Training & Development
The BSc (Hons) course in Sportsturf Science and Management (formally called Turfgrass Science), delivered by Myerscough College, is the highest taught academic qualification directly relevant to groundsmen and greenkeepers that can be achieved in the UK at the moment. The course provides the natural progression for students who have previously completed a Foundation Degree or a HND in a related subject; it can be studied as a full-time in-college one year top- up course, or studied as a two year distance-learning course delivered entirely on-line.
Dr Andy Owen is the tutor for the BSc course and delivers two of the modules, and is rightly proud of what successful students achieve. “The college has been running this course for a number of years now and the graduates have proved, time and time again, that they are the innovators and industry leaders of the future.”
The college and staff have worked hard to develop a course intended to stretch students academically and also to help to develop them into first class industry professionals.
The highlight of the course is the double module research dissertation, a student led research project during which the student has to conceive, design, implement, manage, analyse and write up their own experimental study.
It is a large undertaking but, over the years, the students have produced some really interesting pieces of work looking at subjects as diverse as: The greenkeeper’s approaches to sustainability; Compost teas; The value of foliar vs soil testing; Deficit irrigation and root extension; The use of plant growth regulators in shaded conditions’; PVA glues and cricket loam shrinkage and binding strength; The disturbance theory’ and many more.
Three such projects are briefly summarised here.
Myerscough College
Realising Research Potential
Do applications of ferrous sulphate reduce the incidence of Michrodocium nivale? (Student: J Oostendorp)
We are all aware of the threat to fine turf quality from fungal diseases such as Michrodocium spp and, whilst chemical controls exist and are very effective, an integrated approach to their management is preferable. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that applications of ferrous sulphate can help to combat the disease and act as a mild fungicide, with two broad modes of action being suggested; the acidifying of the soil surface and the ‘hardening’ of the leaf. An Honours project was designed to test this theory and try to produce rigorous data that would either support or refute these claims.
A field study was designed, incorporating twenty-seven randomised and replicated 4m x 4m plots on three golf course greens, over thirty weeks from August to March. The greens were similar in construction, grass species composition, and rootzone pH. Six treatment
applications of soluble ferrous sulphate at a rate of 10 kg/ha were compared with six industry standard applications of contact and systemic fungicide, and compared with control plots where no applications were made. A number of factors, including disease occurrence, were assessed throughout the trial.
Results indicated that outbreaks of Michrodocium nivale were significantly reduced following applications of soluble ferrous sulphate when compared with the control plots, but were not prevented completely. The standard industry practice, utilising fungicide application, reduced outbreaks to effectively zero.
The study shows that ferrous sulphate reduced disease outbreak and could potentially be used as part of an integrated disease management programme during periods of high disease pressure. This potentially could reduce budget expenditure on fungicides.
Playing quality measures for 20 golf courses
20.58
6.52 0.65
Replicated ferrous sulphate treatments on golf green 128 PC JUNE/JULY 2013
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