Sod is an important specialty crop in the northern U.S., representing over $549 million in combined sales from the Northeast, Midwest, Plains, and Northwest regions of the US, and this value is expected to increase. Sod is important for new construction to prevent soil erosion and increase ecosystem services from turfgrass in urban and suburban areas.\u00a0Recent genetic improvements in low-input turfgrass species now provide sod farms new options besides Kentucky bluegrass when selecting what to plant. Since the selection of turfgrasses (either low or high-input) by sod farms ultimately impacts the level of input required by those receiving sod installations (homeowners), decisions made by sod farmers and landscape contractors can have a tremendous impact on the environment and efforts to manage turf sustainably.<\/p>\r\n
Data from collaborative research at Purdue University and University of Minnesota investigating low-input sod production funded by ISDA\/USDA-AMS shows promising results with fine fescue sod production, especially with strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra <\/em>ssp. rubra<\/em>) because of its rhizome system. Results from this sod research also shows us that there is much variability in horizontal spread between genotypes of strong creeping red fescue. This indicates there may be potential differences among cultivars within a fine fescue species or subspecies which we are studying in 2022-2023.<\/p>\r\n Additionally, preliminary results from a The Lawn Institute-funded experiment in 2020 at Purdue University titled \u201cIdentification of Successful Nitrogen Fertilization Establishment Regimes for Fine Fescue Sod Production\u201d is showing that strong creeping red fescue is producing the highest strong strength, slender creeping red fescue (F. rubra <\/em>ssp. littoralis<\/em>) is the next highest, and then Chewings fescue and hard fescue (Festuca brevipila<\/em>) is the lowest sod strength among fine fescues. Preliminary results from this experiment is also demonstrating that plant genetics and not nitrogen fertilization has the greatest impact on sod strength.<\/p>\r\n Our team continues to research how to produce turfgrass sod sustainably in the Midwest.<\/p>\r\n\n\t\t