Considerations with selecting turfgrass varieties and cultivars

Abstract

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) conducts trials of turfgrass species across the USA and Canada. NTEP data collected since 1981 is publicly available at www.ntep.org. Data is collected on more than 100 parameters including key factors in sustainable turfgrass selection. Selection of turfgrasses with traits such as improved disease resistance, drought tolerance, persistence under poor soil conditions or low quality irrigation and fast establishment are shown to protect the environment, improve athlete safety, reduce inputs, thus improving sustainability. To improve access to sustainable turfgrass data, NTEP and the University of Minnesota have developed a relational database along with a user-friendly selection tool, the Turfgrass Trial Explorer. This tool is accessed at www.ntep.org/database.htm, which allows for additional selection, sorting, analyzing and downloading of NTEP data. Case studies are presented to demonstrate current and future use of the Turfgrass Trial Explorer for sustainable turfgrass selection.