International Turf Producers Foundation (ITPF) has announced it will fund nine new and continuing general turf and water research projects with the overall goal of improving the turfgrass sod production industry and environment. ITPF will contribute over $82,000 to the following research projects:

• Estimating soil carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems from natural carbon isotopic signatures, Yailing Qian, Colorado State University
• Composted biosolids add value through water and nutrient conservation and carbon sequestration, D.M. Vietor, Texas A&M University
• Comparison of thermal properties, water use, and environmental impact of natural and artificial turf, Deying Li, North Dakota University
• Development of insect resistance in St. Augustine and other turfgrasses – emphasis on southern chinch bug, tropical sod webworm and fall armyworm, Dr. James A. Reinert, Texas A&M University
• Modern evaluation of sod rooting for Kentucky bluegrass, Phase II Moisture & Heat, H.T. Wilkinson, University of Illinois
• Evaluation & selection of salt tolerant germplasm of Bluegrass and Creeping Bentgrass, Stacy A. Bonos, Rutgers University, Cook College
• Suitability of native salt land grasses under a variety of non-potable irrigation types for turf production, David Aldous, University of Melbourne
• Evaluation of hybrid bluegrass for sod production and culture in water limiting environments, Bingru Huang, Rutgers University
• Rootzone amendments to improve soil moisture relations under newly laid sod, Donald S. Loch, Redland Research Station