djsoldat@wisc.edu - 608.263.3631
Assistant Professor
B.S. Soil Science, 2001, University of Wisconsin; M.S. Soil Science, 2003, University of Wisconsin; Ph.D. Horticulture, 2006, Cornell University
Principle Areas of Interest
Turfgrass and Urban Soils (University of Wisconsin Turfgrass)
Appointment
Extension 60%, Research 25%, Teaching 15%
Extension
My extension program aims to provide research-based information on implementing economically and environmentally
sustainable turfgrass management strategies to homeowners, professional turfgrass managers, sod growers, lawn care providers, and
county extension agents among others. I look forward to assisting turfgrass managers in developing site-specific nutrient management
plans in the near future. These management plans will be required by March 2008 for managers with 5 or more acres of turfgrass in WI.
Research
Urban and suburban areas have been identified as a major contributor to declining surface water quality. Turfgrass accounts for a large
percentage of the pervious area in urban/suburban areas. According to a recent study, turfgrass accounts for over 3% of Wisconsin’s land
area. One primary goal of my research program is to identify water and nutrient management strategies for turfgrass areas that promote
healthy turfgrass and minimize the loss of water and nutrients from the root zone.
As water use of turfgrass areas becomes increasingly scrutinized, it can be expected that the use of wastewater will be more common in WI in the future. In preparation for this, a second primary goal of my research program is to examine the effects of poor quality irrigation water on turfgrass growth and nutrient management.
Teaching
I teach Turfgrass Nutrient and Water Management, a 3 credit course offered in the fall semester that covers soil test interpretation,
irrigation water quality, irrigation scheduling, and writing site-specific nutrient management plans.
Publications
Soldat, D. and A.M. Petrovic. 200_. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization effects on phosphorus runoff losses from turfgrass. In A.M. Petrovic and B.P. Horgan (eds.). The fate of turfgrass nutrients and plant protection chemicals in the urban environment. Washington DC: American Chemical Society. (Submitted)
Soldat, D.J. 2007. The contribution of soil phosphorus to phosphorus in runoff from turfgrass. Ph.D. Dissertation: Cornell University.
Petrovic, A.M., D. Soldat, J. Gruttadaurio, and J. Barlow. 2005. Turfgrass growth and quality related to soil and tissue nutrient content. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10(2):989 - 997.
Williamson, R.C., A.T. Waltson, and D. Soldat. 2005. Influence of organic-based fertilizers and root zone mixes on the incidence of black turfgrass ataenius (Coleoptera scarabaeidae) infestations on golf courses. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10(2):803 - 810.
Soldat, D.J. R. Rao, and A.M. Petrovic. 2005. Summary of Soil Test Phosphorus Results from Home Lawns and Athletic Fields in New York State: 2001 - 2005. In Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI.
Soldat, D.J. and A.M. Petrovic. 2005. Predicting Runoff P Losses from Turfgrass with Soil Testing. In Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI.
Soldat, D.J. 2004. Can soil testing be used to predict phosphorus losses from turfgrass? Cornell University Turfgrass Times.
Soldat, D.J. and A.M. Petrovic. 2004 Use of soil testing to predict phosphorus runoff losses from turfgrass. In Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI.
Soldat, D.J. 2003. Inorganic amendments as putting green construction materials. M.S. Thesis: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Soldat, D.J. and W.R. Kussow. 2003. Inorganic amendments affect nutrient leaching from sand-matrix putting greens. In Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI.
Soldat, D.J. and W.R. Kussow. 2002. Inorganic amendments as golf course putting green construction materials. In Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI.
Kussow, W. R., and D. J. Soldat. 2002. Performance of UHS signature fertilizers. Wis. Turfgrass Res. Rep. 20:129-135.
Williamson, R. C., S. Hong, D. Soldat, and W. R. Kussow. 2002. Root zone amendment effects on the incidence of black turfgrass ataenius grubs on creeping bentgrass putting greens. Wis. Turfgrass Res. Rep. 20:153-154.
Kussow, W. R., and D. J. Soldat. 2002. Efficacy of Floratine biostimulants applied to golf putting greens. Wis. Turfgrass Res. Rep. 20:161-166.
Kussow, W. R., and D. J. Soldat. 2002. Use of compost to improve turf quality. Wis. Turfgrass Res. Rep. 20:202-209.
Soldat, D.J. 2001. Effects of N-(nbutyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBTP) and dicyandiamide (DD) on the efficacy of urea applied to turfgrass. The Grass Roots. 30:20-23.
Soldat, D. J., and W. R. Kussow. 2001. Jordanian zeolite as a golf course putting green construction material. Wis. Turfgrass Res. Rep. 19:163-165.
