Faculty Profile

Erik Ervin, Ph.D.

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Dr. Ervin

Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science

Appointment

Teaching : 40%

Research : 60%

Extension : 0%

Web

Education

  • B.S. Iowa State 1985
  • M.S. Colorado State, 1995
  • Ph.D. Colorado State, 1998
 

Link to recent CV

Professional Activities and Interests

  • Undergraduate, graduate, and adult education in turfgrass agronomics.
  • Adaptation and cultural management requirements for warm- and cool-season turfgrass species used on roadsides, lawns, parks, athletic fields, and golf courses.
  • The physiology and ecology of turfgrass responses to environmental stress and the use of synthetic and natural plant growth regulators for improved stress response.

Courses

Course Number Course Name
CSES 2564 Turfgrass Management
CSES 3564 Golf and Sports Turf Management
CSES 4984 Turfgrass Science Practicum
CSES 5984 Turf and Crop Physiology Practicum

Current Projects

  1. Effects of auxin-boosted biosolids on grass drought resistance: refining our mechanistic understanding. Investigators: Ervin, Evanylo, and Zhang. Sponsor: Metropolitan-Washington Council of Governments.
  2. Planning for landscape irrigation water conservation in Virginia. Investigators: Ervin, Richardson, and LaBranche. Sponsors: Virginia Agricultural Council and Virginia Turfgrass Foundation.
  3. Development of an in-line drain tile filter to capture and quantify nitrate and phosphate leachates from sand-based putting greens. Investigators: Ervin, Goatley, Eick, and Nichols. Sponsors: Virginia Agricultural Council, Virginia Turfgrass Foundation, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
  4. Seaplant-based biostimulant formulations for improved bentgrass heat tolerance. Investigators: Ervin and Zhang. Sponsors: Ocean Organics and Milliken Chemical.

Recent Honors

  • Virginia Turf Council - VTC Award - 2005
  • Visiting Professor to Turfgrass Research Insitute at Hebei Agricultural University in Baoding, P.R. China, 2006

Recent Publications

See attached CV

Personal Activities and Interests

My interests are golfing, hiking, telemark skiing, and travel. Stacey and I are the proud parents of 3 dogs and 2 cats.

My Work Groups

Keywords

  • abiotic stress
  • biosolids
  • biostimulants
  • deficit irrigation
  • golf turf
  • hormones
  • nutrient management
  • plant growth regulators
  • sports turf