Essay/Term paper: Computers related to turf grass industries

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Information Technology

Computers Related To Turf Grass Industries


Computer Science Term paper
Turfgrass Science
Dennis Zedrick
October 23, 1996

The field of turfgrass science, and golf course management has became
very sophisticated in just the few short years that I have been involved. Much
of the equipment has gone higher tech, as far as electric motors, and more
computerized technology. Many golf course superintendents now are , "online
via the web". If there is a question concerning a new disease or fertilizer one
can log on to Texas A@M home page and hopefully find a solution to the problem.
The technology in the computer field has also advanced the irrigation
technology in the agriculture field. Irrigation systems can now be turned on
with the touch of a button through IBM or MACINTOSH Personal computer. New
computer technology will continue to make leaps and bounds for the turfgrass
industry.
Ransome Industries, maker of fine turgrass mowing equipment, has come
out with the first electric mowing machine. I myself am not in favor of this,
or I would guess anyone in the petroleum industry is either for that matter.
There has been a greater demand for environmental concern along the nations
coastlines, and nation wide. Most of the worlds great golf courses are located
along the coasts. Ransome was banking on that an electric mowing machine would
fit that need. It has been slow to catch on as of late. It's benefits are an
almost quiet no noise machine. (Beard 302). Many country club members would
become outraged when the superintendents would send out the greensmowers daily
at 6:00 A.M. The diesel and gasoline powered engines are noisy, and would wake
up many members that live along the golf course. The second benefit is no cost
of gasoline or oil, and therefore no chance of a petroleum leak or spill. There
downfall lies in there initial cost,"$15,000 for a gasoline triplex mower, and
$20,000 for an electric powered mower. Another real downfall is that they can
only mow nine holes, then they have to be charged for ten hours, rendering them
useless for the rest of the day. Hopefully technology can produce an
environmental friendly machine, while not putting the oil industry in a bind, "
And also keep the governments hands out of the cookie jar with new environmental
taxes"!!!!!!
The Internet has become a very important tool to the people in the
turfgrass industry. At any given time a golf course superintendent can log onto
various company's home pages to learn something about their product.(Beard 101)
If one day I am searching for a new fairway mower, I can bypass the phone calls
and written estimates, and go strait to the information. Toro, Ransome,
Jacobsen, and even John Deere all have home pages. You can inquire on a certain
mower model, engine size or anything you need to know. It will list a price and
even the shipping and handling and the salesman's commission. Perhaps the best
part about the Internet, is all the turfgrass related information that is at
your fingertips.(Beard 120) One can access the three dominating turfgrass
schools in just seconds.(Beard 122) Those three schools would be Texas A@M,
Mississippi State, and Oklahoma State. If it is in the middle of the summer,
and there is a big tournament coming up they can be of great help. If your
putting greens start to die in spots in the heat of the summer, one could log on
to Texas A@M home page, and root around for some information, on what type of
disease might be causing it.(Beard 420) They give identifying characteristics
for each disease that is helpful in a quick diagnoses of the problem. They even
offer helpful tips on what chemicals will best control the problem, and how much
to spray. If that's not enough they give tips on employee management, and
possible job opportunities with the college.
How can the Internet and computer technology possibly make my future job
any easier, I might ask. Well that is an easy question to answer. Toro,
Rainbird, and Flowtronics PSI, have found a way to make water management an easy
task. Automatic water irrigation systems have been around since the early
seventy's. First they were run off a mechanical pin and timer system for home
lawn use. This was a very reliable system, but it lacked
flexibility.(Wikshire95) Next came the automatic timer systems. These run off
an electronic timer from a 110 volt wall outlet. These are still in use today,
and it is a very good system.(Wikshire 112) Last but not least has come the
water management system run from your personal Macintosh or IBM compatible
computer. The personal computer actually works as the brain for the irrigation
system.(Wikshire200) You down load the program into the computer, and bam it
does all the work for you. It has a water sensor located outside that tells the
system to shut off if it has rained to much, or to come on if it is getting
extremely dry on a hot summer day. It also can measure the amount of nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium in the soil, if necessary. It will test the water,
and tell you the amount of salt or nitrates located in the water. Once a
watering program is started it is also easily changed to another program if so
desired.(Wikshire202) This has benefited the turfgrass industry in many ways.
It has saved superintendents from having to come and shut the irrigation off in
the middle of the night if it starts raining hard. Most importantly it has
saved money in the labor part of the budget. It keeps hourly employees occupied
with other tasks, other than having to turn on individual sprinkler heads every
day. The most popular program by far is the Rainbird Vari-Time V and VI
programs.(Wikshire250) These two programs are leaps and bounds above the rest.
Having knowledge of computers and computer related programs will be very
beneficial to me in the turfgrass industry. The technology will benefit me and
others. From new high tech electric mowing machines, to non hydraulic mowers.
The Internet could be the most useful tool for me in my job. It will give me
useful knowledge on what is going on in the world. Also it could help save me
from a costly mistake when it comes to disease control that could cost me my job.
The computer industry has also made great accomplishments when it comes to water
conservation management. These programs can be downloaded into your personal
computer. They are great labor savers, and most of all effective time
management tools. I hope that the technology will keep advancing, and make my
future job as a golf course superintendent much easier.


Works Cited

Beard, James. Turf Management for Golf Courses. New York: Macmillan
Publishing
Company, 1992.
Beard, James. The Science of Agronomy. New York: Macmillan Publishing
Company,
1994.
Wikshire, Don, and Charles Cason. The Principles and Technology of
Irrigation and
Drainage. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1995.