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CRSS 3270L (UGA)
Turf Management Laboratory
(1 semester hour)

Joint enrollment in CRSS 3270 or CRSS 2830 is recommended.

This course can be taken
    -> as a print course

Lessons for this course can be submitted and/or be returned
    -> via U.S. mail
    -> via fax return from IDL

Begin the registration process for this course

Prerequisite: None. Joint enrollment in CRSS 3270 or CRSS 2830 is recommended.

Turfgrass management practices and systems. Species selection, establishment, irrigation, mowing, fertilization, cultivation, as well as weed, insect, and disease control. Discussions will include the benefits of turfgrasses to society and various environmental issues impacting the turfgrass industry.

Requirements: Seven labs, one study lab, one examination.

Instructor: Keith J. Karnok, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Georgia.

Texts and Materials: Beard et al., Introduction to Turfgrass Science and Culture (reprinted by MBS); CRSS 3270 videotape available from MBS Direct.

CRSS 3270L- Course Overview

Introduction

This course is designed to provide some hands-on experience for those interested in learning more about turfgrass management than a conventional textbook can offer. Ideally, it should be taken in conjunction with CRSS 3270 or CRSS 2830 (both are available via IDL), but it can be taken alone.

The first exercise covers the growth and development of the turfgrass plant and specific morphological characteristics of turfgrasses. Through the use of the video and diagrams in the lab manual, you will learn how to identify the various morphological structures of turfgrasses and use them to distinguish among specific turfgrass species. The second lesson covers identification of both cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. You will be required to make a turfgrass collection in which you identify and provide basic information about the samples you collect. Obviously, depending on the region of the country, certain turfgrasses will not be available.

The third lesson is seed quality and identification. You will learn the importance of the seed label and will also learn to distinguish among the seeds of several turfgrass species. Seeds have been provided to you for this purpose.

The fourth lesson focuses on making fertilizer calculations. Lesson 5 is sprayer and spreader calibration.

The sixth exercise is similar to the turfgrass collection you put together for Lesson 2, except you are asked to make a weed collection. Again, specific information as well as the proper identification of the weed will be required. Insect and disease identification are also covered in this.

Lesson 7 addresses how to determine the amount and distribution of water from an irrigation sprinkler. The final exercise, in Lesson 8, will be a video tour of a golf course. Following the “tour,” you will be asked to respond to a series of questions pertaining to the specifics of the golf course and the management practices used. This is an upper-division course. Basic knowledge of biology and or botany will be very helpful. If you have other knowledge in the areas of chemistry, physics, ecology, or other agriculture-related subjects, your understanding of this course will be greatly enhanced. Furthermore, any hands-on turfgrass management experience you may have will also make the exercises more meaningful.

The Lab Manual and Other Course Materials

There are few turfgrass management laboratory manuals available commercially. Although the publication date of the lab manual we are using is not recent, the information remains current.Turfgrass and weed morphology, seed label information, and seed characteristics do not change over time. The method used to determine irrigation water distribution is the same that is used today by turf managers throughout the world. The same holds true for the information presented on spreader/sprayer calibration, fertilizer calculations, and weed, insect, and disease identification. It is true that certain pesticides mentioned in the manual are no longer available and that a host of new chemicals have taken their place. But specific pesticide recommendations are not the purpose of this course. For up-to-date information on turfgrass pest control, please consider taking Turfgrass Pest Management (CRSS/PATH/ENTO 3500). This is an excellent course on managing turfgrass weeds, insects, and diseases that is available via IDL.

Lesson Preparation

Each lesson begins with a reading assignment in your lab manual and this course guide. Between the two, the instructions for completing the assignments should be very clear. The lesson on spreader-sprayer calibration is a study lesson; you do not have to submit the assignment for grading. The assignment for Lesson 6 is in three parts; only the weed identification portion is to be submitted for a grade. Regardless, you are advised to pay close attention to the ungraded exercises, as you will encounter some of that material on the final exam.

Final Examination

After completing all the lessons, you will be ready to take the final examination. The final will consist of fifty multiple-choice, true/false, and matching questions. Most of the questions will pertain to the specifics information in the graded assignments, but some questions will be drawn from the study lesson and other ungraded assignments.

You are strongly encouraged to take the practice examination found in Appendix A of this course guide. This practice examination is presented in the same format as your final examination. Please note that IDL policy requires that you pass the final examination in order to pass the course, regardless of grades earned on lessons. You are responsible for knowing and abiding by IDL policies and procedures. See your Student Handbook for detailed information.