Date of Completion
9-11-2017
Embargo Period
3-10-2018
Keywords
turfgrass, pesticide-free, organic, fertilizer, extension, pesticide ban
Major Advisor
Jason Henderson
Associate Advisor
Karl Guillard
Associate Advisor
Thomas Morris
Associate Advisor
Victoria Wallace
Field of Study
Plant Science
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Open Access
Open Access
Abstract
Pesticide and fertilizer usage throughout the United States is coming under increased scrutiny from both the public and scientific communities due to potential negative environmental impacts and perceived health concerns. The three studies presented here focus on evaluating different management plans for home lawns and athletic fields, while also providing improved dissemination of information to athletic field managers. Results of the athletic field and home lawn management plan study indicate that pesticide treatments outperformed non-pesticide treatments across most measures. However, if a non-pesticide plan is desired then the high input organic or high input pesticide-free plan would be preferred over the low input organic or low input pesticide-free plan. Results for the fertility study indicate that a fertilization rate of as low as 5 g N m-2 provided statistically equivalent results across some color/quality measures, though exact rate would be highly dependent on the turfgrass manager’s goal and what time of year a high quality, dark green turfgrass was desired. Finally, the information dissemination study indicated that the large group setting performed better than the small group setting, most likely due to the structure of the small group meeting. Small group attendees had more flexibility to discuss issues that affected them directly. There was less flexibility for large group attendees to deviate outside the main subject matter being presented. However, the value of the small group meeting should not be discounted when specific information is needed. Large group meeting would be preferred when more general information is need by managers.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Julie, "No-Pesticide, Conventional, and Nitrogen Management Strategies for Lawns and Athletic Fields in Southern New England" (2017). Doctoral Dissertations. 1547.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/1547