Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Dale J. Bremer / Jack Fry / Increasing water scarcity may result in greater irrigation restrictions for turfgrass. Drought tolerance and recovery of Kentucky bluegrasses (Poa. pratensis L.) (KBG) were evaluated during and after 88 and 60 day dry downs in 2010 and 2011, respectively, under a rainout shelter. Changes in green coverage were evaluated with digital images. Green coverage declined slowest during dry downs and increased fastest during recoveries in the cultivar ‘Apollo’, indicating it had superior drought tolerance. Electrolyte leakage, photosynthesis, and leaf water potential were evaluated in 7 KBG cultivars during and after the dry downs. Soil moisture at 5 and 20 cm was measured. There were generally no differences in physiological parameters among cultivars during or after dry down. The highest reduction in soil moisture at 5 and 20 cm was in Apollo, suggesting it had a better developed root system for mining water from the profile during drought. Weed prevention and turfgrass establishment of ‘Legacy’ buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides [Nutt.] Engelm.) and ‘Chisholm’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) grown on turf reinforcement mats (TRM) was evaluated. ‘Chisholm’ zoysiagrass stolons grew under the TRM; as such, use of TRM for this cultivar is not practical. Buffalograss had 90% or greater coverage when established on TRM in 2010 and 65% or greater coverage in 2011; coverage was similar to that in oxadiazon-treated plots at the end of each year. ‘Legacy’ buffalograss plugs were established on TRM over plastic for 3 weeks, stored in TRM under tree shade for 7, 14, or 21 days, and evaluated for establishment after storage. In 2010, plugs on mats stored for 7 days had similar coverage to the control, but in 2011 displayed similar coverage to plugs stored on TRM for 14 or 21 day treatments. Green leaf are index (LAI) is an important indicator of turfgrass performance, but its measurement is time consuming and destructive. Measurements using hyperspectral radiometry were compared with destructive measurements of LAI. Results suggest spectral radiometry has potential to accurately predict LAI. The robustness of prediction models varied over the growing season. Finding one model to predict LAI across and entire growing season still seems unrealistic.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Jack Fry and Megan Kennelly / Rough bluegrass (RBG, Poa trivialis L.) is a difficult-to-control weed that commonly infests cool-season turfgrass swards after movement of vegetative propagules or contamination from seed lots. Rough bluegrass is less tolerant of heat stress than desirable cool-season species such as tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb. Syn [italicize]Schedonorus [italicize]arundinaceus Schreb.), and often declines during mid-summer due to biotic or abiotic stresses. The objectives of these 2011-2013 controlled environment and field experiments were to: 1) observe growth and physiological differences between ‘Laser’ and ‘Pulsar’ RBG and TF; 2) differentiate between physiological and pathological contributors to RBG decline; 3) determine the effects of TF seeding rate and mowing height on TF/RBG establishment when RBG is a seed contaminant; 4) evaluate herbicide combinations for selective RBG control; and 5) evaluate seasonal timing of glyphosate for nonselective RBG control. Tall fescue was less affected by elevated temperature than RBG. At 35°C, Laser and Pulsar experienced similar reductions in quality, gross photosynthesis (Pg), shoot and root biomass, and root length density compared to when grown at 23°C, but maximum electrolyte leakage was greater for Pulsar (63%) than for Laser (49%). Cell membrane thermostability could contribute to the better heat tolerance of Laser RBG. Evaluation of RBG foliage and roots did not reveal a fungal pathogen associated with RBG decline. Still, repeated applications of azoxystrobin (610 g a.i. ha⁻¹) or pyraclostrobin (556 g a.i. ha⁻¹) increased RBG quality, cover, and Pg during summer compared to untreated RBG, possibly due to poorly understood non-target physiological effects of the fungicides. Mowing TF at 7.6 or 11.4 cm reduced RBG incidence up to 57% compared to mowing at 3.8 cm. Tall fescue seeding rate had no effect on RBG incidence. Several herbicides and herbicide combinations resulted in some RBG injury in the field, but bispyribac-sodium was the only treatment that provided RBG control (16 to 92%) in Manhattan, KS; Hutchinson, KS; and Mead, NE. Spring-applied glyphosate resulted in the lowest RBG coverage (1 to 31%) among field studies in Manhattan and Mead, followed by late-summer applications (6 to 58%), and mid-summer applications (9 to 86%).

In December 1999, a website popular among music fans, mudcat.org, featured a thread that encouraged speculation about “The Essential Folk Recordings.” Thread participants—including prominent promoters of folk music—agreed upon the lasting importance of three collections: Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music, Alan Lomax’s field recordings, and Ralph Peer’s 1927 Bristol Sessions. Also mentioned by some participants were a few recent compilations, as well as certain albums from major folk and blues musicians. Many participants lamented the dearth of reissued folk music on compact disc from the back-catalog of Elektra Records, a company renowned for its contributions to the genre during the urban folk music revival. And one Elektra release, The Folk Box, received particular praise from a number of people fortunate enough to have heard it.

The two-finger banjo style languishes as a small footnote in the lexicon of old time banjo music—very important to a passionate (and lucky!) few, but not known by too many others. This research is a starting point to understanding the meaning of two-finger banjo; through a review of primary literature, interviews, witnessing performances, and individual investigation of playing two-finger banjo, I have been able to document some understandings about the style. These understandings informed further appreciation of old time music, the old time music (and banjo) communities, and the art of making music in this way—while describing the journey, I gained insights from scholars, folklorists, musicians, recordings, and made many discoveries that I documented in this thesis. I have concluded that one of the best ways to find meaning in any pursuit is by engaging with your community and connecting yourself to your art.

Smithhaven--Still Making Excuses--If Seeing Is Believing--Myth--Your Last Ride--If I Had a Dollar--Tack and Jibe--Stewie Took My Nose--March Home to Me--I Recall--God's Work Is Never Done--Farther Down the Track. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1101/thumbnail.jpg

The Johnson City Sessions were held in Johnson City, Tennessee in October 1928 and October 1929. This work "...marks the first time these recordings have been assembled in any format. Collectively, these 100 songs and tunes are regarded by scholars and record collectors as a strong and distinctive cross-section of old-time Appalachian music just before the Great Depression. The four CDs gather every surviving recording from the sessions, while the accompanying 136-page LP-sized hardcover book contains newly researched essays on the background to the sessions and on the individual artists, with many rare and hitherto unpublished photographs, as well as complete song lyrics and a detailed discography." -- Back cover. Ted Olson (East Tennessee State University) and Tony Russell are the re-issue producers. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1112/thumbnail.jpg

Lee Bidgood was joined by Richard Cifersky, Ed Snodderly, Daniel Boner, and Jeff Elkins in performing Czech translations of bluegrass classics, as well as original Czech material in both Czech and English.

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