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Posted 8 January 2012. Applied Turfgrass Science. Book Addresses Salinity Management of Turfgrass Sites Source: CRC Press. www.CRCPress.com Griffin, Georgia (January 4, 2012)--When a turfgrass site is repeatedly irrigated with saline irrigation water, salinity management is the most complex abiotic stress management issue that the turfgrass manager will confront. A book written by Dr. Robert N. Carrow (Professor, University of Georgia) and Dr. Ron R. Duncan (formerly of UGA-retired Professor, private consultant) provides in-depth management advice for turfgrass managers of saline and sodic soils. In the 464 page book published September, 2011, “Best Management Practices for Saline and Sodic Turfgrass Soils: Assessment and Reclamation” the authors apply the BMPs concept to salinity management. The BMP approach is considered the gold-standard management model for any individual environmental issue since it is a whole ecosystem (holistic) and science-based plan that allows all possible management options to be considered and implemented on a site-specific basis. Features of this book include: • Provides BMPs addressing both proactive site assessment (initial and on-going monitoring) and specific individual site management programs that can be implemented for each type of the multiple saline and sodic problems affecting sustainable turfgrass performance. • Identifies all possible BMP strategies with both the scientific principles and practical management strategies discussed. Strategies include: turfgrass and landscape plant selection; irrigation system design; irrigation scheduling and salinity leaching; specific chemical, physical, and biological amendments; cultivation; topdressing; soil modification; sand-capping; surface and subsurface drainage options; nutritional practices; additional cultural practices (PGRs, biotic and abiotic stresses, traffic stresses); and on-going proactive monitoring. • Includes the role and use of field and laboratory analytical methods for intensive site assessment approaches for both plant performance and whole ecosystem assessment in relation to environmental issues such as soil quality/sustainability, salt disposal, total soluble salts and specific salt ion migration patterns, and potential to affect surface and ground waters. • Since plant and soil nutrient and element deficiencies, imbalances, and toxicities are an integral part of salinity stresses, this book contains detailed information that is specific to turfgrass soil testing (routine and salt package tests), water quality, and plant analyses as well as report interpretation of each of these potential management tools. • Presents emerging challenges, technology, and concepts including: integration of salinity management into comprehensive site environmental or sustainable management systems; use of halophytic turfgrasses for non-traditional purposes (land reclamation, saline forages, drainage-water reuse schemes); integration of geospatial and geostatistical concepts and technology; intensive spatial mapping using the precision turfgrass management concept similar to precision agriculture; and integration of new salinity sensor technology into daily management paradigms. The foundational principles used by the authors in development of this book were: a) to incorporate both scientific and practical management recommendations (practicum). Basic scientific principles are necessary to understand specific salinity challenges and to comprehend the logic behind each practical BMP strategy for salinity management; b) to compile in one-source all the information required to identify (holistic assessment) and manage the diverse types of salinity stresses; and c) to use a “field problem” approach. There is not “one” salinity issue but a number of interactive salinity problems, with each salt-affected site encompassing a unique mixture of these multiple challenges. Many times, soil chemical and physical academic courses are not taught from a field problem perspective; but real-world salinity issues that occur on a specific site require a ‘field problem thought process’ that is multi-dimensional in scope. Color pictures inserted in the center portion of this book will aid in visualizing salt accumulation field problems and their symptoms. The book is developed so that a student, turfgrass manager, or consultant can obtain a basic understanding of salinity issues in Section I (Chapter 1-3). In Section II (Chapters 4-7), the focus is on site-assessment to obtain the basic knowledge for making informed BMP decisions. Site assessment topics include soil testing, water quality testing, plant analysis, and assessment methods for salt movement, additions, and retention. In Section III (Chapters 9-18), individual BMPs strategies are presented. Environmental stewardship and sustainability are presented in Section IV (Chapter 19), while nontraditional use of halophytic turfgrasses for land reclamation or forage on salt-affected sites is the focus of Chapter 20. Contacts: Robert N. Carrow Ronny R. Duncan |