Cale A. Bigelow Assistant Professor Agronomy Area:  Turfgrass Science/Management, Soil Properties and Turfgrass Nutrition Mailing Address: Department of Agronomy Lilly Hall of Life Sciences 915 W. State Street Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2054 < Faculty Listing             < Faculty by Expertise

Contact Information:

Research Areas:
The purpose of my research program is to provide practical information that enables turf managers of all abilities to grow the highest quality turf using the fewest management inputs (e.g. mowing, fertilization, irrigation and pesticides). This is being accomplished by emphasizing adapted turfgrass species and cultivar selection, proper establishment methods and employing sound cultural practices with an emphasis on soil fertility and nutrient management related issues.

Several research areas are being investigated in detail:

	Species and cultivar evaluations are being conducted in conjunction with researchers around the United States through the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). Specific information for trials located in West Lafayette can be acquired by visiting http://www.ntep.org Cool-season turfgrass response to pre-plant phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rates during seedling establishment. Turf-type tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are being studied for their response to various combinations of pre-plant P and K over four staggered autumn seeding dates.
	Turfgrass responses to various nitrogen (N) fertility programs: Lawn turf, simulated athletic field turf and creeping bentgrass golf course fairway turf are being studied for their response when subjected to a variety of different N sources and application frequencies. The goal of studying these programs is to maximize turfgrass quality while minimizing N inputs.
	Applied golf course management studies: Several studies are being conducted to evaluate management factors to maximize creeping bentgrass divot recovery, strategies for sand topdressing newer creeping bentgrass cultivars, using plant growth regulators to minimize annual bluegrass encroachment into renovated creeping bentgrass fairways and evaluation of wetting agents on sand-based putting green rootzones.

Research Publications: Details of my research findings can be found in this partial list of peer-reviewed publications.

K.S. Walker , C.A. Bigelow , D.R. Smith, G.E. VanScoyoc and Z.J. Reicher. 2007. (In Press) Above ground responses of three cool-season lawn grasses to eight nitrogen fertility programs. Crop Sci. ARP Number: 2006-18043

Bigelow , C.A. and K.S. Walker. 2007. (Accepted). Measuring golf ball roll distance: A field laboratory exercise to understand how management practices affect putting green speed. Journ. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Edu. ARP Number: 2006-18042

Bigelow , C.A. and G.A. Hardebeck. 2007. (Accepted-In Press). Annual bluegrass reductions in creeping bentgrass fairways with monthly flurprimidol and trinexepac-ethyl applications. Applied Turfgrass Science Online Journ. ARP Number 2006-18052

Bigelow , C.A. , K.S. Walker. 2007. (Accepted-In Press). Kentucky bluegrass lawn turf response to autumn applied urea sources, rate and application timing. Applied Turfgrass Science Online Journal. ARP Number: 2007-18071

McDonald, S. P.H. Dernoeden, and C.A. Bigelow. 2006. Dollar spot control in creeping bentgrass as influenced by fungicide spray volume and application timing. Applied Turfgrass Science Online Journ. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/ats/research/2006/dollar/fungicide.pdf

McDonald, S., P.H. Dernoeden, and C.A. Bigelow 2006. Irrigation frequency effects on dollar spot and gray leaf spot incidence in golf course fairways. Crop Sci. 46: 2675-2684

Bigelow , C.A. D.W. Waddill, and D.R. Chalmers. 2005. Nitrogen cycling in turf-type tall fescue with added clippings. Intl. Turf Res. Soc. J. 10:916-922.

Kaminski, J.E., P.H. Dernoeden and C.A. Bigelow. 2004.  Creeping bentgrass seedling tolerance to herbicides and paclobutrazol. Hort. Science. 39(5):1126-1129.

Kaminski, J.E., C.A. Bigelow, and P.H. Dernoeden. 2004. Soil amendments and fertilizer effects on creeping bentgrass establishment, soil microbial activity, thatch and disease. Hort. Science 39(3):620-626.

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman, and D.K. Cassel. 2004. Physical properties of sands amended with inorganic materials or sphagnum peat moss for putting green rootzones. Crop Science. 44:900-907.

Dernoeden, P.H., C.A. Bigelow, J.E. Kaminski, and J.M. Krouse. 2003. Smooth crabgrass control in perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass tolerance to quinclorac. Hort. Science 38:607-612

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman and A.G. Wollum. 2002. Characterization of microbial properties in newly constructed sand-based rootzones. Crop Science. 42:1611-1614.

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman, D.K. Cassel, and T.W. Rufty. 2001. Creeping bentgrass response to inorganic soil amendments and mechanically induced supplemental drainage and aeration. Crop Science 41:797-805.

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman and D.K. Cassel. 2001. Water retention of sand-based putting green mixtures as affected by the presence of gravel sub-layers. Intl. Turf Res. Soc. J. 9:479-486.

Bruneau, A.B., C.A. Bigelow, R.J. Cooper, and D.C. Bowman. 2001. Creeping bentgrass cultivar performance when maintained at two mowing heights and under two fungicide regimes in North Carolina. Intl. Turf Res. Soc. J. 9:835-842.

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman and D.K. Cassel. 2000. Nitrogen leaching in sand-based putting green rootzones amended with inorganic soil amendments and sphagnum peat moss. Journ. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126:151-156.

Teaching: 
Dr. Bigelow is the primary faculty contact for undergraduate studies in the Turfgrass Science option at Purdue University. I teach or co-teach five courses related to turfgrass management for the Agronomy Department.
 

Courses Taught
Agronomy 110 Survey of Turfgrass Culture
Overview: This course is designed to introduce freshman and transfer students to the Turfgrass Science program and provide an overview of the Agronomy Department. Students are exposed to basic turfgrass management principles and an early relationship is developed between these new students and the Turfgrass Science faculty.  Additionally, this course familiarizes the students with the many employment opportunities in the turfgrass industry, to help them confirm that they are on the correct career path.

Agronomy 210 Fundamentals of Turfgrass Culture
Overview: This introductory course is available to any student who has an interest in maintaining turfgrasses not just those in the Turfgrass Science option. Students taking this course become familiar with the breadth of the turfgrass industry, learn the characteristics of the primary turfgrass species, and which species are appropriate for home-lawns in Indiana. By the end of the course the student should be able to properly establish and manage a home-lawn at any desired quality level using sound cultural practices.

Agronomy 210Y Fundamentals of Turfgrass Culture: Distance Learning Course (New Spring 2006)
Overview: Online version of AGRY 210. It is available through Purdue University 's “Open Campus” to any student or life-long learner who has an interest in maintaining turfgrass. The course is a distance learning version of AGRY 210 and utilizes WebCT Vista to deliver the content-rich modules. These modules include clear learning objectives which are supplemented by colorful, image-rich audio Power Point presentations, which were created using Adobe/Macromedia Breeze Presenter, supplemental readings and online quizzes. The course provides technical information regarding the fundamental principles and methods for planting and maintaining lawn grasses throughout the cool-humid region of the United States . The introductory turfgrass course, AGRY 210 is a pre-requisite for AGRY 510 which is offered only during the fall semesters. Students can take AGRY 210Y either during the spring or summer prior to fall enrollment.

Agronomy 211 Principles of Turfgrass Culture Laboratory
Overview: This laboratory based course is intended exclusively for Turfgrass Science majors who will be taking advanced Turfgrass Science courses. Students learn vegetative turfgrass and seed identification, winter-weed identification, turfgrass fertilizers, understanding fertilizer and pesticide labels, summer annual weedy grass control strategies, basic turfgrass establishment and maintenance practices and the mathematical calculations required for employment in the turfgrass industry.

Agronomy 311 Turfgrass Diagnostics
Overview: This one-credit elective course enhances and further hones students' skills in vegetative turfgrass, turfgrass weed sample, seed, and insect identification, ability to determine soil texture, and solve critical thinking questions related to general turfgrass management practices.  This course is designed for students who want to further their diagnostic skills and compete in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and Sports Turf Managers Association annual “Turf Quiz Bowl”. 

Agronomy 510 Turfgrass Science
Overview: This intermediate course builds on concepts learned in Agronomy 210. It is open to anyone who has successfully completed AGRY 210. The overall goal of this course is to familiarize students with the issues and advanced cultural practices required to successfully manage an economically important turfgrass area. By the end of this course a student should understand the procedures required to properly maintain golf courses and athletic fields. In addition to lecture, a hands-on laboratory section offers practical training exercises like spreader/sprayer, irrigation sprinkler calibration and periodic field trips to local golf courses and athletic fields.

Extension/Engagement:
The goal of my engagement program is to empower turfgrass managers of all abilities to achieve their management goals. This is accomplished by providing factual information on a variety of applied management topics that the industry is interested in.
 

Extension Publications:
Reicher, Z., C.A. Bigelow, and A.J. Patton. 2004. Identification and control of annual bluegrass and rough bluegrass in lawns. AY-41-W

Reicher, Z., C.A. Bigelow, and A.J. Patton. 2004. Identification and control of perennial grassy weeds. AY-11-W

Patton, A.J., C.A. Bigelow, and Z. Reicher. 2003. Bermudagrass for Southern Indiana athletic fields. AY-325-W

Selected Popular Press Articles:
Dernoeden, P., Bigelow, C., Kaminski, J.E, and J. Krouse, 2003. Smooth crabgrass control and creeping bentgrass tolerance to quinclorac (Drive). USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 2(8):1-11. http://turf.lib.msu.edu/tero/v02/n08.pdf

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman and D.K. Cassel. 2003. Inorganic soil amendments limit nitrogen leaching in newly constructed sand-based putting green rooting mixtures. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online. 2(24)1-11. http://usgatero.msu.edu/v02/n24.pdf

Bigelow, C.A., D.C. Bowman and D.K. Cassel. 2004. Physical properties of sand amended with inorganic materials or sphagnum peat moss. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 3(6):1-14. http://usgatero.msu.edu/v03/n06.pdf

 Kaminski, J.E., P.H. Dernoeden and C.A. Bigelow. 2004. Creeping bentgrass seedling tolerance to herbicides and paclobutrazol. Golf Course Management 72(3):68-71. http://www.gcsaa.org/GCM/2004/mar04/PDFs/03Seedling.pdf

 Bigelow, C.A. 2004. Inorganic amendments in new sand-based rootzones can reduce nitrogen loss. Turfgrass Trends Online. http://www.turfgrasstrends.com/turfgrasstrends/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=136208.

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Master of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Doctor of Philosophy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Professional Experience:
Post Doctoral Research Associate, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Extension Associate, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Adjunct Instructor, Turf Management, Northern Virginia Community College
Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, VA
Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Lake Manassas, VA

Date joined staff:  2002

Revised April 2007