DTM*3000 Turf Management II

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The following description is for the course offering in Fall 2021 and is subject to change. It is provided for information only. The course outline distributed to the class at the beginning of the semester describes the course content and delivery, and defines the methods and criteria to be used in establishing the final grades for the course.
 

This course emphasizes interactions between turfgrass and its environment and how management impacts turfgrass playability and survival. This course addresses management of turfgrasses in highly managed areas of golf courses, sports fields and lawns. Students learn the principles of plant nutrition and the technologies and methods of proper fertilization. This course specifically addresses rootzone management and remediation of poor rootzones.

Pre-Requisites: DTM*2000, DTM*2100

Restrictions: Restricted to Associate Diploma students in the Turfgrass Management program.

Instructors:

Eric M. Lyons

Teaching Assistant:

Michael Kooy kooym@uoguelph.ca

Credit Weight:

0.50

Course Level:

  • Diploma

Academic Department (or campus):

Department of Plant Agriculture

Campus:

Guelph

Semester Offering:

  • Fall

Class Schedule and Location:

Please refer to WebAdvisor for class schedule and location.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course the student should understand turfgrass management for golf, sports fields, sod production and home lawns, specifically in the area of root zone management.  The course will emphasize fertility, thatch management, and environmental impact of turfgrass management.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Have a firm understanding of how plants, root zones, and management impact ecology and use of managed turfgrass ecosystems
  2. Synthesize knowledge from previous courses about biology, soils, and management into a comprehensive understanding of management plans
  3. Critically analyze new information in the field of turfgrass management within the context of scientific knowledge
  4. Identify the mechanisms of release of different fertilizer technologies and incorporate them into a fertility management program for turfgrass systems
  5. Communicate clearly and concisely regarding management and use of turfgrass ecosystems.

Lecture Content:

Topics to be covered in lectures include:
  • Turfgrasses, soils and basic management
    • Review turfgrass anatomy and species selection
    • Review soils knowledge specific to turfgrass management
    • Review the practices performed to manage turfgrasses
  • Soil testing and fertilizers
    • Goals of fertilization
    • Determining nutrient needs
    • Understanding fertilizer technologies and strategies
  • Management plans and renovations
    • Choosing rootzones and water management
    • Establishment techniques
    • Sports field management
    • Fine turf management
 
Labs & Seminars:

Topics to be covered in labs include:

  • Lab projects
    • Seed germination and thermal time
    • Plant growth regulator trial
  • Lab activities
    • Turfgrass walkabout
    • Synthetic turf maintenance and safety testing
    • Fertilizer Types
    • Turf ID

Course Assignments and Tests:

Assignment or Test Contribution to Final Mark

Article Reviews

10%

Renovation Plan 

5%

Labs and Lab Activities

25%

Midterm 1

15%

Midterm 2

 15%

Final Exam

30%

Final examination:

Please refer to WebAdvisor for exam schedule and location.

Course Resources:

Recommended Texts:

It is highly recommended that the student acquire one of many available textbooks for turfgrass management to use as a resource throughout the course.

Other Resources:

Throughout the semester links to industry articles and online resources will be provided to supplement lecture and lab content. These readings will be accessible through CourseLink.

Field Trips:

When possible the lab section may meet at the GTI or at a local golf course. All of these places are accessible by walking from campus and have accessible parking available. Additional time will be given to get to the outdoor lab space.

Additional Costs:

Students may wish to use a personal hand lens for turfgrass identification.

Course Policies:

Turning In Assignments:

Assignments are to be turned in electronically through CourseLink.  Assignments sent to the instructors @uoguelph.ca account will not be graded unless specifically authorized!  All assignments should be PDF documents and the document will follow the following form for titling:  lastname_firstinitial-review1.doc (Lyons_E-review-1), without opening the document the instructor should be able to identify the student and assignment.

Policy on Late Assignments:

All assignments are due at 5 pm on Friday in the week that they are listed as due in the Course Outline.  For each business day they are late, 20% will be subtracted from the mark earned on the assignment. The deadline of each day is 5pm.

Missed Exams and Activities:

All exams that must be missed for professional development, religious or personal reasons must be scheduled and taken BEFORE the exam time scheduled in the syllabus.  If emergencies or medical reasons arise please contact the instructor BEFORE the exam and the exam may be made up after the exam time with proper documentation.

Course Policy on Group Work:

Students will be asked to work together in the lab section of the course and share data with others in their group and the class.  While collaboration on lab assignments is encouraged students are reminded to turn in their own work.  Each member of the group will turn in a different final product.

Course Policy regarding use of electronic devices and recording of lectures:

In order to facilitate free and open dialog during the course electronic recording of classes is expressly forbidden without consent of the instructor. When recordings are permitted they are solely for the use of the authorized student and may not be reproduced, or transmitted to others, without the express written consent of the instructor.

Other Course Information:

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the course outline throughout the course including but not limited to changing due dates, exam times. Changes will be announced during lecture.

University Policies

Academic Consideration

When you find yourself unable to meet an in-course requirement because of illness or compassionate reasons, please advise the course instructor in writing, with your name, id#, and e-mail contact. See the academic calendar for information on regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration:

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University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of supporting an environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to remain aware that instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection. Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor.

The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the University Calenders:

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For more information, contact CSD at 519-824-4120 ext. 56208 or email sas@uoguelph.ca or visit the Student Accessibility Services website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/csd/.

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