Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

Vehicular and foot traffic on turfgrass fields is an important issue for golf courses and recreational areas. Traffic stress is antagonized under dry soil conditions associated with water conservation and fast-and-firm playing conditions. A research site was developed to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation and traffic on turfgrass performance of multiple genotypes. A radial gradient irrigation system (RaGIS) has been designed using a mini-center pivot concept. The RaGIS was equipped with two arms: (1) the first arm uses the increasing circumference of the pivot to intentionally create a gradient of irrigation depth ranging from well-watered to severe deficit irrigation regimes, (2) the second arm simulates cart-traffic by rotating radially along the irrigation gradient. The trafficker boom will be mounted with normalized difference vegetation index sensors (NDVI) and infrared thermometers to monitor plant stress response to deficit irrigation. To design the RaGIS, three engineering software have used (1) AutoCAD to draft reports, (2) Solidworks to design mechanisms and (3) plant design management system (PDMS) to design piping systems. The system is to be installed in Winter 2017-18 for initial testing in Spring 2018. This project will be used as an input for future research projects and development of deficit irrigation programs and turfgrass under traffic stress.