Computer-assisted evaluation of nationally collected turfgrass cultivar performance data

Voigt, Thomas Bruce

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/23841 Copy

Description

Title

Computer-assisted evaluation of nationally collected turfgrass cultivar performance data

Author(s)

Voigt, Thomas Bruce

Issue Date

1995

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Fermanian, Thomas W.

Department of Study

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Agriculture, Plant Culture
• Computer Science

Discipline

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Agriculture, Plant Culture
• Computer Science

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Agriculture, Plant Culture
• Computer Science

Language

eng

Abstract

• The research in this thesis is made up of three related studies, each concerned with improving turfgrass cultivar recommendations to end users and with matching turfgrass cultivars with the management and environmental conditions that best suit them.
• In the first study, a survey was sent to more than 300 turfgrass scientists, specialists, and teachers to answer several questions relating to turfgrass species and cultivar recommendations. Survey responses determined that experienced employees of seed producers and land grant universities, frequently breeders and extension specialists respectively, were significantly more responsible for making turfgrass species and cultivar recommendations than were other responding groups. Also, it was determined that these same employees were most responsible for making written turfgrass species and cultivar recommendations. Employees of seed producers often revised their recommendations annually, while employees of land grant universities normally revised their recommendations on a schedule of every two, three, or more years. Finally, employees of seed producers felt more confident in their turfgrass species and cultivar recommendations than did employees in other groups. It was also determined that survey respondents strongly agreed that using turfgrass species or cultivars appropriate to a site, use, and management level can reduce pesticide, water, and fertilizer inputs, and that they would use additional information about turfgrass species and cultivars if it were available.
• In the second study, protocol for using computer modeling to find relationships among turfgrass cultivar performance and the environments was developed and used to analyze performance data for 20 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars collected at 28 U.S. locations over a nine-year period. This analysis found relationships among cultivar performance and the environments and management conditions in which the cultivars were grown. This analysis found several relationships of interest. For example, computer analysis of this data found that 'Mystic' Kentucky bluegrass performed in the top group of evaluated bluegrasses when grown in acidic soils with low-to-moderate levels of phosphorus. These evaluations require further confirmation, but the analysis may be useful in guiding future field research.
• In the third study, results of computer modeling were compared with turfgrass expert knowledge to ascertain the usefulness of the computer output. First, there appeared to be a high degree of consistency among survey respondents. In general, respondent recommendations of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for use in six different growing settings were in agreement. In addition, there was a high level of agreement among respondent perception of which management and environmental parameters may most influence Kentucky bluegrass cultivar performance. In general, respondents believed mowing height, irrigation, and nitrogen fertility levels had the most influence on all cultivars in the survey. Finally, there was generally little agreement between respondents and the computer-derived output. Computer output identified obscure relationships, while respondents often identified more obvious relationships such as mowing height, irrigation, and nitrogen fertility levels.

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23841

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1995 Voigt, Thomas Bruce

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