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Precision Management of Turfgrass Using Optical Sensing. Justin Moss Oklahoma State University Soil 4213. Introduction. What is a turfgrass? Why do we care? How can the turfgrass industry benefit from optical sensing technology?. What is Turfgrass?.
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Precision Management of Turfgrass Using Optical Sensing Justin Moss Oklahoma State University Soil 4213
Introduction • What is a turfgrass? • Why do we care? • 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
Prior Research • Fenstermaker-Shaulis, L.K., et al. 1997. 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. 1998. Canopy reflectance as a measure of disease in tall fescue. Crop Sci. 38:1603-1613. • Trenholm, L.E., et al. 1999. Relationship of multispectral radiometry data to qualitative data in turfgrass research. Crop Sci. 39:763-769.
Prior Research • Bell, G.E., et al. 2002. Vehicle-mounted optical sensing: An objective means for evaluating turf quality. Crop Sci. 42:197-201. • Bell, G.E., et al. 2002. Turf area mapping using vehicle-mounted optical sensors. Crop Sci. 42:648-651.
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.