207-258 Sports Turf Management

Areas for this subject have been designed to extend the student's ability to:

• describe the benefits, values, location, and distribution of the national and international turfgrass industry;

• describe basic turfgrass function, physiology, inflorescence, and seed development;

• describe the major cool, transitional, and warm-season turfgrasses, and alternatives;

• describe specialist sowing/planting/instant lawn and after-care practices;

• describe important turf fertilisers and conditioners for turf performance;

• describe the components of surface playing quality;

• describe the agronomic factors influencing surface playing quality;

• describe the performance requirements for different grassed surfaces;

• measure and assess the playing quality of a range of grass surfaces;

• describe the practices associated with efficient and effective irrigation and drainage application;

• describe the practices associated in the use and care of turfgrass machinery and equipment for maintenance and renovation;

• recommend control methods and strategies for weeds, insects, nematodes, and diseases of turfgrass; and

• develop a works program and schedule for fine and coarse turf maintenance.

One 3-hour common examination (50%) (short answer, or essay), one web assignment of 2500 words (25%) (analysis of an industry topic), and two workshop reference exercises of 1000 words (25%).

• D E Aldous (ed.), International Turf Management Handbook.. Butterworth-Heinemann, London, 1999.