Producing 'greener' high-value sports turf through soil microbial management
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
The overall aim is to reduce the reliance of turf on pesticides and fertilizers and to create 'greener', sustainable high quality turf in the UK. Our main objective is to determine the optimum management methods for soil microbes in sports turf. We will sample sports turf soils, extract the beneficial microbes and culture them in the CASE partner's laboratory.
We will then examine how these can be formulated to be applied to sports turf, so as to improve turf condition.
There are 4 linked work packages, which aim to answer the following questions:
1. Is the soil microbial community compromised by the intensive management regime on sports turf?
Sampling a range of sports turf soils will enable us too characterise the communities of microbes that can live there.
2. Does the addition fungicides and fertilizers reduce populations of mycorrhizal fungi?
We have to identify the microbes that can exist with pesticide application so the two can be integrated.
3. Is the soil microbial community resource-limited?
Adding carbon to the soilwill feed the microbes and possibly overcome the limitation due to mowing.
4. How can mycorrhizas and soil bacteria be added to turf in a sustainable manner?
A series of field trials will try to identify appropriate microbes that could be formulated into a commercial product.
We will then examine how these can be formulated to be applied to sports turf, so as to improve turf condition.
There are 4 linked work packages, which aim to answer the following questions:
1. Is the soil microbial community compromised by the intensive management regime on sports turf?
Sampling a range of sports turf soils will enable us too characterise the communities of microbes that can live there.
2. Does the addition fungicides and fertilizers reduce populations of mycorrhizal fungi?
We have to identify the microbes that can exist with pesticide application so the two can be integrated.
3. Is the soil microbial community resource-limited?
Adding carbon to the soilwill feed the microbes and possibly overcome the limitation due to mowing.
4. How can mycorrhizas and soil bacteria be added to turf in a sustainable manner?
A series of field trials will try to identify appropriate microbes that could be formulated into a commercial product.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alan Gange (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Francesca Baylis (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M016005/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 | |||
| 1661526 | Studentship | BB/M016005/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 | Francesca Baylis |
| Description | At the end of the award I have profiled the microbial communities in a range of golf courses and identified some of the species which can withstand those environments. I have found that that the addition of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and mycorrhiza have different effects depending on the grass species they are applied to. However I have discovered that while microbial inoculants may not always affect plant size they can have dramatic effects on plant size variability. This means that they can make the sward more uniform - a critical feature in fine turf surfaces. I have also tested mycorrhiza against a range of cultural practises, the most interesting results coming from garlic treatments used for nematodes which were found to reduce mycorrhizal colonisation. Final work has shown that mycorrhiza have the potential to reduce biomass of the major weed of turf, Poa annua, and to also reduce fertiliser requirements and to aid drought tolerance. I have therefore identified several ways in which soil microbes may be beneficial for turf, and how they can be combined with conventional pesticides in future Integrated Management Programmes. |
| Exploitation Route | From feedback at my presentations to BTME and GCSAI it is clear that a new microbial approach to turf management can be developed and I detected a lot of interest among green keepers and groundsmen to implement this approach in the future. This will be particularly important given the removal of many turfgrass pesticides from sale in the EU market in 2018/19 (eg. iprodione). |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | Impact is still being realised and will be ongoing as we continue to disseminate the results. There has been an impact in the alteration of management practises and a greater understanding among greenskeepers. In particular the integration of microbial methods of turf management and with the existing chemical regime. My aim is not to replace synthetic chemicals but to integrate biological products with reduced chemical inputs which should be a feasible proposition in the next 10 years. To help change perspectives and encourage greenkeepers to consider a more microbial approach we have been presenting at industry conferences (eg BTME and GCSAI) to engage with attendees. This impact is continuing to improve with an even greater attendance of this years presentation at BTME with people standing at the back and several golf courses reporting trying microbial products as a result of our research. There have also been three tailored inoculants produced for the sports turf industry based upon the results of this project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | BIGGA BTME seminar given |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented a seminar at BIGGA BTME on my research so far. Attended in the first year by 50 people and the second year by 80 people, third year we had people standing at the back of the largest seminar room there, with the video available online for BIGGA members. This has been invaluable in encouraging greenkeepers to get involved in my trials and to then email to ask questions or come and talk to us after the event. 2020 was one of the most successful years yet, presenting the key findings from my thesis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | GCSAI seminars in Ireland (Dublin and Cork) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Two seminars conducted over two days, one in Dublin and one in Cork. Each audience was around 50 people. There were a lot of questions and people seemed to be engaged with the research. Then another seminar completed in 2018 to an audience of 90 people to give a different perspective on golf course management. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | Greenskeeper International Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | My supervisor and I co-authored a magazine article on microbial ecology for sports turf which was published in Greenskeeper International magazine. It has an international readership of 14500 people. We did this to try and start to educate greenskeepers about the broad area of my PhD research to raise interest. We received a few emails from interested parties after its publication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Participated in a podcast for BIGGA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Participated in a podcast talking about microbial products and how best to apply them. It hasn't been released yet but was recorded in January for release this year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poster and lightning talk at Ecology Across Borders Conference in Ghent |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Conference co-organised by the British Ecological Society. Presented a poster and lightning talk which encouraged a range of academics to come and talk to me about my research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Postgraduate symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I presented a 10 minute talk in 2016 and a poster in 2016. In 2016 I also organised the whole event by myself for all of the postgraduates in the department to enable everyone to showcase their research. I am also organising the symposium for 2018. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Presentation at the Amenity Forum on 9th October 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk on the future of microbial inoculants at the amenity forum, which had reach to local councils, water companies, pesticide companies, landscapers and other members of the amenity sector. I had an excellent reception from practitioners and received a lot of enquiries after as to how to reduce pesticide input in line with microbial products. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation to European Turfgrass Society conference in July 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented to the European Turgrass society and submitted a published extended abstract. Audience was a mix of academics and industry. Had some excellent discussions of methods and potential collaboration for the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Science Open Day and Royal Holloway |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Presented posters in the "Fun Guys" Section of the Royal Holloway Science Day aimed at primary school children. Explained the different uses of Fungi in Industry as well as explaining the impact of fungi on plants and animals. The outcome was increasing knowledge on fungi for children. We also received an email from a happy parent who said their child had really enjoyed it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2018 |