Book Review

Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management

Author: Nick Christians, PhD

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004

Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management introduces the principles of turfgrass management at a level suitable for those just entering the field, but contains appropriate content for experienced turfgrass managers. The author presents the information in a straightforward way, emphasizing why certain management practices are handled as they are.

?EUR??,,????'??The text will help readers expand their understanding of basic concepts so they can adapt what they have learned to the varied situations that present themselves on the job,?EUR??,,????'?? notes Mr. Christians in the introduction to the book.

?EUR??,,????'??I quickly found that the real world of broken irrigation heads, tight budgets, and constantly changing greens committees was much different from the quick, easy answers of the academic world,?EUR??,,????'?? Mr. Christians explains in the book preface. And while he asserts that ?EUR??,,????'??no academic course or textbook will ever take the place of hands-on experience,?EUR??,,????'?? he incorporates in this book the ?EUR??,,????'??things I wish I had been taught that I later had to learn on my own.?EUR??,,????'??

The subjects of the chapters are: careers in turfgrass; introduction to grasses; cool and warm-season grasses; establishment; soil testing and amendment; fertilization; mowing; irrigation; thatch, cultivation and topdressing; weed control; turf insects; turfgrass diseases; sports field management; sod production; professional lawn care; golf course maintenance.

There are many color plates identifying common turfgrasses, weeds, and the causes of turf damage, and tables and other illustrations throughout.

About the author: Nick Christians is a professor of horticulture at Iowa State University. He has taught courses and conducted research on turfgrass management and physiology since 1979, publishing more that 730 technical papers, articles, chapters and abstracts. He is the author of Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard, and co-author of The Mathematics of Turfgrass Maintenance. His awards include the Outstanding Educator award from the American Society of Horticultural Science. He?EUR??,,????'???s a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.