Precision Turfgrass Management

Site-specific management requires site-specific information. Precision Agriculture (PA) was developed as a means to facilitate site-specific management in contrast to uniform whole-field management. UGA research and educational efforts by soil scientists foster Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM), based on PA principles, as a concept to support a greater degree of site-specific management than currently possible to promote sustainable practices and greater efficiency of inputs. Since PTM offers a new, holistic, science-based management concept for a greater degree of site-specific turfgrass management and could have significant impact on the turfgrass industry, similar to what PA has on agricultural crop management, the scientists have focused on a systematic approach to building PTM foundations. After development of the basic concepts, mobile sensor platform, and supporting research on PTM from 2006 to 2009, their focus in 2010 and 2011 has been to develop the most important field applications that have the potential to be achieved in the near future. The key field applications with papers in progress are: 1. New Irrigation Water Audit Approach. This is the foundational field application and is a stand-alone application as well as one used as a component of other field applications. 2. Water Conservation by Improved Irrigation Scheduling. This field application is for sites with well-designed irrigation systems and is based on development of a science-based irrigation program for each irrigation head that reflects the water-holding capacity, slope, and aspect influences. Included is science-based placement of soil moisture sensors to represent specific 3. Salinity Audit and Management, including placement of in-situ salinity sensor arrays. 4. Site specific soil cultivation can be achieved using the penetrometer resistance spatial mapping data when the readings are obtained at field capacity to normalize soil moisture conditions. This would result in enhanced efficiency of labor and energy, while reducing equipment wear. 5. For community sports fields, spatial mapping of the surface for soil moisture, irrigation distribution patterns, soil hardness, and plant performance could be used to increase player safety, field playability and water conservation. In 2011, the major emphasis has been on development of Decision Support Systems for each field application. As with any new, evolving concept, it is important to provide the key foundational information for the turf industry and science audiences. Each of these field applications can be integrated into an overall site Turfgrass Facility Sustainable Program since they combine site assessment with development of enhanced Best Management Practices for Water, Salinity, and Energy.