TURFBLIGHT: An interactive turfgrass management model for teaching

ABSTRACTTurfgrass management is a discipline that requires students to become problem solvers in both the agronomic and pest areas. Conventional teaching methods provide important information on factors that are critical for successfully maintaining turfgrass. However, students lacking field experience do not fully understand how these factors interact. Computer‐simulated models provide a means for students to face the complexities of real‐world situations and experience problem solving. TURFBLIGHT is a computer‐simulated turfgrass management model that is adapted for use on personal computers. The model assumes a turf area of 5.1 ha composed of a 50:50 mixture of annual bluegrass (Poa annua var. reptans) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.). The user attempts to maintain healthy turfgrass by (i) providing adequate moisture through irrigation to prevent drought stress, and (ii) preventing two diseases, anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) and pythium (Pythium spp.). TURFBLIGHT has seven major submodels: the plant, moisture, weather, fungicide, N degradation, and two disease models. Interactive capabilities allow the user to propose a budget and manage on a daily basis for a 153‐d season. Thirty‐one turfgrass students evaluated the model. Proposed budget costs were higher than actual costs calculated in the simulation.