Low input
New research publication from our team - 9/19/23
Learn more about our research! A new, open access article by Ross Braun, Eric Watkins, Andrew Hollman, Aaron Patton has been published in the journal Crop Science. This research demonstrates that fine fescues are truly low-input as they require less fertilizer and pesticides, while maintaining turf quality, compared to traditional turfgrass species.
Braun, R. C., Watkins, E., Hollman, A. B., and Patton, A. J. 2023. Assessing the fertilizer and pesticide input needs of cool-season turfgrass species. Crop Science, 63:3079–3095. [Open Access].
Join the Turfgrass Science team at Northern Green 2023
Members of our team will be giving talks at Northern Green, a trade show and conference dedicated to green industry professionals. Consider attending this worthwhile event!
Northern Green
January 10-12, 2023
Minneapolis Convention Center
This year’s presentations from our team include:
University of Minnesota Turfgrass Research Update
Eric Watkins
Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 AM - 8:20 AM
Working across boundaries: The importance of transdisciplinary turf research
By Michael Barnes
This article was originally published on the Low Input Turf Using Fine Fescues blog.
University of Minnesota Turfgrass team in the media – 8/24/2020
Check out our team’s latest efforts in educating the public about our work! We have an article and two webinar videos to share.
Next week - Part 3 of our Watering Wisdom webinar series!
Please join the Metropolitan Council and the University of Minneso
Announcing a new blog - Low Input Turf
By Kristine Moncada
Do you have an interest in sustainable turf and fine fescues? There’s a new blog - Low Input Turf News - you might be interested in!
Fescue for Thought
By David Herrera
NASA scientist Cristina Milesi estimates that there is three times the amount of turfgrass in the United States as there are acres of irrigated corn [1]. When we consider that the rate of grass seed density required for turf can be up to 6 lbs per 1000 sq.ft, one can imagine the enormous quantity of seed needed to plant all that turf! Most of that planted grass seed is, at least here in the Midwest, Kentucky bluegrass. However, there is a grass genus that has gained interest and may one day be used just as much or more as Kentucky bluegrass. These newcomers are in the genus Festuca, and are commonly known as the fine fescues.
Using fine fescue species as a low input turf for golf greens in Minnesota
By Dominic Petrella
Before I came to the University of Minnesota I had never actually seen a fine fescue golf green in person. I’ve always had the impression that fine fescue species could only produce a suitable greens surface in climates similar to Ireland, the U.K., or the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Recent research, however, is helping me to realize that fine fescues could be suitable for golf greens in Minnesota (or similar Midwest locations) that want a lower input option.