SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/445133
AcAdemy SeSSionS 54 2015 STMA Conference Guide www.stma.org Take Advantage of the Third Year of the STMA Academy! Pre Conference Workshops Members asked for high level education and the Academy delivers it. Academy sessions: • Offer high level learning opportunities • Result in a Certificate of Completion • Are included in the full conference registration price Tuesday, Jan. 14 2:30 - 5 pm - Choose One STMA 400 - The Nuts and Bolts of Applied Nutrient Management Speakers: Bryan G. Hopkins, Ph.D., Jim Gish, CSFM, and Jessica Buss This presentation is a hands-on case study approach to nutrition. Par- ticipants will learn to take soil and plant tissue samples and other field measurements. They will then learn how to use the data to build cus- tom fertilizer recommendations and troubleshoot problems. Discus- sion of pros and cons of a wide variety of fertilizer sources will also be discussed. STMA 401 - Turf and Weedy Grass ID Speakers: Tony Koski, Ph.D. and Alison O'Connor, Ph.D. Attendees will learn how to identify turf and weedy grasses (live sam- ples will be utilized) using botanical characteristics and grass ID keys. The importance of proper ID of both turf species and weedy grasses growing in turf areas will be stressed. Proper turf management and weed control cannot be practiced unless grass and weed species are accurately identified. STMA 402 - Bermudagrass Culture and Disease Management in the Upper Transition Zone Speakers: Lee Miller, Ph.D. and Brad S. Fresenburg, Ph.D. New, more cold-tolerant cultivars have pushed the border of ber- mudagrass management farther north into the upper transition zone. While bermudagrass provides superior agronomic benefits such as wear recovery and stress tolerance, there are also some manage- ment differences from cool-season grasses that must be consid- ered. The workshop will center on the emphasis areas of nitrogen fertility (rate and timing), aerification and thatch management, and spring dead spot control. STMA 403 - Soils 210 Speaker: Barry Stewart, Ph.D. This course will cover physical, chemical, and biological soil proper- ties. Topics will include soil texture, structure, drainage, pH, cation ex- change capacity, soil organic matter, soil organisms, soil fertility, and soil testing. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how soil properties affect turfgrass management strategies. STMA 404 - ET, Irrigation Efficiency, Water Management, and Conservation Speaker: Brent Mecham This session will look at the relationship between plants, soils, and water and what tools are available to increase water use efficiency and document conservation efforts while maintaining a high-quality sports field. A detailed look at ET data and how it can be modified to meet the specific needs of your site will be covered and how it can be used to manage water usage.