Bulletin (PDF 18.3 MB) - City of Armadale

Information BulletinInformation Items from the Technical Services DirectorateT29THE UN IVERSITY OFWESTERN AUSTRALIAUWA Turf Research NewsletterNumber 4 Volume 8 November 201 0WelcomeThe UWA Turf Industries Steering Committee, andassociated sub-committees, have met on a numberof occasions since the last newsletter. Discussionshave focussed on this summer's experiments on SoftLeaf Buffalo Renovation and the Inffuence of MowingHeight on Water Use, and on the development of anew project proposal investigating manag ingturfgrass on a lim ited water allocation.Volunteers & In-kind ContributorsEvery year a number of individuals and businessesvolunteer their time and services to the UWA TurfResearch Programme. These contributions areinvaluable as it ensures that our research remainsrelevant to the Turf Industry, and decreases ouroperating costs .In 2010 the UWA Turf Industries ResearchSteering Committee, and associated subcommittees,have contributed over 200 hours to theresearch programme. Committee members identifyresearch needs, as well as help develop andimplement successful research proposals. Membersalso assist with the site and irrigator maintenance,and provide agronomic advice. The UWA ResearchProgramme would not exist without our dedicatedgroup of committee members.Maintaining irrigators and mowers can be achallengi ng proposition , as many of you are aware.We thank Green acres Tu rf Farm for advising onirrigator maintenance; MEY Equipment for servicingour cylinder mower and Mow Master for servicingou r hig h-cut mower. We also thank CSBP Ltd forcontinuing to provide Turf Special fertiliser.Managing Water-Repellency in Turfgrass:Project UpdateRena Matsuda has completed the soil waterrepellency measurements in a very timely manner.All soil and plant samples collected during the projecthave been analysed and the final report forHorticultural Australia L d (HAL) and Industry cannow be prepared. The eport will be submitted toHAL in March 2011 . Once the report is approved byHAL copies will be distributed to our IndustryPartners. Key findings from the research project willalso be presented to Industry Partners at a freeseminar in f 011 .Soft-leaf Buffalo: Project UpdateThree experiments are being conducted this summer:(i) responses of 12 soft-leaf buffalo genotypes (eithernot renovated , verti-mown and top dressed, or hardrotary mown to remove thatch) to one-day-a-weekwatering ; (ii) responses of kikuyu , soft-leaf buffalo,couch and zoysia, to one-day-a-week watering ; (iii)infiuence of mowing height on water use (secondsummer of treatments and measurements). TimHiggott is working as our Research Officer on th isproject and he is doing a great job.IIndustry volunteers renovating soft-leaf buffalo plotsApprentices have assisted with the planting andmaintenance of the turfgrass plots during the lastdecade of our research programme. Manyapprentices have been provided by WA Golf Coursesand Local Government. We thank City of Perth forproviding two apprentices in 2010.Managing Turfgrass on