Using survey results to direct future extension efforts in annual bluegrass management

Authors: KOWALEWSKI, ALEC - Oregon State University; Mattox, Clint; BROSNAN, JAMES - University Of Tennessee; KAMINSKI, JOHN - Pennsylvania State University; PATTON, AARON - Purdue University; MCCURDY, JAY - Mississippi State University; BOWLING, REBECCA - University Of Tennessee; GANNON, TRAVIS - North Carolina State University; ASKEW, SHAWN - Virginia Tech; MCELROY, JOSEPH - Auburn University; UNRUH, JOSEPH - University Of Florida; ELMORE, MATTHEW - Rutgers University; CARROLL, DEVON - Envu Environmental Science Us; DE CASTRO, EDICARLOS - Bracell Limited

Submitted to: Natural Sciences Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2023
Publication Date: 8/1/2023
Citation: Kowalewski, A.R., Mattox, C.M., Brosnan, J.T., Kaminski, J.E., Patton, A.J., Mccurdy, J.D., Bowling, R.G., Gannon, T.W., Askew, S.D., Mcelroy, J.S., Unruh, J.B., Elmore, M.T., Carroll, D.E., De Castro, E.B. 2023. Using survey results to direct future extension efforts in annual bluegrass management. Natural Sciences Education. Volume 52, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20123.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20123

Interpretive Summary: A survey was distributed to golf course employee attendees at an educational conference focusing on preventing the encroachment and removal of annual bluegrass in turfgrass stands in both cool and warm season climates. The objective of the survey was to determine which types of information or recommendations presented by the panelists were the most likely to be used by the conference attendees. The survey results demonstrated that controlling annual bluegrass using cultural practices was of the greatest interest to attendees from cool season environments. Specific to the warm season climates, annual bluegrass emergence patterns were the most important topic for golf course employees in this environmental zone. In the transition zone (where both cool and warm season grasses are typically managed), annual bluegrass herbicide resistance issues were the most important topics of interest. These findings may assist extension specialists in designing annual bluegrass management programs to match stakeholder needs.

Technical Abstract: Controlling unwanted annual bluegrass in desirable turfgrass species often relies heavily on herbicide use. As a result, increasing populations of herbicide-resistant annual bluegrass have become a concern. In 2018, a university research and extension initiative began addressing the increasing herbicide resistant annual bluegrass epidemic. Preliminary findings produced by this research initiative were presented to golf course employees at the 2022 Golf Course Superintendents Association of American (GCSAA) Educational Conference in San Diego, CA. Findings were presented by a panel of scientists working on various annual bluegrass management research sub-objectives. A survey was designed to match the sub-objectives within this panel presentation and determine what recommendations the attendees were most likely to use. The survey also identified environmental zones where participants originated and what turfgrass species they are managing in various areas of the golf course. The goal of sharing these survey findings is to assist turfgrass extension specialists and managers interested in designing annual bluegrass management programs that match stakeholder needs. Survey results determined that extension material pertaining to controlling annual bluegrass with cultural practices would interest the largest stakeholder cross section regardless of environmental turfgrass zone. Another major topic was annual bluegrass emergence patterns for herbicide timing, which was the most important or interesting topic for golf course employees in the warm-season turfgrass environmental zone.