Texas is a major urban state with nearly 88 percent of Texans living in 25 federally designated urban areas. Houston, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, and San Antonio rank among the 12 most populated regions of the United States. Turfgrasses serve many functions in urban and suburban landscapes.
Primary roles of turfgrass are soil stabilization, water conservation, and filtration of air and water borne pollutants. Actively growing turf is highly effective in control of environmental pollution, such as the suppression of dust, glare, and noise, and in heat dissipation, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the United States. Healthy growing turfgrasses act as biological filters and remove atmospheric pollutants. In addition to the positive benefits to the environment, turfgrasses play an important agronomic role in Texas.
The turfgrass industry contributes an estimated $6 billion annually to the economy of Texas and ranks as the number one valued agricultural crop in the state. The economic contribution from new parks, sports fields, golf courses, commercial lawns, cemeteries, airport and industrial grounds, and highway roadsides also contribute significantly to the economy of the Texas turfgrass industry. The scope of the turfgrass industry provides substantial and continuing employment opportunities for the citizens of Texas.
Faculty/Staff
- Ambika Chandra, Professor, turfgrass breeding and molecular genetics, Dallas, TX
- Chrissie Segars, Assistant Professor, Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Dallas
- Chase Straw, Assistant Professor, turfgrass science, College Station, TX
- Ben Wherley, Associate Professor, turfgrass science and ecology, College Station, TX
Research Interests
The Texas A&M University System has helped turfgrass managers, landscapers, sod producers, and the general public solve turfgrass related problems for many years. Through a network of research, extension, and teaching programs, Texas A&M has provided solutions based on sound research, extensive outreach educational programs,and assistance through statewide and county extension activities.
Research efforts strive to integrate urban landscape systems to enhance quality of life, develop improved technologies for the management of weeds, diseases, insects, and other important pests, develop turf systems to reduce impact of environmental pollutants, and develop landscape management systems that conserve natural resources. These research priorities are addressed through strong interdisciplinary cooperation in agronomy, breeding and genetics, plant physiology, entomology, pathology, weed science, and soil science, plant nutrition, and water quality.
<!–Turfgrass Research, Education and Extension Endowment (TREEE) Funded Projects and Summaries
2014 Awards
- Texas Turfgrass Research, Teaching and Extension Endowment Undergraduate Scholarship
- Growth Suppression of Creeping bentgrass Putting Greens Using Combination Plant Growth Regulators
- Evaluating Winter Overseeding vs. Painting of Bermudagrass Under Municipal Water Restrictions and Traffic
- The Effects of Various Aeration Practices and Soil Amendments on Soil Moisture
- Aggie Turf Website Re-design and Update
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Yearly TREEE Summaries
- 2013-14 TTREE Proposals
- 2012 TTREE Summaries
- 2011 Yearly TREEE Summary
- 2010 Yearly TREEE Summary
- 2009 Yearly TREEE Summary
- 2008 Yearly TREEE Summary
- 2007 Yearly TREEE Summary
- 2006 Yearly TREEE Summary
Related Sites of Interest