SUNY DELHI GOLF/PLANT SCIENCE PROGRAM RECEIVES FUNDS TO ESTABLISH WEATHER STATION

DELHI, NY … Funds totaling $10,000 have been awarded to SUNY Delhi’s Golf/Turf Management program to establish a U.S. grade weather station that will be installed at the Delhi College Golf Course. The weather station is the second phase of an on-going applied research project conducted by students of the Golf/Turf Management program to learn how to improve water quality and how to apply water management practices at golf courses and athletic fields.

According to Dominic Morales, professor and dean of applied sciences and recreation, support was received from the Sullivan County Challenge Golf Tournament, and the Golf Superintendents Association of America Adirondack, Finger Lakes, Central New York and Metropolitan Chapters. The S.V. Moffett Company of Rochester arranged for the donation of the software that will enhance the students’ ability to collect the necessary data from the weather station.

“Water is a precious commodity. More and more regulation will limit the use of water for recreational purposes,” said Dean Morales. “Our applied research will show students and those in the turf industry how to conserve water while maintaining a degree of quality.”

The weather station will collect data on humidity, wind speeds, soil moisture contents, transpiration and evaporation rates, and degree days. This data will help predict trends that will lead to proper water use and management. The weather station will ultimately be integrated into the Delhi College Golf Course irrigation system to help with its water conservation efforts.

The first phase of SUNY Delhi’s golf/turf applied research project began in the Spring of 2005. This phase established two features to the research site—a location to perform an irrigation audit and another location for testing effluent water use. The applied research project continues to test nutrient and pesticide leaching, affects of effluent water at various levels, which turf grass varieties will perform best under the use of effluent water, and best management practices for improving drought tolerance.

SUNY Delhi offers a unique opportunity for hands-on education and experience in golf course operations, turf management, landscape contracting, general horticulture, and park and recreation programs. Utilizing its own golf course for laboratory instruction, SUNY Delhi is one of only two colleges in the United States with a four-year degree in golf course management.

For further information, call 1-800-96-DELHI or visit SUNY Delhi’s website at www.delhi.edu.

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04L0406/KMM

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SUNY DELHI GOLF/PLANT SCIENCE PROGRAM RECEIVES FUNDS TO ESTABLISH WEATHER STATION