Reference Number: 02-36
Inventors: Jack Fry, Taylor, Randal K. Taylor, Robert E. Wolf, and Richard A.Stuntz
Description:
It is a common practice among golf course superintendents to grow cool-season grasses on golf courses located within the transition zone. Temperature and precipitation vary greatly each season within this zone, and thus year round maintenance of these cool-season grasses is difficult. Specifically, these grasses require large amounts of water and pesticides during the hot summer months. New cold-hardy varieties of warm-season grasses have emerged that provide good turf quality and require significantly less water and pesticides during the summer months than do cool-season grasses. These new varieties make it desirable to switch current cool-season turf to warm-season turf.
Traditionally, this transition requires closing the golf course for over a month while the new grass is established. It is desirable, however, for the course to remain open immediately following seeding of the new varieties in order to maintain a revenue stream during this transition. Unlike traditional methods which disturb the entire turf surface, the Minimal Disturbance (MinD) Seeder applies warm-season seeds to small strips created in the soil. The MinD only disturbs the turf surface area in narrow rows and thus allows for golf play to continue after the seeder has been used. The warm-season grasses applied (usually Zoysia or Bermuda) are capable of growing laterally and therefore eventually overgrow the existing cool-season turf without necessary shutdown of the course.
Patent Status
Kansas State University Research Foundation seeks to have discussions with companies that are interested in licensing and/or research collaborations.
Interested parties should contact:
Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization (KSU-IC)
2005 Research Park Circle Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel: 785-532-3900 Fax: 785-532-3909
E-Mail: ic@k-state.edu