Choosing the right grass (Thailand)

Discusses the grasses that will produce the optimum playing conditions with a minimum of inputs. Presented in Bangkok at The R&A Seminar on Sustainable Golf Course Design, Renovation, and Maintenance in Asia

Transcript

1. Choosing the right grass Micah Woods Chief Scientist | Asian Turfgrass Center www.asianturfgrass.com The R&A Seminar on Sustainable Golf Course Design, Renovation, and Maintenance in Asia March 2016
2. What grass gives optimum conditions with a minimum of inputs? fine fescue Scotland
3. It depends on location • Cool-season grass: mean annual temperature < 14° • Warm-season grass: mean annual temperature > 20° • Transition zone: mean annual temperature from 14 to 20°. Warm- season or cool-season grasses can grow. Warm-season usually have lower inputs.
5. First planted to cool-season grass creeping bentgrass Shanghai, 1999
6. Later changed to warm-season grass paspalum/ryegrass Shanghai, 2014
7. If cool-season grasses are used . • The species likely to give the best conditions with the lowest inputs in East Asia are creeping bentgrass (for tee, fairway, green) and tall fescue or fine fescue in higher cut areas.
8. It also depends on water • What is the irrigation requirement? • [ET minus effective precipitation] adjusted for irrigated area, DU, and water source • What is the quantity of water available? • What is the quality of the water available?
10. Wiecko, 2000 Bermudagrass does not perform well as a managed turfgrass in East and Southeast Asia.
11. manilagrass fairway Philippines This used to be a bermudagrass fairway. Not anymore. The transition happened naturally.
12. Seashore paspalum fairway Ko Samui January 2004
13. Seashore paspalum fairway Ko Samui January 2004
14. 75% bermudagrass, 25% seashore paspalum Ko Samui September 2005
15. 90% bermudagrass, 10% zoysiagrass Ko Samui November 2015
16. Removing bermudagrass from seashore paspalum Hanoi
17. South-facing slopes, bermuda & seashore paspalum ATC research facility January 2007
18. Bermudagrass February 2007
19. Seashore paspalum February 2007
20. Seashore paspalum replaced by bermuda April 2007
22. We grew 419 bermudagrass, Salam seashore paspalum, & manilagrass Zoysia matrella Thailand
23. These are the grasses during the fourth week of the experiment in December 2013. simulated fairway turf Thailand
24. Zoysia matrella was 22% more efficient in water use and 25% more efficient in N use. It does not require as much water or nitrogen to produce a dense sward. measuring water use Thailand
26. Kawana: no sprinkler system, zoysia tees, fairways, greens, rough. Z. matrella & Z. japonica Japan
27. Royal Hua Hin: native grasses, excellent ground contours and playing condition mix of native grasses Thailand
28. Native grass at Royal Hua Hin mix of native grasses Thailand
29. Tree shade is pleasant on a tropical golf course; what other grass is so versatile? tropical carpetgrass Thailand
30. Tolerant of heat, sun, shade, few diseases or insect or weed problems tropical carpetgrass Singapore
31. Zoysia matrella in sun, tropical carpetgrass in shade Zoysia matrella & carpetgrass Singapore
32. Excellent playing conditions with minimal inputs Zoysia & carpetgrass Hong Kong