Department of Plant Sciences
Course 375- Turfgrass Management
Fall Semester 2008

Ron Smith, 166H Loftsgard Hall

Phone: 231-7123; Fax: 231-8474
E-mail: ronald.smith@ndsu.edu
Text: Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management - Christians (3rd Edition)

Course Objectives:

1. To develop an introductory competency in the basics of:

* Cool season turf weed, insect and disease ID and control
* Identification of common warm-season grasses
* Home lawn establishment and care; water conservation practices
* Athletic field and golf course management and care

2. To highlight problems in accordance to turf establishment and care in reference to:

* Climate and geography
* Species and cultivar selection
* Soils
* Pesticide use
* IPM
* Basic mathematics of turfgrass maintenance

3. Passing students will be able to identify the common grasses used in our climatic region; prescribe specific treatments for lawn and turf problems, and outline the establishment, care, and renovation for various turfgrass situations.

Course Description:

Classroom lectures supplemented with videos, slides, overheads, demonstrations, and labs; guest speakers, handouts, and outside class assignments. Students will be expected to keep up with text readings that will follow along with the lectures. Material for quizzes and exams will be pulled from the above sources.

Power Point Presentation:

A Power Point presentation appropriate to the subjects covered in the class will be due, beginning on Tuesday, November 18th. The PP should be of a scientific nature dealing with turfgrass, and be no longer than 12 minutes in duration, and contain cited references. Clear the subject matter of the PP with me before developing. A final grade of “I” will be given if no PP is presented in class. Presentations will continue in subsequent classes until completed.

Exams/Quizzes:

5 quizzes scheduled, more a strong possibility. First exam on Thursday, October 2nd. Students maintaining an "A" average will not be required to take the final.

Tentative Lecture Schedule
Tuesday August 26 Introduction - TG Industry, slides (1)
Thursday 28 Introduction to grasses (2)
Weekly Lab Cool season grass ID
Tuesday September 2 Conclude intro to grasses
Thursday 4 Cool season grasses (3)
Weekly Lab Q#1 - Outdoors
Tuesday 9 Conclude cool season grasses (3)
Thursday 11 Identifying common turf weeds (12)
Weekly Lab Outdoors - More ID, weeds (12)
Tuesday   16

Methods of weed control (12)

Thursday 18 Turfgrass Establishment Methods (5)
Weekly Lab Q#2 - Outdoors, WP
Tuesday 23 Turfgrass establishment methods (5)
Thursday 25 Turf. Est. (5)/Turf Irrigation (9)
Weekly Lab Begin irrigation design/water use project (9)
Tuesday 30 Turfgrass est., review for exam #1 (5)
Thursday October 2 Exam #1
Weekly Lab Sampling soil; analysis (6) Pg. 120
Tuesday 7 Soil testing & amendments (6)
Thursday 9 Soils, fertility, etc. continued (6)
Weekly Lab   Irrigation/water use project
Tuesday   14 Fertilizer calculations, etc. (7)
Thursday 16 Fertilizer calculations, etc. (7)
Weekly Lab Irrigation/water project - Quiz 3
Tuesday 21 Mowing (8)
Thursday 23 Mowing
Weekly Lab 1st Irrigation design; soil test interpretations
Tuesday 28 Thatch, coring, power-raking, (10)
Thursday 30 Exam #2
Weekly Lab Irrigation project 2
Tuesday November 4 Thatch, cultivation, etc. (10)
Thursday 6 Turf Insects (2)
Weekly Lab Work on 2nd Irrigation project
Tuesday 11 Veteran's Day Holiday -
Thursday   13 Turf Insect Control methods - Endophyte grasses (12) Disease (13)
Weekly Lab Irrigation project 2
Tuesday 18 Turf Diseases (13)
Thursday 20 Fungicide use; cultural practices (13)
Weekly Lab Turn in Irrigation Project 2
Tuesday 25 Quiz #5 - Insects/Diseases (12) & (13)
Thursday 27 Thanksgiving Holiday
Weekly Lab    
Tuesday December 2 Sports Field Management (14)
Thursday 4 Sports Field Management
Weekly Lab TBA
Tuesday 9 PLC & GC use of chemicals/fertilizers
Thursday 11 Wrap-up last day of classes
Weekly Lab Open.......
Finals Week 12/15 - 12/19   TBA

Grades:

Quizzes and exams: 25%, lowest score dropped on quizzes
Lab: Participation and irrigation project - 30%
Power Point Project Presentation: 10%

Final: 35%

Americans with Disabilities Act or Students with Special Needs

Any students requiring special needs such as particular seating, seeing, or hearing, or otherwise needing special accommodations in this course, should notify me at your earliest convenience.
Academic Honesty Statement:
All work in this course must be done in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct