r

NORTHWEST

TURFGRASS
TOPICS

The Official Publication of the Northwest Turfgrass Association
;

Vol. 4 0 , N o . 2

Spring 1 9 9 7

51st Conference October 12-16, 1997

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1996-1997
Board of Directors

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President
Thomas M. Wolff
Sahalee Country Club
425/868-1600 Fax 425/868-2877

Vice President
Thomas J. McCarthy
Indian Summer Golf and C.C.
360/459-2707 Fax 360/923-9037

Past President
Thomas A. Christy, CGCS
Inglewood Country Club
425/488-8800 Fax 425/488-7183

Secretary
Kay B. Kinyon
City of Lake Oswego
503/635-0280 Fax 503/697-7411

Treasurer
Richard Bergeron
Western Equipment Distributors, Inc.
253/872-8858 Fax 253/872-6942

Director
Richard White
Willamette Valley Country Club
503/266-3651 Fax 503/266-5392

Director
Curt S. Chandler
Spokane County Parks
503/255-6602 Fax 503/838-2194

Director
Larry Farwell, CGCS
Wenatchee Golf and Country Club
509/884-1238 Fax 509/884-6513

Director
Timothy Rhay
City of Eugene, Parks Div.
541/447-8325 Fax 541/683-6883

Media Director
Greg Crawford
Crawford Marketing
503/234-1670 Fax 503/234-1670

Executive Director Emeritus
Roy L. Goss, Ph.D.
509/422-3016 Fax 509/422-3016

Executive Director
Donald A. Clemans, C.P.Ag.
Northwest Turfgrass Association
800/738-1617 Fax 541/549-4408

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
In just over one year Sahalee Country Club will host the
1998 PGA Championship. The following are a few facts about the
PGA and what we have been up to
the last few years.
The PGA is a separate and
distinct organization from the PGA
Tour. The PGA Tour is the former
Tour Division of the PGA who split
off several years ago to form their
own organization known as the
PGA Tour.
The national headquarters
are in West Palm Beach, Florida.
They are governed by a Board of
Directors of sixteen, one from each

of it's thirteen sections, two appointed from the business world
and one from the PGA. They have a
staff of four hundred with the day
to day business affairs run by Jim
Awtry, CEO. Jim paid the first official visit some seven years ago
which in turn started an action plan.
We have been dealing primarily
with Kerry Haigh, Senior Tournament Director. One of Kerry's responsibilities includes course setup and course conditioning. He has
been a pleasure to work with.
The PGA Championship
has been played annually all over
the U.S. since 1916 with the excep-

In This Issue...
President's Message

3

Editorial Comment

4

A Sign of the Times?

5

Getting the Most Out of Resources-

6

Seagull Problems - A Simple Remedy?

11

Getting In Touch With Your Roots

12

The Columbia Cup

18-19

Managing Turf for Minimum Water Use

21

Hear Today....Gone Tomorrow

28

Community College Offerings

32

N.T.A. Membership Application

34

Our Cover Photo is provided courtesy of Sunriver Resort, Sunriver,
Oregon

tion of World War I and II. Glen
Proctor was the Golf Course Superintendent at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington in
1944 when they hosted the PGA
Championship. Bob Hamilton, former baseball player just turning to
pro golf, defeated the galley favorite and reigning champion, Byron Nelson, one up on the 36th
hole. A crowd of over 6,500 was on
hand for the finals. Sahalee will
limit ticket sales to 25,000 per
day!!
A study was made of the
golf markets in the U.S.. The Seattle metropolitan area was found to
be one of the ten largest golf markets and the PGA wanted to come
to the Northwest. The official announcement came in 1993 at the
PGA at Inverness Country Club.
Since 1992 Sahalee has sent a posse
to each of the PGA events. The
Championship will be played on
the North and South nines. The
course will be played at par 70,
with six and eighteen currently par
5's to be played as par 4's. The East
nine will be used for various support services.
The tournament will be televised
internationally August 13 through
16, 1998. Approximately 1200 accredited media representatives from
all over the world will attend, of
which 400 to 500 will be working
media. A media tent will be located
on the 1 East fairway. It will be
fully equipped with all available
multimedia equipment and be open
virtually around the clock to meet
different time zone requirements.
Most, if not all, hotel and motel
rooms have been reserved. Logo
merchandise is for sale now and
will also be at the merchandise tent.

Published by Turfgrass Connections * Printed by X-Press Printing
Sisters, Oregon
Page 3

the work. When the tee on 9 North
was being considered, we lobbied
for deepening the lake on 8 North.
Both of these projects are now
completed. Since then the PGA requested 3 North be extended 20
yards to play 450 to 460 yards. This
work is also completed. In the original plan we were going to completely renovate the rough by using
Round-up and seeding with a blend
of Ryegrass. We calculated the cost
at $120,000 plus future treatments
with Prograss to help minimize the
invasion of Poa annua. The cost
was too much and it was decided to
grow he existing rough to 3.5 to 4
inches, The final requirement is
that the golf course be in championship condition. Frankly, we all
have different views of what championship condition is. I believe this
is a catch-all clause in the contract
however it has worked for our best
interests. Our goal is the same as
everyone in this business - provide
the best condition possible with all
available funds. The PGA has a
well laid out plan that calls for fairway width, rough height, square
cutting of the championship tees,
gallery ropes, fairway crossing,
T.V. towers, bleacher locations,
cutting heights - fairways and tees
3/8 and green speeds by our contract calls for 10.5 to 11.5. The senior tournament director makes the
decision on all items relating to the
golf course. All previous superintendents for the last 5 years hosting
this event have nothing but good to
say about Kerry Haigh and I concur. It would be okay if there were
500 members here just like him!
Unless something changes,
we expect to begin a twelve foot
wide road through the East nine in
June. We have had our fun and disappointments, but I must say that

Gross sales will be well over one
million dollars. The economic impact to the area will be in excess
of sixty million dollars. Twentyfive hundred volunteers will be
required. The cost to volunteer is
$155 and includes access to
grounds, uniform, parking, shuttle
and a program.
The principal items that
finance the Championship are 1)
admission tickets, $250 (season
ticket only) 1-800-742-8258, 2)
hospitality tents (chalets),
$135,000, 3) Corporate tables,
$20,000, 4) program advertising
and 5) concession income. Television revenue is exclusive property
of the PGA and is not tournament
income. The PGA assumes all
risk and responsibility and bears
all losses, if any. The site fee paid
to Sahalee will be 50% of tournament profits.
A basic requirement of
the PGA is community acceptance as well as participation. The
executive committee obtained letters of support from the Governor,
Mayors of principal cities, King
County Executive, Presidents of
Chambers of Commerce's, Convention Bureaus and Sports Councils.
After receipt of the 1998
site award the only requirements
of the PGA were that the bunker
rehabilitation be completed, a
new tee on the finishing hole to
make a par 4 instead of a par 5, to
develop consistent rough at a
height of 3.5 to 4 inches and that
the golf course be in championship condition. The original
bunkers were contaminated with
rocks and badly needed attention.
Sahalee elected to employ Rees
Jones to redesign the bunkers. We
used the firm of Ron Hall to do

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without an exceptionally dedicated
staff we would not have progressed
as far as we have today.
Our best for a good summer,
Thomas M. Wolff, President
Sahalee Country Club

EDITORIAL
COMMENT
Spring is about over. Most areas in
the Pacific Northwest have already
had summer-like temperatures and
lots of sunshine. Nature has been
jump-started!!
Of major importance in this issue
of Turfgrass Topics is the
Columbia Cup. (See centerfold of
newsletter). This tournament is
sponsored by Western Equipment
Distributors, Inc., and The Toro
Company™ with lunch provided by
Softspikes™. All members of the
Pacific Northwest turfgrass groups
will enjoy a day of golf while learning more about their fellow professionals in the turfgrass industry and
provide support for turfgrass research. DON'T MISS IT!!
Your President, Tom Wolff, is
making preparations for the PGA
Championship in 1998, but he has
also been very active with a meeting schedule this past winter that
will impact your future. He has
just chaired the best and most productive Summit Meeting between
Inland Empire Golf Course Superintendents Association, Northwest
Turfgrass Association, Oregon Golf
Course Superintendents Association and Western Washington
Continued on Page 34

A Sign of the Times?
Roy L. Goss, Northwest Turfgrass Association, Executive Director Emeritus

Last fall's presidential election brought out the lowest number
of registered voters since 1924. Is
this apathy? Such an important
matter and less than 50% of the
voters cared a whit. The 50th Northwest Turfgrass Conference, a very
special event held Sept. 30 -Oct. 2,
1996 at Victoria, B.C., likewise
suffered a disappointing attendance. Your officers and directors
really went all out to make this historic conference a truly memorable
educational event, and it was, but
many of you were missing.
About 50 years ago, five
dedicated individuals, John Harrison, Glen Proctor, Louis Schmidt,
Wilfred Brusseau, and A1 Law expended a great deal of effort to put
together an association whose sole
purpose was for education and research. They needed help, and so
did all turfgrass managers and industry. In subsequent years scores
of dedicated people continued to
build on this concept and developed
a very respectable Northwest Turfgrass Association. We enjoyed the
reputation of the best educational
Conference after the G.C.S.A.A.
Now, I know that most of
you have your expenses paid to
your conferences, workshops, and
seminars, so why don't you take
advantage of these educational opportunities that are designed for
your specific needs? If you don't
have the interest or enthusiasm to
go to your conference, I would
question where you get your technical information and the reliability
of it's source. Without a doubt,
Agri-businesses have many capable

people at your disposal, but not
without biases - they have products
to sell. University research, extension, and teaching programs cannot
deal with you on a one on one basis, as they once did, but they are a
vital part of the turfgrass conferences - your opportunity to learn
and perform better for your employer.
If the educational program
at the Northwest Turfgrass Conference is falling short of your expectations, please take the initiative to
let the program Chairman or the
Board of Directors know your
needs, or better still volunteer your
time and energies. If the conference

location is not to your liking, let the
Executive Director know. He will
take your wishes to the board.
Now we all know that, occasionally, emergencies arise, preventing our attendance at the turfgrass Conference, but not to the extent of over 50 % of our membership. Glen Proctor and John Harrison told me several times, "If I gain
one new idea or a bit of information
that will improve my performance
or make my job better, the expense
is justified.". Having been involved
in research, extension, and teaching
programs for nearly 50 years, I too,
always, learned something I could
put to use by attending and listening to other speakers. The challenge is yours, I'd love to see you
at Sunriver for our 51st Conference.

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page5

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF RESOURCES IRRIGATION, MOWING EQUIPMENT,
AND PEOPLE
James R.(Jim) Watson, Ph.D.,Vice President, Agronomy,
The Toro Company, Minneapolis, MN
It would be useful at the
outset for you to know the order of
importance of the three resources I
have been asked to discuss... irrigation, mowing equipment, and people.
We all know that no living
thing can exist without water. Water is vital to the health of turfgrass.
Not enough and it will wilt and die.
Too much and it will become diseased and die. So irrigation and the
equipment needed to apply water
correctly is important.
Good mowing equipment,
properly operated and properly
maintained, is, of course, vital to
healthy, good looking, serviceable
turfgrass. But it is not the most
important.
People, of course, are the
most important resource.
People are the most important resource for many reasons. For
one thing, although modern technology makes it possible for us to
perform almost any function... including turfgrass maintenance...
with less labor, with fewer people,
a certain amount of physical labor
will always be necessary for the
care of healthy turf.
To get the most out of
equipment and people in today's
market, managers of turfgrass facilities must realize that maintenance
of these areas is more important
than ever - not only on the golf
course but in private and governmental - municipal, county, state
and national - recreation areas as
well. Maintenance must be exten-

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sive not only to ensure the best possible conditions for recreational activity but also to protect the heavy
investment in property values that
individuals, governmental agencies
and club members have made. The
turfgrass manager must now utilize
his managerial skills to analyze
each facet of his job function, the
performance of his equipment, his
operating procedures, his maintenance programs and his personnel
policies. He must ensure efficiency
at all levels.
From a resource standpoint
we must first assess the short term
implications and direct our attention to measuring the problems
with which we are currently confronted. This approach will help
provide a base for the preparation
and development of proposals for
long range solutions. Shortages
always force new thought and I
have confidence in the long range
solutions of today's problems.
To get the most out of our
equipment we should concentrate
on that which is currently available.
Manufacturers spend millions of
dollars each year to develop equipment to answer the needs of the industry. Update your equipment,
update the design of your facility to
accommodate equipment that will
cut more acres per day per man,
purchase high capacity equipment
that is maneuverable, sturdy and
which is readily serviced.
We normally don't associate water with energy savings, but
we should. We can't use water

without expending energy and we
do both very wastefully. We waste
water and we waste the energy it
takes to transport it: to put it where
it is needed. We must learn to get
maximum efficiency from the energy used to provide our water.
We must use our water more wisely
and more efficiently. To do so and
to get the most out of this most important natural resource:
Treat each day as if you
are in the middle of a severe
drought with restricted or limited
water supplies.
Establish watering priorities. Highest priority to the most
intensively managed areas; for example, on a golf course, greens are
the most valuable and are the most
critical.
Follow sound irrigation
practices. This is much easier to
do, of course, with an automatic
irrigation system. Irrigate when
there is the best combination of little wind, low temperature, and high
humidity.
Reduce, or avoid where
possible, other causes of stress. Be
alert to soil conditions and to soilair-water relationships and how
these affect watering practices.
Use single head control and monitor controllers until the proper balance between water needs and application is obtained.
Alter cultural practices
where feasible. Test the soil annually to ensure adequate fertility, especially for phosphorous, which
encourages root system growthdeeper roots, thus expanding the
areas from which the turfgrasses
can draw nutrients and moisture.
Raise the height of cut for
all areas.
Mow less frequently. Increase the frequency of spiking or

cultivate (core) — if temperatures
are not extreme — to trap moisture
and hold it longer in the vicinity of
the root system.
Expand use of mulch.
This is very important. Apply
heavy layers of mulch — any organic debris that's available—
around the base of trees, shrubs and
flower beds, to hold in moisture —
and to help control weeds.
Erect wind barriers, especially where there are large expanses of open space.
Consider use of surfactants.
They may be very beneficial under
certain circumstances.
Experiment with antitranspirants. Although techniques
for inhibiting transpiration have
had mixed results, some reduction
in moisture loss through transpiration might be accomplished with
the use of chemicals, emulsions or
films.
Aggressively seek additional sources of water. Among the
several possibilities are wells and
ponds, collections of marginal water and — the most abundant and
most often wasted supply — treated
sewage effluent.
At my company we are
convinced that wastewater will become a major source of irrigation
water in the future. We believe it
will be used widely for all types of
irrigation, especially for large turf
areas and in agriculture.
To get the most out of the
"people" resource, there are several
key points. The first is understanding. The crew member must
first understand why the turfgrass
on the facility where he works is
important. For that matter, all of us
who work in the "green industry"
need not only to understand and
recognize this point — but we need,

also, to articulate its importance to
others — for too long we've talked
only to ourselves .. and if we are
not careful, we may find ourselves
"outsold" when it comes time to allocate scarce resources.
Why is turfgrass important?
It is more than just something pretty
to look at, or a soft predictable surface for a golf ball to roll on.
Those are important functions. But
turfgrass is more important for
many other reasons.
Without it... without those
expanses or even just patches of
managed turf... this planet would be
a far more unpleasant environment
for human existence.
Besides providing comfortable,
pleasant space for recreation, turfgrass also, filters out dust and dirt
from the air. It moderates temperatures ... cooling in the summer and
warming in the fall, winter and
spring, and it dampens noises.
It also ... contributes to the
economic well being of our communities - because it attracts business and industry. The crew member also must understand the job to
be done, how and where it's to be
done, what equipment, tools or supplies are needed, how they operate
and what the limitations on their
use may be; who, besides himself,
will be involved, and finally, how
he and his job relate to other projects or maintenance programs. If
the supervisor has properly trained
and effectively communicated his
instructions the chances are the job
will be done properly and timely.
How often does one of your crew
fail to carry out an assignment in
the manner and time you expect?
Just once could be enough to be disastrous under some circumstances!
Communications is the second point. I have always felt that

many, if in fact not most, "people
problems" stem from a failure to
effectively communicate or comprehend. Too often, words and
phrases mean one thing to the person (supervisor) giving the instructions and something else to the person being advised (the crew member). Maybe the other party only
"hears what he wants to hear" - perhaps - but maybe he did not understand - why?
One reason well may be
unfamiliarity with the specialized
language of your profession Most
specialists tend to talk with their
everyday vocabulary. Unfortunately, the specialized vocabulary
is not one with which most laymen
are familiar. Incidentally, a layman
is anyone who is not familiar with
your specialty. How sure are you
that your crew member or club
member, for that matter, really understands when you say "aerify."
And, what does he think when you
say fertilize — thatch- and other
everyday words common to your
profession?
Establishment and maintenance of a harmonious and productive relationship between you, the
turf manager, and your crew is the
third step in getting the most out of
the people resource. To do this effectively there must be adequate
supervision, management and motivation.
Management as a profession is sometimes defined as "the
art of getting things done through
people." The professional manager, like the physician, combines
science and intuitive judgment in
the practice of his profession. The
use of science in management as
we know it today need not, and
must not, be confined to the management of industrial plants. "It

won't work here - and -"we're different" - is an admission of failure
to keep progressive and to admit
that yours or any other organization
is not being run in the most efficient manner. Certainly, individual cases are unique, and solutions,
of course, vary from organization
to organization, but sound management principles are no! unique and
their application should not be limited to the factory! Any group activity regardless of the nature of the
group or its goal, benefits from the
application of professional management. Representatives of churches,
schools and government agencies,
realize the benefits to be derived
from effective management, and
often participate in national management conferences for the express purpose of gaining more insight into management activities
and principles.
Work planning is an integral part of doing a good job and
because understanding and training
are keys to successful personnel
management there are 2 or 3 points
to keep in mind. How long does il
take to do a job, for example, mow
a green an athletic field, an acre of
highway or airport turfgrass? How
long should it take? An annual,
monthly, weekly and daily schedule will give you and your crew a
guide to follow when the playing
season rush is on as well as insurance that all the necessary work is
done before the season starts.
In a business with a seasonal pattern like the turfgrass industry, planning during slack periods will result in substantial cost
reductions when maximum use periods occur. For rainy days -hold
training sessions in which the crew
participants keep a list of items
specifically for such days.

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Where is the job to be
done? This question may also
stimulate constructive thinking
about the jobs to be done. Obviously, a green has to be cut on the
green, but the question is which
green, which fairway, and which
rough? If the job is cup setting,
which holes are to be reset? This
decision then determines where the
employee goes to do the work. The
sequence of greens cut or holes reset may be chosen to require the
least travel time between holes. In
this respect, an accurate scaled map
showing all major work areas, irrigation lines and accurate green
sizes is mandatory.
Maintenance work may be
done on equipment in the field, in a
shed, or in a well equipped shop.
The most economical answer may
not be the most obvious. Don't be
fooled into thinking that because a
certain route or certain practice has
always been done in this manner
that the job can't be accomplished
in a more efficient way if it's carefully analyzed and studied.
HQW long does it take \o do
the job? How is it to be done?
As you work on your plans
and study your employees' activities, two questions are going to
keep coming up. First, how much
time should it take to do the job,
and, how much time does it actually take to do the job?
The second question can be
answered by keeping records on
how many hours are required to cut
a certain area or to perform any of
the other projects and jobs. Such
records, however, do not usually
tell how well the job was done, by
what method it was done, or how
much idle time occurred while the
job was being done. In industry,
the work of Frederic W. Taylor at

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the beginning of this century
showed there was a vast difference
between how long it takes to do a
job and how long it should take to
do the job. Taylor discovered
when equipment was properly used
and the unnecessary work removed
from the job that the actual effective working time was frequently
from 50 to 60 percent of the time
actually spent in the past. We also
know from repeated studies of industrial operations that anywhere
from 10 to 50 percent of the man's
day may be spent in idleness or
non-productive work. An interesting fact about this idle or nonproductive time is that roughly 2/3
of the idleness is the result of inadequate supervision or management
and on the average only 1/2 is
chargeable to the man himself.
To properly answer the questions of
how long the job should take, break
the job down into elements or steps
and determine how long each step
takes by the best available method.
Then, put together the necessary
steps to arrive at the total time the
job should take if there are no delays or wasted time.
Good supervision then becomes one of the keys to satisfactory crew relationships and along
with effective communications is a
major factor contributing to crew
motivation.
The following ten points
are frequently cited as supervisory
responsibilities:
1. Build employee job satisfaction. Not job-happy,
but job-satisfied
2. Provide development
and growth chances for employees. Develop
individual talents - point
toward promotion.
3. Treat employees with

complete fairness, con
sistency, impartiality.
4. Cultivate proper work
atmosphere, efficient,
business-like, but pleasant good camaraderie - good
fellowship - take crew on a
picnic or a fishing trip.
5. Deal effectively with all
gripes, no matter how
small, and all grievances.
Handle promptly and completely no matter how simple you may think the problem to be-remember it is
very important to your employee.
6. Protect employees'
physical well-being.
Check on safety aspects
- daily health habits OSHA and similar organizations are demanding
compliance
7. Develop employees,
through training, coaching,
motivating, personal
supervision.
8. Promote upward communication. Listen to
gripes, grievances and
suggestions -involve the
crew individually and collectively in performance
and job critiques
9. Promote downward
communication. Pass on
all company factual data
pertinent to employees and
work - also compliments,
on jobs well done.
10. Take personal interest
in employees.
Among the other more significant factors that may help to
motivate the crew are those that
deal with them as individuals. For
example, provide an environment
at the facility conducive to good

PROFESSIONAL
^ PRODUCTS 7
Auburn. WA
Pasco, WA
Spokane, WA
Wenatchee. WA
Yakima, WA
Madras, OR
Portland, OR

(206)
(509)
(509)
(509)
(509)
(541)
(503)

working habits. Keep the shop
clean inside and out, keep the tools
in place and organized to do an effective job. Provide shower facilities and a place for the crew to have
lunch. This same room may be used
for training sessions or as a conference room. Bringing the crew together for discussion will help to
instill a sense of "belonging."
Provide opportunities for
training and education. Remember
the crew member who performs
poorly may not understand his job
or his equipment - he may not appreciate his role or his importance
in the overall organizational structure. Remember that "school" or
educational opportunity may have a
different meaning to different crew
members - school to one may mean
an opportunity to finish high
school, to another an opportunity to
attend a turf conference or a factory
training program. Know your people, understand their basic needs,
call them by name, discuss their job
and give praise when it is deserved
and take corrective action when
needed, but do your reprimanding
in private with the individual, not in
a group discussion or in critiques.
Finally, although job security in times of recession may be
sufficient to keep an employee performing in an exceptional manner,
in the final analysis you, your crew,
and your organization are better off

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351-6591
545-9329
928-4512
663-8753
248-6171
475-9474
227-3525

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with satisfied employees who feel
they belong and that they contribute
to the beauty and recreational,
value of your turf facility.
Many of the ideas and concepts I've outlined probably are not
new to you. I hope, however, that
all of us recognize the need, the essentiality, of "doing our best."
Not like the old farmer who was
visited by a young county agent he
had never met before.
The county agent was
armed with pamphlets and literature and his mind was brimming, of
course, with all the latest ideas on
good farming practices. The old
farmer looked at him. Moved his
chaw from one cheek to the other,
then said, "Young feller —before
you start — just remember I ain't
farming half as good as I know
how." And, in a way, turf management is a lot like farming, only
more so. To get the most out of our
resources, whether they are equipment or people, we've got to start
managing like we know how or the
turfgrass industry—as we know it
today—may not survive.
Prepared for NY State Turfgrass
Conference November* 1979
Reprinted by permission.

Page 9

These questions came straight
from the customers of lawn care
operators, pest control operators
and other professional pesticide
applicators across the country—
and probably reflect the concerns
of your customers. The more
your customers know about the
products you use, how you use
them and how much is used,
the more confident they will be
in you and your service.

Communicate With
Your Customers
Your customers expect
you and your employees to be
credible and knowledgeable
sources of information about
your products. Take time to talk
with them about your safe and
responsible use of pesticides.

"Are the pesticides
you use safe?"
"Are the pesticides that
professionals use stronger
and more toxic?"

• Discuss your safe and responsible use of pesticides as a
professional applicator. Note
the many steps you take to
ensure that the pesticides you
use are used properly.
Advise your customers
that you closely follow label
instructions. The label contains
instructions for only those
uses approved by EPA.

• Outline the extensive training
that is mandatory for professional applicators in order
to apply specialty pesticides.
Applicators are required by law
to undergo training, certification and licensing, as well as
to keep records of each job
performed.

Emphasize that pesticide products must undergo
stringent government-monitored testing before they can
be sold. It is a long and costly process. Eor example:

•

- It takes a chemical manufacturer eight to 10 years
to test and register a product, at an average cost of
$ 3 0 million to $ 5 0 million.

What Else Can You Do?

- As many as 120 tests or more arc performed, many
specific to health, safety and the environment.
- Only one potential pesticide in 20,000 makes it from
the research lab to the market.
•

- A well-maintained lawn and
landscape adds as much as
15 percent to a h o m e s value.

"When is it safefor my children
andpets to return to an area •
after a pesticide application?"

Studies show that most
people dont know that pesticide
products are among the most
highly tested products sold. The
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) registers only those
uses of pesticide products that pose minimal risks.
•

- One large, pest- and diseasefree tree has the same cooling
effect as 15 room-size air
conditioners.

Explain Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to your
customers. Most d o not fully understand the concept.
Point out that a successful IPM program stresses
prevention, pest identification and selection of the best
method of pest control, which may require the use
of pesticides. Tell how you incorporate 1PM into your
pest management practices.

•

Identify the specific pesticides you use and the pests
they control.

•

Indicate that professionals use an array of
products, many the same as those used by
homeowners.

•

Assure customers of the benefits pesticides
provide for turf, trees and ornamentals, and
in the home. Eor example:
- Termites cause over $1 billion in structural
damage each year.

Explain what happens to pesticide containers once a
job has been completed. Note that containers are
disposed of properly.

Provide your customers with materials such as
newsletters, brochures, fact sheets and bill stuffers that
communicate these messages. Be sure that someone at
your company, who has a basic knowledge of the
products and application methods your company uses,
is available to answer questions.

RISE Is A Resource
RISE is the voice for the specialty pesticide industry.
Its members include manufacturers, lormulators, distributors and other industry leaders.
RISE works in cooperation with your national, state and
local user/applicator associations and is an additional
sou me of information regarding issues facing pesticide
users. We can help you in your role its a knowledgeable
and credible information source tit customers and to the
public. A brochure on communicating about
pesticides with your customers is available.
Contact RISE to receive your copy.
We urge you to take an active part in your
state and national association(s). We work
together to support your business.

RfspnbMe industri turaSound Emrimnwti '

For more information, contact RISE, 1156 15th St., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005, or call 202/872-3860.
Our Internet address: httpy/www.acpa.or^nse.

-—_

Seagull P r o b l e m s - A Simple R e m e d y ?

by Dale W. Ivan, Park Supervisor, City of Moses Lake, Washington

Those of us engaged in the business
of parks maintenance work hard so
others can play hard. We are overworked, cope with limited budgets,
small staffs, and a myriad of problems. While this is an age of advanced technology, many of the old
methods and tools, i.e. chemical
controls and bird depredation, have
been eliminated or regulated into an
"endangered' solution status.
The City of Moses Lake, located in
semi-arid Central Washington
State, is small (about 12,000) but,
has a rapidly expanding Parks Department. We are committed to offering facilities and services that
enhance the quality of life for its
residences and encourage youth involvement. One of the additions to
our inventory was a massive outdoor family aquatic center. This
innovative water theme park has
won national and state awards and
recognition. Annual attendance has
soared past all calculated projections.
With this type of facility comes a
host of new maintenance challenges. Our staff has been able to
rise to the occasion. We have implemented a number of modifications and improvements that have
increased operational efficiency
and reduced costs.
One problem that did not have an
easy fix, was what to do about the
invasion of seagulls that adopted
the water park as their seasonal
home. Each year brought increasing

^ ¡ M J h l f c ^

birds, bird droppings, and patron
complains. Gulls found an abundance of food in the snacks or picnic lunches trying to be enjoyed by
some 1,500 patrons on any given
summer day.
Roof lines, parking lots and anywhere else chosen by the gulls, became their roosting place. Gulls
adapt well to these urban settings.
They would prey on food not
closely guarded or dropped by the
bathers lounging on the concrete
deck or grassy areas. Bird droppings were a potential health hazard. They soiled buildings, the concrete deck, and not were appreciated by patrons being bombarded
by overhead birds. Soiled concrete
required us to purchase two additional pressure washers and added
seven hours of labor each day to
our cleaning schedule.
Several agencies were consulted for
advice and solutions. The seagull is
a protected bird, in addition to having historical significance for a
large religious organization. Bird
depredation was not an option
within city limits or otherwise.
Agency final recommendation was
stringing high tensile strength wire
over the entire facility, along with
spined wire fastened to all roof areas.
We then experimented with numerous deterrence products including
large balloon "eyeballs", electronic
distress calls/noise, fake owls,
snakes and more. Some of the controls were as objectionable (noise)

as the birds. Gulls quickly learned
to ignore our best efforts to make
them move on.
Solution:
Knowing we are located in a windy
area, movement might increase the
effectiveness of stationary products
such as the plastic owl. We set to
work to create some options that
might work. Solutions must have
low visibility in order not to detract
from facility features.
Owls: Plastic owls were modified
with a wheel-type bearing affixed
to a round piece of plywood for
mounting. This was bolted to the
base of the owl to allow it to spin.
The owl body was drilled out to receive a round wood shaft placed
through the body and extended past
the body some 12 inches on each
side. Plastic material was shaped
like an open funnel and attached to
each end of the wood shaft. This
feature would help catch the wind
enabling the owl to rotate in the direction of the wind. These modified
owls were affixed to each roof.

Snakes: We then made a simple
modification to large inflatable

Page II

snakes through the face area with a
string. They were attached to a nylon string between roof vents following the roof pitch. This allowed
the snakes to slide around in an animated manner. Both of these deterrents had low visibility and made
no objectionable noise. Seagulls
and other birds now faced a more
lifelike enemy.

Results: Birds no longer roosted
where they pleased and populations
at the Aquatic Center decreased by
more than 95%. Those control levels remained constant through the
year. We have reinstalled the modified owls and snakes for the 1997
season and they are working well
again. This solution may be an effective deterrent for your maintenance staff to try if other methods
have not been successful. For additional information the author can be
contacted regarding specifics.

SptWK

Getting in Touch With Your Roots1
F.B. Holi Ph.D., P.Ag. 2
Editor's Note: This talk was presented by Dr. Holl at the NTA's 50th Conference in Victoria, BC
It appears in your last issue of the Proceedings and is presented here for those who did not make
the Conference.

Introduction:
The title of my presentation was intended to evoke a variety of images - not
the least of which was the "New Age" idea of understanding our past history
as an indicator of our current perceptions and responses. For turfgrass, as
for people, that past history may provide important clues about future responses. Our target in the golf industry, as in other areas of turf management, is to provide a playable, attractive turf appropriate to the use. My intent today is to raise your awareness of the importance of the plant root
ecosystem [roots and the rhizosphere soil influenced by those roots] in turf
management.
Iceberg management:
How do we approach that attractive, playable turf target ? Just as the captain
of the Titanic focused on that portion of the iceberg above the surface of
the ocean, our primary strategies for managing turf have traditionally been
directed to the above ground portion of the grass plant. But that focus represents approximately 4% of the turf plant ecosystem [see Figure 1].
Figure 1.
Shoot [3.2 mm] ]4%]

Thatch [6.0 mm] [8%]

Roots [65 m m ] [88%]
Turf management involves the application of a variety of mowing, fertility
and irrigation strategies, as well as a range of secondary cultural activities
(e.g. aeration, topdressing) to turf stands using as the primary evaluative
tool - the appearance and functionality of the visible shoots. We manage for
a minority component of the plant (albeit an important one), but often ignore the root system - a critical factor in plant growth and health, as well as
a primary point of contact with many plant pathogens.
Roots - Who putts on them anyway ?
The plant shoot is what we see; the plant shoot is what we play on; why
should we concern ourselves with that elusive root zone ? Surely if we
manage the aboveground part of the plant effectively, the roots will take
care of themselves. Before we accept that philosophy too easily, let us consider first what roots do, and why we might consider a more proactive role
in their management.
Roots are the major plant organ involved in nutrient and water uptake.

Page.2

^ J i i f c i f r t f f c w t f r i M ^

Water is essential for plant growth
and as the primary carrier for nutrient uptake. An adequate supply of
nutrients is essential for the production of quality turf, particularly under the intensive use patterns on a
modern golf course. In a "normal"
soil, organic matter represents the
natural capital that feeds raw materials into the pool of available nutrients. This organic matter also
contributes to the aggregation of
soil particles which provides improved structure, and effective distribution of water and air in the soil
profile. Good soil structure also
creates the microhabitats essential
for the development of many beneficial soil microorganisms. In
sand-based turf ecosystems, organic matter may be lacking, especially in a young profile, and the
system lacks intrinsic waterholding capacity and effective nutrient cycling systems. In sandbased ecosystems, healthy roots,
and the management of root
growth, root turnover and rhizosphere microbial are likely to become essential features of good
management.
Roots are a major site of interaction with plant pathogens.
Few understand better than the turfgrass professional, the lurking danger of plant pathogens - they're out
there - waiting for the opportunity
to attack a stressed grass population. Our challenge is to many for
reduced stress - not always an easy
task when the turf is confronted
with unusual situations [planned or
unplanned]. When traffic demands
are increased significantly [Figure
2], the consequences to the turf
may be severe wear.
Not all such occurrences may be as

extreme as illustrated in Figure 3, but
grass under stress of heavy use, low
mowing heights, sudden low or high
temperatures, excessive shade, waterlogging, ice cover - will be more
susceptible to damage and disease
invasion, particularly if the stand has
a poorly developed root system and
associated rhizosphere microbial
population.
While diseases are usually detected
by their aboveground symptoms and
impacts on the turf [Figure 4], the
initial problem has often arisen in the
root zone as a result of a complex
interaction involving plant stress, and
imbalances in the rhizosphere
ecosystem.
Roots respond to management of the
aboveground part of the plant.
We often forget that management of
that visible plant shoot has both direct and indirect impacts on the root
and rhizosphere environment. The
most commonly accepted connection
between roots and management is the
contribution of phosphorus at seeding to stimulate root growth in the
establishing grass plant.
Ajiother important relationship is
demonstrated by the root response to
mowing. While it is generally understood that removing aboveground
photosynthetic leaf area will reduce
the ability of the plant to support
growth, including root growth, it is
less commonly appreciated that removal of topgrowth results in an immediate "loss of root" response belowground. Root hairs and root
biomass die back in response to defoliation. Mowing thus not only reduces the ability of the plant to synthesize new carbohydrate, it also results in a decrease in the ability of
the grass plant to take up nutrients
and water. The turnover in root

biomass also contributes carbon
and nitrogen to the nutrient pool
available to rhizosphere microorganisms, influencing population
size and composition.
Changes in root development in response to management may also be
critical; frequent light applications
of water encourage shallow root
growth and reduce the ability of the
stand to withstand drought conditions. Droughtier soils are also
generally less active microbially.
Roots are the focus of activity of
many beneficial microorganisms in
the soil.
While we most often associate microbes in the soil environment with
pathogens and disease, there are a
multitude of organisms in the soil
that are both essential to sustainable plant growth, and which contribute to plant health. Bacteria,
actinomycetes and fungi make a
significant contribution to the living biomass in a soil. From a plant
management perspective, it is also
interesting to note the population
size differences which have been
observed between rhizosphere and
non-rhizosphere soil. Rouatt et al.
(1960) (Proceedings of the Soil Science Society of America 24: 271273) reported rhizosphere populations of fungi and bacteria showing
12- and 24-fold increases, respectively, compared to their nonrhizosphere counterparts.
These organisms contribute to plant
growth and health via their contributions to mineralization and nutrient cycling, through solubilization
of minerals such as phosphorus, by
direct hormonal stimulation of
plant growth, and by acting as biological control agents.
Increasingly, the focus of an
environmentally-based manage-

ment program will be to design
strategies and develop inputs that
will encourage the development of
the beneficial rhizosphere microbial populations in sand-based systems. These strategies will require
an increased understanding of such
populations, and an appreciation
of how they respond to seasonal
and management changes.

Characterization of Rhizosphere
Microbial Populations
Our primary interest in looking
more closely at these rhizosphere
microbial populations is to try to
determine the size and composition
of the populations, and how they
function in interacting with their
respective grass plant partners. We
are interested in numbers, diversity
and function - but these are complex populations in a heterogeneous
environment. Logistically, scientists have a limited capability for
the accurate isolation, culture, identification and enumeration of these
populations. It is also more widely
accepted that functional activity in
the rhizosphere is not necessarily
linked to our ability to isolate and
characterize members of these soil
populations, nor is it necessarily
affected by the addition or exclusion of specific bacterial types.
In the last decade, considerable
progress has been made in addressing the functional nature of soil microbial populations [Garland, J.L.
and A.L. Mills(1991) Appl. & Environ. Microbiol. 57:2351-2359].
One aspect of that progress has
been the application of redox technology to the assessment of
community-based carbon source
utilization characteristics. Technology developed by BIOLOG, Inc.
Page

34

zolium dye colour change as an indicator of microbial respiration
with a range of 95 carbon sources.
Organisms which are capable of
metabolizing a particular carbon
substrate cause the dye to be chemically reduced forming a purple
colour. Direct incubation of environmental samples [for e.g. a water
or soil sample] produces a pattern
of metabolic activity which should
be reflective of the particular microbial community at that point in
time.
We have used the BIOLOGO test
plates to investigate the carbon use
patterns of microbial communities
in a series of golf greens sampled
over a period of months. These
analyses have shown that functional patterns as reflected in the
range and degree of substrate utilization vary over time, reflecting
changes which occur in response to
time of year (season), construction
(sand, soil, age) and management
(water, fertilizer and pesticide use).
We are still analyzing the data to
determine whether there are specific substrates or substrate groups
that can provide a guide to managers about these rhizosphere
changes and their potential impact
on the associated grass plants. We
are also attempting to determine if
this technique has some predictive
capability to forecast susceptibility
to disease and/or aboveground
plant responses.
Can We Manage Microbes ?
These kinds of studies begin to tell
us something about the way rhizosphere populations behave in response to a variety of external management and climatic perturbations.
But are we any closer to actually
managing microbial populations for

^ X i X J b J h ^ û J ^ ^

vival ?
There are four general areas where
I believe we are making (or could
make) some progress in manipulating rhizosphere populations:
•

design/construction - the evaluation of new amendments for
sand profiles. There has been
considerable interest in recent
years regarding a variety of inorganic amendments for sandbased profiles. These include
zeolites, diatomaceous earth,
and calcined clays. These
products may contribute to improved aeration porosity, contribute to greater water holding
capacity and/or retain nutrients
as a consequence of high cation
exchange capacities. As a consequence of their impact on the
soil environment, such amendments may contribute to improved soil structure and the
development of microhabitats
which encourage root and microbial development.

•

water management - the free
draining characteristics of most
sand-based greens encourages
the regular use of water to ensure that the profile retains sufficient supply of moisture for
plant growth. As a result, sandbased turf often receives an
abundance of water at intervals
more frequent than desirable
for either healthy grass or the
development of a stable rhizosphere ecosystem. Frequent
watering encourages shallower
root growth, increased sensitivity to drought and other external stresses, and very likely
supports a rhizosphere microbial population which is less
resilient.

bial population which is less
resilient.

is higher during this establishment period.

fertility management - sandbased turf is most responsive to
a fertility management program
to ensure a relatively uniform
supply of nutrients over the
growing period. While this can
be effectively accomplished on
established sand-based systems
with a program of controlled
release fertilizer applications,
there remains the challenge of
new construction and the initial
establishment phase (up to two
years). During this period, the
controlled release nutrient supply is often supplemented with
soluble sources to create conditions for more vigorous growin. Regardless of the source,
the potential for leaching losses

The more rapidly a stand can
develop an extensive root system and a healthy associated
rhizosphere microbial population, the sooner those leaching
concerns may be alleviated.
The use of amendments which
contribute to retaining nutrients
in the profile, and the contribution of organic fertilizers to enhancing microbial population
development may improve our
ability to move more rapidly
toward a stable ecological system in these sand-based turf
stands.
Recent reports of experiments
with carbohydrate (sugar)based fertilizers to enhance microbial activity [T. Parent, Golf

Course Management March
1996. pp. 49-52] reflects the
active interest in the industry
with respect to enhancing soil
microbial function. While we
don't have a clear scientific picture of the nature of responses
to such management approaches, there is clear potential for a simple management
strategy to exert a significant
impact on the turf root ecosystem.
biologicals - A survey of recent
turf industry publications will
reveal an increasing number of
"biological" products for fertility management, as well as disease and pest control. While I
suggest some caution in assuming that all such products will
necessarily live up to their

Norm Whitworth Turf Products
Your Northwest source for these quality Turf-Seed products:
Turf-Type Tall Fescue

Kentucky Bluegrass

Creeping Bentgrass

Triathalawn blend
MowLess blend

Blacksburg / BlueStar
Challenger / Columbia
Livingston / Midnight
Unique / Voyager

Penncross / Penneagle
PennLinks
Penn A and G series
PennTrio blend

Apache II / Eldorado
Monarch / Olympic II
Safari / Silverado
Tomahawk

Winterplay Poa triv
Galaxy blend

PennWay blend

Wildflower Mixtures
Perennial Ryegrass

Fine Fescues

Alliance blend
BrightStar / Charger
Citation III Manhattan 3
Navajo / QuickStart
Sunrye (246)

Aurora hard
Discovery hard
Bighorn sheeps

Shademaster II cr red

Shadow Chewings
Tiffany Chewings

Seabreeze slender cr

Baby Bloomers® mixture
Bloomers® mixture
DeBlooms Annual Mix
Call Norm'The Chief'
Whitworth for all your
turfgrass seed needs

Norm Whitworth Ltd. • PO Box 68134 • Oak Grove, OR 97268 • 503-650-3639 • Mobile 503-680-NORM
^

Page .5

effective turf production. Research scientists and industry
partners are taking a more active
role in trying to develop appropriate products to work in conjunction with natural ecological
processes, rather than to compete with them. In the intensively managed sand-based profile, this type of ecosystem management will help to create an
enhanced rhizosphere environment which will contribute to
overall plant health and a more
robust turfgrass ecosystem.
The turf management world is
changing. Increased regulation, increased emphasis on "natural" turf
management, and the continuing
pressure of maintaining turf to the
(often) unrealstic expectations of
user groups make the manager's task
a challenging and, at times, unenviable one. Broadening the focus of
our management attention to include
the root/rhizosphere ecosystem will
not necessarily make that task any
easier, but it will play a significant
role in the development of sustainable turfgrass ecosystems.
Presented at the 50th Northwest
Turfgrass Conference, Victoria
Conference Centre, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada, September 30 October 3, 1996.
2
Pacific Turfgrass Research Program, Department of Plant Science,
The University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, BC, Canada

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EXTRA PERFORMANCE

1996
COLUMBIA C U P PRESENTATON
AT
INDIAN SUMMER GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

Photo Courtesy of Tom McCarthy
D I C K B E R G E R O N OF W E S T E R N E Q U I P M E N T D I S T R I B U T O R S , I N C .
PRESENTING THE C O L U M B I A C U P T O THE 1 9 9 6 WINNING TEAM
TEAM FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - GREG HALL, JEFF GULLIKSON, MARK CUPIT AND LARRY GILHULY

THIS FORM MAY BE PHOTOCOPIED

Special Invitation
To

"The Columbia Cup Golf Tournament"
Monday July 21,1997
Indian Summer Golf and Country Club
The Northwest Turfgrass Association Board of Directors request the honor of your presence at the 1997 Columbia
Cup Golf Tournament. In the two previous events, Superintendents and Industry Professionals have enjoyed the
communication, camaraderie, and competition while raising over $10,000.00 for regional turfgrass research. Help out
by sending your entry in early. The NT A will invoice once your entry is received.
Entry Fee: $100.00 includes green fee, tee prizes, soft spikes, golf cart, range balls, and barbecue lunch.
8:30am Shotgun, Field limit 128.
Format: Stableford competition. Four flights Gross & Net Pay out.

Tournament Sponsored By:
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The TORO Company™
Lunch courtesy of Softspikes, Inc.™

Application For Entry
Deadline July 1st

Name;
Club/Organization:
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State;
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Phpne:
A Softspikes™ Event

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Managing Turf for Minimum Water Use
By Richard J. Hull, University of Rhode Island

Available water is rapidly
becoming one of the least reliable
resources needed to maintain highquality turf. Municipal water supplies frequently become over taxed
during periods of drought and landscape uses often are assigned a low
priority. Even in suburban and rural
areas, water supplies used to irrigate turf are limited and are in
competition for use by agriculture,
recreation, industrial and commercial enterprises. It is clearly in the
best interest of the turf manager to
conserve water whenever possible
and to design irrigation programs
which provide quality turf with
minimum water use.
The conservation of water
while maintaining quality turf is
something of a contradiction. Grass
uses water and healthy vigorous
turf uses more water than a thin
sickly turf. So, how can the turf
manager conserve water aside from
avoiding waste through runoff or
leaching? Research conducted over
the past 15 years has provided a
scientific basis for analyzing water
use by turf and for modifying management strategies to reduce water
consumption without compromising turf quality. This article will
consider some of this research and
its possible application by turf
managers to achieve greater efficiency in water use.
Water Use Efficiency:
How much water does turf need?
Most textbooks on water use by
crop plants make mention of water
requirements. This is the amount of
water used by a plant to make a
unit of plant tissue. Often water re-

quirement is expressed as kilograms (kg) of water used per each
gram (g) of plant produced. Given
such a value, one could estimate the
water required to maintain a crop of
known production rate. In terms of
turf, one could estimate water
needs if the clipping production
rate were known.
There is of course a fundamental problem with the concept of
water requirement. This is evident
from the data presented in Table 1.
The cool-season grasses experienced a 29% increase in their water
requirement when grown in a dry
climate compared to humid conditions. The warm-season grasses experienced a slightly larger 35% increase in water requirement when
dry and humid conditions are compared. Obviously, there is no true
water requirement involved here
but simply the quantity of water
lost by the plant during the time
needed to produce a gram of dry
matter. Because more water is lost
per hour under dry conditions than
under humid, a different amount of
water would be lost while the plant
synthesizes a gram of dry matter
under differing humidities.
The difference in water requirement between cool-season and
warm-season grasses also makes
one question the importance of this
value. Cool-season grasses use
about three times more water while
producing a gram of dry matter
than do warm-season grasses. This
difference between grass types remains relatively constant even
when atmospheric humidity levels
are varied (Table 1). Warm-season
grasses are more efficient in fixing

carbon dioxide (C02) from the atmosphere than are cool-season
grasses for reasons explained in an
earlier article (Hull, 1996). Again,
water use is determined by the time
required for enough C02 to be fixed
to make a gram of plant not by any
inherent fixed relationship between
plant growth and water usage.
This lack of a strict relationship between water use and plant growth is
fortunate for the turf manager. It
means that measures taken to minimize water use may have no effect
on the growth or performance of
turfgrasses. This is even more the
case for turf management than for
field crop production because dry
matter accumulation is much less
important in turf culture than it is
where a large crop yield is the major criterion of success. Most turf
managers will experience little
grief if their turf produces fewer
clippings and less thatch. Thus,
managing turf for minimum water
use can be a goal with little concern
over undesirable side-effects. The
only possible area of concern might
be heat build-up in the turf and that
will be considered later.
Evapotranspiration:
The process of water loss from turf
or any plant community is called
évapotranspiration (ET). It consists
of two elements:
evaporation of water from the soil
surface and transpiration of water
from leaf and stem surfaces. In a
dense turf, little if any soil is exposed to the atmosphere so soil
evaporation is a minor component
of water loss; most water loss results from transpiration. Therefore,
reducing water use by turf comes
down to minimizing transpiration.
What controls transpiration from
plants and by how much can it be

TABU: 2
controlled? The basic physics behind transpiration and its role in
plant function were recently discussed elsewhere (Hull, 1996).
Briefly, water moves from regions
of high water potential
(concentration) to regions of low
water potential. Plant tissues normally constitute a site of high water
potential while the atmosphere normally has a low water potential.
The magnitude of difference in water potential between two areas provides the energy for water movement and pretty much determines
the rate of water loss.

Evapotranspiration rates of cool- and warmseason turfgrasses grown in the field in the
eastern and western U.S.
Turfgrass

Grass type

Ky. bluegrass
Per. ryegrass
Tall fescue

c-s
c-s
c-s

3.71
3.71
3.62

3.7

6.2

w-s
w-s
w-s

3.12
3.32
3.52

5.06
5.66
566

3.3

5.4

Average
Bermudagrass
St. Augustine
Zoysiagrass
Average

East
West
mm water/day
5.33
6.44
6.85

1 (Rl) Aronson et al 1987
4 (NB) Sheaman 1989
5 (NB) Kopec et al 1983
2 (GA) Carrow 1995
6 ( I X ) Kim & Beard 1988
3 (NB) Sheaman 1986
'c-s - cool-season grass, w -s = warm-season grass

TABU: I
Water requirements of plants as influenced
by atmospheric water content (relative
humidity).**
Plant

Wheat
Barley
Rye
Rice
Millet
Sorghum
Corn

Plant
type'

Water requirement
Dry air
Humid air
g water/g dry matter

c-s
c-s
c-s
c-s

826
758
875
585

1052
1037
1100
743

Average

761

983

w-s
w-s
w-s

267
223
210

386
297
263

Average

233

315

'c-s = cool-season grass, w-s = warm-season grass
* ' Based on data reported by Levitt (1980)

That explains the difference in water use between humid
and dry conditions presented in
Table 1. When the air is humid, the
water potential gradient between
grass leaves and the atmosphere is
not so great and the energy driving
transpiration water loss is less. This
translates into a lower rate of water
loss. By contrast, dry air presents a
large water potential difference between leaf tissues and the atmosphere, much diffusive energy is
available and water loss rates are
large. Consequently, turf managed

Page34^XiXJbJh^ûJ^^

in an arid climate will always experience greater ET rates than the
same turf grown where humidity
tends to be higher.
This effect of humidity on
water losses from turf is evident if
you compare ET rates reported
from the humid eastern U.S. with
those from more arid western states
(Table 2). Water loss rates in the
western states (Nebraska and
Texas) were 68% and 64% greater
than those reported from eastern
states (Georgia and Rhode Island)
for cool- and warm-season grasses,
respectively. Using a larger data set
than presented in Table 2, coolseason grasses were found to lose
75% more water in the west than in
the east while warm-season grasses
grown in the west lost 46% more
water than eastern grown grasses.
These grasses were grown under
comparable conditions where water
was not limiting, so the principal
differences in ET between east and
west were relative humidity, solar
intensity and prevalence of wind.
All these factors strongly influence
transpiration rates as we shall see

shortly.
It is also evident from Table 2 that
differences in ET among grass
species were much less than differences between climatic conditions.
Variation among species growing
in the humid east was 3% for coolseason grasses and 13% for warmseason grasses. Under drier conditions, variation among cool-season
grasses was greater at 28% but remained the same for warm-season
species at 12%. This suggests that
genetic variables influencing ET
rates may be expressed more
clearly under conditions which favor greater water loss. Put another
way, environmental conditions influence water loss due to ET more
than morphological or physiological properties of the grass.
A marked difference between cool-season and warmseason grasses was not evident under eastern conditions. The greater
ET rates for cool-season grasses as
reported by Beard (1973) were expressed more when grasses were
growing under conditions favoring
high water loss. In the east, coolseason grasses lost 3% more water
to ET than did warm-season grasses
(based on a larger data set than presented in Table 2). However, under
dry western conditions, cool-season
grasses transpired 23% more than
their warm-season counterparts. It
appears that when cool-season
grasses are grown outside their natural climatic range, they compensate for the hot dry conditions by
transpiring more water.
Stomates and Their Function:
Leaves do not transpire throughout
their surface. Most of the leaf is
covered by a waxy cuticle which
seals the leaf and resists water loss.

However, since gas exchange with
the atmosphere is essential for normal leaf function (photosynthetic
C0 2 influx & 0 2 efflux), openings
in the leaf surface must be provided. These openings result when
specialized epidermal cells (guard
cells) become turgid and form an
opening called a stomate (Fig. I).
Stomates provide an avenue by
which the leaf interior spaces can
exchange gases with the atmosphere. Stomates form in the morning light when guard cells accumulate potassium ions (K+) from adjacent subsidiary and epidermal
cells. These ions, along with various organic anions (malate-2)
synthesized within the guard cells,
reduce the water potential in these
cells so water flows into them from
surrounding cells. This "blows up"
the guard cells causing a stomatal
pore to form between them (Fig.
1). It is through these pores that
gases, including water vapor, move
between the leaf and its surrounding atmosphere.

F i g u r e I: S t o n u i t c

In the evening twilight, the
process is reversed and guard cells
lose solute ions and water to surrounding cells, they become
"deflated" and the stomate closes.
Thus, gas exchange between leaves
and atmosphere occurs in most

plants primarily during the daytime. Leaves lose water mostly
when stomates are open which is
why transpiration occurs mainly
during the day.
When plants are subjected
to drought stress, the guard cells
may be unable to reduce their water potential below that of surrounding cells; they lose water, become flaccid and the stomate
closes. This frequently occurs during the heat of mid-day and is a
common way for the plant to reduce water loss when transpiration
exceeds the rate of water delivery
from roots (Hull, 1996). Even
when soil water is abundant, midday transpiration may be so great
that guard cells lose turgor, stomates close and gas exchange between leaf and atmosphere is suspended for a few hours. This conserves water but it also impedes
photosynthesis and causes leaves
to heat.
Water conservation in turf
management comes down to reducing transpiration but not stopping
it. After all, transpiration serves
two valuable functions. It provides
a water stream by which nutrients
absorbed by roots are carried to the
stems and leaves where they are
needed to support growth and cell
function. Also, the evaporation of
water from the surfaces of cells
within a leaf draws heat from the
leaf causing it to cool or at least
not become as hot as it would if
water was not being lost. The temperature difference between turf
and an adjacent asphalt drive on a
bright day offers some idea of the
cooling caused by ET. There are
also good physiological reasons
why it is desirable to prevent grass

from becoming too hot.
While transpiration from
turfgrass is essential, it may be reduced without causing harm to the
plants and thereby conserve water.
However, reducing ET is easier
said than done. To attempt an ET
reduction, it is important to understand those factors which contribute to or regulate water loss
from leaves.
Factors Controlling ET:
Since transpiration depends on the
water potential gradient between
the interior of a leaf and the surrounding atmosphere, anything
which tends to reduce the size of
that gradient will lower transpiration rates. The interior spaces of a
leaf are surrounded by wet cell
walls so the air in the leaf is assumed to be saturated (100% relative humidity). Based on that assumption, the water potential gradient between leaf and air is always directly proportional to the
prevailing relative humidity of the
atmosphere. There is not much a
turf manager can do to change the
basic physics behind water evaporation but anything which holds a
layer of humid air over a leaf surface will lower the water potential
gradient and reduce the ET rate.
So, while the water potential difference between a wet leaf and dry
atmosphere is beyond control, the
distance over which that gradient is
extended can be managed. Several
factors are involved.
Boundary Layers:
Surrounding a leaf or any object
suspended in the air, is a layer of
air that is largely unstirred. This
layer results from attraction of air
molecules to molecules of the leaf
surface. Such attractions are not

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strong but they do reduce the motion of air molecules (kinetic energy) creating a zone of still air
called a boundary layer. The thickness of this layer depends upon the
amount of air turbulence (wind)
and the presence of protuberances
from the leaf surface which further
reduce air movement. An uneven
cuticle surface or leaf hairs or
ridges all tend to increase the thickness of boundary layers.
The significance of leaf
boundary layers becomes evident if
you remember that the steepness of
the water potential gradient between the saturated leaf interior and
the adjacent atmosphere determines
the rate of water loss. This gradient
operates at open stomates and that
is where a boundary layer plays its
role. When molecules of water vapor exit a stomate, they increase the
humidity of the atmosphere immediately surrounding the stomatal
opening. The more humid that
boundary layer of air becomes, the
more the water potential gradient is
reduced. Therefore, the thicker the
boundary layer, the more humidity
it will retain and the more it will
"insulate" the stomatal pore from
additional water loss. In theory, if
the leaf boundary layer became saturated (100% relative humidity)
there would be no net diffusion of
water vapor through a stomate and
there would be no transpiration.
Of course, so long as the
atmosphere is not saturated, the
boundary layer will lose water to it
and water vapor molecules will diffuse through the stomates; there
will be measurable transpiration.
Thus anything that increases the
boundary layer of a leaf will tend to
reduce the rate of transpiration.

Canopy Resistance:
Grass stand factors that contributed
to thick boundary layers and reduced ET rates are collectively
termed canopy resistance. The term
implies that water lost by ET encounters several resistances as it
passes through and exits the turf
canopy. Kim and Beard (1988)
evaluated 12 turf-grasses for ET
rates and related those rates to six
morphological characteristics of the
grasses. They found that ET rates
were depressed by high shoot density and relatively horizontal leaf
orientation. Both of these properties
would restrict air movement within
a turf canopy, promote thick
boundary layers around the leaves
and reduce ET. Individual plants
having a low leaf area caused by a
slow vertical leaf growth rate and a
narrow leaf texture also contributed
to reduced ET rates.

A clear connection between leaf
extension rate and ET has not always been observed. Beard et al.
(1992) failed to find a significant
relationship between leaf growth
rate and ET for 24 well-watered
bermudagrass cultivars. Significant
differences in both ET rates and
leaf growth were observed but no
correlation between the two was
evident. Green et al. (1991) also did
not show a correlation between leaf
growth and ET for 11 zoysiagrass
genotypes or for ten St. Augustinegrass selections (Atkins et al.
1991). On the other hand, Shearman (1989) found a strong correlation between rates of ET and leaf
extension for 12 perennial ryegrasses. Similar correlations have
also been found between other
measurements of shoot growth and
ET rates for tall fescue (Bowman
and Macaulay 1991).

An earlier study by Feldhake et al. (1983) was consistent
with these findings. They noted a
15% increase in ET from grass
mowed at two inches compared
with grass mowed at 0.75 inches.
The higher cut would expose more
leaf surface to the air and promote
greater transpiration rates. Monthly
applications of nitrogen fertilizer
also increased ET by 13% over turf
fertilized once in the spring. The
additional nitrogen would stimulate
leaf growth rate and that is positively correlated with greater ET.
Mowing height and nitrogen fertilizer also can influence drought
avoidance through their impact on
root growth as we will show later.
Evapotranspiration increased linearly with solar radiation (light intensity) due to the greater energy
available at high light to evaporate
water.

It may be that leaf extension rate of stoloniferous warmseason grasses does not have the
same effect on turf canopy architecture as it does for bunch type coolseason grasses. In any event, abundant evidence supports the idea that
ET rates are influenced by canopy
resistance factors and these can be
influenced by management.
Drought Avoidance Through Water Acquisition:
While reducing turf ET is one way
of using water more efficiently, an
equally important approach is to
use all the water available. The upper one to two feet of soil contains
most of the water available to turfgrass plants. That water is only
available to the grass if its roots can
reach it. Consequently, any management practice which will increase root growth should also en-

^ g e 25

able turf to avoid drought stress between rain events or irrigations. In
an earlier TGT article (Hull 1996),
we discussed turf management
strategies which promote root
growth. The extent and health of
turf roots clearly are influenced by
mowing, fertilizing, pest management and other management variables. What may not be as evident
is the connection between rooting
patterns and water use efficiency.
The criterion most commonly used
to evaluate root effects on water
use is the avoidance of drought injury when water is withheld. Leaf
firing and wilting are early signs of
drought stress and the time interval
after water withdrawal when these
symptoms appear is an indication
of drought avoidance. Obviously
such a measure integrates all water
use efficiency factors including
root properties but, when drought
avoidance time is correlated with
individual plant measurements, it is
possible to determine which contributes most to the delay in
drought symptoms.
In a recent report, Carrow
(1996) evaluated six tall fescue cultivars and found drought resistance
was linked most with late summer
root length density (cm of root per
cm3 of soil) in the eight-inch to
two-foot soil depth. Late summer
total root length also contributed to
drought resistance and ET variation
was the third factor. In other words,
drought resistance in tall fescue,
which is in fact mostly drought
avoidance, was enhanced most by
the maintenance of an extensive
functional root system and variations in ET played a secondary role.
A similar study from Arizona
(Marcum et al. 1995) investigated
25 zoysiagrass cultivars and species

Page 34 ^XiXJbJh^ûJ^^

and attempted to correlate rooting
characteristics with drought resistance. They too found that average
maximum root depth, total root
weight and number of roots in the
eight-through sixteen-inch soil
depths were all positively related to
turf performance under deficit irrigation. Again, those plants, that
maintained a root system which effectively mined the soil profile for
available water, were able to avoid
drought stress and maintain acceptable turf even under irrigation
scheduling that did not replace potential ET.
The amount of root produced by turf-grasses is basically
controlled by the genetic potential
of the plants, but these are strongly
influenced by environmental conditions including management practices. The ability of a turfgrass to
sustain an effective root system
throughout the heat of summer is
critical to drought resistance and
efficient water use. Warm-season
grasses have less trouble maintaining summer root growth but coolseason grasses normally lose a
large portion of their roots during
the hottest summer months. Proper
management can ease this problem
but not prevent it. Thus cool-season
grasses invariably become more
drought sensitive and less efficient
in water use as the season progresses due primarily to a declining root system.
Soil conditions can play an
important part in determining
drought resistance of turfgrasses. A
plant may be genetically disposed
to producing a deep root system but
if the presence of toxic elements or
an impenetrable soil restrict root
growth, the potential for drought

resistance may never be realized.
Carrow (1996) evaluated drought
resistance in seven turfgrasses
common to the southeastern U.S.
These were grown in an acid soil of
high density (high soil strength)
and rated for drought resistance and
rooting characteristics. He found
that those grasses which tolerated
the hostile soil conditions and produced a deep root system (Tifway
bermudagrass & Rebel II tall fescue) exhibited greater drought resistance than grasses which experienced root suppression (Meyer
zoysiagrass & common centipedegrass). Under the conditions of this
test, Meyer zoysiagrass produced
only 4% of the root length density
observed in Tifway bermudagrass.
This did not agree with results from
root column studies where grasses
were grown in sand or clay granules, a near ideal rooting medium.
Consequently, when managing turf
for efficient water use, the entire
system must be considered. The
soil environment may be as important in determining water use as the
grasses selected or the management
employed.
Irrigation for Optimum Water
Use Efficiency:
The findings discussed above have
been utilized to design irrigation
practices which maximize water
use efficiency while preserving
high-quality turf. One principle on
which these programs are based is
discussed and illustrated by Aronson (1986). As the soil dries
following the withholding of water,
the ET rates remain relatively constant for the first eight days after
which they decline rapidly for another eight days when they level off
prior to their final decline which
results in serious injury or death.

Grasses vary in the time when ET
decreases. Chewings fescue maintained its water-sufficient ET rate
2-3 days longer than Kentucky
bluegrass probably reflecting its
somewhat lower average ET rate
and more conservative use of water.
More importantly, the period of initial decline in ET causes
no injury to the grass if water is restored before ET drops to less than
half its normal rate. That means irrigation can be delayed for several
days after ET rates begin to decrease with no damage to the turf.
In short, irrigation scheduling can
be set to apply less water than ET
models would predict was lost.
Basing irrigation, not on anticipated
ET but rather on soil moisture potential, allows a savings of from 1/4
to 1/3 the water normally applied.

This approach has been used successfully in most climates and is
easily adapted to computerized automated irrigation systems. Irrigation is called for by tensiometers
installed in the soil which activate
the system whenever the soil moisture potential drops below a preset
point. Irrigation is set to deliver
only about 2/3 of the water which
would have been lost through ET
from well watered turf. In this way,
the turf is maintained much of the
time under mild drought stress.
Mild drought stress actually makes
turf more drought resistant because
stressed roots send hormonal signals to the shoots causing growth to
slow and transport to roots of photosynthetic products (sugars) to increase (Hull, 1996). This promotes
root growth especially deep rooting
because growth is stimulated in
those roots which have most water

available (deep roots). Thus deficit
irrigation scheduling not only conserves water, but it promotes a turf
that is better able to avoid drought
stress.
The turf manager clearly is not at
the mercy of water suppliers. Significant water conservation can be
practiced which may result in as
much as a 50% reduction in water
use without compromising turf
quality. To practice water conservation turf management effectively, it
is good to be familiar with the principles, both physiological and agronomic, on which such management
is based. This I have tried to do
here, but more comprehensive
discussions are available in some of
the references cited below and in
technical publications available
from irrigation system suppliers.
References cited are listed below.

References:
Aronson, L.J. 1986. Water Use and
Draught Responses 0/ Coal-Season
Turfgrasses. MS Thesis, University o f
Rhode Island, Kingston, Rn. 72 pages.
Aronson, L.J.; A.J. G a l d ; R.J. Hull
and J.L. Cisar. 1987.
Evapotranspiration of Coal-Season Turfgrasses in the
Humid Northeast. Agron. Jour.
79:0-1-905.
Atkins, C.E.; R.L. Green; 5.1. Sifers
and J.B. Beard. 1991.
Evapotranspiration Rates of 10 St.
Augustinegrass
Genotypes. HortScience 26:1488-1491.
Beard, J.B. 1973. Turfgrass: Science
and Culture. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Beard, J.B.; R.L. Green and S.I.
Sifers. 1992. Evapotmospiration
and
Leaf Extension Rates of 24 WellWatered, Turf Type Cynodon Genotypes. HortScience 27:986-988.
Bowman, D.C. and L. Macaulay.
1991. Comparative
Evapotranspiration
Rates of Tall Fescue
Cultivars.

HortScience 26:122-123.
Carrow, R.N. 1995. Drought Resistance Aspects of Tar/grasses in the
Southeast: Evapotranspiration
and
Crop Coefficients. Crop Sci. 35:16851690.
Carrow, R.N. 1996a. Drought
Avoidance Characteristics
of Diverse
Tall Fescue Cultivars. Crop Sci. 36:371
377
Carrow, R.N 1996b Draught Resistance Aspects of turfgrasses in the
Southeast: Root-Shoot Responses. Crop
Sci. 36 687 694
Green, R.L.; S. I. Sifer; C. E. Atkins
and J.B. Beard. 1991.
Evapotranspiration Rates of Eleven Zoysiagrass
Genotypei HortScience 26:264-266.
Hull, R.J. 1996 Managing Turf for
Maximum Root Growth. Turfgrass
T R E N D S 5(2): 1-9.
Hull, R.J. 1996 Physiology
Affecting
Turfgrass Water Use. Golf Course
Management. 64: (in press).
Kim, K.S. and J.B. Beard. 1988.

Comparative Turfgrass
Evapotranspiration Rates and Associated
Plant
Morphological
Characteristics.
Crop
Sci. 28:328-331.
Kopec, D.M.; R.C. Shearman and
T.P. Riordan. 1988.
Evapotranspiration of Tall Fescue Turf Hort Science
23:300-301.
Levitt, J. 1980. Response of Plants
to Environmental Stresses. Volume 2,
2nd Edition. Academic Press, New
York.
Marcum, K.B.; M.C. Engelke; S.J.
Morton and R.H. White. 1995. Rooting
Characteristics
and Associated
Drought Resistance af Zoysiagrass es.
Agronomy Jour. 87:534-538.
Shearman, R.C. 1986. Kentucky
Bluegrass Cultivar
Evapotranspiralion
Rates. HortScience 21: 455457.
Shearman, R.C. 1989. Perennial
Ryegrass
Reprinted by permission Turfgrass Trends - Vol. 10, Issue 10,
October 1996

Prevention begins by implementing a Hearing Conservation
Program (HCP). This is an easy
way for both employer and employee to monitor and protect themselves from unnecessary hearing
loss or future litigation as a result.
The first step in any Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is to
identify the source of hazardous
noise, if any. This may be as simple as observing the work environment and asking a few questions.
Do you have difficulty communicating while in noise, or do you
have to raise your voice for someone to hear you? Do you experience ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
after working around the noise? If
any of these things happen you
should have a HCP. Noise surveys/
analysis may also be performed to
evaluate if the levels of noise pre-

HEAR TODAY....GONE TOMORROW
By Hollie L. Bahen, M.S. Audiologist
We've all heard the saying,
"You don't know what you've lost
until it's gone." This certainly
holds true with hearing loss. Hearing is often taken for granted. The
progression of most hearing loss is
gradual and therefore not noticed
until the loss is severe, especially if
the hearing loss is induced by exposure to hazardous noise. Unfortunately, once the hearing is gone, the
only treatment for noise induced
hearing loss is management
through the use of hearing aids.
The good news is that many types
of hearing loss, specifically noise
induced hearing loss, can be prevented.

Noise exposure has become
one of the most common complaints and health hazards in industry today, the turf industry is no exception. Not only can noise exposure cause permanent hearing loss,
it has also been known to effect
other aspects of daily performance.
For example hazardous noise can
cause interference with speech
communication, interruption of
concentration, and even decrease of
task performance. There is also
Physiologic links to stress, fatigue,
and headaches. With proper hearing protection and awareness of the
effect of noise can have on hearing,
permanent noise induced hearing
loss can be avoided.

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sent are at hazardous levels.
Through the use of sound level meters and dosimeters, measurements
can determine if the noise levels
exceed those allowable by OSHA.
OSHA guidelines recommend protection against effects of nose levels that exceed 85 decibels(dB)
over an hour TWA (time weighted
average) day. A decibel is a logarithmic ratio of sound pressures or
powers. It is used to define what is
perceived as loudness of sound.
For example, in the turf industry, a
mower can reach 90-95dB, chippers and leaf blowers can reach
105-1 lOdB. Following OSHA
guidelines, these levels are potentially hazardous without proper
hearing protection. To determine
an individuals noise exposure, a
dosimeter can be worn. This small
recording device can be placed on

the collar or hat of a worker to determine the exposure for a sample
period of time. Some areas of activity may routinely exceed the
OSHA allowable sound levels,
whereas others may fall significantly below the regulations.
Once it is determined that
hazardous noises are present in the
work place, the second aspect of
the hearing conservation program is
to control or abate the noise. This
can be achieved through engineering controls or redesign of equipment. This is the most effective
form of control because it eliminates the noise at the source. Unfortunately this may be costly and
often technologically not feasible.
Therefore administrative controls
can be implemented. This can be
achieved through rotation of employees through the noisy areas,

periodic breaks, and modification
of employees schedules. These options may not be feasible either due
to employee training or schedules.
This leads to perhaps the most simple aspect of a HCP, hearing protection devices and audiometric
testing (Audiograms).
The monitoring of hearing
and the use of hearing protection
involves active participation from
both the employee and employer.
Routine hearing tests,
(audiograms), should be performed
annually. A baseline hearing test
should be included with preemployment physicals or on the
date of hire and then repeated each
year. An annual audiogram will
monitor the employees hearing indicating whether or not hearing loss
is present and if so what degree and

ROTORS FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITES
^ J X J b j h ^ Û l M ^

p

age 29

what type of hearing loss exists.
The ear is divided into three parts,
The outer ear is the most visible
portion of the ear and consists of
the Pinna, the ear canal and the ear
drum. The second part is the middle ear which holds three tiny
bones called the ossicles. The inner
ear includes the cochlea. This is a
fluid filled, snail like structure that
houses the hair cells that transmit
messages to the nerves and the
brain. There are approximately
15,000 hair cell in the cochlea.
When they are damaged, the sound
cannot be transmitted to the nerves
properly. Once these hair cells are
damaged they do not regenerate
and the result is permanent hearing
loss.
There are two basic types
of hearing loss. The first type is
called conductive hearing loss.
This is caused by the inability of
the sound to easily reach the nerve
of hearing. This may be due to wax
in the ear canal, fluid in the middle
ears, or perforated ear drum. The
second type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. This is
caused by damage to the cochlea
hair cells and is permanent loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss may be
the result of such things as aging,
ototoxic medications, heredity, and
noise exposure.
Noise induced hearing loss
is one of the most common causes
of hearing loss today. It is often
accompanied by tinnitus, or ringing
in the ears. The effects of hazardous noise on hearing can be
placed into three categories. Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS), Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS), and
Acoustic trauma. TTS is a temporary reduction of hearing caused by

noise. It is usually short in duration
and the hearing will usually return
within ViA hour. This commonly
occurs when leaving a concert or
after using heavy equipment. However, repeated temporary threshold
shifts result in permanent shifts, or
permanent hearing loss. PTS occurs with repeated exposure to high
intensity noise for many years. It is
not possible for the hearing to recover as it does in TTS. Acoustic

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Page 30

trauma is a single, high intensity
event, such as an explosion, that
results in permanent hearing damage. The intensity level exceeds
the capacity of the ear structure and
causes a break down of the system.
The middle ear may suffer damage
to the ossicles or possibly a ruptured ear drum.

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Audiograms are a method of monitoring hearing and can identify
when TS and OTS occur. An audiogram measures the employees
ability to hear different tones or
pitches as well as how loud the
sound had to be for it to be heard.
Noise induced hearing loss typically effects the high frequencies
most significantly. This becomes
essential in speech communication
since most consonants are predominantly high frequency. The consonant sounds are responsible for providing the differentiation of words
and their meaning, for example,
"mouth" versus " mouse". If you
were to incur a high frequency
hearing loss, it would become very
difficult to hear the subtle differences between these words. It also
makes listening in noisy or group
environments very difficult.
In addition, it is important
to recognize recreational hazardous
noise. Many employees incur hearing loss from other sources of noise
away from the job, such as military
experience, previous employment,
hobbies, hunting or heredity. Without a baseline audiogram and annual audiograms, it is not possible
to attribute the loss to any other
source which leaves the liability
with the current employer if no previous evaluations are available.
Baselines and annual audiograms
are a way to protect both parties
should there ever be a question as
to liability. Every employee should
also be aware that he or she has the
right to access his or her records
and any sound surveys as specified
in WAC-296-62-09041. In today's
litigious society it is important for
both the employer and employee to
be aware of his or her rights.

Once you have established
annual monitoring of the hearing
through audiograms, it is crucial to
wear hearing protection to reduce
the effects of the noise and possible
damage to the hearing. There are
two types of protection available,
ear plugs and ear muffs. There are
advantages and disadvantages to
each type. It is important that employees be provided with options in
order to find a type most beneficial
for their needs. Ear plugs can be
small foam, rubber or even custom
fitted. They must be inserted correctly or they are not effective.
They tend to be comfortable, convenient, and cost effective. However, they can pick up dirt or grease
that can be
transferred to
the ear
and cause
problems. In
the turf (
industry
this
may be a
problem
when handling
chemicals
and fertilizers as well as
grease
from the equipment. Plugs are often difficult for supervisors to see
for monitoring effective use. Custom plugs can be obtained and are
available in multiple color combinations that may allow for easier
visualization by supervisors. Custom plugs also tend to be more
comfortable, but cost may be a concern depending on the number of
employees. Muffs are also popular
and effective for reducing noise.
They tend to be one size fits all and
can be easily seen for monitoring
purposes. Some muffs are incorporated onto hard hats which may
serve a dual purpose for safety.
Muffs are generally more expensive than plugs which may also be a
cost issue. When working in warm

environments muffs may be uncomfortable and can be bulky or
cumbersome when working in
small environments. They are not
as easily stored or carried as plugs.
No matter what type of hearing
protection is provided, it is imperative that the employees have training on use and insertion. The best
hearing protector is one that is
worn and worn properly. Employees should also be encouraged to
wear their hearing protection outside of work for noisy activities or
hobbies such as hunting. Woodworking, power tools etc.
It cannot be stressed
enough how important it is to protect hearing. Once you have sensorineural hearing loss, there is no
cure. Once it's gone, it's gone and
the only "cure" is to manage the
hearing loss with a hearing loss
with a hearing aid. Hearing aids
have made great advances in their
technology but there is still not one
to replace normal hearing!
Reprinted by permission.

EDMONDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Edmonds, Washington

SUMMER SCHEDULE
TURF MANAGEMENT\GREENKEEPING
HORT 255
TURF ID & CULTURE
Identify turf grasses commonly used for Pacific Northwest golf courses, sports fields and residential settings. Understand the cultural practices which are best suited for each variety.
1919 T 0.5 Michels, B HRT 107 Sat 8:00AM-1:00PM
Meets 7/12/97 The last day to register for this class is 7/11/97

One Day Only

HORT 255
REVNOVATION OF TURF AREAS
Renovation of sports fields, residential and commercial sites and other turf areas. Guest speakers
1940 W 1.0 Michels, B HRT 107
Sat 8:00AM-5:00PM
One Day Only
Meets 8/9/97 The last day to register for this class is 8/8/97
HORT 255
TURF AND IPM
Integrated post and plant management geared to the turf industry. WSDA Re-certification credits pending
1947 V 1.0 Michels, B HRT 107 Sat. 8:00AM-5:00AM
Meets 7\26\97 The last day to register for this class is 7/25/97
HORT 289
LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION
Broad overview of the design, maintenance, and troubleshooting of large scale irrigation systems and the importance
of water flow and drainage systems to large turf areas.
1954 S 3 HRT 109
Thurs 5:00PM-9:00PM
Meets beginning 6/26/97
The last day to register for this class is 6/20/97
For more information on these class offerings, call 206/640-1739.

CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY
COLLEGE - LANDSCAPE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Dave Wienecke, Central Oregon Community College, states that
COCC offers a 2-year degree with academic study based on the program
offered at Michigan State University, which has turned out high quality
superintendents. The program has high academic standards.
This coming fall, Dave says, COCC is planning to offer a new
professional golf management program for business operations.
COCC has a GCSAA student chapter and internships are available
through the Landsacpe & Turfgrass Management Program.
A listing of Fall classes will appear in the Summer issue of Turfgrass Topics.

Page34^XiXJbJh^ûJ^^

1
80 years on the fairway!
When we started serving golf course superintendents,
Woodrow Wilson was in the White House!
We shipped our first golf course order in 1916,
5,000 pounds of Kentucky bluegrass seed, to a
course on Long Island. Today, it's much more
than top quality grass seed:
• State-of-the-art fertilizers, herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators,
and spreaders.
• New products and new technologies
developed specifically for the golf market.
• Plus the world's largest turfgrass research
organization for your technical support.
To take advantage of this 80 years of experience,
contact your Scotts Technical Representative:
Ed Price
Tel: 800/601-9674

Rick Styer
Tel: 206/859-6610

EVERGRO/WOLFKILL JOIN
FORCES
Evergro Sales, Inc., and Wolfkill Fertilizer Corp.
are pleased to announce that they have joined
forces. Evergro Sales will assume the sales and
marketing of the Wolfkill line of products to the
turf industry. In turn, Wolfkill will manufacture
all of Evergro's fertilizer needs for the U.S. market.
Through this partnership, Evergro will offer customers an expanded line of products and a team
of turf professionals committed to providing the
most advanced products available. At Evergro's
new 18,000 sq. ft. warehouse and showroom in
Woodinville, Washington, customers will have a
one-stop location for all their turfgrass needs.
Customers can contact one of Evergro's inside
sales specialists at 206/486-6387 or 1/888-3837476.

John Westerdahl
Tel: 800/793-8873

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Page 33

GCSA that has been held, according to many.
Significant changes are on the horizon!!
We want to publicly thank the Washington
State Golf Association for the first installment of their 1997 contribution to the
T.U.R.F. program in the amount of $35,000.
We look forward to a long synergistic relationship with the WSGA.
The Washington Junior Golf Association's
1997 membership application reads, in part
..."1 dollar of your dues goes to support
Northwest Turfgrass Research.." Their first
installment in the amount of $1,000 is greatly
appreciated and we thank the Junior Golfers
in Washington for their support.
The 51st Northwest Turfgrass Association
Conference at Sunriver Resort will be a major topic in the Summer Issue of Turfgrass
Topics, scheduled to be in your hands by late
July-early August. Sunriver has always been
a favorite conference site for NTA members.
Some Sunriver amenities include:
• 3 - 1 8 hole golf courses - The Roy L.
Goss Tournament for Research will be
held at Crosswater, the 1995 Golf Digest
Best New Resort Course, designed by
Bob Cupp and John Fought.
• More than 30 miles of paved bike/walking paths
• Lodge Village guest rooms• 2 bedroom Condo....$149-$169
• 2 bedroom w/loft
$159-$ 179
• 3 bedroom Condo....$179-$205
• 3 bedroom home
$195-5225
• 4 bedroom home
$235-$259

•
•
•

The rates above are not inclusive of
the current 12% occupancy tax and
local recreation assessment.
Canoeing
Horseback riding
Tennis - 29 Courts

Page 34

^ X i X J b J h ^ û J ^ ^

U

The 51st Conference Program will include
presentations by:
• Peter Landschoot, Ph.D., Pennsylvania
State University, "Shedding Some Light
on Anthracnose Basal Rot" and "Using
Compost to Improve Turf Performance"
• Paul Backman, M.A., new Research Assistant, Washington State University,
Puyallup
• John Bodenhamer, Executive Director,
Pacific Northwest Golf Association and
Washington State Golf Association.
• Bob Shearman, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Executive Director, National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP),
"NTEP Now and In The Future" and
"Managing Intensively Trafficked Turfs"
• New Washington State University Researcher (Dr. Stan Brauen's replacement)
Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., Washington State
University
Tom Cook, Associate Professor, Oregon
State University
Bob Cupp, Cupp Design, designer of
Pumpkin Ridge and Crosswater golf
courses
Larry Gilhuly, Western Director, USGA
Green Section
For the Ladies' program and entertainment, Dr. Larry Helms returns
And much, much more! ! ! Be looking for
your Summer Issue of Turfgrass Topics with
registration forms and more details.
I will leave you with a Quarterly Quote:
"There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot
push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing
to climb himself." -Andrew Carnegie
Donald A. Clemans, CGCS, CPAg
Executive Director
Northwest Turfgrass Association
E-Mail address: dac@bendnet.com

BARNETT I M P L E M E N T O F S N O H O M I S H
5211 B I C K F O R D A V E N U E • P O BOX 468 • SNOHOMISH, WA 98290 • (206) 334-4048 • FAX (206) 334-7671 • (800) 22S-3174

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