rate, half rate, quarter rate, and no fungicide application. Finally, fungicide application interval treatments included the following: fifteen days and thirty days. The plots were rolled using a John Deere® 2500 triplex greens mower supplanted with three True Surface® vibratory rollers. Sand topdressing material applied with a Toro® 2500 topdressing implement towed by a Toro® Workman utility vehicle on a biweekly basis, or as needed to maintain a 0.5 inch layer of sand atop native soil surface. Weekly ratings recorded turfgrass quality, color, divot recovery, and percentage dollar spot coverage. Also, soil surface firmness was tested with a 2.25 kg CleggHammer® impact soil tester on all experimental plots. Additionally, soil volumetric water content was rated with a soil moisture meter (FieldScout® TDR 300) manufactured by Spectrum Technology. SAS® 9.3 statistical software determined if the collected data is statistically significant (alpha = 0.05).
The field research for 2013 will investigate strategies that reduce pesticide expenditures; therefore, alleviating the financial burden placed on turf related businesses in the current economic recession. Lightweight rolling and sand topdressing programs to suppress disease incidence, provides an alternative to chemical pesticide applications. Many innovative turfgrass management strategies have been borne from the necessity of maintaining turf on golf courses. Therefore, alternative turfgrass management strategies, such as lightweight rolling and sand topdressing, could reduce surfeit pesticide usage in the turfgrass industry. By reducing pesticide inputs to turf, money will be saved for an already struggling Michigan industry. The loss of manufacturing jobs throughout the nation and state caused the collapse of the home builders market, which in turn negatively affected the turf industry. Since manufacturing was a major employer in the state of Michigan, it received the brunt of the economic woes facing the nation. For example, the 1998 average maintenance budget for an 18-hole private golf course was $685,930 and $383,819 for a municipal golf course (Moore, 1998). Given those averages, annual fungicide expenditure would be $23,796-42,527 with fungicides constituting 6-7% of the total maintenance budget of most golf courses, exceeding the combined costs of herbicides and insectides (Landschoot et al, 2010). Therefore, by enhancing the overall health and vigor of the turfgrass plant through rolling and sand topdressing, the turfgrass industry can potentially save 50% annually on fungicide expenses. After all, there is no better reason, aside from cost savings, to institute a turfgrass cultural practice that is effective against pathogenic agents yet reduces human exposure to pesticides, and in light of potential pesticide bans this research is even more meaningful. The performance measure will be a reduction of dollar spot severity given each treatment method utilized on the experimental plots.
Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Supported Research 2009-2010
The year of 2009 marked the year of transition for the Crop and Soil Sciences department at Michigan State University with the finish of the Sand Capped Built up System research and initiation of the Kentucky bluegrass monostand research. MTF monies have gone to support graduate assistantships (Alec Kowalewski for the sand cap work, and now Jeff Dunne for the monostand study.) The following paragraphs provide the summary for both.
The Built-Up Sand-Capped Athletic Field System
The Problem
Native soil athletic fields high in silt and clay provide inadequate drainage during periods of heavy rainfall, resulting in reduced wear tolerance and surface stability when combined with heavy use. Renovation procedures range from $1,000,000, for a synthetic field, to $200,000, for a sand-capped system, and render the field temporarily useless, which is unacceptable for a municipality with a limited budget and high use requirement.
The Solution
Drain tile installation and subsequent sand topdressing, providing a “built-up sand-capped” system is a cost effective renovation procedure, which can be done for approximately $58,200-103,800 [price includes irrigation system installation ($15,000), 6-20’ drain tile spacing ($60,000-14,400, respectively), and 2 inch sand topdressing layer ($28,800) accumulated over time], that does not take the field out of play. In 2007, two research projects were designed and initiated at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center to address the feasibility of this renovation process. It is important to note that a well-graded 90% sand – 10% silt/clay (90/10 sand) topdressing material manufactured for athletic field use was utilized for the following research projects.
The Research and Results
The objective of the first project was to evaluate the effects of varying cumulative amounts of 90/10 sand topdressing on turfgrass wear tolerance and surface stability. Observations showed that lighter more frequent applications (½ inch of topdressing applied over a 5-week period) will increase turfgrass cover, density and surface stability. On the other hand, aggressive topdressing rates, up to 2 inches of topdressing applied over a 5-week period, while not improving stability, will increase turfgrass coverage in the long run.
The second project was designed to establish intercept drain tile spacing, in combination with sand topdressing, necessary to improve drainage, wear tolerance and surface stability characteristics. Findings from this research determined that a drain tile spacing of 13 feet, which will substantially reduce installation costs ($22,400-28,000; material and labor), is adequate to provide sufficient drainage and stability when 1 inch of topdressing ($14,400; material and labor) has been applied. However, 2008 results suggest that if 2 inches of topdressing ($28,800) has been accumulated and an adequate surface slope is available (≥1%) drain tile spacing can be increased to distances greater than 20 feet. Drain tile installation at 20 feet spacing would cost approximately $14,400-18,000. It is important to note that drain tiles are necessary to prevent standing water from accumulating along sidelines and other low lying areas and therefore should not be completely excluded from the renovation process.
Investigation of Kentucky bluegrass varietal monostands for performance turf situations
Traditionally, for performance turf situations, the blending of turfgrasses will provide advantages over single-cultivar stands in highly stressed environments. Whether these environments include high trafficked areas, disease pressure, or weed interactions, the general thought was that turfgrass blends outperform monostands. For instance, prior to the use of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) blends, entire monostands were devastated by strip smut (Ustilago striiformis) a cultivar specific disease (Vargas, 1994). Therefore, recommendations historically have suggested three or more cultivars to prevent complete desiccation. However, due to recent advancements in breeding technology, single cultivars bred for generalized disease resistance, aggressive tillering, and herbicide resistance may be used in place of a blend, which was previously necessary to provide all of these characteristics.
Additionally, the cultural inputs in these performance turf areas are great enough to offset any of the previously mentioned pressures. Due to these recent advances a small percentage of field managers have begun to switch to single variety Kentucky bluegrass stands. However, there is a general lack in published research pertaining to the comparison of Kentucky bluegrass monostand to blends utilized for athletic field use. This research will be conducted through a series of experiments involving traffic, sand topdressing, herbicides, and disease pressure as variables under study. The objective of determining the efficacy of the monostand could lead to higher quality fields that are easier to manage. This research could provide evidence to architects and others that writing specifications to include monostands is viable. This project began September 2009 at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center and will go through 2011. Dr. Joe Vargas will cooperate in this project.
Finally, I would like to thank the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation for their support in 2009 and beyond. Their support for the last 22 years has helped advance sports turf as well as provides training for graduate students, many of who are now professors around the United States.
Dr. John "Trey" Rogers III
Golf Turf Coordinator
Crop and Soil Sciences 517.355.0271 ext. 1136
Dr. John N. Rogers, III is a Professor of Turfgrass Management in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University. He has been on the faculty there since 1988. He is a native of Arkansas and grew up working at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He received a B.S. in Agronomy at the University of Arkansas in 1982 and then returned to be an Assistant Superintendent at Hardscrabble Country Club 1982‑1983. He returned to the University of Arkansas and earned M.S. in Agronomy in 1985 and received his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Penn State University in 1988 where his research centered on athletic fields.
Dr. Rogers is also the Coordinator of the 2‑year Golf Turfgrass Management program at Michigan State University. His turfgrass research interests at MSU include athletic field management and reduced light conditions; specifically wear tolerance, soil modification, and field hardness and traction. He served as the lead scientist for the indoor turf project at the Pontiac Silverdome for the 1994 World Cup Soccer matches and the project leader of the Spartan Stadium turfgrass conversion in 2001-02. His National and International lectures and presentations total over 170 with over 110 publications and one book. He was a turf consultant and project leader for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2008 UEFA Cup. He is the senior author of two U.S. Patents and one book. His consultations on athletic field and turfgrass matters are extensive throughout United States as well as China, Greece, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, England, and Spain. National organizations include the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. Honors include the Institute of Agriculture Technology Outstanding Faculty Member at Michigan State University and William H. Daniel award, the highest honor given by the Sports Turf Managers Association.
Lightweight rolling and sand topdress programs to decrease pesticide inputs and enhance turfgrass quality
Thomas O. Green, Dr. John N. Rogers, III, Dr. James R. Crum, Dr. Thomas A. Nikolai, and Dr. Joseph M. Vargas, Jr
The research objective for 2012 was to evaluate the effects of lightweight rolling frequency on dollar spot incidence and turfgrass quality grown on sand topdressed and native soil. Also, evaluate the effects of different initiation timings for lightweight rolling regimes on dollar spot incidence and turfgrass quality. In addition, evaluate the effect lightweight rolling frequency has upon increasing pesticide application interaction to disease and turf quality.
Specific methods and procedures: Experimental plots were established in July 2011 at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. The fairway turf stand is composed of Poa annua (annual bluegrass) and Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) maintained at 0.5 inch height of cut. The area encompassed 34,628 ft2 divided into three replications and each replication subdivided into sand topdressed and native soil plots; these plots were 54 ft x 86 ft. The following three experiments were established. The first objective was initiated on July 7, 2011. Preliminary research was conducted in order to find the most effective rolling frequency rate conductive toward fungal pathogen suppression. Additionally, sand topdressing (0.5 in) affect on pathogen reduction was investigated. The research plots were 12 ft x 16 ft arranged in a complete randomized split-block with three replications and two factors for each rolling treatment. The weekly rolling frequency treatments were 1, 3, and 5 with a control. The experiment will be repeated in spring of 2013 and 2014. No fungicides were applied to the plots and will remain constant throughout the experiment. The second objective began in spring 2012 on 5.25 ft x 10 ft research plots arranged in a randomized split-block design with three replications and two factors. Several initiation timing dates will constitute the four treatments: April 15, May 15, June 15, and finally July 15. Each treatment will be subjected to rolling frequencies composing 3 times and 5 times per week. No fungicides were applied and will remain constant in all the test plots. The third objective started in spring of 2012. The research plots were 4 ft x 6 ft arranged in a randomized split-block design with three replications and two rolling treatments: three times per week and a control. In addition, the experimental design consisted of four treatments: full rate, half rate, quarter rate, and no fungicide application. Finally, fungicide application interval treatments included the following: fifteen days and thirty days. The plots were rolled using a John Deere® 2500 triplex greens mower supplanted with three True Surface® vibratory rollers. Sand topdressing material applied with a Toro® 2500 topdressing implement towed by a Toro® Workman utility vehicle on a biweekly basis, or as needed to maintain a 0.5 inch layer of sand atop native soil surface. Weekly ratings recorded turfgrass quality, color, divot recovery, and percentage dollar spot coverage. Also, soil surface firmness was tested with a 2.25 kg CleggHammer® impact soil tester on all experimental plots. Additionally, soil volumetric water content was rated with a soil moisture meter (FieldScout® TDR 300) manufactured by Spectrum Technology. SAS® 9.3 statistical software determined if the collected data is statistically significant (alpha = 0.05).
The field research for 2013 will investigate strategies that reduce pesticide expenditures; therefore, alleviating the financial burden placed on turf related businesses in the current economic recession. Lightweight rolling and sand topdressing programs to suppress disease incidence, provides an alternative to chemical pesticide applications. Many innovative turfgrass management strategies have been borne from the necessity of maintaining turf on golf courses. Therefore, alternative turfgrass management strategies, such as lightweight rolling and sand topdressing, could reduce surfeit pesticide usage in the turfgrass industry. By reducing pesticide inputs to turf, money will be saved for an already struggling Michigan industry. The loss of manufacturing jobs throughout the nation and state caused the collapse of the home builders market, which in turn negatively affected the turf industry. Since manufacturing was a major employer in the state of Michigan, it received the brunt of the economic woes facing the nation. For example, the 1998 average maintenance budget for an 18-hole private golf course was $685,930 and $383,819 for a municipal golf course (Moore, 1998). Given those averages, annual fungicide expenditure would be $23,796-42,527 with fungicides constituting 6-7% of the total maintenance budget of most golf courses, exceeding the combined costs of herbicides and insectides (Landschoot et al, 2010). Therefore, by enhancing the overall health and vigor of the turfgrass plant through rolling and sand topdressing, the turfgrass industry can potentially save 50% annually on fungicide expenses. After all, there is no better reason, aside from cost savings, to institute a turfgrass cultural practice that is effective against pathogenic agents yet reduces human exposure to pesticides, and in light of potential pesticide bans this research is even more meaningful. The performance measure will be a reduction of dollar spot severity given each treatment method utilized on the experimental plots.
Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Supported Research 2009-2010
The year of 2009 marked the year of transition for the Crop and Soil Sciences department at Michigan State University with the finish of the Sand Capped Built up System research and initiation of the Kentucky bluegrass monostand research. MTF monies have gone to support graduate assistantships (Alec Kowalewski for the sand cap work, and now Jeff Dunne for the monostand study.) The following paragraphs provide the summary for both.
The Built-Up Sand-Capped Athletic Field System
The Problem
Native soil athletic fields high in silt and clay provide inadequate drainage during periods of heavy rainfall, resulting in reduced wear tolerance and surface stability when combined with heavy use. Renovation procedures range from $1,000,000, for a synthetic field, to $200,000, for a sand-capped system, and render the field temporarily useless, which is unacceptable for a municipality with a limited budget and high use requirement.
The Solution
Drain tile installation and subsequent sand topdressing, providing a “built-up sand-capped” system is a cost effective renovation procedure, which can be done for approximately $58,200-103,800 [price includes irrigation system installation ($15,000), 6-20’ drain tile spacing ($60,000-14,400, respectively), and 2 inch sand topdressing layer ($28,800) accumulated over time], that does not take the field out of play. In 2007, two research projects were designed and initiated at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center to address the feasibility of this renovation process. It is important to note that a well-graded 90% sand – 10% silt/clay (90/10 sand) topdressing material manufactured for athletic field use was utilized for the following research projects.
The Research and Results
The objective of the first project was to evaluate the effects of varying cumulative amounts of 90/10 sand topdressing on turfgrass wear tolerance and surface stability. Observations showed that lighter more frequent applications (½ inch of topdressing applied over a 5-week period) will increase turfgrass cover, density and surface stability. On the other hand, aggressive topdressing rates, up to 2 inches of topdressing applied over a 5-week period, while not improving stability, will increase turfgrass coverage in the long run.
The second project was designed to establish intercept drain tile spacing, in combination with sand topdressing, necessary to improve drainage, wear tolerance and surface stability characteristics. Findings from this research determined that a drain tile spacing of 13 feet, which will substantially reduce installation costs ($22,400-28,000; material and labor), is adequate to provide sufficient drainage and stability when 1 inch of topdressing ($14,400; material and labor) has been applied. However, 2008 results suggest that if 2 inches of topdressing ($28,800) has been accumulated and an adequate surface slope is available (≥1%) drain tile spacing can be increased to distances greater than 20 feet. Drain tile installation at 20 feet spacing would cost approximately $14,400-18,000. It is important to note that drain tiles are necessary to prevent standing water from accumulating along sidelines and other low lying areas and therefore should not be completely excluded from the renovation process.
Investigation of Kentucky bluegrass varietal monostands for performance turf situations
Traditionally, for performance turf situations, the blending of turfgrasses will provide advantages over single-cultivar stands in highly stressed environments. Whether these environments include high trafficked areas, disease pressure, or weed interactions, the general thought was that turfgrass blends outperform monostands. For instance, prior to the use of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) blends, entire monostands were devastated by strip smut (Ustilago striiformis) a cultivar specific disease (Vargas, 1994). Therefore, recommendations historically have suggested three or more cultivars to prevent complete desiccation. However, due to recent advancements in breeding technology, single cultivars bred for generalized disease resistance, aggressive tillering, and herbicide resistance may be used in place of a blend, which was previously necessary to provide all of these characteristics.
Additionally, the cultural inputs in these performance turf areas are great enough to offset any of the previously mentioned pressures. Due to these recent advances a small percentage of field managers have begun to switch to single variety Kentucky bluegrass stands. However, there is a general lack in published research pertaining to the comparison of Kentucky bluegrass monostand to blends utilized for athletic field use. This research will be conducted through a series of experiments involving traffic, sand topdressing, herbicides, and disease pressure as variables under study. The objective of determining the efficacy of the monostand could lead to higher quality fields that are easier to manage. This research could provide evidence to architects and others that writing specifications to include monostands is viable. This project began September 2009 at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center and will go through 2011. Dr. Joe Vargas will cooperate in this project.
Finally, I would like to thank the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation for their support in 2009 and beyond. Their support for the last 22 years has helped advance sports turf as well as provides training for graduate students, many of who are now professors around the United States.