B3
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Researchers grow more
sustainable turfgrass
By SIERRA DAWN
McCLAIN
Capital Press
CORVALLIS — Across
the drought-stricken Western
U.S., some cities and states
have temporarily banned
watering
“non-functional
turf,” including lawns.
Other
municipalities,
domestic and international,
are restricting fungicide use
on landscapes.
These and other devel-
opments have cast a sud-
den spotlight on turfgrass
management, an import-
ant and often-overlooked
fi eld of study, and the inno-
vators behind it — people
like Alec Kowalewski, Ore-
gon State University turfgrass
specialist.
BeaverTurf,
Oregon
State’s turf management pro-
gram, is exploring how to
grow turfgrass on sports
fi elds, golf courses and parks
in a way that’s more environ-
mentally and economically
sustainable.
Kowalewski leads a
“dream team” of doctoral
researchers who are exploring
how to grow turfgrass with
less water, testing which cul-
tivars are disease-resistant,
experimenting with fungicide
alternatives, irrigating with
wastewater,
documenting
which varieties are safest for
livestock consumption and
exploring how management
practices can impact carbon
sequestration.
“I’m very proud of the
team I have. It’s truly a world-
class team,” Kowalewski
said.
He and the researchers,
like game pieces on a check-
erboard, were standing on an
experimental plot with hun-
dreds of square test blocks,
each containing a diff erent
grass cultivar.
The researchers under
Kowalewski say he’s not only
an innovator but a teacher and
adviser who empowers other
Miracle-Ear Hearing
Centers are looking for
qualified people to test
their latest product, The
Miracle-Ear Ready-Fit
RISK FREE!
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Alec Kowalewski, center, and research team members
look at plots of turfgrass that have been mowed at varying
frequencies and heights.
innovators to shine.
This year, Kowalewski
said he’s excited about many
of the projects his team is tak-
ing on.
One project looks at soil
health and the potential to
sequester carbon in turfgrass
systems. Emily Braithwaite,
faculty research assistant, said
recent climate extremes have
created a “sense of urgency”
in the turfgrass industry for
ways to limit emissions and
be more sustainable.
The project uses a car-
bon-capturing device, tracks
how much carbon plants
absorb while photosynthesiz-
ing and explores how man-
agement practices impact car-
bon storage.
Tests so far have found that
grass is healthier and stores
more carbon if it’s mowed fre-
quently — about once a week
— to 4 inches tall rather than
taller or down to stubble.
In watering, too, frequency
matters. Irrigating a plot four
times a week at just a quar-
ter-inch leads to healthier, bet-
ter carbon-storing turf than
a plot that’s watered exces-
sively but less often.
“See how much greener
this is,” said Wrennie Wang,
research associate, pointing at
a block.
This “less water, more
often” concept can save water
during droughts.
The researchers are also
interested in irrigating turf
with effl uent water, or “gray-
water,” non-sewage wastewa-
ter that comes from sources
such as sinks and showers.
Clint Mattox, another
research associate, is explor-
ing alternatives to fungicides.
Mattox is testing less toxic
products, including sulfur and
mineral oils.
Research associate Chas
Schmid is leading a study in
the National Turfgrass Eval-
uation Program for which
turfgrass seed breeders sub-
mit entries. Schmid tests the
entries, looking for which cul-
tivars “rise to the top” as most
disease-resistant, sustainable
and attractive.
“It’s like a beauty pageant
for turf,” Schmid said.
Another project will study
endophytes, microbes that
live in some turfgrasses.
Endophytes can make
grass more disease-resis-
tant, which is great for land-
scaping. But grass with high
endophyte levels can be toxic
to livestock. Although grass
seed breeders have a general
idea of which cultivars have
endophytes, a comprehensive
study has never been done.
This fall, the researchers will
document endophyte levels in
hundreds of cultivars.
Get to The Point.
Expert Service. Guaranteed.
Trust your vehicle safety to the professionals at
DEL’S O.K. TIRE
Here’s the catch:
You must have
difficulty hearing
and understanding
in background noise
and your hearing must
fall in the range of the
hearing aid. People
that are selected will
evaluate Miracle-Ear’s
latest advanced digital
hearing solution — the
Miracle-Ear Ready-Fit.
You will be able to walk in to our office and walk out
knowing how much help there is for you. Candidates
will be asked to evaluate our instruments for 30 days
(risk free*). At the end of the 30 days, if you are satisfied
with the improvement in your hearing and wish to
keep the instrument, you may do so at tremendous
savings. But this is only for a limited time! Schedule your
Appointment Now! Don’t wait until it’s too late!
SOME FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES
MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR HEARING AIDS AT NO COST!
That’s Right...No Co-Pay! No Exam Fee!
No Adjustment Fee!
BCBS federal insurance pays the total cost of 2 Miracle-
Ear Audiotone Pro aids. Most federal government
employees and retirees are eligible. You may even
be covered if you have other non-federal insurance
coverage. Special factory pricing is available for non-
qualifiers. See store for details & accurate coverage.
AT THESE PARTICIPATING
LOCATIONS ONLY!!
Miracle-Ear Center
Youngs Bay Plaza
173 S. Hwy 101
Warrenton, OR 97146
(503) 836-7921
Miracle-Ear Center
2505 Main Ave N, Suite C
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 836-7926
Visit us online
www.miracle-ear.com
Use code 21SepOffer
Toyo Tire Special
Offer valid from Se[tember 7th through October 9th, 2021
Another Great Way to Save!
Make your appointment today!
BUY 1
GET 1
50% OFF
HURRY!
Offer ends 9/23/2021
Good only from participating Miracle-Ear representatives. One coupon per purchase. No other
offers or discounts apply. Discount does not apply to prior sales. Offer valid on ME-5, ME-4,
ME-3, ME-2 Solutions. Cannot combine with any other offers. Cash value 1/20 cent.
Save on one of our
smallest custom
digital hearing aids!
UP TO $ 150 OFF
Your purchase of 4 tires with Online Redemption Claim.
YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR TIRES
CUSTOM WHEELS • AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8-5
503-325-2861
For emergencies
503-325-0233
35359 Business
Hwy 101
(Miles Crossing)
Astoria, OR
NOW BUY
ONE GET
ONE FREE!
HURRY!
Offer ends
9/23/2021
Valid at participating Miracle-Ear locations only. Limit one coupon per purchase. May not
be combined with other offers and does not apply to prior sales. Cash value 1/20 cent.
Risk Free Offer- The aids must be returned within 30 days of delivery pursuant to terms of your purchase
agreement and 100% of the purchase price will be refunded. **Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine
proper amplification needs only. These are not medical exams or diagnoses. Blue Cross Shield, the Blue Cross,
the Blue Shield, BCBS, and Federal Employee Program are a registered trademark of Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its independent licensees are not affiliated with, nor do
they endorse or sponsor, the contests of this advertisement. Trademarks referring to specific providers are
used by Miracle ear for nominative purposes only: to truthfully identify the source of the services about which
information is provided. Such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.