Research

Contributions to the Rocky Mountain Environmental Golf Institute help fund innovation, provide scholarships and ongoing university-based agronomic research, education, advocacy programs and course operations.

Efficacy and Safety of Proxy-rate Programs in Winter for Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Management

Compatibility, Safety and Efficacy of Ethephon Mixed with Snow Mold Fungicides in Winter

Adam Van Dyke, M.S., CPAg,
Professional Turfgrass Solutions LLC

This RMEGI supported research was conducted from November 2017 until May 2018 on a 70:30 annual
bluegrass: creeping bentgrass putting green at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. Proxy® (Bayer)
was applied at two winter timings, and at different rates, to evaluate the effectiveness of making early
applications compared to just making traditional spring applications for controlling seedheads of annual
bluegrass. Proxy was applied at a pre-snow timing (before snow cover) on November 20, 2017 and at a post-snow
timing (after snow melt) on March 8, 2018.
READ MORE

Adam Van Dyke, M.S., CPAg Owner, Professional Turfgrass Solutions LLC

This RMEGI supported research was conducted from November 2016 until May 2017 on a putting green at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. The turf was a mixture of 70%-80% annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and 20%-30% creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) mowed at 0.125 inch and grown on a sand rootzone. Ethephon (Proxy; Bayer) was mixed with common snow mold fungicides, Interface Stressgard and Mirage Stressgard (Bayer) or Instrata and Banner Maxx II (Syngenta), and applied at two winter timings of presnow cover and post-snow melt. This was done to evaluate the compatibility and safety of these mixtures on greens because preceding spring seedhead programs with winter ethephon applications has improved annual bluegrass seedhead suppression – and the timing coincides with fungicide applications for snow mold protection.
READ MORE

Winter Applications of Ethephon for Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Suppression

Adam Van Dyke, M.S., CPAg, Professional Turfgrass Solutions LLC

The study was conducted from November 2015 until May 2016 on a putting green at Murphy’s Creek Golf Course in Aurora, CO. The turf is a mixture of 70%‐80% annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and 20%‐30% creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) mowed at 0.125 inch and grown on a sand rootzone. Proxy (Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, NC) is the ethephon product used to manage seedheads at this course, and is tank‐mixed with Primo MAXX (Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, NC) in late‐spring (April/May). In recent years, Proxy use has increased at this site as seedheads have become difficult to manage. Depending on the year (and seasonal weather patterns) applications have been made throughout summer, and sometimes in the fall.
READ MORE

Impacts of Effluent Water Irrigation on Soil Properties and Health of Deciduous and Evergreen Trees on Golf Courses

Dr. Yaling Qian, Professor Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University

Background and Objectives: During the past 10+ years, we have conducted studies to evaluate long-term effluent water irrigation on soil and turfgrass. Results indicate a substantial impact of effluent water on soil properties, including increased soil sodium exchangeable percentage ESP, increased soil Na, B, and P content with reduced K and Mg content.
READ MORE

Winter Applications of Ethephon and Mefluidide for Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Suppression

Determine if applications of Ethephon and Mefluidide applied Pre-snow/winter and Post-snow/winter, along with the combination, and including traditional spring applications will increase annual bluegrass seedhead suppression when compared to the traditional spring application program.
READ MORE

Effluent Water Study (2014)
Dr. Yaling Qian, PhD, Department of Horticulture, Colorado State University.
Completion of a 10-year effluent water study to provide data and recommendations for remediation for soils, turf and trees irrigated with effluent water

Safety and Efficacy of Mixing Ethephon with Snow Mold Fungicides in Winter

Adam Van Dyke, M.S., CPAg Owner, Professional Turfgrass Solutions LLC

Ethephon is the only seedhead suppressing growth regulator currently available to turf managers. Recent research in Utah and Colorado has shown that non-traditional applications of ethephon, either before snow cover and/or after snow melt, improves results of spring programs and are safe to turf.
READ MORE

Comparison of soil properties and mineral composition of turfgrass shoots prior to and after 5 and 10 years of irrigation with effluent water

To determine chemical property changes of soil at 5 different depths prior to and at 5 and 10 years after irrigation with effluent water.
To determine turfgrass mineral composition prior to and 10 years of irrigation with effluent water.
To determine soil ESP changes along soil profile (to 1 m deep) on fairways with gypsum treatment when compared to no gypsum treatment as the control.

READ MORE

RMGCSA Water Use Survey (2012-2013)
Dr. Karen Panter, Department of Plant Science, University of Wyoming.

Background
In early 2013, the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association undertook an online survey regarding water usage by its members. Results were provided in raw form to Timmothy Gergeni (student) and Karen Panter (Horticulture Specialist) at the University of Wyoming for interpretation and analysis. One hundred fifteen golf course superintendents responded to the survey.
READ MORE