Turfgrass

Sustainability is a key framework for analyzing biological systems—and turfgrass is no exception. It is part of a complex that encompasses turfgrass interactions with different environments and the suitability of different turfgrasses for specific environments. In addition to its biological role, turfgrass—in the form of lawns, green spaces, and playing surfaces—brings beneficial sociological effects to an increasingly urbanized society. This book presents a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and issues in the field of turfgrass research and management, including the genetics and breeding, the diseases and pests, and the ecology of turfgrasses, and will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. Foreword xi

Preface xiii

Contributors xv

1 Origins of North American Turfgrasses 1

2 The Turfgrass Industry 37

3 Turfgrass Benefits and Issues 105

4 Turfgrass Extension and Outreach Programming 147

5 Synthetic Turf 179

6 Management of Turfgrass in Shade 219

7 Heat-Stress Physiology and Management 249

8 Low-Temperature Stress 279

9 Turfgrass Water Use and Physiology 319

10 Turfgrass Ecology 347

11 Turfgrass Root Zones: Management, Construction Methods, Amendment Characterization, and Use 383

12 Characterization, Development, and Management of Organic Matter in Turfgrass Systems 425

13 Nitrogen Research in Turfgrass 457

14 Potassium and Phosphorus Research in Turfgrass 493

15 Secondary Nutrients and Micronutrient Fertilization 521

16 Warm-Season Grasses: Biology and Breeding 543

17 Cool-Season Grasses: Biology and Breeding 591

18 Development of Native Grasses for Turf 661

19 Genetic and Genomic Approaches for Improving Turfgrass 683

20 Biology and Applications of Fungal Endophytes in Turfgrasses 713

21 Advances in Turfgrass Pathology since 1990 733

22 Turfgrass Weed Management 777

23 Turfgrass Insect Pests 809

24 Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, and Growth Regulators Used in Turfgrass Systems 891

25 Integrated Pest Management 933

26 Sustainable Turfgrass Management in an Increasingly Urbanized World 1007

27 Study and Management of Turfgrass Traffic Stress 1029

28 Irrigation Science and Technology 1075

29 Digital Image Analysis in Turfgrass Research 1133

30 The Evolution of Spectral Sensing and Advances in Precision Turfgrass Management 1151

31 Research Tools and Technologies for Turfgrass Establishment 1189

Index 1241

John Stier is a professor in the plant sciences department of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Brian P. Horgan is a professor in the department of horticultural science at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Stacy Bonos is a professor in the department of plant biology and pathology at Rutgers University.