Watching the grass grow is big business in Arkansas. A team of University of Arkansas (U of A) Division of Agriculture scientists is working to help keep the state’s turf industry, literally and figuratively, in the green.

Five U of A scientists collaborate in turfgrass research and extension programs and have developed one of the finest undergraduate and graduate educational programs in the country, said David Hensley, horticulture department head.

“The production, cultivation and utilization of turfgrass is all or part of many industries in Arkansas and accounts for thousands of jobs and millions of dollars for the state’s economy,” said Mike Richardson, associate professor of horticulture. “The research and extension programs exist to provide science-based support for the ‘green industry,’ and the academic program prepares students for leadership and management roles in the industry.”

Arkansas has 55 turf production firms with gross sales of $24 million, according to Arkansas Horticulture Industry: Economic Impact and Characteristic. Turfgrass is also an essential part of the state’s 243 golf courses and 67 irrigation installation and service firms that contribute a combined $248 million to the economy.

Doug Karcher, associate professor of horticulture, quoting the same Division of Agriculture publication, said, “Sod, landscape and horticultural services employ almost 9,000 Arkansans and contribute industry sales of more than $272 million to the state’s economy.”

The turfgrass industry is also a large part of the lawn and garden equipment and retail floral and garden supply businesses, which contribute a total of almost $930 million and almost 12,000 jobs to the state’s economy, according to the same publication.

“It’s easy to see that the U of A turfgrass program is supporting a huge and important chunk of Arkansas’ economy,” Richardson said.

In addition to Richardson and Karcher, the U of A turfgrass team includes Eugene Milus, professor of plant pathology; John Boyd, extension specialist in crop, soil and environmental sciences; and James Robbins, extension horticulture specialist.

They work on all facets of variety testing, management practices and weed, pest and disease control. For their accomplishments, they were awarded the 2006 John W. White Team Award, one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Division of Agriculture, for their research, education and outreach efforts to improve the turfgrass industry in Arkansas.

“Turfgrass is a little different from other crops,” Richardson said. “Rice, for example is raised for one purpose, to provide food. But turfgrasses are raised for many different purposes: lawns for homes, parks, athletic fields and golf courses. Each use requires unique approaches and presents unique challenges.”

Karcher, for example, is heading up research on the use of soil surfactants to help maintain moisture in putting greens. With the help of graduate students, he is studying commercial products that promise improved water management to see which ones offer the best results for Arkansas growing conditions.

Richardson is testing a new variety of perennial ryegrass that can be seeded over dormant bermudagrass to help keep golf courses and athletic fields green during the winter and spring seasons. The new grass promises to simplify the transition back to bermudagrass when the weather turns warm again.

“Ryegrass is commonly used for this purpose,” Richardson said. “With this new variety, we hope to be able to transition back to bermudagrass without having to use herbicides to kill the ryegrass,” he said.

Richardson said the undergraduate turfgrass program averages between 30 and 40 students each year. “That’s about what the industry can support in and around Arkansas,” he said. “And the graduate program is growing because students seeking advanced degrees in this field are coming to believe the University of Arkansas is the place to be.”