Precision Management of Turfgrass Using Optical Sensing Justin Moss Oklahoma State University Soil 4213

Introduction 1)What is a turfgrass? 2)Why do we care? 3)How can the turfgrass industry benefit from optical sensing technology?

What is Turfgrass? Grasses that form a contiguous groundcover and persist under regular mowing and traffic Turfgrass are used for functional purposes and for aesthetic value Economic thresholds are not determined by yield, but by consumer expectations

Why do we care? Soil stabilization Cooling effect Dust reduction Increases aesthetic and economic value Provides safe and uniform playing surfaces

Why do we care? $$$ 1993 survey data $$$ $45 billion spent on turfgrass maintenance, probably doubled by now Turf industry employed well over 1 million people Important agricultural crop in OK (sod farms)

Why do we care? At least 30 million acres of turfgrass is maintained in the U.S. In 1993 ~ 73 million pounds of pesticides and 400 million pounds of fertilizer were applied to turfgrass sites Environmental concerns – leaching, runoff, etc.

How can optical sensing help? Precision management of turfgrass Reduce inputs of pesticides and fertilizers, yet maintain quality Help monitor turfgrass areas for disease outbreaks Can help managers and researchers rate turf quality characteristics

Environmental Awareness

Prior Research Fenstermaker-Shaulis, L.K., et al Utilization of remotely sensed data to map and evaluate turfgrass stress associated with drought. J. of Turfgrass Management 2:65-81 Green, D.E., et al Canopy reflectance as a measure of disease in tall fescue. Crop Sci. 38: Trenholm, L.E., et al Relationship of multispectral radiometry data to qualitative data in turfgrass research. Crop Sci. 39:

Prior Research Bell, G.E., et al Vehicle-mounted optical sensing: An objective means for evaluating turf quality. Crop Sci. 42: Bell, G.E., et al Turf area mapping using vehicle-mounted optical sensors. Crop Sci. 42:

Future Research Development of precision sensing sprayer Sensing for water stress and coupling to irrigation systems Mapping of golf courses for daily/weekly scouting

Kawasaki Mule 2510 Equipped with 5 Greenseeker Selective Spray System Sensors spaced 0.6 m apart. Each sensor has 3 spray nozzels that are capable of applying fertilizer at seven rates.

Questions?