Thoughts about the Case Study- Environmental Madness or Does it Make Dollars and Cents?

We continue to explore other opportunities for success with this study, outside of environmental stewardship.  This is the day and age of saving money at all costs due to a struggling economy, with sports and golf being hit hard.  So add this to the "food for thought" for the week...

The basic fundamentals of turfgrass management are laid out to us early in our careers. Whether it be in an introductory botany class or turf management class, or from our first mentor during on the job training.. the message is always the same... Watering, fertilization, aeration, pest control.

We then are taught how all of these things work together and have a synergistic effect on each other.  Watering is required, but can leach fertilizers.  Aeration is required, but requires more watering and fertilizer.  So on and so forth.  Thus the concepts we are exploring here in this case study are not new discoveries.

With this study, we are attempting to take a deeper look at the relationship between the watering, fertilization, aeration, and pest control... each one in particular to be able to reduce the other 3.  These reductions are in the name of environmental stewardship.

BUT.. now with more thought, they are much more than that!  A friend of mine from the Institute of Groundsmanship in England made a fantastic point this week.  He had the opportunity to work to reduce and actually eliminate pesticide usage as a former groundsman.  But he didn't start the effort with the sole goal of environmental stewardship.  He actually started because he was forced to reduce because of budget constraints.

So we can view this study as 1) forward thinking environmental stewardship, but also 2) creating a more efficient management approach in which each of us as turf managers get "more bang for our buck".

As we continue into the study, we will really begin to illustrate the efficiencies of the relationships between the basics of turf management.  Less fungicide because of a healthier plant is goal #1.  But that healthier plant will be created with the possibility of using less fertilizer because we are focusing more on  what the plant needs, not what we want to give it.  Less water because that healthy plant has deep roots.  Less water equals less disease pressure because of shorter periods of moisture for fungi to thrive.

Interesting thought process added to an already interesting study.  Thank You Ian Lacy!

JM