By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia
University of Georgia and North Carolina State University
researchers have received more than $650,000 in grant funds from
the Environmental Protection Agency for turfgrass research in
their home states.
In Georgia, the grant will be used over the next two years to
fund eight turfgrass research projects in the UGA College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Industry, consumers will benefit
“These funds are allowing us to do projects that we would not
be
able to do otherwise,” said Gil Landry, coordinator of the
Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture on the UGA campus in
Griffin, Ga. “Each research project we complete directly impacts
turfgrass professionals and most will also impact individual
homeowners in the
state.”
The grant will fund UGA Seashore Paspalum turfgrass breeding
efforts. Seashore paspalum can be irrigated using a wide quality
range of water, including seawater, brackish water and recycled
water. The grass needs only minimal pesticides and judicious
applications of fertilizers.
UGA scientists also plan to use the grant funds to investigate
alternative methods of turfgrass insect control, the
environmental fate of pesticides used on turfgrass, turfgrass
disease control, environmental management of turfgrass and using
turfgrass for erosion control.
UGA agricultural economists will study economic value of the
industry and individual lawns to property owners.
Less inputs, impact on environment
“All of these projects relate to turfgrass’ overall
environmental
impact on our state,” Landry said. “Our main objective is to look
at improving sustainability of turfgrass management in our
environment. We know that turfgrasses can significantly improve
the environment in many ways. We are constantly examining ways
to produce healthy turfgrass using the least amount of
inputs.”
Turfgrasses reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality in
the process, Landry said. Turfgrasses also absorb carbon dioxide
and other harmful gases while releasing oxygen and cooling the
environment.
Industry leaders, like Georgia Turfgrass Association Past-
President Ken Morrow, look forward to reaping the benefits of the
results of the new research projects.
“The main benefit I see is the project will identify
sustainable turfgrass systems for climates in this region,”
Morrow, president of Sod Atlanta, said. “I also see the benefits
of identifying the potential enhancements to the environment that
turfgrass provides, such as errosion control and general
environmental enhancement.”
Alumnus support led to grant
Landry said the Georgia-North Carolina EPA grant was made
possible by the efforts of the Georgia Turfgrass Association, the
North Carolina Turfgrass Council and a UGA alumnus.
“The main individual who made this grant possible is Sam
Lang, a
UGA CAES graduate,” Landry said.
A native of Swainsboro Ga., Lang now owns a professional lawn
care
company in Raleigh, N.C. “Since he graduated, Sam has kept in
close contact with our college,” Landry said. “He relied on our
Extension specialists for recommendations when he worked in the
Atlanta area. He has also helped recruit students for our college
and served as a guest lecturer in turfgrass classes.”
The urban agriculture industry in Georgia, which includes
turfgrass, provides more than 79,000 jobs and annually
generates more than $8.1 billion to the state’s
economy.
